Is the HVX200 the one for me?

A

AestheticIndulgence

New member
Ok, well so far I only have a GS300 and now you're probably thinking, "Well, that's quite the jump from $500 to $5,000."

You see my plan with a camcorder is to make that film like appearance. I know all the environmental factors that come into play such as lighting, 24p and angles. But can the HVX200 pull it off for me? I've seen the DVX100 do it before and since the HVX200 is basically a step up from it it should be able to do it to.

You see I'm stuck between three differenct camcorders:
  • HV20: It's a new consumer HD camcorder with 24p and 1080 performance. The HV10 had amazing quality but I'm not sure if it can pull of "the look"
  • Canon XL2: I've seen great film like footage from this but now it's being calledo outdated and I won't want to invest in old technology
  • HVX200: I'm worried if this is going over my head for what I want. I've only seen a couple of videos in here that have pulled off the professional look such as the Mr. Deity videos and the one Mist trailer.
So which camcorder should I get? I just want something that will provide a film like appearance, or at least has the potential for it.
 
Film look is more than 24p.

It also is shallow DOF.

Out the box, the HVX200 has controls to achieve a better filmatic look that you will not see on the HV20.

Of the ones you mentioned, the HVX200 I believe is much better,

HV20 and XL2 also record mpeg2, interframe which is heavily compressed and difficult in post -- where more film look can be achieved.

Don't think the HV20 shoots true progressive either
 
H-1 not XL2

H-1 not XL2

I think you are thinking about the XL-H1 not XL-2 that is the 3rd generation of the SD XL series camcorders by canon. The H-1 shoots on the MPEG Codec/ HDV. Still the XL-1, 1c and 2 have helped me get tell great storie sover the last 9 years. I still have 2 Gl-2 and 2 XL-2's that get used for DVD programing, but once i bought my HVX200 it was hello sweet heart. You know the "WOW factor".

Jim Kinsey
DP SWP Inc.
 
See what bugs me is that the old SD HV10 footage seems to look as good as most HVX200 footage I'm seeing around here sans maybe 3 or four trailers here and there.

There's about a $3,000 difference between a HVX200 and a HV20 which is what I've narrowed myself down to. I don't want to overburden myself with the HVX200 but I don't want to limit myself with an HV20. I've checked these forums alot, along with others on this type of topic and most people say wait until April to see how the new HV20 fares out. I probably won't be getting a new camcorder until I get back to my job (only in high school you see) in the summer or something along those lines.

http://downloads.canon.com/seethedifference/HV10/HV10_480P_H.264.mov

That's the video that's making me have second thoughts about the HVX200.
 
What sort of projects are you planning to undertake with the camera? And are you, or do you know a good DOP? These are major factors here.

Video is inherently a different medium to film, and whilst it shares many qualities, it struggles to look like film. Just as film would struggle to look like video.

Yes, of all the cameras you suggest, the HVX will produce the closest results. But not without a good DOP, an adaptor, and very important - a high quality tape grade. Grading the image works wonders, but it costs money.
 
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