HVX 200A: Is it "Enough?"

C

Country Roads

Member
:Drogar-Mark-10(DBG)
I am looking to purchase an HVX 200A for a small video production unit I am starting up. I have a TV news background (shooting and editing), and have never shot with P2 before but I am planning on going that route now.

My question is, will the HVX 200A be enough camera for me or will I wish I had bought a better one down the road? I'm not planning on doing a large amount of shooting and editing, mostly just posting to a website several times a month.

Am I going the right direction with the 200A, or should I get a different camera?

I'm also planning on editing on Avid Media Composer, just because I've used Avid in the past and got to be pretty good with it. Calm down, all you FCP lovers. I got nothing against FCP, just never used it before.

Any input on the HVX 200A would be greatly appreciated.
 
What are some of the issues I should know about before getting this camera? Does it have any quirks?

I'm sure the 200A is a great camera, but is it best for what I'm going to be doing ... which is shooting video for the web and regular appearances on local news?
 
Issues about what?

What I am asking is that these are some really open ended inquiries.

There's a bunch of cams that shoot good video

What sets the 200a and 170 apart is 4:2:2 color space, 100 mbps DVCProHD and ease of editing the footage.

The Panasonic "look" also is a plus.

If you don't intend to shot SD to tape, go with the 170.
 
I intend to shoot most of my stuff onto P2, but to have the tape there as a back up.

I also don't intend to shoot much stuff in HD. There will be selected projects that will be in HD, but the day to day stuff will not be.
 
Country Roads said:
I intend to shoot most of my stuff onto P2, but to have the tape there as a back up.

I also don't intend to shoot much stuff in HD. There will be selected projects that will be in HD, but the day to day stuff will not be.
Click to expand...

If you rarely intend on shooting HD, there is no reason you should look into another camera.

The ONLY complaint I've ever heard about the HVX is that it's not AS sharp as the same price range CMOS camera's like the Sony EX1. If your coming from using 480i/60i DV cameras like I am, you will be blown away by the HVX's HD. I think it's the people who've experienced a lot of Film, RED, and bigger more expensive Sony/Panasonic cameras who are dissatisfied with the sharpness of the HVX.

I've owned my HVX200a for about 6 months now, and I can honestly tell you I have nothing negative to say about it. I did a lot of research before deciding to choose the HVX over the EX1, and I haven't regretted it one bit.

Also, if you want to save some money, look into the HMC150. I'm not sure if AVID recognizes its codec, but if it does, Its footage is easily up to par with the 200a.
 
If your coming from a TV news-photographer background, you're probably used to shooting a lot of "off the shoulder" shots. You will need to invest in a good shoulder mount unit for the HVX. I'm using the Anton Bauer Stasis Flex, with an AB brick battery to help counter balance the rig. It takes some getting used to, but the camera is pretty sweet.
 
I'm primarily going to be going to the P2 card. Not at the same time, of course. If something happens to the P2 I plan on having a tape there ready to roll.
 
As for whether or not it's "enough" camera, shooting primarily SD, it's going to be under-utilized by quite a margin. Why mostly SD?
 
We will be shooting quite a bit in HD for some high priority website video content and content that will air on local news.

Other events (longer events) will not be shot in HD and will be edited down for posting.
 
OK. A few thoughts to consider . . .

If you're shooting SD with the HVX200, the best format to use is DVCPRO 50. That gets you about two minutes per gigabyte on a card. Shooting in DV gets you about 4 minutes per gig, but it has half the color information of DVCPRO 50 and is much more compressed.

720p/24pN actually takes up 20% LESS space on the card than DVCPRO 50, and it gives you access not only to higher resolution, but also variable frame rates and other functions which really make the HVX shine. If you don't want 24p, 720p/30pN takes up the same space as DVCPRO 50 and it, too, gives you access to all that functionality. So, for your own projects, you might consider 720 instead of SD. And, of course, shooting HD doesn't mean you can't deliver as SD -- in fact, with SD in mind, it even gives you reframing options in post.

Just some thoughts. You know what you need and want.
 
LOL I think it's funny people ask HVX users if they should buy a HVX....... LOL

I would read reviews online then try out the cameras at either a place that sells the cameras and or rents them.

I own a HVX, Its awsome but I am as Bias as hell ;0)
 
Yeah I would shoot 720pn for everything and just render out to and SD size file. This way you keep the color space.
 
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