Should I buy a Panasonic AG-DVX100B or the AG-HMC150 with AVCHD format?

[Guy McLoughlin]

The best argument that the DVX100B is still a viable camera is the documentary "Iraq in Fragments" completely shot with a DVX100.

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

The HMC150 is a great camera, but it's an HD ONLY camera, which is a problem for me as much of what I shoot is destined for corporate training where HD is still pretty much non-existant. ( down-rezing HD to SD is a big time waster )

Right now I'm using a DVX100B and have been very happy with the results. I am buying a Nnovia digital deck in a few weeks so I can start recording in DVCPRO 50 format and bypass tapes completely. I will also be adding the HPX170 to my kit simply because it can shoot both HD and SD formats. ( the Nnovia ProFlex 100 deck can record DVCPRO and DVC PRO HD formats )

- Guy

[Perrone Ford]

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

The best argument that the DVX100B is still a viable camera is the documentary "Iraq in Fragments" completely shot with a DVX100.

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS

True, but the movie had a VERY professional up-res before the film-out. A bit different that showing native DV footage on a large screen.

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

The HMC150 is a great camera, but it's an HD ONLY camera, which is a problem for me as much of what I shoot is destined for corporate training where HD is still pretty much non-existant. ( down-rezing HD to SD is a big time waster )

How fast do you have to deliver? I can down-res 6 hours of footage overnight or same day if I start early. If you're trying to deliver same day footage I can see where it might be a problem. But the fact is, you CAN down-res. Going the other way... not so much.

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

Right now I'm using a DVX100B and have been very happy with the results. I am buying a Nnovia digital deck in a few weeks so I can start recording in DVCPRO 50 format and bypass tapes completely. I will also be adding the HPX170 to my kit simply because it can shoot both HD and SD formats. ( the Nnovia ProFlex 100 deck can record DVCPRO and DVC PRO HD formats )

- Guy

I looked at all the same arguments in buying a new camera. I also have a DVX100. But I went with the EX1 for a myriad of reasons, but the fact that it only records HD internally was not one of them. I just see it as a non-issue. I went tapeless on the DVX shortly after getting it. Mid 2004 I'd say. Much better workflow. But I have no idea why you are going to record in DVCPro50 when your camera is outputting DV.

With the national changeover to digital broadcast on the near horizon, I think SD is going to fade rather quickly. Maybe not in delivered DVDs, but certainly for other deliverables. If I could only buy ONE camera right now, and had a choice between SD and HD, I'd be looking to the future, not the past.

[Guy McLoughlin]

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

How fast do you have to deliver? I can down-res 6 hours of footage overnight or same day if I start early.

Most of the time I need to get it out ASAP, which was one reason to go digital so that I won't have to deal with the hassle of tapes.

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

I looked at all the same arguments in buying a new camera. I also have a DVX100. But I went with the EX1 for a myriad of reasons, but the fact that it only records HD internally was not one of them.

I do too much corporate work that will end up either on an internal web-site, DVD-ROM, or a standard DVD. So it's important to me that I can shoot in SD format. The Sony EX1 is interesting, but I prefer the look of the Panasonic cameras. Colour and look are far more important to me than having a full-res HD image, which is why I am partial to the HPX170 right now. ( also batteries and most of my DVX accessories will still work with the HPX170 )

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

But I have no idea why you are going to record in DVCPro50 when your camera is outputting DV.

My understanding is that the DVX100B outputs 4:2:2 color-sampling via the firewire port, which is why I am interested in DVCPro50 recording.

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

With the national changeover to digital broadcast on the near horizon, I think SD is going to fade rather quickly.

I completely agree when it comes to the broadcast medium, though there are a lot of non-broadcast uses for video where SD works just fine.

None of my clients has a means of playing or distributing HD video for any of the projects that I work on, so going HD isn't going to help me right now. I will likely use the HPX170 mostly for SD shoots, and will play with the HD output when I have the time.

[Perrone Ford]

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

Most of the time I need to get it out ASAP, which was one reason to go digital so that I won't have to deal with the hassle of tapes.

Completely understood. But I think you mean tapeless and not "digital".

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

I do too much corporate work that will end up either on an internal web-site, DVD-ROM, or a standard DVD. So it's important to me that I can shoot in SD format. The Sony EX1 is interesting, but I prefer the look of the Panasonic cameras. Colour and look are far more important to me than having a full-res HD image, which is why I am partial to the HPX170 right now. ( also batteries and most of my DVX accessories will still work with the HPX170 )

You'd be amazed how closely the Sony can mimic the Panasonic if you try. However, I understand about keeping the accessories. Starting over was a big PITA.

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

My understanding is that the DVX100B outputs 4:2:2 color-sampling via the firewire port, which is why I am interested in DVCPro50 recording.

Not unless something changed between my DVX and the "B" version.

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

I completely agree when it comes to the broadcast medium, though there are a lot of non-broadcast uses for video where SD works just fine.

That's very true. But I really didn't want to support two standards. I was delivering everything in 16:9 anyway so the jump to HD didn't "look" different. Just a lot cleaner.

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

None of my clients has a means of playing or distributing HD video for any of the projects that I work on, so going HD isn't going to help me right now. I will likely use the HPX170 mostly for SD shoots, and will play with the HD output when I have the time.

Makes sense. My primary clients have already moved to HD tvs and such but we had no HD sources. So in this case, the back end drove me forward. A nice situation to be in honestly.

[Guy McLoughlin]

Originally Posted by Perrone Ford

I think you mean tapeless and not "digital".

Yeah, I meant tapeless. ( I still think of tape as analog )

BTW, I was a commercial photographer for about 10 years, and planned on getting back into it with the purchase of the Canon 5D MKII. The video capability of this DSLR looks interesting. I love the DOF from the sample footage I've seen.