hmc150 vs hpx170; which camera is better in lowlight? 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 August 18th, 2009, 09:02 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
hmc150 vs hpx170; which camera is better in lowlight?

I understand the hmc150 and the hpx170 share the same chips and imager. I also have read that the 150 does great images in lowlight, but the 170 is not as good in lowlight. That makes no sense to me, so can somebody please clear this up? BTW, I'm looking at the 150, 170, jvc hm700, hpx300 or ex1 to do event work in club settings.
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 18th, 2009, 10:02 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
The EX1 is going to be best of this group in low light. The HPX300 is going to be HUGE to move around in a dark club. The HPX170 would be pretty nice too if you want to buy into P2. The HMC is going to be very cost effective. I don't know anything about the JVC.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.
Perrone Ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 18th, 2009, 10:16 PM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
Thanks Perronne, but how is the hpx170 in lowlight as comapred to the hmc150?
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 18th, 2009, 10:20 PM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,100
No idea. I'm sure someone here will know. You might want to define what you mean by "better" and low light. Those are some seriously broad terms.
__________________
DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.
Perrone Ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 18th, 2009, 11:05 PM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
"Better" as far as producing the cleanest possible image, without too much grain/noise and the associated artifacts.
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 12:20 AM   #6
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Billericay, England UK
Posts: 4,711
I think it's all to easy to get hung up about what's 'best' in low light. If you were filming test charts then of course the EX1 would produce the cleanest image, as it has far bigger chips that the 1"/3 of the other cameras. Perrone is right - 'best' covers a lot of ground.

If you were filming at a rave where the DJ constantly flooded the dance floor with electronic strobe lighting then the HMC150 with its CCDs would give far nicer images than the CMOS chips of any new Sony. Technically it's inferior, but aesthetically it's better.

tom.
Tom Hardwick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 12:26 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
Thanks Tom. Can anybody show footage of the hmc150 and the hpx170 in identical low light conditions?
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 12:48 PM   #8
Barry Wan Kenobi
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 3,863
HPX170 and HMC150 are going to perform identically in low light situations.
Barry Green is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 02:13 PM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry Green View Post
HPX170 and HMC150 are going to perform identically in low light situations.
Thank you Barry; that is what I was looking for.
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 03:00 PM   #10
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,699
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Joyner View Post
I also have read that the 150 does great images in lowlight, but the 170 is not as good in lowlight. That makes no sense to me, .........
I suspect it's as simple as the HMC150 is used more by people more used to cheaper consumer cameras (so the lowlight performance is a step up), whereas the 170 more by people used to pro 2/3" cameras (when the lowlight performance is a step down).

As Barry says, they're identical, so it's a case of 150 owners seeing a half full glass, 170 owners a glass half empty!
David Heath is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 03:49 PM   #11
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 27
David; That is a very interesting and probably accurate way of looking at it. I know I find myself not noticing some of the artifacts/softness that you pros notice. Especially since I currently use a 1/5th chipped camera( jvc hd7)
John Joyner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 19th, 2009, 09:35 PM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 41
I've used both cameras, and besides the end codec being higher quality in the 170 everything is the same. You'll have more latitude in post with the HPX-170.
Tom Chartrand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 20th, 2009, 04:40 PM   #13
Barry Wan Kenobi
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 3,863
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Heath View Post
I suspect it's as simple as the HMC150 is used more by people more used to cheaper consumer cameras (so the lowlight performance is a step up), whereas the 170 more by people used to pro 2/3" cameras (when the lowlight performance is a step down).
I think this is probably exactly right. Excellent observation.
Barry Green 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 07:34 AM.


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