HPX250: Something Weird

[Kolor-Pikker]

I've done another test today and shot the same chart at 10% intervals from 17-77mm (z50-Z99 in the VF) at f/2.8 and found some interesting things:
-The kit lens is completely horrible at 77mm, soft corners, tons of green/purple CA everywhere, actually, it's just plain soft.
-Greatly improves by 90%, there's less CA and the corners actually have some sharpness to them.
-At 80% the chart is actually black and white, instead of purple or some other mix of colors.
-60-70% look pretty good, and the lens is it's sharpest at 50% zoom, marked just under 20mm on the lens barrel.

I don't know happens at the wide end yet, but it probably gets worse again, what does surprise me the most though is that I shot everything at f/2.8 which is optimal for this lens.

 

[Mike Warren]

I've done another test today and shot the same chart at 10% intervals from 17-77mm (z50-Z99 in the VF) at f/2.8 and found some interesting things:

It would be great to see some frame captures.

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

It would be great to see some frame captures.

I have a psd where you can toggle the layers on Dropbox, but it's not very indicative of the camera's performance, because of aliasing introduced by the printer. I'm going to need a bigger and better target.

Here's the link anyway: https://www.dropbox.com/s/s29ro3vs5lrvefj/370 kit lens 17-77mm f:2.8 test.psd

Update: Printing a 15x ISO12233 chart on my large-format right now, maybe doing some thorough, formal tests might be fun for a change.

Update 2: Rendering those ultra-thin lines near 20 strained the printer even at 2880x1440 dpi, despite the 40x60cm size, looks great though.

 

[Dino]

The HPX250 is a stealth camera as far as industry buzz, for sure, but it sure seems to tick a lot of boxes for my clients! We added the 250 to rental inventory as soon as it was released in September, 2011. Fantastic for green screen, back of the room, general B-roll. There are four other 250's in the SF Bay Area that I routinely sub-rent. Two of them are in town in part because of recommendation.

We added the HPX255 as soon as it came out in September, 2012, and it works a lot with our 250 on 2 and 3 camera shoots. The 255 is great because with an EC4 paint box, I can quickly match it to the 250.

We have a C300 PL, AF100, but the 250, 255 and 2700 still rent more than the large sensor cameras. The lens diffraction issues apply to all 1/3" and 1/2" palmcorders. Shoot in the HPX250 sweet spot, and they can really deliver nice imagery. Very happy with highlight handling for a palmcorder. Low noise, nice colorimetry, happy that knee can be set in Cine gammas, great codec, resolution. I like that the detail circuit looks subtle compared to the HVX200/HPX170.

Other than lens ramping, diffraction, long MOD, focus magnification not available in record, no ocular VF when using HD-SDI out and LCD, the 250 really is a solid camera. I haven't had ANY complaints from clients in a year of heavy rental activity.

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

Posted my test results here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?298220-HPX370-lens-test

 

[Mike Warren]

I haven't had ANY complaints from clients in a year of heavy rental activity.

That doesn't really surprise me. We, on the forums are a picky bunch. For the price, the 250 does a remarkable job.

 

[timbook2]

I got the HPX almost 1 year ago and am fine with it. The 10 bits make up for the CMOS and lens which I am not super excited about. And yes: its great for R&G and travels to critical areas. One reason I got it was the same battery and P2 cards as my HVX200, which is why I hope to stay with these in case some new surprise comes in 2013. I was getting regular calls for rental too until the sony pmw 200 came out.

 

[Dino]

I was getting regular calls for rental too until the sony pmw 200 came out.

I think the PMW-200 is overpriced and underfeatured. 14x lens, 8-bit, Long GOP codec, no paint box capability for the same price as an HPX255. 1/2" sensor doesn't make up for AVC-Intra 100 and a 22x lens in the 250, plus $1K more, IMO.

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

Sony products were always more expensive, but that's also because they are expected to be cutting edge, something that seems to be bloating Sony's ego much as of late. The F55 if the first device in a long while that I've seen them price competitively.

 

[timbook2]

I think the PMW-200 is overpriced and underfeatured. 14x lens, 8-bit, Long GOP codec, no paint box capability for the same price as an HPX255. 1/2" sensor doesn't make up for AVC-Intra 100 and a 22x lens in the 250, plus $1K more, IMO.

I was shooting with the PMW200 2 months ago and have to agree. The most aggravating part was the missing wide angle, followed by the LCD mush. Its an EXR1 with more mbps. I DO like the 1/2" sensors though!