I keep hearing that the image is not real sharp compared to many other HD cameras. One owner on DVXUser.com said the 1080 mode looked almost like SD. Would 150 onwers share their views on this issue, please?

I believe to get a significantly sharper image you need to move to the EX1 or EX3.

These are 1/3" cameras and they are all severely limited in my opinion.

The HMC150 does have a softness but some call it film-like.

If you are looking for crisp, you should consider a 1/2" sensor, in my opinion. The 1/3" sensors stink, but they're all many of us can afford.

If your final delivery is Blu-ray to clients with big screen then I would not get it, I bought one when if first came out and then return it because it is so soft compared to my Canon XH A1, I shot the same scene outside under good light and then when I compared it on my 61 inch, first I thought it was out of focus, I said crap, took it outside again and shoot it again and same thing, the camera is so soft on big screen compared to the Canon XH A1 I thought it was out of focus at first, the sensor is I believed only 960X540, so if you upscale it to 1920X1080 no wonder it is soft, but I think alot of people like it is because they never viewed it on a big screen, 40 inch and below then it will be hard to tell the difference especially if you don't have another camera to compared it with, so if you don't do alot of Blu-ray then I'm sure it will be ok.

I've not shot with the Canon tha Khoi mentioned but the footage I've seen from them does look quite good.

To stick with a tapeless workflow the Sony Z5 would be somewhat sharper also, but again we're still dealing with the 1/3" chips, which are so limited.

I believe to get a significantly sharper image you need to move to the EX1 or EX3.

These are 1/3" cameras and they are all severely limited in my opinion.

The HMC150 does have a softness but some call it film-like.

If you are looking for crisp, you should consider a 1/2" sensor, in my opinion. The 1/3" sensors stink, but they're all many of us can afford.

Jeff:

Your statements above are exactly correct.

I replaced my Canon XH-A1 cameras with HMC-150s after a lot of testing. In a best case scenario, the XH-A1 is sharper than the HMC-150. However, the HMC-150 has many advantages over the XH-A1 and the general image quality is much more pleasing to me. It also took me a long time to learn to turn the coring to a negative number on the HMC-150 to get the best image for me. Probably a lot of people mistakenly just increase the detail levels to try to get a sharper image.

I shoot in 1080P30 and deliver most projects in NTSC DV widescreen. For this delivery, the HMC-150 is an awesome tool. I also deliver a tiny bit in HD, it's also great for this.

But if you want a high resolution HD camera, the 1/2" sensor EX-1 is the only thing currently available at a close price point. No 1/3" sensor camera can compare to the EX-1.

But if you want a high resolution HD camera, the 1/2" sensor EX-1 is the only thing currently available at a close price point. No 1/3" sensor camera can compare to the EX-1.
For sharpness? The HPX300 1/3" most definitely compares with the EX1.

At $8500 I should think it would be very sharp.

I am thinking of replacing my Gy-HD100s with the HMC-150 are the HMC-150s much better in low light than the HD100s? Also are they sharper? Thats my 2 beefs with the GY-HD100s.

I appreciate all the feedback and welcome more. I'm certainly not knocking the HMC150. In fact, I have one on order, but who knows when it will be in.

I'm sure the EX1 is a better camera, but I doubt it's twice as good even though it's nearly twice the price. Also, I have a strong feeling that in the next two years we'll be seeing large sensors that will make 35mm adapters obsolete.

BWT, can someone tell me what "Coring" is and also the meaning of some of the other settings? If they're all explained in the manual, you can just point me there.

You know Paul, I never answered your question properly regarding softness, I just started talking about other cameras, which doesn't help you at all.

Having only seen footage from one shoot done on my HMC150, and considering the shooter pretty much messed up most of it, I can't speak authoritively, but the footage did seem a bit soft, but as others have said it has a pleasing look that is hard to describe.

I think that after you tweak it you'll probably like the camera very much. BTW, I was told by the seller of my cam that the sweet spot with the cam is 720p.

Thanks Jeff. BTW, I believe you bought Matthew's camera. I was interested in it too, but we couldn't come to an agreement on price. You had the benefit of being local too. Glad you like it.

If your final delivery is Blu-ray to clients with big screen then I would not get it, I bought one when if first came out and then return it because it is so soft compared to my Canon XH A1, I shot the same scene outside under good light and then when I compared it on my 61 inch, first I thought it was out of focus, I said crap, took it outside again and shoot it again and same thing, the camera is so soft on big screen compared to the Canon XH A1 I thought it was out of focus at first, the sensor is I believed only 960X540, so if you upscale it to 1920X1080 no wonder it is soft, but I think alot of people like it is because they never viewed it on a big screen, 40 inch and below then it will be hard to tell the difference especially if you don't have another camera to compared it with, so if you don't do alot of Blu-ray then I'm sure it will be ok.

That's odd, my experience as of late has been much the opposite. I have been shooting with an XHA1 and HMC150 for a while now, and when all is said and done the picture of the HMC 150 is just better. The A1 looks a little softer and a little warmer.
The HMC150 looks to be sharper, with better color, (slightly "cool") better low light sensitivity. Lately I have been shooting in 1080'60i. I have started scraping up the pennies for a second HMC150. I check all my productions on a 50" plasma, so I think if softness were an issue, you'd surely see it on that set.

It is true that editing with both AVCHD and HDV on the same timeline truly is a hassle. It can be done, but when creating a DVCProHD file and adding HDV to it, well....that HDV has to be rendered before it plays smoothly at all, and depending how big the job is, that can take a while. Same goes when adding a DVCProHD file to an HDV project, in my experience.

This post surprises me, I shot with the A1 for quite awhile and I can tell you the hmc 150 blows it out of the water as far as image quality goes, also it kicks the A1's but in low light.

In my mind the HDV codec will go the way of the dodo all too soon...

I sure love to hear this positive feedback on the Panny. I'll be using mine this weekend and am anxious to see how it works out.

Jeff,
You got a good cam in the HMC150. Yeah, it's different than the Sony and Canon in its controls, but generally in a good way. It kinda grows on you.

Jeff,

I predict there'll soon be 2 FX1000's for sale...

Don't know if you remember me but I initially bought an FX1000, then an HMC150. I liked the HMC150 so much I sold the FX1000 (took a $500+ loss) and bought another HMC. Go shoot with it. I'm confident you'll like it much better than the FX1000 in short order.

I absolutely hated the scroll wheel on the FX1000. Too cumbersome for run & gun. The HMC is so much lighter and it's far better balanced. No rolling shutter. Tapeless. XLR.

The FX1000 was slightly better in low light but not enough to outweigh all of its disadvantages. It also had a slightly sharper image but I prefer the HMC's image. Can't put my finger on why I prefer it, it just looks better to me. One big consideration is 100% of my business is weddings. A slightly softer look is a huge plus for a lot of my closeup shots. Most of these gals' skin isn't perfect and even the HMC is too sharp at times.

Been reading allot of posts about the HMC150. Trying to decide if i am ready to move up from my sony SR11. Was considering sony's new xr500 but after viewing allot of video's on this cam, its not what i am looking for. I want more control but want very good video. The comments about softness with the 150 has me a bit worried. Can anyone point me to some video's shot with this? With the cmos version of this cam, HMC40, coming this fall, would this be better than the ccd version of the MHC150? After 5 years of videoing with consumer cams, guess i am ready to go prosumer but would need to do my homework before laying out over 3 grand. Suggestions and comments greatly appriciated on this cam.

Randy, I started this thread because of concerns I had. However, after reading the comments and seeing footage from the HMC150, I have placed an order and am fully satisfied that I'm making a good choice.

Been reading allot of posts about the HMC150. Trying to decide if i am ready to move up from my sony SR11. Was considering sony's new xr500 but after viewing allot of video's on this cam, its not what i am looking for. I want more control but want very good video. The comments about softness with the 150 has me a bit worried. Can anyone point me to some video's shot with this? With the cmos version of this cam, HMC40, coming this fall, would this be better than the ccd version of the MHC150? After 5 years of videoing with consumer cams, guess i am ready to go prosumer but would need to do my homework before laying out over 3 grand. Suggestions and comments greatly appriciated on this cam.

Here is somv video, but it is not a comparison, from the way the guy see it, it should do very well as a 720P HD camera but soft at 1080 and that is also what I saw. I only tested it at 1080 cuz my A1 only do 1080.
Panasonic AG-HMC151 first experiments - Panasonic HMC150 on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/groups/HMC150/videos/4447943)

Reading these posts have diminished my excitement for my new HMC-150 which will arrive in 2 weeks.

I own a hv20 right now. I hope the HMC-150 will have a better image than the hv20???

EX1 sounds great but that is double as much.

:(

Simon

Steve, don't be ridiculous. Of course the HMC 150 is better than the HV20. It has three chips instead of one, and is a professional camera with fully professional features.

The HV20 is a consumer toy. Not to knock the Canon, I have the HV30, but there is no comparison.

People comparing the Panasonic, I presume, are using tougher benchmarks than they would the Canon, and their idea of what looks good is more stringent, at least I would presume so.

At the least you will be able to get plenty of great images from the Panasonic and at the worst you'll end up selling it and buying something different.

I just ran the Panasonic this afternoon at a wedding concurrently with an FX1000. They were not next to each other unfortunately as I had planned, but I'll have the footage downloaded soon and will be making a pronouncement soon.

Steve? Ah, you meant me. :)

Yeah, I know it will be but this thread made me a touch less excited.

But once I get it I know it will be sweet! I can't wait.

Thanks Jeff!

Sorry I could not buy your camcorder though it was tempting.

Simon

No worries, I've got a buyer locally who is waiting for me to decide after I download this footage from today.

If you don't mind paying $600 extra for new you're better off. You'll have the warranty at least. Thing is with virtually no moving parts you'll likely never have to use it.

Cool. Good luck!

Hey I still could cancel my order and get a Canon XH A1S? Do you have any experience with them?

Simon

Reading these posts have diminished my excitement for my new HMC-150 which will arrive in 2 weeks.

I own a hv20 right now. I hope the HMC-150 will have a better image than the hv20???

Simon

I use the HMC150 with the HV30, and the HMC150 gives a significantly better image in all but perfect lighting, and at least as good there as well. They cut together quite well. The HV20/HV30 are known for sharpness and are remarkable consumer camcorders, but the image doesn't look any sharper than the HMC's when cut into a timeline together and the HMC's always looks better even to my family and friends who do not know which camera was used for a given shot.



With the cmos version of this cam, HMC40, coming this fall, would this be better than the ccd version of the MHC150? A

The HMC40 is not really a CMOS version of the 150, its pretty much a different camera. Its much smaller, has 1/4" sensors, and has a very different look to it (very few buttons on the exterior). I played around with it at NAB. It looks like it might be a good companion to the 150, but if I could only have one it would easily be the 150. That could change when I see some footage from the HMC40, but I doubt it.

That is good to hear that they cut well together because I still love my HV20. Just ready to take it to the next level.

I am sticking with the HMC-150! The thought of going tapeless is just too GOOD! I own Prospect HD from Cineform so the thought of editing AVCHD does not scare me.

Thanks for the information.

Simon

I use my HV30 as a backup cam and I run my wireless through it. It seems simpler than running the wirless on a second channel of the primary or secondary camera and gives me dedicated audio, as opposed to split audio that I get from running two separate audio channels.

I do not plan to sell my HV 30 for a long while. It can be hidden and when close to a subject in good light it is amazing. I love that little camera, I just have to remember it's limitations.

Here's an image from the wedding today. Pretty nice, huh?

I love how black the blacks are.

Cool. Good luck!

Hey I still could cancel my order and get a Canon XH A1S? Do you have any experience with them?

Simon

I did plenty of comparisons between the XH-A1 & HMC-150 last year, a little searching will find them.

I just edited footage this weekend from a recital I shot 2 weeks ago with the HMC-150. Last year I shot the same recital in the same conditions with the XH-A1. I used the project layout from lasts years recital and took a comparison look at the XH-A1 & HMC-150 footage in this dim theater environment with on-stage lighting. The HMC-150 clearly has much better image quality, far less noise and better color for shooting a stage show.

Shooting these stage shows under a mix of unbalanced tungsten lighting is tough on getting colors correct. I believe the HMC-150 allows a better intrinsic control of color and a more pleasing color reproduction when you master it. The HMC-150 also has a better dynamic range (but you have to learn how to control it) where you are able to keep faces from blowing out but still keep a good exposure level on the costumes and backdrops. I think the HMC-150 menu system is also easier to use to make relatively quick adjustments to things like master pedestal.

Also, like Jeff Harper was saying, the lack of tape and moving parts is a huge plus for durability. I would never take my tape media camera out where there was a possibility of moisture/condensing humidity or too much dust because tapes will not do well in those conditions. I find myself shooting with the HMC-150 in all kinds of places and situations I wouldn't shoot with the XH-A1.

Currently, there just isn't a better overall camera than the HMC-150 in it's price range.

Now I am excited again.

LOL

Thanks,

Simon

I am supposed to sell my HMC150 today, and after running it Sunday alongside an FX1000 I now don't want to sell it. It looks great. The only trouble is it doesn't fit into my workflow, so I will probably sell it anyway, but not because of any issues with image quality!

The attached image is not fair to the FX1000 because it was zoomed in, and the Panasonic was close to the altar, but you can get a general idea.

Check out these six images of the Sony FX1000 vs the HMC 150 if you're interested.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/sony-hvr-z5-hdr-fx1000/236017-problem-fx1000-6.html

The only trouble is it doesn't fit into my workflow, so I will probably sell it anyway, but not because of any issues with image quality!
How does it not fit into your workflow?