View Full Version : Does the Panasonic HVX200 work well with a Sony FX1?


Jimmy Conway
June 16th, 2009, 03:29 PM
I've been looking for a second shooter and a lot of replies that I got have a HVX200. Now I shoot HDV on a Sony FX1 and I was wondering if the two can work together. I usually just hand the other videographer HDV tapes to record on and then they hand me the tapes at the end of the day and I import using my Canon HV20 camera. Will this HVX200 mess up my workflow? I have a feeling it will, so is there any work around or should I just find a different videographer with a more similar camera?

Chris Barcellos
June 16th, 2009, 09:15 PM
The HVX200 does not do HDV on tape. For HD level files, You will have to have a way handle the mxf output files. The imagers are 960 x 720 pixels, with 1.33 PAR to give you native 1280 x 720.

The camera is not as good in low light. Gets pretty grainy.

The film crowd pounced on this camera because of tapeless work flow and native 24p capabilities. I shot one film with the HVX, and if it wasn't for the 24p, I would rather have had the FX1.

Jimmy Conway
June 16th, 2009, 11:59 PM
Good to know, thanks Chris.

Christopher Drews
June 17th, 2009, 12:32 AM
Something else to note besides spacial resolution is color depth.
The HVX-200 can shoot in DVCPRO-HD which is a 10 bit, 422 codec.
HDV as you know isn't that good, with 420 (the same color space used by DVD compression).

The HVX-200 will have significantly better color sampling, compression and image quality.
So yes, you'll see the difference.
-C

Noah Kadner
June 17th, 2009, 01:45 PM
Formats are quite different and would make for lots of extra work in post- would not recommend it but for emergencies.

Noah

Barry Green
June 20th, 2009, 12:21 PM
DVCPRO-HD which is a 10 bit, 422 codec.
DVCPRO-HD (and, basically, all other HD formats in common use, including HDCAM, XDCAM-HD, XDCAM-EX, XDCAM MPEG422, AVCHD, and HDV) are all 8-bit codecs. If you want 10-bit you have to go to AVC-Intra.