Tried and HPX300 Today

4

4100xpb

Well-known member
Today I had the good fortune to assist a local DoP on a documentary he is putting together. As I hadn't used the HPX before, he handled all the setup/configuration, and I just handled the shooting. Overall, I am very grateful for the time I had, and not just for the chance to use a killer camera.

I learned a tlot from watching how he worked, both on and off the camera. I'm still very new to the video world, so it's almost awe inspiring for me to watch a pro in action. Getting the chance to pick his brain over lunch was the icing on the cake.

I am shooting my first short the beginning of April, and was planning on using an HV20 for it. Now the idea of that just seems kind of...quaint. I guess it's not really fair to compare a $20,000 camera with a $600 one, but you can't really help it after trying each out. Now I'm giving serious consideration to renting out a DVX200 for the day it will take to shoot.

So the lessons I learned are don't try out a piece of gear you can't afford, as it will drive you insane, and work with a pro any chance I can, the amount I am able to learn is worth it whether I get paid or not at this point.
 
What is nice about this is that you have been inspired to do things better and appreciate the experience that you have had.

Even though my main media career has been in audio I too though I would never be able to afford a pro camera and set-up but now have two 301's.

I also have a canon HF11 but you can still apply a lot of the pro techniques to the smaller handycams.
 
4100xpb said:
I guess it's not really fair to compare a $20,000 camera with a $600 one, but you can't really help it after trying each out.
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HPX300 isn't nearly that expensive, you can get one for around $8,000 including lens.

So the lessons I learned are don't try out a piece of gear you can't afford, as it will drive you insane, and work with a pro any chance I can, the amount I am able to learn is worth it whether I get paid or not at this point.
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Heh. Those are both great lessons to learn... :) But remember, you don't have to buy the camera, you can rent it or hire someone who owns their own, so you can get access to the "good stuff" a lot easier than you might otherwise think!
 
Barry_Green said:
HPX300 isn't nearly that expensive, you can get one for around $8,000 including lens.
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That's it? I was looking at B&H - they had $8k for the camera, $7k for a lens, and I figured by the time you throw on a base plate, controller and whatever else you'd be close to 20. I know they're not always the cheapest but they usually seem reasonable. Mind you, I'm in Canada so most of your shops seem reasonable to me.

But at 8k with lens, that moves this from the realm of fantasy to a medium term goal. Thanks Barry!
 
The HPX300 includes the lens. So it's about $8,000 and then you get an $800 rebate off that, so $7200. Spend $800 on battery and plate and you're pretty much there.
 
Panasonic US is offering the sweet 800.00 end user rebate. It's either/or with their special financing options.

It doesn't look like Panasonic Canada is offering that rebate at this time.

I will PM you with some things to consider buying a camera from the US.

Best,

Jasmine Moore
Administrative Assistant
Specialized Communications / Noventri
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858 (US)
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
jasminem@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.noventri.com
 
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