Side-by-Side with Sony and Pani

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DTeubner

Member
Here's something I created today. I'm comparing the Sony HXR-NX5U vs Panasonic AG-HMC150, strickly from a zoom, auto-settings basis. I will do a more thorough test of the Sony in the next couple of days.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grBonQCEywE

The HMC150 shot a little dark on full-automatic, but I typically use a manual setting. Both cameras are very good. The Sony is heavier and has a build like Canon's XH-A1. The HMC150 is light weight, and I've grown accustomed to the lightness over the past year using it.
 
Nice comparison. The sony looks milky to me but then i am partial to the Panasonic "look" and the way their cameras render motion. You just cant beat that "mojo" IMO. Im sure the Sony is a really nice cam the 20X zoom is a something I would like on the 150.
 
Nice to see one of your vids posted again david... let me go watch it...

Ahh good to see the 150 is holding its ground... Although I do like that 20x zoom :)

What about some tests with the same shutter/aperture/wb? Particularly low light?
 
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Thanks for your comparison David.

I would say the HMC-150 looks a bit better. I do wish the HMC-150 had a few more color controls to get that little bit of red tint out of the camera image.

I also have come to enjoy the weight of the HMC-150 and think it is one of its strongest attributes.

Surprisingly the Sony is lacking some detail. Its viewfinder seems like the strongest reason over the HMC-150. I do like the gamma on the Sonys as it gives one more leeway in post if one does not want to crush blacks. The HMC-150 and its siblings tend to not offer a really open gamma.

The HMC-150 is about the best value around especially now that AVCHD is being taken seriously by NLE makers.
 
Nice comparison.

Overall, pretty equal, but the Panny seemed a tad crisper. Plus, the 20X zoom isn't as important to me as the wider lens of the Panny.
 
I used the default Sony settings. They provide up to six presets and perhaps some of the others give a crisper, blacker image. I do like the HMC150's light weight. And the HMC150 does seem a little crisper, too.
 
D.R. Gates said:
Plus, the 20X zoom isn't as important to me as the wider lens of the Panny.
Click to expand...

Interesting how 20x sounds so much longer but when shots are put next to each other it does not seem like a big difference. Nice to have though.

I am still amazed that the ~2 year old HMC-150 is showing more detail than a new Sony of the same ilk. Pretty cool for the Panny owners.
 
Bassman2003 said:
I am still amazed that the ~2 year old HMC-150 is showing more detail than a new Sony of the same ilk. Pretty cool for the Panny owners.
Click to expand...

I think one thing to keep in mind is this *IS* Youtube video, so it's been compressed a few time over. I wouldn't use this as the end all to be all of detail tests. Plus, it was auto-everything

Still, the two do definitely stack up nicely against each other, with my personal preference being the Panny's picture. It will be interesting to see what Cannon does with the new format they announced last month compared to these two cameras.
 
These are great, many thanks. I used to have the DVX100A and loved it, but am not tied to Panisonic...just want the best I can get for my money. One thing to not underestimate is the amount of time it takes to convert your footage over to something you can use in your NLE. With the Sony they use 2:3 pulldown when shooting in 24P, which means you are going to have to use Cineform (or equivelent) to convert it to a true 24P. Lot's of footage equals lots of time. One thing cool about the HMC is it can record to 24P directly, but of course it will be in the AVCHD format, so I am not sure if I am going to have to still convert to cineform regardless, but my hope is that I can record to 720P and have a nice editing experience without having to do any conversion at all. I will post my results in a couple of weeks as I have just ordered my HMC.
 
I prefer the look of the HMC. And in the first setup, the Panasonic looks darker because of the auto iris. In manual mode, it would be different.

And to me, the Panasonic image really look sharper.
 
If this was the only comparison I had to make the decision to buy one over the other there is no way I'd buy the Sony. The 150 picture quality was far superior to the Sony in this YouTube version. So I'm still a happy 150 owner, but hey, Panasonic! Get me a camera with 2 SD slots recording simultaneously! And how about eliminating the hiss on the headphone jack? A slightly better preamp might do the trick. Look at what JVC gave their folks for a viewfinder in the 700U to see what you didn't do well. How about SMPTE for getting real dual camera situations under control?

Maybe move the audio pots to the back and move the headphone jack and Component out to the side? Ditch the USB out, I've not used it once. And lastly, I'd love to be able to shoot time lapse with this camera. For $3500 or so, I should be able to do that. And while you are at it, give me the ability to label an SD card in the field...That's not too much to ask. Love this camera.

A loyal fan...
 
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There have been a couple different tests done both here and on other sites that seem to consistently show that the Panny has the edge in overall sharpness and PQ. Interesting, given differences in chip design.
I am sticking with my 150's.
 
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could you come up with a new video comparison wile turning any kind of auto off please?

Thanks. I watched your xha1 hmc150 comparison before i bought an hmc150. I appreciate your efforts.
 
With all of the problems being reported with the NX5, from buffer overflows to backfocus issues, I'd wait for an update before even considering this camera.

Stick with the HMC150. The NX5 just ain't ready for prime time.
 
based on the shots, i dont knw if sony's gamma is tweakable but i prefer panny's gamma

so far, the 150 seems a better buy.. for one thing they're both almost the same in quality but the 150 is way chaeper...
would love to have some of the nx5 features on the 150
 
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