Snapping up the ol' 200's

S

StingrayPictures

Member
I've been into a couple of stores to price out a 200a, $5700 CDN seems to be the going price. I've found a brand new 200 on clearance for $4500. Is $1200 bucks worth the new touch ups on the 200a? That's like, quite a few more gigs of P2, in my eyes...

I'm not totally new to the 200, and I know about the CCD improvement on the 200a and the slightly wider lens, but I also haven't been running around shooting WFO for the last 2 years. Anyone?

:D
 
If you rarely (or never) shoot in low light, forget it. In bright conditions all the 200a will get you is a little wider angle, which is nice, but probably not worth the money. On the other hand, if you often shoot in low light the 200a is worth its weight in gold. It addressed that particularly significant weakness of the 200 amazingly well. For me, going with the 200a was no-brainer.
 
By "low light", do you mean shooting with natural/little light? I plan on shooting a lot of low key shots with lighting but don't know if it will turn out grainy with the HVX200.
 
For example, an interior candle-lit dinner table scene, with some very soft fill just to enhance the candles, would present a serious challenge to the 200. Add a lens adapter, especially a light-hungry one like an M2, and a 35mm lens, and you're basically hosed. You'll probably be forced to shoot WO on both camera and taking lens, and possibly a 1/24th shutter, resulting in a potentially blurry, ultra shallow DOF, noisy shot.

The 200a will probably still be challenged in those circumstances, but you'll have a half-stop better light sensitivity plus the ablility to use at least 6 db of gain (some even say 9) before you're in the same boat noise-wise. That's a BIG advantage. It could make the difference between a usable shot and an unusable one.

Again though, in well lit circumstances like outdoors during the day, the 200a's superior sensors won't mean anything aside from their better "smear" resistance (which was already pretty good on the 200). I haven't had a chance yet to get a handle on what that improvement really adds up to.

The low-light improvements are a godsend.
 
JPUSC said:
I plan on shooting a lot of low key shots with lighting but don't know if it will turn out grainy with the HVX200.
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You answered your own question. :)
Buy what you know you will need. That difference will be paid in just a gig or two and you'll never have to apologize for not having the "A".

We have both even though most of our gigs are well lit. The differences we've seen are significant. The 200-A will help us on those gigs that don't have "ideal" lighting conditions.
Still love the 200 though!
 
I think you could find better prices on the A.. and personally, go for the A. Just shot with both and it's a lot faster... Would be nice in quite a few locations...
 
Ted Spencer said:
The 200a will probably still be challenged in those circumstances, but you'll have a half-stop better light sensitivity plus the ablility to use at least 6 db of gain (some even say 9) before you're in the same boat noise-wise. That's a BIG advantage. It could make the difference between a usable shot and an unusable one.
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For two camera shows, is it easier to shoot with two exactly the same model cameras? i.e. Two HVX200 vs one HVX200 and one HVX200a? :laugh:

-Would it require taking extra steps while editing in Final Cut Pro 6 (or any editing software) to match the 720p footage from the HVX200 and the newer A version camera? In other words, if the lighting had been low enough for some shots, might the exposure and grain on the HVX200 shots be more noticeable and not match when compared with the HVX200a shots?

-Are there any savable settings on the new HVX200a, perhaps on SD card that would match the light sensitivity and grain characteristics of the HVX200?
 
I was in a similar dilema awhile ago and decided to go for the 200a. I ordered it from the states and had it shipped up here to Canada and it cost me $5800 shipped with taxes and came with a 16g P2 card, the hvx book and an extra battery. Just remember there is no import duties on Cameras ;)
 
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