Sound Devices PIX Recorders + GH2?

O

OldCorpse

Rockin the Boat
Can someone speak to this issue: is there a particularly compelling reason(s) to pair a Sound Devices PIX 220 (240) with a GH2?

What are the advantages of this? They say the PIX 240 accepts MixPre-D and the 7 series recorders... but what exactly is the advantage here for someone who already has a MixPre-D and a separate recorder? It's $2600, so that's a pretty penny... what do we get for all that $$$?

Anyone want to weigh in, if this is worth it?
 
I can't see much point in spending $2600 for a recorder to use with an $899 camera. If you're going to get any PIX, the 220 is probably the one, as it's $1,000 less (for an HDMI-only recorder).

The question is -- should you use any external recorder at all with a GH2? I've gone on record as saying that I think it's a silly and frustrating exercise, because you have to give up a lot ("zebra" highlight flash, ETC mode, 720p mode, turning the LCD around, all sorts of things) and in exchange, you get only one of the three benefits an external recorder could supply -- you get a less-compressed image. You won't get 4:2:2, because the GH2 doesn't output it. You won't get 10-bit, because the GH2 doesn't output it. The HDMI output isn't even color accurate to what's being recorded onboard.

So if what you desperately want and need is a less-compressed image, yes a PIX (or Ninja or Nano) could supply that. Just decide whether it's worth the expense. Or, watch personal-view to see if they come up with a higher-quality onboard recording, because that may be a much less expensive way to get effectively the same result, but without giving up all the other features.
 
Thanks, Barry. I too couldn't see the point, but I thought perhaps I was missing something, so I figured I'd check with more experienced gurus. OK, I personally am skipping this.
 
OldCorpse said:
Thanks, Barry. I too couldn't see the point, but I thought perhaps I was missing something, so I figured I'd check with more experienced gurus. OK, I personally am skipping this.
Click to expand...

The PIX220 might still offer some value to the GH2. In one box it has a 5" monitor, SSD and CF recording, SDevices audio, recording to ProRes or DNxHD so no need to transcode in FCP/AVID, built-in conversion so you can go from GH2's 1080i60 to 720p or 1080p at various frame rates.
 
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