upgrading to HMC150?

ciencin

ciencin

Well-known member
At the moment I own a DVX100A, but recently everytime I'm offered a film job it usually requires me to rent a hd camera instead of using my own (came to love the ex1 / ex3)... so hence I've decided to upgrade to a 7d next month. It is limiting me on what I can do but the price and and ability to shoot in shallow d.o.f. overtook me in the end

But just recently noticed the HMC150 and although I still yet to do my research on it, it does look very interesting.

My original plan was to buy a 7D and keep my DVX as back up camera (even though footage dont really mix that well together...)
But the advantage I see with the HMC is that its hd and that I can sell of my DVX as there wont be a need for it in this case.

Anybody got opinions on this? I know 7D and HMC are totally different cameras and each suit a different kind of shooting...
I'd be mainly shooting shows or events like car drifting, skateboarding (as well as occasionally a music vid or short film)
 
They are very different cameras -- and both require specific learning and experience. Relative to skate boarding and car drifting -- the HMC has a 3CCD sensor -- and that makes all the difference in the world if you're moving in many directions. Leaving the stills out (and RAW 7D stills are amazing), the 7D (CMOS) is generally only good at shallow focus stationary (or slider) shots. Action anything with the 7D is a formula for nausea.

Bottom line -- it comes down to your distribution. PBS is one thing, Vimeo is another. The combination you propose can be made to work -- and with the right experience -- work well.
 
you'll find the hmc to be much more familiar and easier to work with coming from the dvx. in run-n-gun type situations where you just need to get the shot, i think the hmc will be the easier camera to use.
after shooting on a dslr for a while, i'm always happy to come home to my hmc. everything is right where i need it. i don't have to think twice about what i'm doing and therefore am freed up to be more creative and pay attention to the action in front of my camera. it is a really well designed and feature-rich camera.
 
The HMC150 has all the pro controls and connections (like XLR audio) where as the DSLR's have crappy audio and very little on the moment controllability.

You can run an HMC150 till the battery dioes or teh card runs out. You can run a DSLR for about 12 min.

You can probably get away with shooting in public without people noticing more with a DSLR since so many people have them now and most people just think you are snapping photos, where as pulling out and HMC gets more looks and a lot of "are you the NEWS?" type questions.

If you are doing mostly photography with some video then I'd get the DSLR. Actually I would get a Canon T2 (same sensor and DSP as the 7D but under $1000) AND an HMC150, rather than a 7D.. unless you need the extra bells and whistles on the 7D.
 
Thanks for the reply guys. After thinking it over I decided that 7D wouldn't be the best for me and action sports, and even though I was really looking forward to the shallow focus I left it in the end...
Was looking around for a second hand pal HMC150 but found a good deal for a HPX170 and just placed an order for it, so hopefully should have it within the next few weeks.

Looking forward to this P2 world :D
 
The HPX170 is about the same camera than the HMC150, but uses P2 cards, has 4:2:2 color sampling and has variable frame rates.

Except those things, they are the same camera! Good luck, you'll enjoy your HPX and will easily get paid jobs with this cam.
 
SPrimeau said:
The HPX170 is about the same camera than the HMC150, but uses P2 cards, has 4:2:2 color sampling and has variable frame rates.

Except those things, they are the same camera! Good luck, you'll enjoy your HPX and will easily get paid jobs with this cam.
Click to expand...

The HPX170 can also do full-rate uncompressed audio, whereas it's (lightly) compressed Dolby AC3 2CH 384 kbps in PH mode and 256 kbps in HA/HG/HE mode.

And the 170 has SDI out, whereas the 150 has HDMI out (both providing 4:2:2 carrying 8-bit native color).
 
MichaelTiemann said:
And the 170 has SDI out, whereas the 150 has HDMI out (both providing 4:2:2 carrying 8-bit native color).
Click to expand...
While both are uncompressed 4:2:2 HD signals, the main difference between them (besides what monitor they connect to!) is that HDMI does not carry timecode, and HD-SDI does.
 
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