hvx v varicam
- Thread starter Mitch Lee
- Start date
The lens is the biggest drawback imo.
If it's close stuff you'll be okay with the hvx. Anything tele beyond 30 - 40 metres (around 90') and you may struggle.
In-camera ramping speed is another reason why you'd go Vari if the shot called for it.
edit: another drawback may be p2 or the workarounds cf tape. Workflow after shooting - something important to consider.
If it's close stuff you'll be okay with the hvx. Anything tele beyond 30 - 40 metres (around 90') and you may struggle.
In-camera ramping speed is another reason why you'd go Vari if the shot called for it.
edit: another drawback may be p2 or the workarounds cf tape. Workflow after shooting - something important to consider.
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darwinandpaine
Well-known member
Low light stuff is the biggie IMO. The HVX looks fantastic when there's a lot of light. It even does well in the dark when the lighting is high contrast. What it doesn't do well is sofl, low, light. That's where you really start to see the noise --- particularly in the reds.
Proper = Trucks.
If you're shooting interiors, be prepared to light the hell out of EVERYTHING with the HVX. Our prod. co just did a shoot with the Varicam and it was in a room packed with people and basically no hope for adding light. The final product is excellent.
Exteriors where there's sunlight look EXCELLENT with the HVX. Sunlight does wonders for the camera.
In closing: If you're going HVX with interiors... blast light on everything.
If you're shooting interiors, be prepared to light the hell out of EVERYTHING with the HVX. Our prod. co just did a shoot with the Varicam and it was in a room packed with people and basically no hope for adding light. The final product is excellent.
Exteriors where there's sunlight look EXCELLENT with the HVX. Sunlight does wonders for the camera.
In closing: If you're going HVX with interiors... blast light on everything.
"Specifically, the concern is camera movement, panning, tilting, zooming, etc"
Now others have added more detail concerning light/interior/exterior - think you'll have to decide because either of these cams can do the above.
Or give some more detail ...
Smaller, lighter cf bigger, heavier - are there constraints space-wise, which may not suit a full size cam and lens ? Tripod or some other rig ?
Now others have added more detail concerning light/interior/exterior - think you'll have to decide because either of these cams can do the above.
Or give some more detail ...
Smaller, lighter cf bigger, heavier - are there constraints space-wise, which may not suit a full size cam and lens ? Tripod or some other rig ?
Lenilenapi
Carbonite Member
Zooming the HVX cannot hold a candle to any professional 2/3" camera.
Its just not possible to execute smooth starts and stops.
Its just not possible to execute smooth starts and stops.
Vincent Pascoe
Well-known member
why do you use the zoom in the first place?...jk...
no the biggest avantage of the varicam is the 2/3 inch chips...(expecaly when compareing the HVX/M2 vs Varicam...)
Varicam has much less noise... and a little more lattatude and little shallower depth of feild then the stock HVX lens...
and yes you can get some very nice pro lenses for the Varicam...
VP
www.vincentpascoe.com
www.myspace.com/vincentpascoe
no the biggest avantage of the varicam is the 2/3 inch chips...(expecaly when compareing the HVX/M2 vs Varicam...)
Varicam has much less noise... and a little more lattatude and little shallower depth of feild then the stock HVX lens...
and yes you can get some very nice pro lenses for the Varicam...
VP
www.vincentpascoe.com
www.myspace.com/vincentpascoe
2/3 chip is DEFINATELY the biggest advantage, and a VERY big advantage it is. But is it as much advantage as the cost, well, that depends on your clients and your level of shooting. I cant afford the Varicam to own, although I do shoot with it once in a while. I can afford the HVX so I do the best I can with it, and that means LOTS of light.
Christian
Member
if you don't really need variable frame rates, a HDW750 would perfectly do. Together with DigiPrimes or an ENG CineStyle Zoom (or both if possible) you'll get very good results in a lot of lighting situations, be it low light oder sunlight or whatever.
It's almost half the rent of a varicam...
It's almost half the rent of a varicam...
DavidBeier
Veteran
The 2/3 chip is where it's at and is the real reason why you'll want a Varicam.
In doors you'll enjoy much better low light performance with less noise.
Out doors you'll enjoy more lattitude (1-2 stops) which can help when dealing with harsh sunlight.
2/3 also means a bigger imaging device so even the standard zoom lense that you get with the camera will provide a more shallow depth of field (if that's your thing) and you can swap out lenses with the Varicam.
In doors you'll enjoy much better low light performance with less noise.
Out doors you'll enjoy more lattitude (1-2 stops) which can help when dealing with harsh sunlight.
2/3 also means a bigger imaging device so even the standard zoom lense that you get with the camera will provide a more shallow depth of field (if that's your thing) and you can swap out lenses with the Varicam.
The Engineer
Active member
The difference between Varicam and HVX is about the same as the difference between a cart pulled by a cronically starved horse and a formula 1 racing car. Not a lot, both move forward... eventually.
Nik Manning
Well-known member
How about HVX vs HDX
How about HVX vs HDX
"For shooters of small-format HD, the move up to the HDX900 is mostly motivated by this one issue. The HDX's larger 2/3in. chipset and more sophisticated processing deliver vastly better low-light performance for not that much greater investment. This means we can produce quieter, more professional-looking images in a wider range of conditions (including low-light scenes that require less fill or frontal wash), which equates to simpler, less time-consuming setups and more pages of script covered per day. Good low-light performance pays the bills!"
It really seems like a better camera than the varicam in a lot of ways and It can use the FireStore FS-100.
How about HVX vs HDX
Would the HDX900 fit your needs. It is way less than the varicam and still has 2/3 inch ccds. In this article http://digitalcontentproducer.com/cameras/revfeat/handson_hdx/Christian said:
"For shooters of small-format HD, the move up to the HDX900 is mostly motivated by this one issue. The HDX's larger 2/3in. chipset and more sophisticated processing deliver vastly better low-light performance for not that much greater investment. This means we can produce quieter, more professional-looking images in a wider range of conditions (including low-light scenes that require less fill or frontal wash), which equates to simpler, less time-consuming setups and more pages of script covered per day. Good low-light performance pays the bills!"
It really seems like a better camera than the varicam in a lot of ways and It can use the FireStore FS-100.
Justyn
Veteran
Good Point Nik... I'd go that route too. I also agree with Darwin that the low-light and the need to have a ton of light is the somewhat drawback on intereriors. ON exterior shoots the difference is slight.
The other Major advantage of the HVX is that you don't have to rent a HD Deck and fiddle with that nightmare. I learned the hardway that you don't want to have slow-motion and normal speed stuff on the same DVCPRO HD tape. It took me almost a half a day to get that thing sorted out. Was very very tempermental deck on the firewire side.
The other Major advantage of the HVX is that you don't have to rent a HD Deck and fiddle with that nightmare. I learned the hardway that you don't want to have slow-motion and normal speed stuff on the same DVCPRO HD tape. It took me almost a half a day to get that thing sorted out. Was very very tempermental deck on the firewire side.
ozduc
Well-known member
As most people have touched on light and chip sizes, I wont even go there seen as your specific question was about camera movement, zooms, pans & tilts.
As someone has already mentioned to get a really smooth zoom start and stop like you can get with a larger lens, you will need a remote. Pans and tilts are also harder to get really smooth with a smaller camera than they are with a heavier camera. Not impossible but certainly harder. If you go with the HVX instead of the Varicam make sure you rent a REALLY GOOD tripod and fluid head. Doing hand held is also harder to keep steady with a lighter camera.
As someone has already mentioned to get a really smooth zoom start and stop like you can get with a larger lens, you will need a remote. Pans and tilts are also harder to get really smooth with a smaller camera than they are with a heavier camera. Not impossible but certainly harder. If you go with the HVX instead of the Varicam make sure you rent a REALLY GOOD tripod and fluid head. Doing hand held is also harder to keep steady with a lighter camera.