hi guys

i am shooting a music video next week. have two camera options: either Panasonic DVCPROHD P2 or Sony EX3. in terms of the highest quality, which one should i go for and why?

cheers!

Which Panny is it? Big difference between HPX500 and HPX3000!
Steve

it's HPX500

i am shooting a music video next week. have two camera options: either Panasonic DVCPROHD P2 or Sony EX3. in terms of the highest quality, which one should i go for and why?
Trouble with a question like that is there isn't really a simple answer. Camera A may be better in one respect, camera B in another - which is most important to you?

The EX3 will certainly be sharper, the chips are 1920x1080 versus 960x540 for the HPX500, and the resolution is fully kept with the recording codec. Even if the HPX500 did deliver full resolution from the chips, the DVCProHD wouldn't be able to handle it - it subsamples to 1280x1080 for recording. OVERALL, I'd expect better quality from the EX3. The higher resolution doesn't simply mean "it's sharper", it means less artificial enhancement is necessary so a more "natural" look.

On the other hand, the 500 is 2/3" chips and shouldermount, so shallower depth of field and nicer ergonomics if you prefer a bigger camera. Then again, is a small camera an advantage to you?