JOHN MATRIX: "Remembah HVX when I promised to sell you lest?"

M

mcbob

Veteran
HVX: "That's right, Matrix, you did!"

JOHN MATRIX: "I lied."

HVX: "AAAAAUUUUUUGGHGGGGHHHHH!!!"


Maybe a year ago, I waxed about how I couldn't possibly envision modest production needs in the near future which my HVX couldn't meet. By a curious series of events, I was bartered a low-hour HMC150, which appears to effectively serve in exactly the same capacity with cheaper media and arguably better serves the jobs for which I still utilized the HVX. Yes, it lacks some of the customizability and flexibility. Yes, it doesn't have Firewire. Yes, the EVF is atrocious. Yes, the image is slightly sharper yet somehow doesn't look quite as good. On the other hand, it's less useless in low light, has one more gradation of ND, has a closer-focusing, wider zoom lens, and is lighter - it still weighs less even if I affix my Ninja2 for occasional 4:2:2 needs. Last year, work for which the HVX was exclusively necessary totaled $400 in invoicing. I'm not sure how to place a dollar amount on the fuss of bringing my decrepit Dell D410 on long shoots to offload P2 cards.

So, sorry, HVX... it's not a change I would have made if the other camera hadn't fallen into my lap, but I fear our long relationship is at an end.
 
But WHY?!!!

"Yes, the EVF is atrocious. Yes, the image is slightly sharper yet somehow doesn't look quite as good."

How could you? How can you trade the beautiful HVX for something you describe as having an 'atrocious' EVF and 'doesn't look quite as good'? The betrayal! The insanity! On behalf of the HVX, I object!

You trade her in for something that appears to be merely more convenient? Maybe it's just my emotions causing me to be biased, being that HVX200 is my first love, but I cannot imagine how you can abandon such a beautiful camera. It just doesn't make sense to me. For a lesser quality one? Are you nuts??!!!
Convenience is really that important to you? What about your long history together? That counts for nothing?! You are going to cast her aside like that, so quickly?! Then you don't deserve her!
I cannot imagine ever giving up my beautiful baby. I fell in love with it the moment I saw footage from it. And I've dreamed about and desired no other camera since then. I waited at least two good years to have it and now I finally do and I couldn't be happier. Now to hear you throw away yours like it's nothing. Trading her in for a different model. Maybe one day I'll understand. But today is not that day. I have no intention of ever being unfaithful to my camera.
Sorry, I shouldn't judge, but I can't help it. I couldn't imagine even looking at another camera with serious intentions.
 
Both cameras are awful (by today standards). Low rez, graaainy, have bad focus rings(it's not just that they are not manual but they also go beyond infinity), bad in low light, clip reds in the highlights, etc, etc. Leave the dogma behind and get yourself a better camera:):)
 
I'm willing to bet someone with extensive experience and know how, can make either of the two cams produce beautiful breathtaking footage even by "todays standards" As long as the shooter has a good sense of shot composition, timing, and access to good locations, the rest is in the POST PROCESSING, it's all about the post. I'm not saying your not gonna have to work for it, you will, but then again, what serious cinematographer doesn't?
 
Sure, they're "awful," but there's still more than one company doing high quality professional work with them to this very day - they and the equally "awful" 5D/7D still dominate my local broadcast media market. I've had the HVX for just over 5 years... over 150 in 'camera years'... and know how to deal with it and its cousins' limitations, tweak them, and exploit their strengths.

In the meantime, I already have two "better" cameras, the likewise imperfect and maligned AF100 and GH2. Same deal with them... I've learned how to use them. They're paid for and then some. If a slightly better small-sensor camera hadn't fallen into my lap, I'd soldier on with the HVX for the low-to-mid-budget quick jobs that help round out the monthly paycheck.

I'd love a PMW-300, C300, or HPX-600 today, despite whatever weaknesses they possess. Budgetary reality speaks otherwise. Somehow, I'll survive imperfection.
 
Me and the HVX, 7 years now. Got an AF100 to shoot a feature, an FS700 to shoot the current feature, continued to use the HVX for 2nd camera for both. Still use it for most all ordinary jobs, like interviews, commercials and band promos - anything that doesn't require extreme slomo. I'm in the process of trying to make the sharper FS700 image look more like film, the HVX image just plain LOOKS more like film when the lighting is right (the Panasonic mojo). It's generated $20 for every dollar I've invested in it and never needed a repair, despite a couple of falls to the ground. They'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands!
 
heh... a month and a half later, and I still have it... mostly because nobody will buy the dang thing.

It's getting called up for use in a local PBS pilot at the end of the month, and it'll do fine.
 
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