HPX170 or AG160

filmtovideo

filmtovideo

Well-known member
I have an opportunity to get either a brand new HPX170 or AG160 at the same cost. I like them both but I like the DVCPRO HD codec much more than AVC.

I have my HVX200 from 2006. It's in good shape but it would be nice to have a P2 camera with the newer chips that do better in low light. On the other hand, low light isn't often that big of an issue with me. I light most things. I have lots of lights. I like to light.

I would be using this new camera for mostly tv feature stories say 50%, with sports about 20%, documentary 20%, narrative/dramatic stuff 10%. I shoot lots of footage and it seems to me that when the AVC footage becomes ProRes 422 in FCP, it takes up a lot of space. A 6GB AVC clip from a test this weekend (720P) became about 29GB in ProRes 422.

I'm concerned about the CMOS camera's ability to handle sports and fast action of all kinds. I like the long lens on the AG160 though.

I'm wondering if, for what I do, a new P2 camera such as this would be such an improvement on my HVX200 that I should go for that or thatan alternative to P2 with some advantages and some drawbacks would give me another tool for certain jobs.

Although I mentioned file size, my number one concern is always image quality. Does the HPX170 so outpace the AG160, as well as much earlier generation 1/3" chip P2 cameras, to make it the obvious choice, or is the AG160 close enough to make it a contender? What would you do?

(I also wonder how, if I ever get any of the stuff that I shoot with these cameras up on a big screen how that will look. Of course that leaves out most of the stuff that I do but I consider that as a factor.)

Thanks for any reply.
 
ive seen jello and aliasing from even the 250. as a shooter called to do a wide variety of work. i'll give up my CCD 170 when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.
 
There are many image quality comparisons between these cameras online. The AC160 is $1000 more than the HPX170 so I'm not sure how you get them new for the same price.

If Prores 422 is too large, try transcoding to Prores LT and see whether you see a difference.
 
I know you've probably already got plenty of cards, but recording media cost is a big deal in the long run. For $400, you can get either one 32GB P2 card - or two 128GB SDXC cards.

And Panasonic says there will be a free firmware upgrade to 1080/60p for the AC160 this spring.

I'd say get the AC160 if they're the same price. If AVC file size and CMOS jello are real issues, sell it, buy an HPX, and pocket the difference ;-)
 
yeah, you can save money on media or you can buy a camera that doesnt make light poles turn to spaghetti when you track the action...
 
I disagree. If you're seeing skewing in the 160 or the 250 then you are doing whip pans. In actual everyday production, whether you are panning the camera or or doing a dolly tracking shot, you are not going to see jello on these cameras. Yes you can make the cameras skew by whipping the camera about. But not in a shot you would actually use in a production. As far as file size, your problem in not AVC, it's the Pro-Res. It makes big file sizes. That's what it's suppose to do. Try experimenting with other codecs to see if you can find a size/quality compromise you can deal with.
 
digitalgecko said:
I disagree. If you're seeing skewing in the 160 or the 250 then you are doing whip pans. In actual everyday production, whether you are panning the camera or or doing a dolly tracking shot, you are not going to see jello on these cameras. Yes you can make the cameras skew by whipping the camera about. But not in a shot you would actually use in a production. As far as file size, your problem in not AVC, it's the Pro-Res. It makes big file sizes. That's what it's suppose to do. Try experimenting with other codecs to see if you can find a size/quality compromise you can deal with.
Click to expand...


Yes, fair point on file size.

How about shots when something whip pans itself through the frame, like in sports when a football or soccer ball crosses the frame? I've seen those
go into oblong jello with DSLR CMOS.
 
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