For those who use/own HD/HDV Cameras...

Tim Polster · June 26th, 2007, 07:46 PM

Thanks for your input everybody.

The footage I am downloading of different cameras is looking really nice.

The only drawback I see right now is that not everybody has a widescreen tv.

But, that will change more each year.

Steven Gotz · June 26th, 2007, 10:00 PM

Stu,

It is old now, but it is a Sony Grand Wega 60". Just good for 720p, not 1080i. Oh it looks fine, but I lust for a real 1080 HDTV.

Vence Vida · July 7th, 2007, 08:28 PM

I know this thread is a couple of weeks old, but I thought I'd share my situation, as it comes from a bit of a different angle:

I too have been holding off buying HD, thinking that I couldn't deliver to the consumer yet, anyway. However, I got the opportunity to bid on some small conventions later this fall where, instead of recording events and editing, my company will instead be responsible for the IMAG (Image Magnification).

For those unfamiliar with the term, IMAG is shooting an event live to screen - like you see at any convention, or many large church services, that sort of thing. There is no tape involved - I'm not recording anything, just magnifying the live event. I bringing in a four man crew - 3 camera ops and 1 video director, and I am purchasing 3 Canon XL H1s, vinten tripods, Focus/zoom controls, and HD on camera monitors. I will output true HD via the HD-SDI ports into a HD mixer with HD-SDI inputs. Because convention work pays well, the four little conventions I'm doing will buy most of the gear for me and pay my crew. I won't make any profit over that, but I will have all this new gear to use on my other productions where I shoot to tape, edit and deliver DVD product. Plus, I will still be equipped to bid on more IMAG opportunities. (I'm trying to decide whether to spring for a new HD video mixer or just rent for now.)

For those who have never done IMAG, it's not as creative as the sort of projects we normally discuss here, but its a great way to bring in income doing a job that only lasts as long as the shoot - no hours spent capturing, editing, rendering, fixing, burning, etc. I think it's a great option to keep the cash flow more consistent between creative productions and you're in and out get paid, and it's over. Of course, it requires some gear that you don't need for shoot and edit work, but it usually pays for itself rather quickly.

All that to say, the fact that I needed HD to bid on these jobs, since they were projecting in HD at the live event, was the trigger that put me over the hump. I already purchased my first XL H1 to start familiarizing myself with the camera, and I plan to purchase all the other gear by September. If it wasn't for the IMAG job, I probably would have stayed put in SD for at least another year.

-Vence

Tim Polster · July 7th, 2007, 09:02 PM

Thanks for sharing Vince.

I am looking pretty hard right now, but will still wait until the XDCAM EX comes out.

June 26th, 2007, 10:00 PM	#17
Steven Gotz Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Clermont, FL Posts: 1,520	Stu, It is old now, but it is a Sony Grand Wega 60". Just good for 720p, not 1080i. Oh it looks fine, but I lust for a real 1080 HDTV. __________________ Steven Gotz http://www.stevengotz.com

July 7th, 2007, 08:28 PM	#18
Vence Vida Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 218	Here's a different sort of reason: I know this thread is a couple of weeks old, but I thought I'd share my situation, as it comes from a bit of a different angle: I too have been holding off buying HD, thinking that I couldn't deliver to the consumer yet, anyway. However, I got the opportunity to bid on some small conventions later this fall where, instead of recording events and editing, my company will instead be responsible for the IMAG (Image Magnification). For those unfamiliar with the term, IMAG is shooting an event live to screen - like you see at any convention, or many large church services, that sort of thing. There is no tape involved - I'm not recording anything, just magnifying the live event. I bringing in a four man crew - 3 camera ops and 1 video director, and I am purchasing 3 Canon XL H1s, vinten tripods, Focus/zoom controls, and HD on camera monitors. I will output true HD via the HD-SDI ports into a HD mixer with HD-SDI inputs. Because convention work pays well, the four little conventions I'm doing will buy most of the gear for me and pay my crew. I won't make any profit over that, but I will have all this new gear to use on my other productions where I shoot to tape, edit and deliver DVD product. Plus, I will still be equipped to bid on more IMAG opportunities. (I'm trying to decide whether to spring for a new HD video mixer or just rent for now.) For those who have never done IMAG, it's not as creative as the sort of projects we normally discuss here, but its a great way to bring in income doing a job that only lasts as long as the shoot - no hours spent capturing, editing, rendering, fixing, burning, etc. I think it's a great option to keep the cash flow more consistent between creative productions and you're in and out get paid, and it's over. Of course, it requires some gear that you don't need for shoot and edit work, but it usually pays for itself rather quickly. All that to say, the fact that I needed HD to bid on these jobs, since they were projecting in HD at the live event, was the trigger that put me over the hump. I already purchased my first XL H1 to start familiarizing myself with the camera, and I plan to purchase all the other gear by September. If it wasn't for the IMAG job, I probably would have stayed put in SD for at least another year. -Vence __________________ Sony PMW-EX1R, Canon XL H1, XHG1, Panasonic GH2, Mac Pro 3.2 Quad running FCPS 3, FCPX, & Adobe Creative Cloud CC www.creativejuicesvideo.com Last edited by Vence Vida; July 7th, 2007 at 08:32 PM. Reason: Clarity

June 26th, 2007, 07:46 PM	#16
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks for your input everybody. The footage I am downloading of different cameras is looking really nice. The only drawback I see right now is that not everybody has a widescreen tv. But, that will change more each year.

July 7th, 2007, 09:02 PM	#19
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks for sharing Vince. I am looking pretty hard right now, but will still wait until the XDCAM EX comes out.