View Full Version : HC3 and VX2100 Weddings


Scott Routt
July 29th, 2006, 06:35 PM
Is anyone using the HC3 in conjunction with the VX2100 and getting successful footage?

I shot a wedding yesterday with two VX2100 and borrowed an HC3 from the photographer as a third camera. I haven't had time to review all the footage. The church was poorly lit with some back-light window issues that I think I was able to avoid.

From what I saw, the HC3 seemed to match up pretty well with the VX2100. I'd love to have a third VX2100 but the HC3 is half the price. It doesn't matter to me that it lacks headphone and mic jacks because I've got the audio covered the the other cameras.

The HC3 has 5 lux rating compared to the VX2100s 1 or 2 lux rating. But in general wedding conditions and recitals/plays. I'm thinking the HC3 might provide a nice third angle at half the price.

Just wondering if any of you are mixing these two cameras at weddings with success. I don't think I'd be too worried about the reception because I don't think I'd ever want to use more than two cameras at a reception.

-Scott

Glen Elliott
July 30th, 2006, 06:57 PM
Is anyone using the HC3 in conjunction with the VX2100 and getting successful footage?

I shot a wedding yesterday with two VX2100 and borrowed an HC3 from the photographer as a third camera. I haven't had time to review all the footage. The church was poorly lit with some back-light window issues that I think I was able to avoid.

From what I saw, the HC3 seemed to match up pretty well with the VX2100. I'd love to have a third VX2100 but the HC3 is half the price. It doesn't matter to me that it lacks headphone and mic jacks because I've got the audio covered the the other cameras.

The HC3 has 5 lux rating compared to the VX2100s 1 or 2 lux rating. But in general wedding conditions and recitals/plays. I'm thinking the HC3 might provide a nice third angle at half the price.

Just wondering if any of you are mixing these two cameras at weddings with success. I don't think I'd be too worried about the reception because I don't think I'd ever want to use more than two cameras at a reception.

-Scott

I would imagine they could be made to match to an acceptable degree. The biggest difference will be the native 16:9 of the HC3 vs 4:3 of the VX2k and the exceptional low light of the VX vs. the not-so-exceptional performance from the HC. In addition- shooting with the VX using the in-cam 16:9 introduces weird aliasing to the image.

I wouldn't think twice about using it for a back-up/balcony cam though. Outdoors in good lighting I'm sure the HC3 even provides better imagery.

I think you'll find HC3 usage more comon with people already shooting HDV with their other cams. It's an inexpensive way to have an extra capture deck and/or rear balcony cam.

Scott Routt
July 30th, 2006, 08:11 PM
I would imagine they could be made to match to an acceptable degree. The biggest difference will be the native 16:9 of the HC3 vs 4:3 of the VX2k and the exceptional low light of the VX vs. the not-so-exceptional performance from the HC. In addition- shooting with the VX using the in-cam 16:9 introduces weird aliasing to the image.
.

Thanks for the thought Glen. That's interesting what you said about the 16:9 problem. I shot the wedding in 4:3 and am planning to add the black bars.

I finally got a new TV. I was watching my video on a 10 year old Panasonic with messed up colors. The new one is HD but I'm not using an HD converter. I'm having a lot of trouble deciding on how my VX footage looks best because, yes, I'm getting that alias distortion you mentioned. I'm also thinking the VX 16:9 doesn't look as sharp. I was hoping that shooting in 4:3 and cropping would prevent the problem. And I was thinking the HC3 in 4:3 would work best for me.

Thanks,
Scott

Yoochul Chong
July 30th, 2006, 09:34 PM
in plenty of light, the HC3 does wonders. i use it during my weddings. i use it in conjunction with the jvc hd100.

Scott Routt
July 31st, 2006, 06:05 AM
Do you think the HC3 or any other camera that shoots both HD and DV has the same low-light performance in either mode, or is one mode better than the other? I ask because the FX1 is not rated as high as the VX2100 in low-light.