Want v. Need

avocadoazzurro

avocadoazzurro

New member
The situation is this:

My wife has finally given me 'authorization' to buy the HVX200, and I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the B&H website. I've wanted one for what seems like an eternity, but is it just lens envy? Do I need it?
This camera is like a freshly baked, frosting-smothered chocolate cake to my inner fat kid. And a fantastic, economical camera like this would be the natural and logical progression, for me, into the HD realm after shooting with my trusty PD150 for the past 6 years.
My wife says 'just buy it already,' and I know it would be a great investment, but damn. . . was anyone else like this right before they bought theirs?

Happy shooting to you all,

Phil
 
If you don´t need HD: get the DVX. An amazing cam.
If you want/need HD: get HVX; you won´t regret it ;-)
 
"Investment"? tell us how you expect it to pay off. What will you do with it? Do you know all the pros and cons? Do you need low-light capability? How much did you budget for P2 cards?
 
I was in the same boat. Just tell her it was $800 and you'll take her on a nice trip that she wants to go on (and bring the camera)......
 
I know the feeling.
The best part is you can shoot mini-dv, decent SD, and any flavor of HD that any job might call for.
I can't tell you how many thousands I've made on gigs I would have had to pass on without my HVX.

You are futureproofing your investment with the HVX for as long as you can these days.
It was a no brainer after doing my homework.

As for your wife, bless her heart. She sounds like mine. After having to listen to my non-stop techi babble she says the same thing. "Just buy it already". She forgets she has to listen for months as I brag about the thing I just bought. :tongue:

Besides, it ain't a $75,000 investment. ENJOY!!!
 
IMHO, nobody should buy an HVX unless:

1. They are independently wealthy and money doesn't matter
2. They have enough worked lined up to pay for it

It's too expensive as a hobbiest camera unless money doesn't matter. Just beware that the camera is just one piece of the puzzle, add extra batteries, P2 cards, case, tripod, audio, gear, lighting and you are into tens of thousands of dollars.

Anyone else who doesn't fit into these two categories should buy an HV-20. It's a great camera. Then take the difference and invest it in a Roth IRA. When you are old, you'll be glad you did.

Dan
 
Dan, on the other side, getting the HVX could allow you to turn your hpbby up a notch and actually make you more then an IRA could ever grow. :thumbsup:

I'm the opposite. My profession has become my hobby over the years. :grin: When I "retire", I'll still be "playing" with video for extra cash to pay for my adventures.
 
Avocado, I'm going thru the same emotions right now. I can afford the HVX200...working a production job right now that will easily pay for it. A few other jobs are lining up. My current camera is almost 8 years old. So it's time. But I'm concerned about buying a camera that's technology is 3 years old already. What will Panasonic introduce at 2008 NAB? Should I wait and see? On the other hand, I have a few jobs coming up soon. I need a new camera now. Someone, please calm my fears. Convince me that I should pull the trigger NOW!
 
jonereb - relax hehe,

Everyone when they invest in new gear (especially those folk buying their first expensive cam - not you obviously!) get the typical pangs of consumer neurosis, like is mine the best or future proof etc hehe.

The point is, that it creates a lovely image, and a lovely image never goes obsolete my firend :) We band numbers about, and the hvx has nice numbers to its design specifics too hehe, but most importantly one need only look at the stack of shorts and films being shot on it, are about to be shot on it, and have already been shot on it to see how succesful it is.

The technology inherit within the hpx500 would probably suggest to me that there is no 'massive' leap about to take place the day after you might buy an hvx ;) Even the new EX hasn't brought massive technological leaps (after 3 years!) So if the new standard for broadcast is 720p 1080i or 1080p then I'd say your sorted :P)

I had used Canon Xls, PD170's (which i loved) and when it came to the HVX it just blew me away. It has the mojo, its image is full of mojo and for a digital source it is organise and filmic. It has served me well in the corporate arena too - exactly because its cinematic look shines of quality, its response to lighting setups is so much glossier and yummy, (for the way it deals with colours and highlights.)

My clients are embracing the film look for the prodcution value it adds to their projects - something totally new to them, and never something they saw in the old or present alternatives in cams of this price range.

So its a great cam, and the technology imo - particularly p2 is still in its relative infancy, god knows its matured way more than in the first year of release when a 4gb card cost a lot. I would say that now is the very BEST time to invest in an hvx, with a huge support network, every accessory imaginable and a dedicated following - the proof of the pudding, as they say.

My company is investing in a 2nd hvx and hopefully an hpx500 because for the filmlook on a budget there is just no better alternative imo :P

Hope that helps!



Plus if your wife has given you the green light Phil then you've already achieved the impossible!
 
Last edited:
I'm with your wife, if you can afford it. Agreed, there's more to the cam (investment wise) than the cam itself, BUT you can take them over time.

you'll get a wonderfull DV cam (IMHO a better DV CAM than the DVX), and you can start playing around with DVCPRO 50 or 100, by just hooking it up to your computer (for starters). Problem is: You'll get bitten by the bug...

Anyway.

It's great fun and a fantastic tool.

Gunleik
 
Thanks, lawriejaffa. Yes, I have my wife's green light. Part of my misgivings is that my client's aren't clamoring for HD. Also, my computer is not HD ready. I'll have to upgrade the computer also. But due to income/outflow issues, I'll have to do this one step at a time. The camera comes first. The HVX200 makes sense to me because I can shoot miniDV and/or P2, depending on the situation. I like the flexibility. But I must plead ignorance on P2 workflow. On long shoot requiring mega footage, I need someone to point me in the right direction on offloading P2 cards in the field. To a laptop? How do P2 cards fit into the laptop (you see, I'm really uneducated on this). Then how do I get footage from the laptop to my NLE? Can someone send a magical genie to my edit suite and explain this to me?

Anyway, thanks for the vote of confidence in the HVX200 purchase canundrum.
 
jonereb said:
Thanks, lawriejaffa. Yes, I have my wife's green light. Part of my misgivings is that my client's aren't clamoring for HD. Also, my computer is not HD ready. I'll have to upgrade the computer also. But due to income/outflow issues, I'll have to do this one step at a time. The camera comes first. The HVX200 makes sense to me because I can shoot miniDV and/or P2, depending on the situation. I like the flexibility. But I must plead ignorance on P2 workflow. On long shoot requiring mega footage, I need someone to point me in the right direction on offloading P2 cards in the field. To a laptop? How do P2 cards fit into the laptop (you see, I'm really uneducated on this). Then how do I get footage from the laptop to my NLE? Can someone send a magical genie to my edit suite and explain this to me?

Anyway, thanks for the vote of confidence in the HVX200 purchase canundrum.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind that NAB may or may not bring new offerings from other companies as well as Panasonic which may give you buyers remorse. However, if you have paying work lined up, by all means, go for it, the HVX is a great camera. Mine has made me a lot of money so far and I have several projects lining up for 2008 that will make even more $$.

P2 workflow for shooting massive amounts of footage?

1. Buy a ton of 32GB cards. They hold 84 minutes ea. of 720 24PN. The best workflow is to NOT dowload in the field, the best is to shoot and pay attention to what you are shooting and dowload later at home/office/hotel. That said, at $1,600.00 ea., how many can you afford?

2. Shoot to a FireStore. The FireStore is very popular with event people/wedding shooters/etc.

3. Shoot and keep a laptop nearby. If you think about it, you can stash a laptop in a little used corner in most of your shooting situations. Even outdoors or in nature, you can bring extra batteries and download all day. As long as you can get back to AC power soon enough, you are fine. There are always DC inverters to power your laptop fro your car. I always bring my laptop with me to shoot interview days since I only have three 8GB cards and a 16GB card. It's not really a big deal, it works fine. I have been doing this for two years and it's a little more hassle than tape, but once you get back to the edit bay, it's so worth it.

4. Shoot film style. Personally, I think most video shooters who have never shot film shoot WAAAAY too much footage. If you have ever shot film, you know how to be conservative in your shooting ratios. I also do this on occasion and it's nice to just come back with good usable footage and not a bunch of crap you will never use anyway. But I admit, there are many jobs where you HAVE to shoot a bunch of crap. Like when I shoot BTS and EPK, the clients always want me rolling 8-10 hours day. Which is ridiculous. I try to teach them that it's better to come back from the set with 2 hours of solid content per day than 8 hours of crap with an hour or two if good stuff interspersed. It's an uphill battle.

That's about it.

Dan
 
TedRR said:
Dan, on the other side, getting the HVX could allow you to turn your hpbby up a notch and actually make you more then an IRA could ever grow. :thumbsup:

I'm the opposite. My profession has become my hobby over the years. :grin: When I "retire", I'll still be "playing" with video for extra cash to pay for my adventures.
Click to expand...

Hi Ted:

You obviously fit into category #1!

Dan
 
jonereb said:
Part of my misgivings is that my client's aren't clamoring for HD. Also, my computer is not HD ready.
Click to expand...

Same here when I bought the HVX. But when my clients began asking to aquire in HD, I already had the right camera. AND I had used it enough to feel comfortable with it as I expanded to the HD options.

My edit software couldn't use the HVX HD, much less my editing computer. But the week I had my first lens to delivery project, NewTek gave me SpeedEDIT to save the day.

Getting into HD one step at a time helped this old timer! :happy: Plus it helped with my equipment budgeting.

And as you said, the HVX can help you now and well into the future. Hence my tag line.
 
Thanks, Ted. I'm using Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 on a 3.2Ghz processor (only one). So I'll need Scotty to deliver more power before I can upgrade to CS3 which is already configured for P2. People currently using CS3 and P2 report good results. I think I've made the right decision to go with HVX200 for DV now and HD later. I just have questions about workflow.

When using a laptop to clear P2 cards, how do you connect the P2 to the laptop? What laptops are recommended? (I don't currently have a laptop, so this is added expense for me).
 
Yah or alternatively you can always use the USB for offloading the P2 card onto your editing computer. I think i'm the only guy with the hvx200 to do that hehe, but with the cards offloading im drinking tea (being british etc) So you could just use your editing computer for that, and with the 16gb card you can get with a cam, you'll have a decent chunk o' recording time to practice with it.
 
lawrie, so I can connect HVX200 to NLE workstation via USB and drag clips to my hard drive directly fromt the camera's P2 cards? Am I understand you correctly? Can the same be done with a laptop?
 
jonereb said:
so I can connect HVX200 to NLE workstation via USB and drag clips to my hard drive directly fromt the camera's P2 cards? Am I understand you correctly? Can the same be done with a laptop?
Click to expand...

Yes, you just need the P2 driver isntalled on teh computer you are connecting to and you are ready to go. The camera itself (in "PC" mode) acts as a card reader.

- Mikko
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top