HVX200 in 2012

T

TheFarmer

Member
I am in the market for a new camera, and I was looking at the HVX since they can be bought relativly cheaply. Is this still a good choice in 2012 since it was released 7 years ago? What would be better for me (run and gun doc/event)?
 
If you're looking for inexpensive, an HMC150 would probably be the better choice. It's got better ergonomics, it's lightweight, it uses inexpensive memory cards and can record 12 hours on a single card if need be, and the imaging chips are better than the ones in the original HVX200 (same as in the HVX200A).
 
As Barry said, the HMC150 would be a grteat choice. I personally still own an HVX200 (original model) and shoot all my stuff on it. My clients love the way the work comes out. It's still just as good of a camera now as the day it came out. it's just that there are other, newer, things out now. My HVX200 has served me well and it won't be going anywhere soon. The media is expensive though.
 
I have both an AF100 and an original HVX and find myself grabbing the HVX for typical weekly projects like author and business profiles. I'm using the AF to shoot a feature and enjoying the interchangeable lenses and better resolution, but for web and DVD video, the HVX still does the job nicely. P2 cards are more than SD but WAY less than they cost originally- and reliable as it gets.
 
If it works for you, use it. For the price of a used HVX200 ($800-1500, depending on media included... if none, add ~$1000 for 2 64GBs), you will not find an equally-capable complete camera package. Toss on your favorite mics and sticks and go shoot, then come home and edit/grade/manipulate the rich, easy-peeling 10 bit 4:2:2 DVCPROHD on an equally antiquated computer with ease. Need shallow DOF too? Pick up a used 35mm adapter, a few prime lenses, and a good light for maybe $250 (most of that cost being the light). Other second-hand accessories for these cameras are also dirt cheap due to their wide adoption and DSLR-motivated mass market dump.

Caveats would be if you need great low light sensitivity, audio auto-gain, regularly shoot more than 4 hours worth of footage in a day, or prefer handing off SD media. Definite ticks in its favor are if you still get the occasional odd request for SD-MiniDV tape delivery (don't laugh, it happens on some small gigs).

Best contenders are the aforementioned HVX200a (a bit more expensive), HPX170 (no deck, lighter, pricier), HMC150 (SD, 4:2:0 AVCHD, lighter, pricier), AC130 (newer, longer zoom, AVCHD, pricier), and possibly even second-hand Sony EX1's. The EX1 is still holding its price well, and for good reason.
 
If it works for you, use it. For the price of a used HVX200 ($800-1500, depending on media included... if none, add ~$1000 for 2 64GBs), you will not find an equally-capable complete camera package. Toss on your favorite mics and sticks and go shoot, then come home and edit/grade/manipulate the rich, easy-peeling 10 bit 4:2:2 DVCPROHD on an equally antiquated computer with ease. Need shallow DOF too? Pick up a used 35mm adapter, a few prime lenses, and a good light for maybe $250 (most of that cost being the light). Other second-hand accessories for these cameras are also dirt cheap due to their wide adoption and DSLR-motivated mass market dump.

Caveats would be if you need great low light sensitivity, audio auto-gain, regularly shoot more than 4 hours worth of footage in a day, or prefer handing off SD media. Definite ticks in its favor are if you still get the occasional odd request for SD-MiniDV tape delivery (don't laugh, it happens on some small gigs).

Best contenders are the aforementioned HVX200a (a bit more expensive), HPX170 (no deck, lighter, pricier), HMC150 (SD, 4:2:0 AVCHD, lighter, pricier), AC130 (newer, longer zoom, AVCHD, pricier), and possibly even second-hand Sony EX1's. The EX1 is still holding its price well, and for good reason.
 
Instead of the original HVX200, think HVX200a or the HPX170. The latter have a better chip set, and the HPX170 in particular, has some nice improvements over and HVX model.

Grant
 
I bought an unused HVX200 less than a year ago. I've been really happy with it but if I could have my money back and try again I would go for the HPX170 purely for the weight and form factor. I thought I was being clever getting a dual tape/p2 capable camera and the tape got me through my first three months but I haven't used tape since I got my first p2 card and I can't see myself ever using it again. p2 is expensive but worth every penny. Spend the extra and get a HPX. Same camera, somewhat better sensor, but more importantly without the extra bulk of the redundant tape support.
 
HPX all the way. I loved the HVX, but its time has passed. I do like having the option of tape though, a few times it got us out of trouble shooting on unfriendly ground where we would just pop out that blank tape and hand it over to people that were pissed with us.
 
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