Which new releases will be better than the Ex1r and Ex3 under $5000?
- Thread starter JoeJITSU
- Start date
You should define 'better'. The successor to the ex1r is pmw-200. Same price, 50mbits 4:2:2, but i wouldn't say it's 'better than ex1r' just because of that codec improvement. It lacks some features which i loved about the ex1r (rotatable handgrip, shot transition feature etc.)
If you are into shallower dof and better low light you can check ea-50, but it doesn't have nd filters, and it's one chip.
There's also vg900 with its full frame sensor but again no NDs (and no XLRs either).
So what would you call 'better', for yourself?
If you are into shallower dof and better low light you can check ea-50, but it doesn't have nd filters, and it's one chip.
There's also vg900 with its full frame sensor but again no NDs (and no XLRs either).
So what would you call 'better', for yourself?
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
None.
But it really depends on what you mean by "better."
There are three new XDCAM cameras this fall (PMW-100, PMW-160, PMW-200) and only the PMW-100 is under $5000. And since it only has one 1/3" sensor, it certainly does not have better picture quality than an EX1R or EX3. The PMW-200 is slightly better than an EX1R, but it isn't under $5000. I have a PMW-100, a PMW-200, F3, FS100, F800, and EX1 right here in front of me right now so I know a little something about how they all compare.
All three of the new cameras can record 50Mbps 422 and 4 channels of audio, so I guess they are better in that regard, but not when it comes to overall picture quality. I think the only Sony camera that maybe someone could argue has better picture quality for under $5000 is maybe the FS100. It's great for low light and shallow DoF. But, it's not XDCAM, so you give up all the great features, functions, and workflow benefits that only come with XDCAM cameras. In my opinion, it's not worth the trade. But other people may disagree. It depends on your workflow and what types of shoots you do. Personally, I'd much rather have an EX1R, EX3, or PMW-200 than an FS100 if I could only have one camera.
http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD1.html
But it really depends on what you mean by "better."
There are three new XDCAM cameras this fall (PMW-100, PMW-160, PMW-200) and only the PMW-100 is under $5000. And since it only has one 1/3" sensor, it certainly does not have better picture quality than an EX1R or EX3. The PMW-200 is slightly better than an EX1R, but it isn't under $5000. I have a PMW-100, a PMW-200, F3, FS100, F800, and EX1 right here in front of me right now so I know a little something about how they all compare.
All three of the new cameras can record 50Mbps 422 and 4 channels of audio, so I guess they are better in that regard, but not when it comes to overall picture quality. I think the only Sony camera that maybe someone could argue has better picture quality for under $5000 is maybe the FS100. It's great for low light and shallow DoF. But, it's not XDCAM, so you give up all the great features, functions, and workflow benefits that only come with XDCAM cameras. In my opinion, it's not worth the trade. But other people may disagree. It depends on your workflow and what types of shoots you do. Personally, I'd much rather have an EX1R, EX3, or PMW-200 than an FS100 if I could only have one camera.
http://www.vortexmedia.com/DVD1.html
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Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Have you held the new PMW-200? It doesn't need the rotating handgrip because the camera has better ergonomics and feels soooo much better in the hand than the EX1R. If you haven't tried it, keep an open mind until you get the chance because you might be surprised. I was.
I agree with Doug. I don't think we're quite at the technology tipping point yet where there is something "better", "cheaper". One should endeavor to buy equipment at the peak of a technology cycle so that your stuff stays current during that plateau until the next technology up ramp. The EX1 was that camera... and still is. I don't see the next "ramp up" on the horizon yet that will readily make the EX1/ EX1r / EX3 obsolete in the price/performance category.
The Irish TRex
Well-known member
Doug, thanks for that post. Makes a lot of sense. Since you have so many Sony cameras including ones that I don't think are out yet (PMW200), have you compared any of them to any of Sony's bigger sensor brothers that are under $5k? I'm really curious to know how the PMW200 picture compares to say the EA50, VG900 or even the VG20/30's of the world. The VG20 is the only one of these that's been out for a while but with the new rush of these cameras I've been momentarily swayed from looking at EX1R's and PMW200's and am now looking at these guys (especially the EA50 and the VG900+xlr adapter). Would love your thoughts if you've had a chance to compare...and by thoughts I mean based on the picture quality and low light quality. I know the EX's and PMW's have more controls...and really helpful things like ND's (ugh! can't believe these new cams don't have that)...but regarding picture quality and low light performance I'd love to know how they stack up.
I don't shoot films btw...just Wedding videos. But more of the higher end ($3k plus) variety so I'm looking for a bit of a film look (hence why the bigger senor DoF advantage tempts me) while still maintaining ease of use in a semi-run n' gun work environment. Power zoom, and of course, low light capability is huge while hopefully not sacrificing too much crispness. ... for me anyway.
Thanks!
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
The only one of those cameras you list that I have tried is the VG20. I bought one last November and sent it back. There was too much rolling shutter, and the camera could not easily be controlled manually. I will admit that in auto-mode it worked pretty good, but I need full manual capablitiy and the VG20 was a ***** to control in manual. All of those cameras are designed for point-and-shoot, if you ask me.
Also, just let me say that picture quality is not my number one concern when I look at a camera. Almost all of the cameras being sold today from Sony, Canon, Panasonic, etc. produce amazingly good pictures. What is more important to me is how fast I can work with them so I don't miss shots, ergonomics, the ability to dial in my on PP file, viewfinder/LCD image quality, how good the zebras and peaking are, control over clip naming, timecode settings, reliablity of the recording media, and the overall workflow for the footage once I get back home. I have been spoiled by XDCAM and none of the other cameras can come close to giving me the benefits of XDCAM. And the extra cost to purchase a better, more "professional" model of camera instead of a prosumer model is more than justified by how much better and faster I can work. So If better image quality comes along with it, then that is just icing on the cake. I am not hoobyist and the difference between professional tools and amatuer tools can cost me hundreds of hours per year in lost productivity. Not to mention, a better camera will have more resale value and I'll get a lot of my investment back anyway.
I see the same thing with DSLRs for still photography. If all someone cares about is picture quality, then buy the cheapest one you can find because there isn't that much difference anymore between entry-level models and top of the line pro models. But pros still buy the 5D, F4, etc. because they know there's more to it than just picture quality.
Just my 2 cents.
The Irish TRex
Well-known member
Yeah, I probably shouldn't have thrown the VG20 in that discussion as it seems wildly lacking in control. But the EA50 and even VG900 seem like they have a lot more control. The VG900 is definitely smaller and with fewer visible manual controls on the outside but still, I was just curious as to how they compare. Guess I'll wait for them to come out and then see how they compare to the PMW's and EX cams with regards to ergonomics, LCD quality, zebra's/peaking, and reliability. If something that says "handycam" on the side of it puts out a better pic and isn't a pain to deal with on the fly compared to something that says "XDCAM", then I'm all for it. I'll just put a piece of tape over that label so my clients don't get nervous. Just like people got nervous years ago when videographers showed up with a photo camera DSLR to film, they soon realized, hey, those actually look great.
Thanks for your response. Our workflows may be different but I appreciate your insight.
Just like people got nervous years ago when videographers showed up with a photo camera DSLR to film, they soon realized, hey, those actually look great. Thanks for your response. Our workflows may be different but I appreciate your insight.
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