Sony XDCAM EX

This is a nice option to think through. Not a Sony fan, but if price comes in decent, could be a solid choice. We will see...
 
is it really gonna be 8k you think?

the hvx makes that look expensive, but the xlh1 makes it look quite reasonable

how much difference will 1/3" > 1/2" really make? in terms of DOF?
 
but the sony uses interframe compression doesn't it? is'nt that enough reason to stick with the hvx? it looks like they are competing with the varicam market now so it is a question of codec and storage card prices. the express34 cards are much smaller meaning they may need smaller ships, like microsd increasing the price significantly. if it would be my guess, this is where sony made a mistake, they should of went express54 for the physical capacity to use bigger, cheaper storage chips. my biggest gripe with panny is they used cardbus and the lack of cardbus support currently, but if that reduces the price like we have seen this weekend, then maybe it is not so bad.
 
how much difference will 1/3" > 1/2" really make? in terms of DOF?

A lot. In fact if it is the same CCD set as the current XDCAM HD cameras it will make a big difference because of the way they have implemented it using more of the CCD surface area. To be honest when I use the XDCAM HD full size camera I didn't notice that much difference between it and the 2/3" cameras.
 
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Some sites (all speculation) list the price to be competitive with the HVX. One place said $8,000, one said "maybe cheaper than the HVX"
 
sick boy said:
but the sony uses interframe compression doesn't it? is'nt that enough reason to stick with the hvx?

It will be different for everybody.

Lets just assume the image is a good one (can compete w/ the HVX's image), I would go with Sony hands down if they are the same price. 1/2" chip latitude and express card recording, plus full integration (seemless) with Vegas 7 (my editor of choice) and 35mbps if good enough for me to abandon intraframe recording.

Granted, this is based on a lot of contingents we won't know until the unit ships.

A big plus is the fact that the lens looks fully manual (like the DVX/HVX).
 
A big plus is the fact that the lens looks fully manual

It is indeed. Not just for zoom, but for focus and iris. The lens is being made by Fujinon.

plus full integration (seemless) with Vegas 7

Full compatibility in 1080i/p modes is assured because it records to exactly the same 35Mbps file format as the current XDCAM HD cameras. Combine it with the PDW-U1 and you have a really good archive plan to XDCAM discs because the MXF files and metadata will copy straight over using PDZ-1.
 
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Panasonic is in big trouble with the release of this camera, they must respond immediately with a drop in p2 card prices.
 
ecking said:
100% Agree that's exactly what I'm thinking. If canon makes or teams with someone to produce some sort of portable capture unit for HD-SDI, they reach new markets with and breathe new life without making a new camera.

Isn't that what the AJA io-hd ProRes 422 does? I think that is breathing some serous new life into these cameras. If you can capture to ProRes from a Canon HV20 that would be so damn cool. It is a tad pricey at $3500 but it has every input known to man on the back of it.
 
My bet is the price will be no higher than $5999 and no lower than $4499. It is a prosumer camera and they are definetly trying to steal the HVX200's thunder. When I first saw the image I thought someone put a damn Sony sticker on the HVX. :)
 
"MPEG 2 - Long GOP (25 Mbps CBR / 35 Mbps VBR)"

25 Mbps CBR, that´s the same specs as HDV, right? Doesn´t get me excited since I own a great HDV camcorder.

35 Mbps VBR sounds good, although I´m not sure I would "trust" the variable bitrate. Does anybody have experience with this compression?

You get 40 minutes in that quality onto a 16 gig card.


The 1/2" chips are great. My XH A1 has 1/3" and sometimes I wish I had more DOF. The fully manual lens is also very cool. But will that mean no auto-focus? (Like with the JVC?)
These two features make me wonder, if that camcorder can really be priced at 6000 $. My guess would also be 8000.
 
Guys, understand that 1/2" chips compared to 1/3" chips is not going to give a much more shallow DoF. I would look for better latitude and more sensitivity for pluses over anything else.
 
Nik Manning said:
Isn't that what the AJA io-hd ProRes 422 does? I think that is breathing some serous new life into these cameras. If you can capture to ProRes from a Canon HV20 that would be so damn cool. It is a tad pricey at $3500 but it has every input known to man on the back of it.

Yeah but the AJA isn't a portable capture unit, it's great if you're in the studio or you got some kind of video village going on, but not so great for location shoots.
 
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