At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? at DVinfo.net

Les Wilson · November 7th, 2012, 09:24 AM

Other than the usual low light performance differences between chip sizes, the HM-150 with it's 1/4" 3-mos sensor seems like it would be a good workflow and CODEC B-Camera for the EX series.

At $2000, it's the only modern solid state camera in that range that isn't AVCHD. For those with no need for 422, it seems like it could be a good match.

Has anyone used both of these cameras together? How's the wide angle adapter and hood?

Jack Zhang · November 7th, 2012, 05:23 PM

This video is shot with both a JVC HM150 and a EX1R:

Do remember that the JVC pixel shifts the sensors, and you will get very limited DOF on a 1/4'' sensor.

Jonathan Bird · November 8th, 2012, 09:03 PM

Small sensors have MORE depth of field than large ones, not the other way around. It's low light performance than suffers with small sensors.

Jack Zhang · November 9th, 2012, 10:22 AM

Yes, but to the shallow DOF DSLR crazed generation, they see more DOF as limiting...

That's probably what I was trying to say.

Jonathan Bird · November 13th, 2012, 09:14 AM

I see what you mean.

This generation of people who are obsessed with limited depth of field probably have a lot of footage out of focus, that's all I can say. I have a hard enough time getting a 1/2" sensor camera consistently in focus. But then again, I do documentaries, where it's very "run and gun" style shooting. This is not a place for cinema-style cameras and large sensors.

Back to the original post, I have used the JVC HM-100 and HM-150 and I find them to be very decent little cameras with excellent image quality and the same XDCAM workflow as Sony. In fact, the file architecture is the same and you can use the Sony Log and Transfer tool in FCP to ingest the footage. The smaller sensors are a little more noisy in low light than you will see with something like an EX1, but the picture quality otherwise is very good.

Jonathan

November 7th, 2012, 09:24 AM	#1
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? Other than the usual low light performance differences between chip sizes, the HM-150 with it's 1/4" 3-mos sensor seems like it would be a good workflow and CODEC B-Camera for the EX series. At $2000, it's the only modern solid state camera in that range that isn't AVCHD. For those with no need for 422, it seems like it could be a good match. Has anyone used both of these cameras together? How's the wide angle adapter and hood?

November 7th, 2012, 05:23 PM	#2
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? This video is shot with both a JVC HM150 and a EX1R: CineSkates Review - YouTube Do remember that the JVC pixel shifts the sensors, and you will get very limited DOF on a 1/4'' sensor.

November 8th, 2012, 09:03 PM	#3
Jonathan Bird Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Massachusetts, United States Posts: 41	Re: At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? Small sensors have MORE depth of field than large ones, not the other way around. It's low light performance than suffers with small sensors.

November 9th, 2012, 10:22 AM	#4
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? Yes, but to the shallow DOF DSLR crazed generation, they see more DOF as limiting... That's probably what I was trying to say.

November 13th, 2012, 09:14 AM	#5
Jonathan Bird Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Massachusetts, United States Posts: 41	Re: At half the price of a 1-chip PMW-100, anyone used an HM-150 XDCAM with an EX1? I see what you mean. This generation of people who are obsessed with limited depth of field probably have a lot of footage out of focus, that's all I can say. I have a hard enough time getting a 1/2" sensor camera consistently in focus. But then again, I do documentaries, where it's very "run and gun" style shooting. This is not a place for cinema-style cameras and large sensors. Back to the original post, I have used the JVC HM-100 and HM-150 and I find them to be very decent little cameras with excellent image quality and the same XDCAM workflow as Sony. In fact, the file architecture is the same and you can use the Sony Log and Transfer tool in FCP to ingest the footage. The smaller sensors are a little more noisy in low light than you will see with something like an EX1, but the picture quality otherwise is very good. Jonathan