I'm working the numbers for my HD budget. I do like the promise of the pany HVX200. I'm also considering the HDX400, but it's 1080i. I want something will decent glass and 2/3" CCDs (I like the versatility of my XL1s for DV25, and I do use different lens for it). So I'm wondering what the cost of used varicam would run? Any ideas or advice? Rental is out of the question as I'm thinking for an everyday use camera, and if I'm willing to get a HDX400, why not a used varicam with good optics?

Much of my stuff will find it's way on HDTV LCD displays, and/or playback on pc's via HD wmv's. That means alot of progressive flat panels, and very few CRTs.

I will do some compositing, green/blue screen, and will capture uncompressed via HDSDI, and I've read that 720p will give me chroma vs. 1080i for such work?

Thanks.

Pete

I'm working the numbers for my HD budget. I do like the promise of the pany HVX200. I'm also considering the HDX400, but it's 1080i. I want something will decent glass and 2/3" CCDs (I like the versatility of my XL1s for DV25, and I do use different lens for it). So I'm wondering what the cost of used varicam would run? Any ideas or advice? Rental is out of the question as I'm thinking for an everyday use camera, and if I'm willing to get a HDX400, why not a used varicam with good optics?

Much of my stuff will find it's way on HDTV LCD displays, and/or playback on pc's via HD wmv's. That means alot of progressive flat panels, and very few CRTs.

I will do some compositing, green/blue screen, and will capture uncompressed via HDSDI, and I've read that 720p will give me chroma vs. 1080i for such work?

Thanks.

Pete

I'm no expert when it comes to High end (read: over $10,000) HD, but from my understanding, the price of those cameras (VariCam; HVX200) doesn't include the lens. By the time you add on everything, I think the cameras come out around 100 grand. I could be wrong on this, but that was my understanding.

Anyway, is $100,000 for a camera in your budget? Looking at the fact you need 720p, I would personally go with the new JVC HD100, or the higher end model (I think it's going to be about twenty grand) that's coming out next year.

From what I've seen, HDV has pretty darn good quality, especially considering the price.

My opinion: If you can afford a hundred grand camera, by all means go for it. If not, I would look into the higher-end HDV stuff.

BTW--I've seen test clips of HDV, and they look great to me. As to hands-on footage... my FX1 comes in tomorrow. :-)

I've read that 720p will give me chroma vs. 1080i for such work?

Thanks.

Pete

Suggestion. Wait for #200, rent until then and read lot more about this stuff.

Radek