HPX250: Need to buy a 2nd 250 for a shoot.

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Davoosie

Member
I have a big shoot coming up that I will need a 2nd camera for. Money is not an issue since I can bill it back to the client. I was thinking of getting a 2nd 250 but have been eying the HPX370 too.

Aside from the obvious things like needing new batteries, etc.. Would there be any quality difference in the two cameras if cut between them? I've used full sized ENG cameras before and they are much more comfortable and easier to use for me than the compact HD's like the 250. In any case is the 370 an upgrade from the 250 and if so why?
 
An advantage I see is real servo zoom seesaw action where you can creep in and out w/ the 1/3" Fujinon lens (no abrupt stop at the end). Much easier for handheld because of the shoulder pad. This will be upgrade purchase to cover the HPX-250's limitations and stay within reasonable budget. They both will intercut quite seamlessly. But don't expect zero breathing focus on the HPX370's stock lens. The only Fujinon lens that has the least amount to virtually none focus breathing is the HA22x7.3 and/or the newly released HA19x7.4. You pretty much can do rack focus all day and don't see much of any annoying picture plane shift. But it's only on 2/3". On top of this, I recall you can do a - 3 dB gain on the 370 whereas the HPX-250 is only 0 dB.

Anton B. batteries and charger are not cheap. So is a heavier, quality fluid head tripod to support the added weight of the HPX-370.
 
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digitalgecko said:
In defence of the HPX250, Panasonic lowered 0db on this cam. So 0db on the 250 is equal to -3db on the 370.
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That's true for 0db vs -3db, but the lens on the 370 is much, much better for slow creep zooms. A client was not happy that I couldn't do a slow creep on my 250.
 
Thanks for all the info. I think I'll just spend the extra $1K and get a 370, too many good reasons not to. I already have 8 V-mount batteries for my BetaSP and HDCam that I can use with a quick plate swap on the 370
 
JohnnyD said:
That's true for 0db vs -3db, but the lens on the 370 is much, much better for slow creep zooms. A client was not happy that I couldn't do a slow creep on my 250.
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Agree. You can do slow to medium zooms, but not a creep. The one thing I could never figure out is that on these cams they have a switchable slow zoom lever that they put on the top handle, why not put that smaller rocker button next to the larger rocker on the lens. At least it would be a functional option you could operate while looking through EVF.
 
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