Which should I choose DVX or HVX?

R

RM ROBOT

Member
I kinda figure I know the answer, go with HVX, HD is the future and what not. But I want to know if this is truly how people feel and what other pluses might I not know about the HVX that makes it a definite sell over the DVX. I've only seen the DVX upclose and seen the images but only seen HVX footage online. Any comments are appreciated.
 
i really cant think of ANY reason to buy a DVX instead of an HVX. unless your business simply lives and dies by low light performance.

wedding photographers are about the only people i know of where low light performance might take priority over as decision of SD vs HD.
 
The low light isn't all that much different. The HVX is basically the DVX with HD recording and newer generation everything else, as well as some body improvements (except the position of the menu navigation, which I don't like). The only reason I could think of to get the DVX instead would be price.
 
If you absolutely have to have standard-def, 4:3, and tape, then the DVX remains a very solid option. Don't laugh, there are a billion people in India and it's all 4:3 SD Tape over there.

But if you're considering a DVX and you're not bound by those restrictions, the HMC150 is vastly preferable.
 
If you liked the DVX footage, you will be even more satisfied with the HVX footage. The tapeless workflow is great and the HD options are well worth the price difference. I originally bought a DVX100B and sent it back 1 week later to exchange for the HVX (based on everything I read about the HVX on this forum). It's quite a bit more durable also.
 
Yeah I agree with a lot of you, but DGW you brought up something I wanted to ask too. Tapeless, now i've seen those P2 cards and they're really expensive, like, why the hell would I buy that expensive? So my question is, Why the hell would i buy that? lol I ask because i'm wondering if it's a necessity or just preference because i think i would rather shell out for tapes and be able to keep my originals then pay crazy amounts for p2 cards but maybe there's something i dont know. I can just shoot without the card and buy tapes like i've been doing with my VX2100 right? Im selling my vx2100 and looking to get the HVX within the week so i wanted to get a better feel for what to expect.
 
Also thanks everyone for all your help. and lairhair, I know exactly what you mean cuz that's the only reason i'm going for the HVX cuz honestly i'm not a fan of HD lol i know it sounds dumb but i like SD and the way it looks over watching a BLU RAY that's so sharp i can see your soul. But the times keep on moving on. Thanks everyone and if you guys have any other suggestions to things i should get with the HVX , like must haves please let me know too.
 
You should count the cost of a couple of P2 cards as part of the price of an HVX. If you are going to use an HVX with tape only, then I wouldn't bother and I'd get the DVX.

The HVX with tape is standard def only... you have to use the P2 cards to get High Def.

People new to the P2 workflow often are skeptical about the cost (as I was) but once you try it, you'll hate to go back to tape. BTW, the new E P2 cards are a lot less expensive than the originals.
 
what would be the pros vs cons of the HVX VS HMC150? I'm going to look into it right now but in case you can point some things out
 
Honestly what i'm looking for are different frame rates, obviously i'm looking for the 24 since i've only used 30 and don't like it. and then im concerned about getting HD which again is obvious why. so those are really my deal makers/breakers at the moment and all the extra frame rates on the HVX are something that i would really love. but i do want to shoot HD and dont want to pay hundreds of dollars for a few hours, i mean maybe im missing something but why can't i shoot to tape HD and even though they are so expensive why do people like P2 so much?
 
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HMC150 has 24p, 30p, and 60p/60i in both 720 and 1080.

HVX has variable frame rates (12 to 60 fps in 11 steps). HVX shoots on tape as well as P2 (HD only to P2, tape is DV only). HVX has a number of features the HMC150 doesn't have, like interval recording (time lapse) and single-shot recording (stop-motion animation) and things like that. Other than those things, the HMC150 pretty much has most everything else, and costs about $2,400 less (new price to new price).
 
The thing is Barry that i'm going to buy it on ebay and they go for the same price there so i dont want to make the same mistake twice of buying a camera and not being satisfied which is what happened with my SONY VX2100. I like the low frame rates so i can get the undercrank look for certain things and the single-shot because i have been wanting to do stop motion for a while now. But from what i had read was that I can only shoot HD on P2 cards but that i can shoot HD and SD if i shoot on tape. Let me know if i'm wrong, i need to shoot HD from now on but I have no budget, this camera will basically be all i can afford at the moment and i need to start filming in the next 2 weeks. If i buy any of them they would probably be these, if you can advise either way thanks.

HMC150 : http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-AG-HM...c0.m14&_trkparms=65:16|66:2|39:1|293:1|294:50

HVX200 : http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-AG-HV...c0.m14&_trkparms=65:16|66:2|39:1|293:1|294:50
 
But from what i had read was that I can only shoot HD on P2 cards but that i can shoot HD and SD if i shoot on tape.
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It's the other way around... on P2 cards you can shoot HD and SD while the tape is SD (DV) only. And the SD on the P2 can be the DV bit rate of 25 mbs or a much better quality 50 mbs. So I very rarely use the tape drive.
 
RM ROBOT said:
So my question is, Why the hell would i buy that? lol I ask because i'm wondering if it's a necessity or just preference because i think i would rather shell out for tapes and be able to keep my originals then pay crazy amounts for p2 cards but maybe there's something i dont know. I can just shoot without the card and buy tapes like i've been doing with my VX2100 right?
Click to expand...

Looks like you got a lot of good answers since my last reply. One other thing you may want to consider is the efficiency in post of using P2 or a camera that shoots on SDHC. Shoot 6 hours of footage on tape and wait 6 hours to capture it on your editer. Shoot the same on a memory card and it's mere minutes to transfer the digital files and begin editing. If you absolutely plan to shoot on tape only, and can live with those limitations (including the quality), the DVX100A is a darn good choice and easy to learn (since you have to begin using it within the next week or so). BTW - you could fit 64 minutes of SD (DV) on a P2 card (the 16 GB version that comes with the camera), then connect to an inexpensive hard drive, offload it in the field, reformat the card and you're ready to shoot another 64 minutes. That whole process does not take very long.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
RM ROBOT said:
If i buy any of them they would probably be these, if you can advise either way thanks.


HVX200 : http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-AG-HV...c0.m14&_trkparms=65:16|66:2|39:1|293:1|294:50
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Be aware that this HVX205A is an import model. You can read about what this means on this forum, but basically it will not include the 16GB P2 card, will not include Barry Green's HVX and HPX book and is not supported by Panasonic US service warranty. You would probably either have to send this camera overseas or to the vendor who sells it if you ever needed repair. I wouldn't recommend it.
 
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