Is the H1 or HVX200 better at recording motion?
 

Hi,

I'm still trying to decide on which camera to buy; XL-H1 or HVX200P or XDCAM EX 1 HD. Until then, i thought i'd just rent two for an up coming dance show.

My question is whether the H1 or HVX200 better at capturing hip hop style dancing (fast motion) going direct to disk on my pc?

I'll go either; SDI out of the H1 or firewire out of the HVX into my PC.

The 1 camera will not be panning, just keeping the dancers framed. The other camera will pan the dancers with medium shots.

I'm leaning toward the H1 because i'll be able to simultainiously record to tape be maintain a backup in case the capture to computer gives me trouble.

We just shot some action sports (new skool skiers doing handrails) using both a my H1 and a friends HVX 200 recording to P2 cards.
They both record action well. Hard to say if one is better than the other for action. They just have a different look in my eye.

With the H1 you don´t have the possibility to shoot over cranked (slo-mo), but it has a very clean and detailed image.

Hello,

I'm concerned about image breakup or blocking during action. The edited dance show will be converted to BlueRay DVD.

Did you record to tape or sdi with the H1?

Also, would it be possible to provide me with about a minute of video - showing action and motion - from each camera? I have an ftp server you can download them to if that would be convenient.

HDV to tape on the H1. I could download some H1 clips. Unfortunatly I don´t have the HVX clips. The other cameraman is away shooting and he has them

I would appreciate getting some clips. Thanks!

The ftp server info:
address: ftp.nados.com
login: public
password: nms

Let me know if you have any trouble.

Also, i read that the SDI output does not include the audio. Is this correct?

a heavier camera will give you a more stable image - not a big issue unless there is a lot of camera movement

I´m exporting a clip to Quicktime now. I´ll try to upload it. I´ve never done it before, how do I do it?

I think I figured it out. I downloaded Cyberduck and I think I´m uploading to your server now.
It´s a .mov file.
The last shot in slo-mo is slowed down and de-interlaced in FCP.
I shot it at F2.0 and shutter 1/50 (I´m in PAL land) due the the low light levels at night.
Gain is 0
Normally I would have shot it at 1/100
Please let me know if it worked

PS File is called Skuirailshort

Joachim - Yes, i got it, thanks!

I just love our world community. Speaking, collaborating and getting to know each other from all parts of this world. I just wish and pray we could all get along better - in peace.

Anyway... the footage is just fantastically clear! However, i did notice that during camera or subject motion, the image and/or subject goes wavy. Is that what you see?


Peter,

The cameras will on tripods for the entire show.

Hi Nelson
I experienced what you see the first time I watched the quicktimemovie. I closed it and re opened it and it played fine. I do see some "saw-tooth" jagged edges, which is due to the quicktime compression.
Note: If you look closely at the second to last shot you can see the other camera man in the left corner sliding across as he is standing on a dolly!!

How much light will it be on your shoot?
Can you controll it?

The HVX200 has the worst low light performance of the 3 cameras.
The H1 is ok, but I heard the EX1 holds up really well (due to larger chip). It rates around ASA 800 they say

When I look at the footage in FCP it has absolutly no waveyness and motion looks smother than in the Quicktime file

Joachim,

I know its a lot to ask, but can you ftp me the footage in raw and/or avi?

It´s ok, I´ll try.
I´m learning more about post production doing this so it´s good for me.
Give me a little time and I´ll see what I can do. I´ll try avi I think

I´m making an avi file now without compression, settings at best.
If you have any input in the settings department, I´m all ears

Ops. A 6 second clip ended up as 4.55Gb. I will try another setting

Now I can´t upload anylonger.
I made an avi file, but it was compressed to DV-PAL. Didn´t look good.
I´m trying to use Compressor now

It´s taking a while I´m afraid.

Hi,

you where blocked from uploading because you attempted to login and/or failed more than 5 times with in a 2 minute period. The ftp server thought you where trying to break into the network.

I have reinstated you. You can upload now.

BTW, i really appreciate your efforts on my behalf.

Are you planning to shoot 60i, 30f or 24f? 30f and 24f can stand a bit more before breaking up than 60i. It also depends on the amount of detail in your images and the shutter speed you're using. Nothing beats a little experimenting before going on your shoot just to be safe. I've had significant amounts of breakup on high shutter, high detail 60i footage from a helicopter, but that's about as tough as it gets for any long gop codec. In any case, the footage was still useable even with the breakup and I used it. I have a sample 24f 1/48 high motion file right here, but it's 33MB.

Luis,

I don't know what setting i'll use yet. probably 30f.

if you don't mind ftping it to me over night, i'll be happy to view it. The ftp server login info is a few posts above.

I tried again this morning, but no luck with login

When I look at the AVI file now, I get the "waves" all the time. Something is odd, I´m afraid I´m not too familiar with the different export and compression settings

Joachim,

Ok, my apology, it appears that i had that ftp account set for only "one" simultanious login. I have corrected that.

However, you are currently logged into the ftp server and are transfering the .avi file. how big is the file?

As for the wavyness, i think thats a result of improper interlaced to progressive encoding - although i'm not sure.

If you could transfer - say - 15sec's of the raw HD file, i might be able to help solve the wavy problem.

BTW, you might try the SmartFtp client from www.smartftp.com. Its an excellent ftp client and by default, it will automatically establish a connect with the last entered ftp site info you entered without having to retype anything.

i.e. ftp.nados.com public nms

Also, what NLE are you using?

I´m on Final Cut Studio 2

I just got my HV20 back. That camera has a HDMI out and I watched the footage on my Panasonic 42 (PV70) plasma, and it looked amazing. Even the slo-mo looked half descent

It´s uploaded, the AVI.
I´m making a uncompressed HDV50i file now, you should have it in 7-8 minutes

P.S. the smartftp client is free for personal use. You just have to re-download it very month or so. If you end up using it, you just have to be careful of making sure you only have one account tab because it will log into all accounts that have tabs displayed.

I think thats what happened to you with your client - maybe. You may have tried to log into my ftp site more than once - simultaneously.

Joachim,

I really appreciate your effort. Thanks!

Your welcome. I´ve got so much help here my self, nice to be able to return the favour.
Did you get the AVI and the (supposedly) uncompressed MOV file (12sec)?

Joachim,

Yes, i got the files. I'll take a look at them shortly. And thanks again.

I'm uploading a sample file. Hope it helps. It's a 24f 1/48th shutter m2t original file, exactly the way it comes into the computer from the camera. It's pretty shaky but you wanted motion, not artistic value ;)

Thanks guys, your all being a big help in determining my use of the H1 for an up and coming hip hop dance show.

http://www.dvdaction.net/dvdaction_044.htm

NELSON heres a clip that I recorded with my HDR-FX1 60i very low light
I have sold the FX1 & V1u's and now own the XDCAM EX This is the best cam that I have owned also have a Z7 on order. Any of these cams would be a good choice, as for as motion goes it would probally be better to shoot 60i or 60p.

Brian,

Very Nice stuff on your web site and the download was very cool too. When you said, "This is the best cam that I have owned", do you mean the EX1 or the FX1 you no longer have?

Was all of it shot at 60i or 60p?

Do you have thing shot on your EX1 that i can download?

Also, What are quality settings for the flash demo on your web site?

I mean the XDCAM EX . The dance footage was shot in 60i and rendered out to 30p avi in Sony Vegas then downcoverted to wmv format. I liked the FX1. I upgraded to The V1u which was a little bit better and recently upgraded to the XDCAM EX.

I will try to post of EX footage this weekend. Check out the Xdacm EX clips section
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=163