What format is most requested?

[Glen Vandermolen]

Crews Control, which books crews for professional shoots, has compiled a list of the most sought after video formats by production companies. This is based on what their clients request:

CREWS CONTROL TREND TRACKER (based on Nov. 2012 data)

Formats
HD: 97%
SD: 3%

Camera Formats
XDCAM EX: 45%
DVC PRO HD: 24%
XDCAM HD: 7%
DVC PRO HD EX: 10%
DVCAM: 2%
XF: 4%
HDV: 2%
AVCCAM: 4%
HDCAM: <1%
AVCHD: <1%
MINI-DV: <1%
AVC Intra: 0%
DV: 0%

I think I might have to pick up a PMW-200!
But what the heck is DVC PRO HD EX??

http://newsletter.crewscontrol.com/D...-Is-Good-To-Do

[Glen Vandermolen]

Also:

MEDIA:
SxS Card: 45%
P2 Card: 25%
HD/SD TAPE: 15%
OPTICAL DISC: 7%
CF Card: 4%
SD Card: 5%

MANUFACTURERS:
SONY: 58%
PANASONIC: 38%
CANON: 4%

FORMATS:
5K: 0% • 4K: 0% • 2K: 0%
HD: 97% • SD: 3%

This info might be just for the month of Nov., 2012, instead of a year long trend, but the article isn't specific.

[Galen Rath]

Thanks for the info, Glen.

I'm targeting the PMW-200 as well.

I switched from the Canon XH-A1 to the Sony FS-100 a while back. On the run, I miss a real video camera.

[Glen Vandermolen]

Actually, looking at the info, I'm not sure if it's listing gear the production crews have, or gear requested by clients. I wrote an email, but they're out of office until January.

But still interesting how XDCAM EX dominates.

[Jack Zhang]

I guess I made a good choice with my EX1R, seeing EX is now pretty much industry standard.

[Glen Vandermolen]

I got a confirmation - this is a list of what clients request.

I think I need an XDCAM EX camera.

[Bernd Eller]

I wonder where XDCAM HD422 fits into this survey? It's a very popular format and especially the Sony PDW-700 camcorder is in high demand, but oddly enough this format doesn't appear at all in the Crews Control line-up. It's neither XDCAM EX nor XDCAM HD.

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

But what the heck is DVC PRO HD EX?

To my knowledge, DVCPRO HD EX is a longplay version of DVCPRO HD with EXtended running time for longer recordings. But I don't know which camera is able to shoot it (HDX900 maybe?).

[Craig Seeman]

I wonder what the demand is for "large sensor" sDOF shooting.
Given where XDCAM EX is vs AVCHD, it might mean the Sony F3 dominates over other large sensor cameras.
I believe their focus is on corporate video production so that's an important factor.
There's no sign of RED demand for example.

Yet look at their camera list
Video Equipment list | Services | Crews Control

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

But what the heck is DVC PRO HD EX??

I suspect they mean DVCPro-HD LP. Try Panasonic AJ-HD1600 DVCPRO HD-LP Studio VTR

DVCPRO HD-LP has twice the recording time of DVCPRO HD, fitting a full 92 minutes on an L cassette. Using the newly-developed XL cassette, recording and playback time extends to 124 minutes.

The increased recording time was achieved through new double-density recording technology that uses a 9-µm track width. To ensure editing compatibility — essential in broadcast use — Panasonic developed a number of technologies that maintain the same high reliability as other DVCPRO formats.

I think it only appeared briefly, maybe just on one camera, and if it's what I'm thinking of had problems with dropout - hardly surprising due to the narrow track width on DVCPro tape. (Only half the width of other DVCPro formats.) It was an attempt to answer the criticism of too short run times on DVCPro tape when used in 100Mbs HD mode - unfortunately it brought problems of it's own. (Incompatability with other DVCPro decks as well as dropouts.)

Very difficult to see why a client would positively request it! Compatability with existing edit decks being one reason I suppose.

For corporate use XDCAM EX has a lot to commend it - when the "broadcast absolute" requirement of XDCAM422 is not needed. Not least being able to use an SDHC card workflow - shoot to SDHC cards and simply handover the card to producer. No worry about messed up downloads.

And whilst people are thinking that XDCAM EX=EX1R, then don't forget the PMW320 and PMW350. Same codec but true pro shouldermount cameras with 1/2" and 2/3" chips.

[Les Wilson]

Originally Posted by David Heath

I...And whilst people are thinking that XDCAM EX=EX1R, then don't forget the PMW320 and PMW350. Same codec but true pro shouldermount cameras with 1/2" and 2/3" chips.

Not to be picky but there's also the EX3 and some handycams like the PMW-150 and JVC camcorders that also support the XDCAM EX workflow

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Bernd Eller

I wonder where XDCAM HD422 fits into this survey? It's a very popular format and especially the Sony PDW-700 camcorder is in high demand, but oddly enough this format doesn't appear at all in the Crews Control line-up. It's neither XDCAM EX nor XDCAM HD.
.

I assumed XDCAM HD meant XDCAM HD422.

So, get the EX1R, the EX3, or the PMW200 or 160? Hmmm....
I pick these because of the price range.
Heck, maybe even the JVC HM600 or 650. It's also XDCAM EX.

[Les Wilson]

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

...Heck, maybe even the JVC HM600 or 650. It's also XDCAM EX.

Philip Johnston is pretty positive about the JVC ... if you haven't already seen his write up:
HD Warrior Blog Archiv JVC GY-HM600 Review 2012

I noticed the JVC engineers designed the LCD, shoe and mic holder in a way that the LCD can be moved from open to closed without removing a wireless on the shoe and the mic holder doesn't stick up as much as it does on the PMW 100, 150 and 200.

[Mark Kenfield]

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

I wonder what the demand is for "large sensor" sDOF shooting.
Given where XDCAM EX is vs AVCHD, it might mean the Sony F3 dominates over other large sensor cameras.
I believe their focus is on corporate video production so that's an important factor.
There's no sign of RED demand for example.

Yet look at their camera list
Video Equipment list | Services | Crews Control

It's all changing pretty rapidly at the moment, so I think it'd be hard to judge. Here in Australia for example, the C300 seems to have taken over the majority of mid-priced large-sensor gigs that were previously the Sony F3's domain (thanks mostly to it's broadcast standard codec) - the F3 however, seems to be maintaining the niche between the C300 and Alexa/Epic when paired with 10-bit recorders for SLOG.

[Glen Vandermolen]

I did read the review of the JVC HM600, and I'm very impressed. I really like that little camera. Its low light is almost as good as a 2/3" chip cam.

But, will clients accept it? I can tell them it shoots XDCAM EX just like the Sonys, even AVCHD, and probably puts out a better image, but will they risk a shoot on a relatively unknown camera? It's not what I want, but what I can successfully market. I prefer the JVC as far as cost, ability, adaptability, etc.

[Warren Kawamoto]

What "professional" niche are we talking about here? Corporate video talking heads? Instructional videos? Because for tv commercial advertising shoots in the San Francisco Bay area, I saw Alexa, Red, Canon C300, and Sony F3 being used, nothing less.