What camera would be the best option for indie filmmaking? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony ENG / EFP Shoulder Mounts

Sony ENG / EFP Shoulder Mounts
Sony PDW-F800, PDW-700, PDW-850, PXW-X500 (XDCAM HD) and PMW-400, PMW-320 (XDCAM EX).

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 7th, 2007, 04:35 PM   #1
New Boot
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chihuahua, Mexico
Posts: 22
What camera would be the best option for indie filmmaking?

After the NAB news, I'm thinking which camera would be my option, as a filmmaker with under $10K budget.

Under your experience which one has the better specs and overall, best resolution, color sampling in the big screen.

In my personal analysis, these are the finalist.

Pana HVX 200
JVC HD 200
XDCAM ES
And maybe the mini RED,if the price and specifications it will be in this arena.

Regards!
Octavio Gasca
Octavio Gasca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 11th, 2007, 12:06 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 470
Well neither the XDCAM EX or the mini-Red camera exist - so count them out for the moment. As for the Panasonic and the JVC, both produce very film-like footage (for 1/3" sensor video cameras) from what what I've been told. With the cost of a P2 card or two, they cost roughly the same. But I imagine you'd be pleased with the result from either camera. I think the main question between these two would be which formfactor suits you best and whether tape or solid-state recording suits you best.

Hope that helps.
Mark Kenfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 11th, 2007, 12:32 PM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
Well I wouldn't spend any money right now. I would hold fire for the EX. It should be a stunning performer. I have to say the HD100 does produce very pleasing pictures, but artifacts can be an issue with HDV in certain circumstances.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 04:39 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 470
I'm going to have to agree with you Alister. If it ends up being twice the price of a Canon XHA1 I might just get the Canon and put up with tape, 1/3" sensors, and 25Mb/s - but if it's everything we're hoping it'll be (i.e. a compact version of the f330/350 with variable framerates)...

I think the choice will be pretty easy.
Mark Kenfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 11:01 AM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
I think Sony should have a winner with the EX range. I can't wait to get my hands on one.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 04:19 PM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alister Chapman View Post
I think Sony should have a winner with the EX range. I can't wait to get my hands on one.
'EX range' you say?
Scott Webster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 05:38 PM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
I would get the Canon A1, if you are worried about the HDV codec you could still work your project in DV at 24F in 16:9 native. The money you save would let you complete your kit and then when the Red and th EX wil be out and have proven themselves you could reconsider and sell your A1 without loosing too much money. Meanwhile you could also discover that HDV is maybe not that bad.
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 11:29 PM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 470
Yeah that's my main issue, if I get the Canon instead, I can afford to buy all my other accessories. However for me the camera is more of an investment in building up my knowledge and familiarity with professional gear - i.e. so when I get in touch with producers (like I've been doing of late) I can confidently tell them that I'm familiar with working with professional equipment (the xdcam format is a pro one), full manual lenses etc...

I don't want to buy a prosumer video camera to make money with, I want it to create content that will impress people enough that they'll let me shoot stuff with real cameras.
Mark Kenfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 13th, 2007, 11:32 PM   #9
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 3,840
Check into a rental house, and rent some different cameras to work with.
Richard Alvarez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 02:09 AM   #10
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 4,957
I don't know, but I would not be surprised if we see more than one version of the camera, maybe one with a more limited feature set and then more models in the future.
__________________
Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com
Alister Chapman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 03:04 AM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NE of London, England
Posts: 788
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Kenfield View Post
I don't want to buy a prosumer video camera to make money with, I want it to create content that will impress people enough that they'll let me shoot stuff with real cameras.
If you want to practice with professional ergonomics, I'd buy the HD200.

It looks the most pro IMO as well.
Mike Marriage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 04:57 AM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 470
I'd love to get one, but down here the HD200 is about $13,000 - so it's somewhat out of my price range.

What I'm doing at the moment is arranging a try before you buy deal with a rental house, so I can test out 3 or 4 of the different cameras over a weekend each in order to figure out which one to buy - I'm getting the feeling though that 1/3" sensors and hdv isn't going to cut it when the XDCAM EX arrives.
Mark Kenfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 07:12 AM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Northampton, England
Posts: 500
HDV has a bit of a stigma attached to it – it was never quite fully trusted from the start. It analogous to the launch of miniDV – most people in the industry were very suspicious of it. I worked in UK TV news at the time, and we weren't allowed to broadcast more than short bursts of DV in case the UK Broadcasting standards watchdog took us to task!

However, XDCAM HD is light-years ahead of HDV (especially the audio), so I'd personally hang-fire on any purchases in the "prosumer handheld" arena until after we get the full low-down on what the EX will do for us at Sony's "launch" in July.
__________________
Alex
Alex Leith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 04:18 PM   #14
New Boot
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chihuahua, Mexico
Posts: 22
Talking about the results after the blow-up to 35mm. Any experience in projects shotted with JVC HD 100 or Panasonic 200 in the big screen?
And if you have any camera settings-editing-post technical advises for better results.
I really want to hear your experiences in this process from HDV or Panasonic HD PRO to 35mm
Octavio Gasca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 14th, 2007, 07:05 PM   #15
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 470
Well I don't know about HDV transfers, but I was rewatching a fantastic little Aussie Mockumentary called "Kenny" last night - that was shot on an old PD150 (or PD170) and they got a fantasic transfer to 35mm, The whole film looks really clean.

So I imagine, that if your footage is clean enough in the first place it should transfer across pretty well, especially when it has over twice the resolution of what you get out of a PD150.
Mark Kenfield is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony ENG / EFP Shoulder Mounts

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:14 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network