Is it WORTH It?

J

JasonDexter

Member
So im Doing Commercials and No/Low Budget music videos. ive used the dvx100. so i want to purchace one. my issue is HD. im afraid ill get the camera, then in a year or so people will want only HD and then my dvx is obsoulete and i have to get an HD camera. so is it worth it to still get a SD camera even one as nice as the DVX100B.

i guess if i really need to do HD for a job i can get the HV20,

any ideas?

24p is a must


thanks
Jason
 
JasonDexter said:
but do you think the dvx100b will be obsolete in a year or so?
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That's not really the right question (and it has about ten different answers, depending on your definition of "obsolete"). The question is, will you be doing something in a year which requires more than what the DVX can do?
 
if your doing a no budget or low budget music video for someone and they say they want HD,,,remind them it is no/low budget. If they want HD it will be $3500 plus. Then buy the HD camera.
 
I was asking myself the same question but I just bit the bullet and bought the DVX. Once its in your hands and you ACTUALLY use it...you won't regret it. Watch some of Smettli's stuff in the clips section. Its absolutely amazing.
 
I am not doing commercials, but I know that all stations are suppose to switch over to HD real soon (chime in anyone). That means your SD camera will be worthless for any broadcast work that will only accept HD. I agree with mikkowilson that the DVX 100,a,b will be fine for quite a while. My DVX 100 is great for weddings, small promotional videos, etc, but I would really like to upgrade to HD so I could start selling stock video footage though. Since selling stock footage, commercial work, high end corporate (correct me if I am wrong) is pretty much an HD market.
 
Actually all stations will be converting to digital by 2009 - no date set for all HD. I imagine stations will be displaying digital 480 signals for some time as well as uprezzing sd to hd for a while too. I'd go with the DVX. Get good with it make a few bucks and then go HD when you can afford to. Dont throw your entire budget onto your camera - lights, audio, camera supports, etc. arent cheap either. If you REAALLY need HD for a project, rent the camera and pass along the rental fees to the client. Low budget and HD dont exactly go together.
 
Andromeda mod...... I've used the HVX200 extensively, and was disappointed with a lot things (P2 file system is a little iffy, compression, ect...) I bought the Andromeda because I wanted a "no holds barred" camera. The work flow is more like film when dealing with audio, but the quality is just killer. I'm already finding people interested in the system. One director is very much into the film work flow (keeping audio and video separate), but hates the film time line with having to wait long periods to see his footage. With Andromeda, he can see his dailies on set, and be editing that same night, all the while not taking a hit on image quality.

I think lots of 24p mini DV cameras will be around for a long time to come. People who shoot for the web see no need for HD yet. If you know for a fact that your stuff will probably never be projected on larger screens, go SD, it just makes sense,
 
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jdajda said:
Actually all stations will be converting to digital by 2009 - no date set for all HD. I imagine stations will be displaying digital 480 signals for some time as well as uprezzing sd to hd for a while too. .
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I agree. This HD conversion has been on te table for sometime now. I don't think it will happen overnight. The dvx is a great camera still if you take the time to properly setup your shots correctly. Do the video and if its not enough for your no budget client then screw it. No money, no hd, its as simple as that.
 
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I'm not certain which one is the right choice for you - but I can tell you this when it comes to commercials. In my market (Austin) while many local stations may be BROADCASTING HD, all of their local programming is still SD that is just upconverted upon broadcasting. The majority of the stations are still using BetaSP, and one is using DVCPro as their main format.

Point is, even now that a few broadcast an HD signal, when I shoot local commercials my clients are still only needing a BetaSP master to give to the stations.

Again, this all depends on the specifics of your market - if you want to get a feel for it, don't be afraid to just pick up the phone and call around to your local stations - ask for the production department and just ask them what formats they accept, and if they actually see upgrading to HD anytime in the near future. The question shouldn't be as general as "is a DVX going to be obsolete in a year," but more like "is a DVX going to be obsolete in a year for the clients I will have in my market?"

Whether you get the DVX or not depends on alot of other factors, I know - but as far as local commercials go I don't see any problem with using a DVX for at LEAST the next year.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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GO HD I say!

GO HD I say!

Go HD, that's what I say!

I only got my DVX 6 months ago but I'm already looking to go high def. The reason is that HD has become the new buzzword around town. We all know that it's not a big deal but the world out there have got their mouths around this HD word, feel they understand it and they’re all hollering it.

When I got my camera and saw how amazing it was I became interested to see if I could actually make some money using it. On the whole the adverts I see (in the UK) are asking for HD. Even when it's totally unnecessary, like, "HD cam operator wanted for days shoot on Asian workout video, will be broadcast on the internet" (on the internet, where you'd never need HD)

Save and buy a HD camera and God will bless you.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
I'm not certain which one is the right choice for you - but I can tell you this when it comes to commercials. In my market (Austin) while many local stations may be BROADCASTING HD, all of their local programming is still SD that is just upconverted upon broadcasting. The majority of the stations are still using BetaSP, and one is using DVCPro as their main format.
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SD BetaSP is still the standard for most Broadcast outlets, and will be for some time. We are broadcasting digital, but everything going into the transmitter originates as a SD signal. This thread brings up an important issue in that people confuse HD with digital broadcasting. When you talk HD, then an argument starts about what is true HD. 720p looks great, but some will say that only 1080i is true HD.
 
tfrank said:
SD BetaSP is still the standard for most Broadcast outlets, and will be for some time. We are broadcasting digital, but everything going into the transmitter originates as a SD signal. This thread brings up an important issue in that people confuse HD with digital broadcasting. When you talk HD, then an argument starts about what is true HD. 720p looks great, but some will say that only 1080i is true HD.
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720p is true hd. Theres 2 formats 720p and 1080i. 1080p is a new emerging format that is derived from 1080i. 1080p looks incredible, but so does good 720.
 
For what it is worth...the "new" betacam of the future for Amerian broadcast network news outlets seems to be Sony HD XD cams. Beta is still the default preference for the good money international freelance work. Digibeta more so in Europe.

If I was buying a camera today, I'd be thinking of the future instead of firmly placing myself in a catch-up position.

That means spending the money now to get as close to HD as possible.

But that's just me. :beer:
 
hey man, im in the same position as you, im about to buy a dvx. i do short films, weddings, music videos and commercials for local stores. hd has been crossing my mind like crazy, but its not in my budget right now (since im only 16). this is what im going to do. im going to get the dvx, do some music videos, commercials and some other stuff and within the next year save up my money and upgrade to hd.
 
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