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To buy or not to buy a HDV camera


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To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Chris Yeo on Sep 2, 2008 at 2:44:14 am

Hi there, I'm currently in the middle of making a decision, and realized I need more information before I can make that decision - to buy an HDV camera or not. The camera in question is the Sony-Z1.

I've currently started up my own business doing events reporting with the dream of making the jump to doing full fledged films one day. Anyhow, I'm at the point when clients start asking for HD footage for events capturing.

My current camera is an HVX-200 - bought mainly for the P2 card, and film work. However, I'm considering buying a second camera, as work now demands it. My choice is basically to get another HVX-200, or try and get a Sony-Z1. Some questions I have in my head are -

1) My biggest fear of HDV is this - I've read about the potential problems transferring HDV footage during digitalization - if one block is lost, a chunk of footage is gone. Does this happen often? The only experience I had with HDV footage was in film school when it just gave lots of problems during digizalization and gave choppy frames and the techies there helping us headaches. Nevertheless it was something I wouldn't want to face after working hard on a project and all the footage not being able to be edited.

2) Shooting with both cameras in SD - Can I merge the HVX-200 footage (shot in progressive) with the Sony footage (shot in interlaced) on the same timeline in the same movie? Would this be a huge problem? Has anyone done this before?

Thanks for the replies and help.

Cheers,
Chris

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Harry Pallenberg on Sep 2, 2008 at 5:11:14 am

Panny has 2 new cameras one is a P2 camera so you could stay within a workflow that you know, and have gear for already. The other camera uses - I think SD cards, so even cheaper than P2. I think the have 170 and 150 in the names - quick google will help.

Seems like that would be a better camera for you - workflow, framerate, camera matching, already owned gear.

Thanks,
Harry

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Lutz Dieckmann on Sep 2, 2008 at 10:55:47 pm

Hi,

if you ask me, buy a JVC. I have a GY 110 and I am very satisfied. I do not have any problems while logging stuff into the computer. I personally like the 720/25p look. Have a look here

http://www.vimeo.com/dieckmann

If you like to see it work, have a look at http://hd-trainings.de

all this is shot with the JVC

Hope it helps
Lutz

Thank you for reading this

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Ryan Mast on Sep 3, 2008 at 2:44:07 am

I use the Sony Z1 and A1 a lot, and I've been quite happy with them, for the cost range they are.

The only time I've had dropouts was when I used cheap HDV tapes. Or reused cheap HDV tapes. Bad idea, don't do it. Use good Sony tapes.

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Steve Connor on Sep 3, 2008 at 7:00:07 am

IBC is next week, there may be new camera launches that may affect your decision.

Steve Connor
Adrenalin Television

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Chris Yeo on Sep 4, 2008 at 12:32:14 am

thanks for all your feedback and help. I'll probably wait to see what gets released. Yes, the HVX-170 and HVX-150 looks interesting but I guess it's wait and see what comes up.

Cheers,
Chris

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by David Roth Weiss on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:03:39 am

[Chris Yeo] " I've read about the potential problems transferring HDV footage during digitalization -"

Chris,

To capture from tape to hard drive with a non-linear editor is "digitizing" or "to "digitize." There is no such thing as "digitalization." I hate to be the grammar cop on the beat, but we are in the communication industry and proper terminology is a very important aspect of the business. Don't feel badly, the cameraman for my company was also constantly using the same term. It must be a cameraman thing.

I have been editing lots of HDV shot with the Z1 camera and have never had issues with dropouts. Playback in the field is the major source of dropouts on DV tape and should be avoided at all cost if dropouts are not your thing.

David

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Los Angeles

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Ken Jones on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:50:50 pm

Actually, if you really want to get technical...

I always thought "Digitizing" referred to the process of converting analog video and audio to a digital format - i.e. digitizing a BetaSP tape.

If the format is already digital (MiniDV, HDV, DVCPro, XDCam, etc.) aren't simply transferring the information from one storage device to another? That is why I always refer to this process as "Capturing".

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Re: To buy or not to buy a HDV camera
by Chris Yeo on Sep 9, 2008 at 9:38:43 am

Thanks for the tips - Guess I have to rewire my brain to convert digitizierung (german) to use the word digitize in english. Hence the direct translation to digitalization. :D

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