Why get a HVX 200?

[_gl]

Panasonic never said anything about releasing avc intra to the HVX. The only cameras from Panasonic available for upgrade are the 20k+ HPX2000 and the Hsomethingx3000 (the new varicam, ok? )

Both the HVX and the new HPX500 are dvcpro HD only. Maybe in an HVX200A we'll see avcintra.

True, I mispoke in my hopefullness

Back on topic, there is so much to recommend the HVX as a creative tool it's hard not to try to apply it to every situation but, there are applications where HDV may make more sense - like all-day event coverage. From a creative standpoint however, I much prefer the HVX approach to creating/manipulating an image than most of the HDV options although the V1U looks interesting for the price.

-gl

 

[Barry_Green]

I tought the HPX3000 had variable frame rates... So what's the advantage of the 3000 compared to the 2000? Both have native 1920x1080 ccd's, right? What's the "catch" for such big difference in price?

The 3000 includes AVC-Intra as standard, whereas it's optional on the 2000. The 3000 has 2.2-megapixel imagers, the 2000 has 1-megapixel imagers. There are probably other differences but those are the ones I remember.

It would be a shame, Barry, if the next HVX didn't have avc intra. It certainly is a better codec than the avc-hd one, specially on color space- 4:2:0 vs 4:2:2. It would be like going back again.

Ain't gonna happen anytime soon though, whether it's a shame or not. The AVC-Intra board is a separate hardware board that costs about $4,000. They might sell a couple thousand of them every year.

AVC-HD is a tiny chipset that the consumer divisions of Sony and Panasonic are churning out by the tens of thousands every month. AVC-HD complete camcorders cost about $1,000; the chipset alone might be $50. And AVC-HD gives the HVX something that it currently lacks: the ability to record to a cheap off-the-shelf disposable storage medium (SD cards). AVC-Intra wouldn't accomplish any of that.

So -- hey, they might surprise us all and include AVC-Intra, but I seriously completely thoroughly doubt it. I think adding AVC-HD opens up the HVX to all sorts of new possibilities, and AVC-Intra adds only some quality that the HVX may or may not be able to even take advantage of. And for the same cost you could just get a Hydra instead, and then you'd have uncompressed 14-bit 2K resolution. For all these reasons I say I still hope that Panasonic adds high-quality 24-megabit AVC-HD to the HVX line, and if you need more quality than that, look at the Hydra.

 

[pmpworks]

pmpworks

Do you trust a firestore for such important work?

Drew

Yes, I haven't had any issues with my firestore, and there are many more here that will tell you the same. There are also some on here that don't care for them. I've used mine for 2 weddings so far this year and I have 3 more to do yet. I'm even using it this weekend with a small dv cam I have on a crane for an event I'm doing so I don't have to change the tapes (3 hour event). The Firestore works great for me and I think some issues that some people have had are ones regarding reading the setup of the firestore and remembering to organize the P2 footage before offloading, or plugging into the wrong i/o of the firestore (been there done that, freaked out). I also have a 8gb P2 that I use also and offload to a laptop, but for the main event I use my firestore. Also I always plug into power when doing the wedding so the battery doesn't run out. You can always get the long lasting battery if you want, I just haven't seen a need for it myself. As far as the HVX for weddings? All I can say is shoot 720 24p (watch panning speed) add some overcranking and they will love it. Even put on SD DVD it looks amazing. Read Barrys Book over and over again, everytime I do I learn something new about the HVX.

Here's a sample wedding clip I did

 

[Erik Olson]

So -- hey, they might surprise us all and include AVC-Intra, but I seriously completely thoroughly doubt it.

So, Barry... you're saying you think we have a chance?

e

 

[Barry_Green]

Hah! Yes, about the same chance... :thumbsup: