save for HVX or buy DVX?

PatrickLawler said:
sony vx2000 = arguably most popular skate video camera out there, cheap and good low light
sony pd150 = vx2000 but with xlr inputs
sony pd170 = slightly bigger than the pd150 not too many major changes as far as I know
panasonic hpx170 = the new smaller cheaper hvx200 does all the same stuff but has no tape deck saving space, weight, and price, but then you can only shoot p2.

I would totally go with the hpx170 it seems like the best bet for you. Don't go standard def if you can afford an HD + 24p camera trust me, I'm glad I didn't. Plus you can always shoot SD on an HD cam, and who knows you won't always be shooting skate videos, the 170 is a great camera for the transition between amateur and prosumer/professional camerawork.
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I've actually heard of a lot of skate filmers selling their vx2000s/vx2100s back to buy vx1000s. The vx2k does have extremely better low light, but the vx1k produces way richer colors in the day time. Not to mention that the vx1's fisheye is wider than the vx2k's

I'm kinda leaning more toward the HVX200. I like it's weight for more fluid run/line shooting, and it's tape deck for back up. Is there any reason I should take the 170 over the 200?
 
I personally love the HVX200 and HVX205a (yeah, it's weird, but that's the model number on the camera, it came yesterday. I think it's a 200a, but straight from Japan. Got it for $3700 brand new.). However, if you are as budget-conscious as you seem, I would highly recommend waiting for the HMC150. It should come with the same lens and 3-CCD imagers as the HPX170/HVX200a, but with a slight loss of quality going to AVCHD instead of DVCProHD.

Now, the reason I bring up budget is simply because of HD storage media. P2 cards are still really expensive, and SD cards are CHEAP. Even class 4 SD cards are incredibly inexpensive compared to similarly sized P2 cards. It can do 1080/24p, 720/60p and 1080/60i, which it seems like you had an interest in from your earlier posts. It also doesn't seem like you would need the HD SDI output of the HPX170.

As far as low light shooting goes, the new imagers in the 205a seem to work a lot better in low light than the 200. I posted a split screen comparison in an earlier post.

Just my 2c, but if budget is of great importance, as it is in most application, your storage media should be a consideration. The HMC150 has the cheapest HD storage media of the Panasonic offerings. Although if you want to start in SD and buy P2 cards as you can afford them, I would opt for the HVX200a and start out with MiniDV tapes.
 
mrbrycel said:
I've actually heard of a lot of skate filmers selling their vx2000s/vx2100s back to buy vx1000s. The vx2k does have extremely better low light, but the vx1k produces way richer colors in the day time. Not to mention that the vx1's fisheye is wider than the vx2k's

I'm kinda leaning more toward the HVX200. I like it's weight for more fluid run/line shooting, and it's tape deck for back up. Is there any reason I should take the 170 over the 200?
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the hpx170 will be cheaper and more compact than the hvx200 and shoot only to p2. That's the only real difference.
 
PatrickLawler said:
the hpx170 will be cheaper and more compact than the hvx200 and shoot only to p2. That's the only real difference.
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Well, that plus it's got dozens and dozens of new features, it's way more light sensitive with less noise, it's got a way wider lens, and ... all sorts of other stuff. It's a pretty significant upgrade.
 
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