HVX and Reel Stream

F

fiercecurry

Well-known member
Imagine adapting the HVX200 with the Andromeda hardware offered by Reel Stream. With this you would get:

32 bit 4:4:4 resolution at 1920x1080.

the conversion is about $3k
so the whole package would be under $10K.

Thats almost like a Viper, minus the cine lens' and the 2/3 CCD but also minus the $100k+

That would be truly revolutionary.

Right now they have it for only the DVX100, which maximizes it to
1280x720 uncompressed, 4:4:4. but hopefully they will be able to do the same for the HVX and it would be at 1920x1080!

http://reel-stream.com.
 
I'm extremely happy about the HVX as is. 4:4:4 32bit 1920x1080 WOULD be cool, but for the most part it's overkill. Maybe for compositing/FX/blue screen work, but not for regular shooting.
 
It would get us even closer to a film look and what the professionals are delivering. It all depends what you want to shoot, weddings or films?
 
I have yet to see a demonstration of Andromeda of any substance. Maybe people in Vegas are seeing this as we speak?

e
 
I hope so.

If anyone reading this is at NAB, could you get some info regarding Andromeda and the HVX. That would be awesome.

thanks
 
For a truer film look we will need larger chips approximating 35mm film size for the shallow DOF everyone loves & 4 more stops such as the Fuji super chip provides. Video is challenged with exposure..the HDX will not be able to meet the exposure latitude of film, but it'll still do a great job!

With due care the new HVX200 will give us what we need w/o these features.

The 4:4:4 sample rate is too much data for most all current systems. The HVX data will be challenging enough. 4:4:4 would overwhelm us, we aren't ready for such high data rates unless you have Bill Gate's wallet
 
The HVX200 already has the ability to output an (as yet unspecified) uncompressed data stream. The big issue is coming up with an affordable and practical workflow to deal with such a massive data stream. For most people, it just isn't a workable solution. Unfortunately, ReelStream's timing couldn't be worse with the DVX tap. The cost to participate in the beta program is $1500, plus a discount on a future upgrade to the released product. The cost of the whole deal seems within spitting distance of the HVX200. I wish them all the luck in the world, but an unmodified HVX200 beats the pant's off of a modded DVX100--at least in my book.
 
True, the sample rate is high, but FCP 5 and a RAID drive can handle it easily, in fact FCP 4 with a RAID does it now. Especially with a Blackmagic HD card, which is under $2000. A lower end card is around $600. But i am thinking more in terms of acquisition and then downconverting it to a compression that is still slightly better than DVCPRO HD, something that is 4:2:2 10 bit, as opposed to DVCPRO HD, which is 4:2:2, 8 bit. Once you encode it to DVD or in the future HD DVD, you will see the difference. Just compare DV to 10 bit SD, encoded to a DVD, big difference. And for a film transfer, even bigger difference. For weddings, birthdays, vacations, institutionals, and documentaries the HVX is more than enough, for fims, commericals, and music videos it would greatly benefit with a 4:4:4 compression

As far as DOF field i am thinking thats more of a lens issue. A cine-style lens is what gives you the shallow DOF, especially a lens over 55MM, and at a low t-stop. But what also aids in giving a truer film look is color rendition, which is where the 4:4:4 comes in.

The HVX is already better than a DVX modified with an Andromeda, but i am thinking that a HVX modified with an Andromeda, will be even more amazing.

How is that a bad thing?
 
It's a good thing--I always like options, and it will work for a very small niche market. Juan's going to need to develop the HVX tap pretty quickly to make any money--he can't afford to be one step behind the camera product cycles. There's going to be some flavor of uncompressed output will be available from the HVX200 from what I hear.

I couldn't disagree more about the quality of the HVX200 not being suitable for films. If the PD-150 is acceptable for Pieces of April and Open Water, if the DVX100 is acceptable for Lonesome Jim--the HVX will be acceptable at a whole new level. You don't think this camera won't become the new house camera for In|Dig|Ent? Of course an uncompressed raw 4:4:4 stream is going to be superior, but technical quality is not an end in itself for indie filmmakers. There's a lot of practical considerations that come first. Again, I wish Juan and his company well and hope you get your modded HVX you greedy devil. :evil:
 
Also, the DoF is affected more by the size of the imaging plane, not the lens. I think this HVX sounds phenomenal, and with the hopeful HD solutions things are looking really, really nice. I just need to see how I can keep going with my old XM2 until then without needing an upgrade sooner.

Aaron
 
Actually, no it isn't possible to make a DVX both 720p and 4:4:4.. It has to be one or the other.
Either, 4:4:4 in 480i/p or 4:2:2 in 720p with anamorphic adapter... It can't be both..

Jack, please ask them about this. From what I have read/understood about CCD's, bayer
interpolation, and pixel shift, it is a mathematical impossibility to get 720p/4:4:4 from a DVX.
 
I dont know how they do it either, but its only with the 16x9 adapter that they get the 720p out of the DVX. Check out their website if you arent convinced. They havent updated their forum since they arrived to NAB.

www.reel-stream.com

Some confirmations from people at NAB would be great.
 
I'm just curious to know how you get real 1920x1080 with a chip that's designed to deliver 1200x720. Same goes for the FX1, which I consider to really be 960x540
 
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