Pivotal Question - Go Exclusive GH1?

Yes my man you are correct in that regard, that's the thing... i just need to divorce myself of the sentimental value it has, and yes cameras due have it, and look at it like that for sure. But at this same time, make sure it won't hurt my business not having it...
 
seammcleod, was in the same situation with my HVX a little while ago... spent a lot of money on purchasing it, cards, firestore but wasn't using it very much at all when the gh1 came along. The point for me was the value of the HVX was dropping fast, the FS100 like a stone and same for the P2 card which I spent a large chunk of change on. In MY situation, I wasn't using it enough for paid gigs to justify keeping it. Sure it could do a lot of things, the gh1 can't do but for me, after wiping a tear, I didn't miss it.
All the best for your decision.
 
Though HD files require a bit more render time et.all, I find the tapeless workflow so much quicker and nicer that everyone I work with gets HD whether they want it or not!

In my case, I keep using archival footage in my work. Very big hassle to have to make new footage match the old (in terms of format) - even if it is doable. Much easier to just shoot with the same format since this is what cliient pays for.

If I dont consider this aspect of my work, I will dump the PD170 and go 100% Gh1 in a flash.
 
Hey Sean, I film and photograph Weddings and Events as a paid hobby. I've been through so many SD cameras, but recently I bought 2 Canon HV30's (I love the DV tapes to record HD) video sold my DVX100b (was getting to heavy for my injured shoulder) and 2 Pv-gs500 on ebay. ). I also used the oldie but goodie Olympus E-300 and E500 for photography. I was worried about clients seeing me with the Canons and not taking me serious (even though clients didn't see the cameras until the day of the wedding). But any way, during my 2 month break between weddings, I did a lot of non wedding related videos to use as samples to show my interested clients. I let my clients know, that I've changed equipment and here are some beautiful samples for my new camera. All of my couples loved what the saw, and signed on. My potential clients like the product and not the equipment. Now that I have a GH1, I'm going to sell 1 Canon HV30 and my Olympus E300. I've just updated my samples with videos shot with the combo of GH1 and HV30.
So until I build up my new wedding video demos with footage of GH1 and HV30. I'll continue to show couples full wedding DVDs to show how their wedding will look with 2 camera and I'll show the new creative film like look, with my new equipment. So far, everything has been working well for me. Now some people may cringe over my choice of equipment, but this is my hobby and clients are sold on the look of their video not the equipment. Oh yeah shooting on SD is scary for me, I like the comfort knowing I have my clients original video also my personal family videos on DV for archiving.
Thanks
 
Yeah that is a concern but they way i get over it is saying to myself yeah digital acquisition can get corrupted by tapes can get messed up too! haha... I think it's safe to say that from all the support from people here and thinking it through, it makes sense economically and creatively to sell and focus on the GH1 as my new camera...

So... anyone wanna buy a DVX? haha
 
Sean,

I'm in the same boat as you my man. My dvx100b and all its goodies are sitting around in 2 large pelican cases. I'm having thoughts of selling it but cant get myself to part with such a wonderful device. If you consider what it all cost us to what its worth now; it isn't worth selling.

The key question here is do we believe we can still sell a service shooting sd video? If yes.. even a few more times then its worth holding on to i guess.

But then, what prevents us from shooting 720p on the GH1 and down sizing to sd should the need arise?

This is a tough call. I can prob fit 2 GH1s and a tons of accessories into one of those cases and travel lighter.

The thing that still knots my stomach up is shooting on SD. Last month, my first GH1 corrupted 2 memory cards with important personal stuff on it... I shipped it back for another unit. (there's another post of mine screaming about it here).

So as you can imagine, yeah tape can get messed up - but with all the tapes shot I've yet to lose one. My initial intro into SD scared the sh!t outta me...

But ultimately, I think I'm going to hold onto the dvx for now. Maybe another 6 months or so. We'll see where we are business wise and how the technology progresses / improves in the coming months.
 
Last month, my first GH1 corrupted 2 memory cards with important personal stuff on it... I shipped it back for another unit. (there's another post of mine screaming about it here).

Albert, I've been following your posts on this subject on this forum and elsewhere. Given the content of the video you lost I can certainly understand why you might wish to place the blame squarely on the GH1 and ignore the possibility of operator error. However, I have to say I don't think you are being entirely fair or accurate by flatly stating the GH1 corrupted 2 memory cards.

Wouldn't it be more accurate to admit the possibility that your A-Data card could just possibly have been a bad card. And that by taking the other card out of the Canon and using it in the GH1 without formatting the card first may have been inviting trouble?
 
If you consider what it all cost us to what its worth now; it isn't worth selling.

Well....not really. Let's say you can sell what you've got for $500. If you're not using it, and you don't sell it, that's like setting 500 $1 bills on a window ledge and letting the wind carry them away $1 at a time.

Strictly speaking, if the camera is no longer making you money, it's no longer an asset (Puts money into your pocket), it's a liability (Takes money out of your pocket). You may only get 1/5th (or less) of what you originally paid, but that depreciation is just part of the cost of doing business.

That's unfortunate that you lost footage shooting on SD, but tapes have been known to jam and break from time to time too. Looking at the bigger, long-term picture, I personally find the "Private" folder of an SD card, backed-up to an online data-center like Backblaze or CrashPlan a lot safer than MiniDV tapes sitting on a shelf in my house.
 
No doubt about it... I don't disagree with the fact that those 2 corruptions could of been caused by the reasons you mention, however, as I've also mentioned in the posts this is the first time something like this has ever occurred in many years of shooting digital stills to memory cards.

Also being this is officially the first device I am using thats recording HD video onto a memory card instead of tape. To have something like this happen leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Needless to say, I replaced all the hardware involved and since the mem cards lost 2 to 1 against the cam, naturally I point my finger to the GH1.

Saying that one specific camera couldnt have possibly been defective/bad contacts/a short, etc would also be an unjust statement as we know that can happen.

But for the most part - I've yet to read about similar stories with the GH1 so I remain optimistic about the new unit.

Albert, I've been following your posts on this subject on this forum and elsewhere. Given the content of the video you lost I can certainly understand why you might wish to place the blame squarely on the GH1 and ignore the possibility of operator error. However, I have to say I don't think you are being entirely fair or accurate by flatly stating the GH1 corrupted 2 memory cards.

Wouldn't it be more accurate to admit the possibility that your A-Data card could just possibly have been a bad card. And that by taking the other card out of the Canon and using it in the GH1 without formatting the card first may have been inviting trouble?
 
Well.. if you dont see the 500 bux in front of you, they're not really getting blown away. But I hear what you're saying. Yeah, we've used it and made our money... Lets pass it on and at least get some cash.

Now regarding the SD again... I'd back it up to my local raid setup.. as well as another ext storage device.. that aint the problem. The cards died prior to even being able to get anything off them altogether.

But any case, this is a moot point by now.

Better yet - with all the online storage/bkup sites around, how can we choose one that wont vanish one day, files and all??

Well....not really. Let's say you can sell what you've got for $500. If you're not using it, and you don't sell it, that's like setting 500 $1 bills on a window ledge and letting the wind carry them away $1 at a time.

Strictly speaking, if the camera is no longer making you money, it's no longer an asset (Puts money into your pocket), it's a liability (Takes money out of your pocket). You may only get 1/5th (or less) of what you originally paid, but that depreciation is just part of the cost of doing business.

That's unfortunate that you lost footage shooting on SD, but tapes have been known to jam and break from time to time too. Looking at the bigger, long-term picture, I personally find the "Private" folder of an SD card, backed-up to an online data-center like Backblaze or CrashPlan a lot safer than MiniDV tapes sitting on a shelf in my house.
 
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