HPX500A: Maybe?
- Thread starter Kholi
- Start date
Jan_Crittenden
Veteran
Not on the drawing board at this time.
Sorry,
Jan
Sorry,
Jan
robstowell
Member
Hi- just for my information, I'm looking at slightly different prices on an HPX500 and an HPX555. I gather they are essentially the same camera- possibly with different names for different markets. Anyone know what- if any- differences there might be? There are not seperate Pal and ntsc versions, are there?
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
555 is the Japanese version.
An HPX500a would be great, with all the software and hardware updates of the HPX170. Any HPX500 user actualy compared the 200a with the 500 for low light/ Noise performance?
I'm actually on the fence on my upgrade- HPX170 or 500? Price is not a concern here. Merely in therms of raw picture performance.
I'm actually on the fence on my upgrade- HPX170 or 500? Price is not a concern here. Merely in therms of raw picture performance.
Same boat, SPZ. And now the EX-3. Especially if the B&H Price is actually true. Although sadly if it's the EX-3 it'll be a second camera and that hurts to even think about.
HPX170 - Light weight, Fixed Lens so you can run with or without an adapter, 5299.99 Tag, trusted DVCProHD, Lots of great updates with the same HVX200A Flavor. But not as resolute as EX-1, 3, HPX500 (resolution I mean).
HPX500 - 2/3" Sensor for better lowlight performance, more resolute images, more latitude. Cleaner image. Professional Form Factor, 4 slots, but lens equals extra thousands, relay not available yet, heavier and larger package all around.
EX-3 - 1/2" and Resolute as hell, Removable Lens, very nice shoulder mount-esque form factor, COMES with a lens and possibly the same price as an HPX500 body. Full native 1080p, very nice image clarity, excellent dynamic range. But, CMOS sensor (which is a pretty huge drawback IMO.) and color representation. Spending a day with the EX-1 and comparing colors with the HVX200A the 200A murdered the EX-1 in color representation. At least for me.
What a doozy.
I'd love to seen the 200A/170 updates go into an 500 but at least you can rest easier investing in a 500 now since Jan said nothin's on the table for the 500 as far as an update goes.
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That is exactly how I feel, Kholi. Great analysis. I would add for the smaller cameras the advantage of support gear being much less expensive (crane heads, tripods, jibs, steadicams, etc.)
Noel, the problem with the HPX500, for me, is raw performance vs the smaller cams. The HPX170 and the HVX200a have "new generation" CCD's,for example, and the EX3 has the shoulder mount form factor, killer resolution and interchangeable lenses. Fellow forum members (like Kholi) are reporting excelent low light results and low noise for the HVX200a, which use the same imaging block as the HPX170 (Barry says it excels in low light). With better and better 35mm adapters coming out (letus ultimate being fantastic according to other users), is the HPX500, today, with the 2/3 system, such a big step from the other sub 10k options?
Not to sound like a cliché, but if not for the form factor that impress certain clients, nowadays, the smaller cameras are, IMO, capable enough for all sorts of professional work.
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Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Yes, but with the 500's interchangeable lenses, you can instantly improve the picture quality by putting on more expensive glass. That is a SUBSTANTIAL difference, and the main reason I got mine.
Well, 35mm like the Letus ultimate seem like an answer to that. When you say "more expensive lens", you are talking about 10-20 000 USD + lenses, no?. Are they that much better with the HPX that an HVX+ Letus ultimate+ 35mm lenses?
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
In my opinion, yes, plus the lens is integrated with a servo zoom. Theres just some scenarios where shooting with prime 35mm lenses is more trouble than it is worth.
September is the proposed.
On CMOS: shouldve said gfat the Ex-1/3 rolling shutter is a problem as the RED is quite acceptable under the same circumstances. I see a very apparent difference in the implimentation as of the most recent beta builds and 16 is only going to get better.
One good thing about being an Early Ex-3 investor is resale value if it didn't work out quite that well. You can always sell and go right to an hpx 500 or 170.
If BnH price of 8320 holds true with lens and cards for the Ex3 its gonna be a tough call in the next few months. Removable lens is a big deal for us adapter fanboys as that only means a sharper image and even less lightloss, shorter more uniformed rigs, lighter, evenly balanced setups -- at least with the compact looking EX3 body -- it just all kinda points in one direction... ich.
On CMOS: shouldve said gfat the Ex-1/3 rolling shutter is a problem as the RED is quite acceptable under the same circumstances. I see a very apparent difference in the implimentation as of the most recent beta builds and 16 is only going to get better.
One good thing about being an Early Ex-3 investor is resale value if it didn't work out quite that well. You can always sell and go right to an hpx 500 or 170.
If BnH price of 8320 holds true with lens and cards for the Ex3 its gonna be a tough call in the next few months. Removable lens is a big deal for us adapter fanboys as that only means a sharper image and even less lightloss, shorter more uniformed rigs, lighter, evenly balanced setups -- at least with the compact looking EX3 body -- it just all kinda points in one direction... ich.
Bassman2003
Veteran
With the need for a relay on an interchangeable lens model, I don't know if the EX-3 + relay + letus would be much shorter than an EX-1 with the Letus.
The relay from Letus is said to go for $4,500. Pair that with the new and improved Letus Ultimate and your extra cost is $9,000.
To me, the EX-1 still seems like the better value.
The relay from Letus is said to go for $4,500. Pair that with the new and improved Letus Ultimate and your extra cost is $9,000.
To me, the EX-1 still seems like the better value.
The Relay is 2" Long from Letus. I think it will definitely be shorter than the EX-1 with Letus vs EX-3 w/Relay + Letus or at least the same length minus having to go through that lens. However, as far as value is concerned you may be right about the EX-1 being the better.
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In addition to the fact that there are B4 Cine primes available out there. These arent 35mm lenses, but they are high quality and arent far off 35mm with nothing in between the camera/lens and your shot.
Andrew McMillan
Well-known member
That's too bad Jan. The EX1-3 have the 500 beat on a lot of sides.
I still can't decide between them.
I don't know if my dream kit is a 500-b4-letus extreme or an EX1-letus extreme
I still can't decide between them.
I don't know if my dream kit is a 500-b4-letus extreme or an EX1-letus extreme
Andrew McMillan
Well-known member
I kind of find it funny that the EX1 one is always mention as this magic mini F900 at cine events, while no one mentions the HPX 500 as "Varicam's little sister"
Just a thought.
How sweet would an HPX 500 be with a RR micro matte box!!!
Just a thought.
How sweet would an HPX 500 be with a RR micro matte box!!!
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Not really. But thats IMO.