Upgrading from DVX100B - is the HMC150 the best option right now?

D

Daniel Butler

New member
Hello! I currently have a DVX100B with an Opteka fisheye lens adapter that I love using (72mm filter thread). It's time to upgrade, and I've been looking at options that are under $2000. I keep seeing that people are still using HMC150s, and it looks like the next best thing MIGHT be the AG-SC8PJ? If you were in my shoes and replacing the DVX100B and wanted to use the same adapter, which camera would you go with?
 
The HMC150 was the most DVX-like of the Panasonic cameras that would be in that price bracket, although of course you're talking about used. They have a new 4K camera that is (in my eyes) very much a 4K version of the DVX100, except that it isn't as sensitive and it costs about $3600.

The HMC150 isn't really image-quality-competitive with today's most modern cameras, but it's a huge, huge step up from the DVX100 and it's a great-handling camera.
 
As usual Barry is right on! :)
I have 3 hmc 150s and though we also have cameras that are sharper in 1080, the hmc150s still are workhorses that get used a lot. If you like the dvx100b, I think you'll like the 150. I like it more than I did the dvx100b I had.
 
Thanks so much, guys! Yeah, for as little as I do with it, I don't want to drop $3600 on the latest and greatest just yet. I'm hoping to find a really good used HMC150! Thanks for helping make this decision a lot easier -- I know it won't be 4K quality, but I've heard nothing but great stuff about the quality compared to DVX100B
 
The cool thing about the HMC150 is that if you love the DVX's picture, as I think everyone who ever used that camera does (I'm getting misty), you'll get the same thing, only higher-resolution.
 
The only thing I noticed about going from the dvx to the hmc that wasn't better is that the dvx does better in low light and I think it has better audio pre-amps but for me the audio has not been a problem. Nor do I miss mini-dv tapes! :)
 
While the DVX has more base sensitivity than the HMC, it's not really fair to say it does better in low light, because the DVX is a standard-def camera. If you downconvert the HMC's footage to standard-def, it's much much cleaner. You can gain up the HMC a lot higher than the DVX, downconvert it, and it looks significantly better than the DVX could.
 
Thank you, Barry. You are correct. I just remember when I went from my dvc60s and dvx100b to hmc150s and was surprised how dark the footage was without using gain. But as you said, saying the dvx100 is better in low light is not the right way to say it since there are other variables such as the major fact one camera is SD and the other HD. I wouldn't go back to the dvx from the hmc150 if you paid me. :)
 
Look at the Ac-130 - I did the DVX to HMC path, but the AC 130/160 is a real quality leap from the soft & squishy HMC look. I wouldn't bother with the 150 when there are much sharper cameras out there.
 
The AC160 is most definitely a big jump up in sharpness, and in other ways. Only thing is, it's quite a bit larger than the DVX100 or HMC150, so you have to be prepared to deal with the larger camera.
 
Ditto what Barry said - the AC160 is a great cam and a big step up in image and features if your budget will cover it
 
...and the 130 is essentially the same camera for less $$. You lose SDI out and 60p 1080 (60p is 720 on the 130). Both fantastic cameras.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top