Enzo, thanks for the update on the 700.. Although I really like the look I'm getting from the HPX500, and I sleep well at night using the robust P2 cards, the benefits of a lighter camera and a better (and color) viewfinder are very attractive...

Yes, old dogs.. I graduated from UCLA film school in 1967 and did a year and a half graduate school, my graduate thesis film, DDT - KNOWING IT SURVIVES US, was shot with UCLA's NPR... The motor was heavier than the HVX200, but I did love that camera - at the time... I bought my Aaton with Cooke 10.4-52mm lens from Curtis Clarke, I'm the second (and apparently last) owner... I also used a Cinemobile once (when DPing commercials for John Urie Associates) - I thought they were a great idea, would work well for independents today.

Thanks again for the info.. these forums are remarkable in their diversity...

Good to hear from many sources that the later or updated HM700's have less noise, and virtually no noise, or at least no more than the HD100 series in 720p. Since I'm only intersted in 720p at 35mbs, it's OK in my book. I have heard rumors of the first batch of the HM700 was not user upgradable and had nois EVEN at 720p modes... confirm/deny anyone?

I'm curious though. I've always LOVED the Panasonic HPX-500 and DVCPRO in general for it's ability to handle color better etc, etc etc. But how did the 720p 35mbs compare to 720pHDV or DVCPROHD? Any significant gain in color or macroblocking when using the 35mbs XD-CAM over the older 17mbs HDV? Is there any tangible benefit for you with the extra headroom? Does it handle color signficantly better and start to give DVCPROHD a run for it's money, or does it still look like HDV, just a little more robust?

It looks better and sharper then HDV (better when you use 1080i with 35 MBit

I shot since I got the HM700 on the first of Juli
nearly every day, the look looks great, in darker
areas you can change the gammacurve from standard
to filmout (and stretch your dark/black-tones) and
you will get less noise and some dB more
to shot in the night with less noise.

The one thing is to enable the improved DNR,
you must set it to on in the menu.

I have not tested the JVC against the 500, in fact I haven't even seen a 700 yet (I live in Monterey, pretty far from a place to do that)... My guess is that the Panasonic, which has always seemed to outshine the competition in "film look", and which, further, is a 2/3" camera, will continue to dominate - in this venue at least - and I wouldn't sell my 500 even if I do get a 700.

Panasonic does make the 300, which has CMOS chips, and so far I'm underwhelmed... Resolution with a capitol "R" is not the only factor to consider, and I personally prefer the more tactile quality of the 500 and the clips I've downloaded here from the 700 - the look is more like the super16 that I'm used to (BTW, I like to shoot 720/24pn).

The big factor, again, is that JVC seems to be the only manufacturer that has actually considered the needs of those of us who handhold for a living. Their cameras (based on my experience with the earlier model, which I discounted originally because of the unfortunate split screen issue) are lighter, balance well, and, supposedly, the viewfinder on the new 700 is very good. These factors are major failings with the 500 - it is unaccountably heavy (about like that old NPR mentioned above, but without the class), and the viewfinder is truly miserable (even though I spent $2,500 for a wide-screen one and modified it to sit one and a half inches farther forward to better balance the camera).

I will probably rent a 700 as soon as I have some free time and do a comparison for myself. In the meantime I will continue to read the opinions posted here and elsewhere.

(NPR, by the way, stood for 'NOISELESS PORTABLE REFLEX" - Hard to believe now that those three things were major breakthroughs in camera design.)

Is there ugly noise on 1080p 35mbs on the hm100?

HM100 at 1080i
 

Amos, I found my HM100 it is a bit noisy at the standard 0 detail setting. By reducing the detail to around -7 -8, it is very nice.

Tim mentioned this in is DVD

Andy, was this noise at 1080P? Did you have any gain on it? Thanks!

It was at 0db and 6db and 12db. I found it in all shots, even during the day. Please realize I am comparing frame by frame, not in real time.

I now shoot all my stuff, both 720 and 1080i at around -7 -8 detail. You loose very little perceived sharpness, but the image is much smoother and cleaner to me.

It is easy to see the differnce if you hook up the camera to a large HDTV via the HDMI port. Then adjust the detail while watching the TV.

Andy, I have HD110 and I generally shoot at -4 Detail to -6 Detail anyway just to avoid the "twitter" I owuld often get from the electronic sharpening around repeated man made objects.. (fences, brick walls etc). Probably most of the JVC's ProHD line might be better off having Detail -4 to -7 for a variety of reasons anyway. Just throwing it out there.

Yes, "twitter" is a good way to describe the sharpening artifacts.

In additon, on 1080i by reducing detail it seems to reduce "grain like" noise.