XVX and HVH review

"We did a comparative test in low light between the EX1 and the V1 (I would have preferred to do this same test with the Sony Z1, the JVC GY-HD200CHU or the Panasonic XVX 200, but those cameras were not available that day)."

"With the EX1, Sony has created a handy-cam that is in a league of its own. It has set a new standard for solid state, low-cost, fully-professional cameras. In size and appearance the EX1 looks like a Z1 or an HVH200, but it delivers far superior image quality."
 
I hate that review. It seems like Sony paid them to write it. It's written like Sony released the EX-1 in 1999.

Plus, if heavy cameras are that great, why do the only make camera weights for underwater photography?
 
IMHO typical review known as so called "Ordered review" (Yes, probably paid, why not). But ... unfortunately Sony is not an exception.
 
On paper. I'd have to hold it in my hands as I've always hated Sony handcams. That V1 and Z1 and whatever it was that I used this past year was the most frustrating thing to use. Menus upon menus and the worst balanced cam. I also hope that this years NAB opens up some other options from Panny and Red.. I'd like to get another new cam, so we'll see what options there are. From the footie I've seen, still like the overall look of the HVX. Sure it's not so sharp, but that isn't everything.
 
I don't think it's a very thorough review. It's basically just an academic type having gotten a Sony and basically telling us it works pretty well and has some cool features -- like the lens focusing, etc.
 
TBH I think he just likes the camera, as Mr Big said its pretty superficial anyway. I doubt BHPhoto are going to put up a negative review of camera that stands to make them considerable profit.
 
I've written video related reviews for half a dozen years. Many companies provide a little document called a "reviewer's guide" along with the talent, so to speak.

For the most part, a reviewer's guide highlights the features and benefits of the software or hardware. You rarely see a negative in these guides. In fact, I don't think I've seen a negative.

I suspect, based upon what I've read occasionally, that some reviewers repackage that "guide" in their review -- at least that what's I see in some reviews. Don't know about this one, but when someone is unable get the model numbers of the competition straight and uses superlatives freely without actually testing the competition because "those cameras were not available that day," then it's suspect to me.
 
I'm sure the Sony EX is a fine camera. I'm about to take the plunge on an HD handycam stepping up from the D100. The HVX is two years on the market and sure to be upgraded the moment mine arrives. What swayed me, actually, is just how tried and true that HVX is and the fact the issues are so well known. It's a standard camera that people who hire producers/shooters request. The Sony compression issue also concerned me even though I don't do green screen work. All of the demo shots I'm seeing with the Sony have the camera locked down. I believe P2 will be around for a long time to come and if it changes, Panasonic will find a way to adapt P2 cards to whatever format they come up with. I'm just sitting here with my finger on the "order" key, not wanting to spend the money, but needing to in order to make a critical demo.
 
Press the button.

Press the button.

Seriously, an upgrade to the HVX200 will likely be feature based or user based.

Better LCD, better placement of FW port, different FW port, but I don't see any true feature upgrades.

Great cam. I don't miss Long GOP
 
Mister Big said:
I'm just sitting here with my finger on the "order" key, not wanting to spend the money, but needing to in order to make a critical demo.
Click to expand...

We were right there with you Mister Big and it actually was a Sony rep that turned us to the HVX200 for we were about to go HDV since it seemed to be marketed as all the "guts" without the "pricetag" which both seemed favorable to our pallette. But at NAB when asked what we wanted our camera for and we said we do TV shows and were moving to film work the rep said, "stay away from tape then." When I asked what he meant he said HDV was this generic MPEG2 format, sort of like the miniDVD cameras but different and that current miniDV tape format could not hold a sufficient amount of data to keep up with True High Definition (said he) . . he then went on to explain that the HVX200 from Panasonic was the only camera in our price range (under 10k) on the market that would deliver us a media form with all the artifacts and media bandwidth that would please our taste. Thus we bought one. And love it we do!

Don't hesitate . . go get wet! You'll be glad you did. That is unless you just have to look like Channel 27 Eyewitness News with an HPX500 or 2000 and have money to burn because for us the comparison wasn't that dramatic . . that is we tried out the 500 first just because we knew our TV clients would like the "LOOK" of the 500 but the picture wasn't that markedly better to satisfy taking out a loan.

Our thoughts on the move :eek:) BTW, we DIDN'T go FS100 . . that is, after a while. We did at first but got rid of it . . but that's another topic :eek:)
 
Thanks David S. and Drdiminto, for the empathetic response. Finger is still on the button as I start calling around for quotes to check if I can do much better (legitimately) than a b&h price on a package price of hvx, extra 16gb card, century .6 optics, and possibly a Merlin. I'm not sensing a lot of love for the FW100 on these boards and plus P2 is becoming more affordable so there may be no practical need. .

If I get a greenlight on my show, then and only then would I buy an HPX -- mostly for its lowlight abilities.

Thankfully my DVX will still hold enough value to absorb at least some of the financial hit on the HVX upgrade.

Thanks for the coaching. I am much closer to buying. I should just do it. But it is a lot of money and there is a little bit of a home equity line of credit being used to purchase it.
 
BTW, what would be great is if Panasonic got rid of the tape heads and has a bay for an optional hard drive system that could be inserted. Choosing between HDD and P2 would be cool. I know some peeps use tape on these boards now and then, but really -- why bother? The one nice thing about the Sony is there is no useless (for my purposes) tape heads to carry around.
 
The best part about the tape heads is the ability to sell your DVX. I'd say 2/3 of my paying work is in SD. I can work with the same camera, and get used to my settings, lens adapters, whatever. I can invoice the client for either a HVX dayrate or a DVX day rate, with one camera, no hassle.
 
Mister Big said:
I'm not sensing a lot of love for the FW100 on these boards and plus P2 is becoming more affordable so there may be no practical need.
Click to expand...

Assume you meant FS100, and if so I am a big fan. I totally love mine, so much so that apart from copying footage, its almost invariably always velcro'd behind the handle on my HPX.

FS160 - $15.62 per gb

p2 (assuming 32gb cards because they are cheapest per gb) - $48.44 per gb

Using todays BHPhoto prices. The problem on an HVX is the flimmsy 4 pin fw port - HPX uses far more robust 6 pin and I have never had an issue. For the record I always carry some a couple of 16gb cards with me, as I always shoot variable frame to the cards.
 
Just pulled the trigger -- HVX, extra 16gb p2, and century optics .6 WA. I feel good and sick. Probably the way many of you felt when you bought.
 
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