Looking to buy a HPX-500 - Page 3 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Panasonic P2HD / AVCCAM / AVCHD / DV Camera Systems > Panasonic P2HD / DVCPRO HD Camcorders

Panasonic P2HD / DVCPRO HD Camcorders
All AG-HPX and AJ-PX Series camcorders and P2 / P2HD hardware.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 21st, 2009, 01:21 PM   #31
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wales
Posts: 2,130
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Rosen View Post
I realize that nature broadcasters want the "through a window" clarity that they tout, but many dramatic films and personal documentaries suffer (in my opinion) when they are too crisp.. ).
In not the crispness, AFAIK it gets very blocky because the compression has a hard time dealing with grains as opposed to pixels. It came as a big shock to all of us in the wildlife film game I can assure you, not to mention Kodak!
There has been talk that as compression/transmission equipment improves it could be sorted out, in which case you may find S16 coming back.
Steve
Steve Phillipps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 21st, 2009, 06:14 PM   #32
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Monterey, California
Posts: 895
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps View Post
I in which case you may find S16 coming back.
Steve
Steve: Well, although I still own my Aaton and 5 lenses, one an excellent Cooke zoom that was built specifically for BBC production in the early 80's (I bought my camera used in 1989 from a British cinematographer), I will probably never get another budget for a doc in super16 - but I will never sell it - like my hotrodded 1930 Ford that I drive daily.

The point of my comments was in relation to the HPX500, which I feel is an excellent replacement for my Aaton for documentary work. It takes great pictures, handles well (although it's a little too heavy) and doesn't cost an arm and a leg - so I don't have to lose sleep worrying about using it in less than ideal locations, or sending it through luggage.

There are many things to consider when buying a personal camera, and those I've mentioned in these posts are the factors that are important to me - It's not all about resolution, and shouldn't have to be for everyone.
Steve Rosen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 21st, 2009, 07:50 PM   #33
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Posts: 157
Been using the 500 for quite some time now. Shot lots of different things with it.

Im a parrot so to repeat - wide shots arent the sharpest out there, and the SD viewfinder can sometimes let you down (I use a BTLH80 where possible).

But really there arent any other minus points that bother me. Being 2/3" gives it a versatility that smaller chip cameras lack, case in point being the wide variety of work I use it for. One of the most recent being a on a series called Road to greatness (Australian content) currently airing on Fox Sports in the US in which I shot live action shots, interviews and dramatic promo shots. I rented a Fujinon HA13x4.5 BERM-M48B wide angle - great lens btw, for the shots and they are amazing. I usually use the standard Fujinon HD CAC lens you buy with the camera and the above wide angle blew it away as far as sharpness goes. SO the lens is a big factor. Ive also used the Fujinon CINE Zoom HAc15x7.3F with it and again awesome, much better than the package lens. Regardless, Id say 85% of the time I am shooting with the package lens and it works well.

Please dont go viewing HD footage on a computer screen and saying WOW this is so much sharper and then not compare to see how it will look in the real world on anything from the new OLEDs to a 4:3 TV. The reality is, out there the difference is minimal, compared to your 2560x1600 LCD computer monitor your sitting 2 feet from. I use a 42" bravia on my edit bay and also have a 50" bravia in the loungeroom and an old Panasonic flatscreen tube TV that I run shots through from time to time and the 500 always looks great. And yes, if I am seated within close proximity I can see more sharpness in something like an EX on the 1080 panels in wide shots. But reality is a great thing, as 1080 panel owners arent the majority and even so people just dont sit that close for the most part. The difference I notice more than the sharpness increase you can get from other cams, is dynamic range. Thats something I can see clearly weather I am close or far, weather I am viewing on an old tube TV or 1080 LCD. TO my eyes it makes the greatest impact when comparing to a minor sharpness increase. Would I prefer to shoot on something else? Hell yeah give me a 3000 or 3700 any day of the week. But there are more reasons than mere sharpness for that. But then again Im out there to earn a living, and it makes no sense for me personally to have so much cash tied to depreciating equipment. When in need, I have a great rental house I use.

Im rambling now and all this is just IMO.
Noel Evans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 22nd, 2009, 11:13 AM   #34
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Monterey, California
Posts: 895
Noel: all valid points - I guess one of the reasons that I am such a fan of the 500 (besides the cost benefits you mention and the noticeable dynamic range) is that I tend to shoot more in the mid and long end of the lens. When I shoot wide, it usually an interior at medium to short distances, and the wide (Fujinon) holds up well there.

Also, I try to never close down below 4-5.6... These (CAC) lenses tend to fall apart more at f8 and above. And, as I mentioned, by using a 1/2 SoftFX or 1/4 ProMist, it tends to mask any loss in the lens and makes it look intentional (which, in my case, it usually is).
Steve Rosen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 29th, 2009, 08:28 PM   #35
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 191
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps View Post
A lot of BBC wildlife series are Discovery co pros and I know that the 500 would not be acceptable (Planet Earth, Galapagos, Yellowstone, Wild China etc.) except in special circumstances.

Steve
And for those shows any Xdcam gear would also be a no go, even the pdw models would probably not cut it. Although the 720p Varicam did make it into a lot of Planet Earth shots, along with film, hdcam and so on.

As i said before, there will always be compromises, even with high end gear. I still think we thend to lean a bit to much towards the "full hd" consumer nonsense. Of course 1080 chips are fine, but in the end the images count and not the numbers behind. Want 1080 with panasonic's "mojo" rent a hpx3000 or 2700...will leave any xdcam trailing behind in the dust.
Christian Magnussen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 29th, 2009, 08:41 PM   #36
Space Hipster
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,596
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps View Post
I don't get commissions myself, I just shoot the pictures, but I assume that there will be discussions at commissioning stage re equipment to be used, and I get the feeling that for high end projects they'd say no to the 500. A lot of BBC wildlife series are Discovery co pros and I know that the 500 would not be acceptable (Planet Earth, Galapagos, Yellowstone, Wild China etc.) except in special circumstances.

Steve
High end Discovery HD projects are Gold standard. That's reserved for the best HD cameras. As was already stated, the HPX500 is cleared for the middle-tier rating, Silver - just like the EX line. No one here ever said the 500 was a top of the line HD camera. For its price, Silver rating is great.
Glen Vandermolen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 30th, 2009, 10:33 AM   #37
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wales
Posts: 2,130
Quote:
Originally Posted by Christian Magnussen View Post
rent a hpx3000 or 2700...will leave any xdcam trailing behind in the dust.
Not entirely true, do you want to quantify it? The 2700 for instance is definitely less sharp and has less resolution than the PDW700/800.
Steve
Steve Phillipps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 30th, 2009, 07:43 PM   #38
Panasonic Broadcast
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Secaucus, NJ 07094
Posts: 271
Steve, show the res charts to prove this. And when you do this please post all of the settings in the cameras. This just isn't true. If you saw a sample that was less resolution, it is likely that they had turned the detail down.

And BTW, the codec on the 2700 totally rocks at 4:2:2 10 bit, I frame only. A little unlike the long GOP experience on the 700.

Best,

Jan
__________________
Jan Crittenden Livingston
Panasonic Solutions Company, Product Manager for 3D and Handheld Cameras
Jan Crittenden Livingston is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Panasonic P2HD / AVCCAM / AVCHD / DV Camera Systems > Panasonic P2HD / DVCPRO HD Camcorders

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:54 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network