HVX Infrastructure vs. HL1 Infrastructure

M

mjvolzer

Member
My company is looking to buy two new high def camera in the prosumer range. They bought a sony z1 before I came to work here and now I've been tasked with picking out the upgrade. I prefer the picture quality of the HVX to the HL1 and I like the idea of the the tapeless workflow, but I'm trying to figure out how much of an infrastructure change we would have to make if we went with the HVX over the XL1. We do a lot of long events. Conferences, presentations, meeting, ect, in addition to the normal corporate video stuff. While the p2 cards would work fine for the shorter format stuff they just don't seem to be feasible when it comes to recording our longer events so we'd have to go with the firestores for those. It seems to me that to effectively implement the HVX into our infrastructure we would need two hvx cameras, probably 8-10 p2 cards, at least 1 p2 card deck, 2-4 firestores plus whatever additional lenses or other accessories we decided we would want. Where as with the HL1 would need 2 HL1 cameras, a deck for the HL1 tapes and whatever accessories. I've tried calling some local vendors who sell both products and they've been less than no help at all.
I'm hoping to hear from some users who've implemented the HVX and HL1 into their company's workflow to hear how well the transition went and if my estimations of what is required tol integrate the two cameras is close to correct. Thanks for your help.
Mark Volzer
 
Well I have only been at a company that used the JVC HDV camera but here is a little info.
First by what you stated your needs were I would recommend the XL H1.

1. Recording times are much longer and require a simplier workflow while shooting for long periods of time. You can buy firestore for HVX or XL H1.
2. Capturing and editing workflow very similiar to mini dv. But you cannot preview it on a tv while editing.
3. You can buy 1 XL H1 and an A1 as the B cam. I would reccomend that before buying 2 XL H1's because sometimes you need a big cam and sometimes a small cam.
4. HDV 24f deck/60i handcam for under $1200
5. Better lowlight performance
6. Higher quality lense.

If you were shooting mainly movies I probably would have recommended the 2 hvx200. IT really just has a slightly more filmic presence than the sony/canon cams, but if 2 canon A1s were a option I would go with that because you can shoot it flat and enhance the image in post. Plus you get 2 A1s for 8k
 
You also might want to consider the external infastructure of the industry at large. The HVX is being used in all manner and all levels of production, regardless of budget for it's image quality and overall professional format and such.... where as the other HDV cameras are more of an entry level and "prosumer" -if I dare say so- project.

As an example, I'm working with a producer in LA who is planning on shooting a show on 6 JVC HD cameras... that is until he saw my HVX footage that I was showcasing for B-camera speciality stuff (slow mo, timelapse etc). He called me the next day saying that he now wants to sell the JVC and buy all new HVXs. Not sure if he will, but the footage blew him away... It was the COLOR that did it... and I know from experience that when we shot HVX and JVC on the same show, the editor had to take the color down to 50 percent on my camera to make it match the JVC.
Everyone talks about sharpness and nosie and whatever.. but no one really touches on what most people notice. COLOR and overall pleasing looking images. The HVX absolutely torches all of the HDV cameras hands down. I'll report more when I'm at libery if this show moves forward...
 
You could also do direct to disk recording with the HVXs.
Conferences will be mostly static I guess, so it doesn´t matter being tethered to a laptop.
We did this up to 4 hours with 2 HVXs so far...
P2 still is a must though...
But the Canon´s zoom and OIS will be handy in some of your situations I guess...
 
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