shoot HD and burn it to blu-ray discs?
 

first, I'd like to say I am very happy I found this board. there is a ton of information here, much of which is beyond my understanding as a noob to this field. I am however considering an entrance into this world. I would like any input any of you have on what i am trying to do as outlined below. Thanks!

I want to be able to shoot high-def video of automotive press conferences and in-transit vehicles, and then create my own high-def dvd's (blu-ray seems best given what I've found). Here is the equipment I am looking at right now:

Panasonic AG-HVX200 Camcorder- $ $4,599.00 No point in me talking about this camera. You all know it's good and bad points.

Bravo SE Blu (Blu-ray Disc™/DVD±drive)-$2995.00

VAIO® HD Video Editing System VGC-RM1 -$3499.00

What do you think? Will I be able to shoot true HD video and burn it to blu-ray discs? Any thoughts and/or suggestions? Also, is there any way to apply filters to the panasonic (like polarization or IR)?

I would love to hear from people who have really used this camera. Thanks again!

Your quoted price on the HVX seems low ball. Be sure you are purchasing from an authorized Panasonic dealer if you want a valid warranty. There are a lot of grey market cameras out there.

It was a ballpark price from an online store so I could get somewhat close to actual store price, but I would be buying from an authorized dealer to make sure I got a valid warranty as well as some basic training on the camera. Thank you for your insight though.

That price is at least $600.00 lower than any Panasonic authorized dealer sells for.

If the dealer is not on Panasonic's list as authorized, no 8gb card, no book, no US service, no US Warranty, and you probably won't get the cam either.

Hello,

Welcome to the board. In theory you'll be able to deliver genuine HD content if you shoot DVCPRO HD, edit DVCPRO HD and deliver to Blue-ray. Shooting (HVX200) and editing (FCP, Avid, Adobe) DVCPRO HD is easy, but the delivery to Blue-ray part is much more difficult.

There are few authoring applications and almost none can author advanced navigation and scripting features of Blue-ray (Sonic, Avid DVD and Toast for example). You should wait to buy Blue-ray authoring tools until you have a chance to see the Blue-ray authoring options at NAB 2007. You can get started shooting HD content using the HVX200 then edit it with FCP, Avid or Adobe tools. Then just deliver it to the web or SD DVD until the right Blue-ray authoring tools become available. As a note, Sonic Scenarist can author both Blue-ray and HD-DVD formats with full features. But, it's a thick program with a generous learning curve and a dedicated workstation required. You can still use Photoshop files for menus however. Finally, keep in mind that it's hard to find people with a Blue-ray or HD-DVD appliance in their office or home right now.

Good luck,
Cale

I paid exactly $400 more than that quote from an authorized dealer, received great service, and got the free 8GB card not to mention the fabulous book. You have to shop very carefully.

Thank you for the insight. In reality, if I can get this thing off the ground, I'll be shooting alot of hd footage and making it available online at no cost to get people to my site and interested in our production. After awhile I'll start offering the same footage on blu-ray discs as well as standard discs in a sort of subscription format. However, I need to have enough stuff "in the bank" so to speak to make full length dvd's possible monthly or semi-monthly. I'm still at the planning stages of this, but in order to do this right I really need to know what equipment I need to do this better than the competition. I need to look at that Sony computer more, and I will look into the processing software. Thanks again for the insight. Take care.

Aaron - The only additional comment I would add to those above is that I recently switched to Edius Broadcast for editing the DVCPRO HD from the HVX and it works very well. It also has full functionality with P2 cards, including writing back to the P2 cards in the camera. You might look at that option as part of your plan.

Will do. Thank you.

Walk don't Run. You'll be wasting money going HD. By the time you learn to use the gear properly it will have already lost much value. Start with a modest system built around a tried and true cam such as the dvx or xl2. You can't realistically offer true HD content over the web yet. Also with the panasonic you need to add about 2500 for the P2 workflow which is the only way to shoot HD with this cam. You can still get fantastic results with SD at about 1/3 the cost. Good Luck, Charles.

Run - don't walk away from SD! HD content is on-line and being delivered everyday. IMHO - money spent on SD is money wasted.

Aaron,

Mike's advice is solid; HD is not just a new flavor of video it is the directlon everything is going. It would be both a waste of time and money to invest in an SD-only equipment package; you'll be behind the curve in everything from hardware to software knowledge.

What I would do however, is spend time learning all about video and how to shoot it first. Don't purchase anything for now, rent a camera as-you-need-it. Then as you grow more knowledgeable and competent as a shooter/editor then you'll also gain that all important perspective of what your actual equipment needs will be, rather than investing in a complete system that you either may not need - or even like.

The other thing too is that while you're deep in the learning curve the current hardware prices will be going down - and used units of whatever system you eventually want will be more plentiful.

Read the forums, buy some books/tutorials, read the industry magazines and if possible get some work as a production assistant with either a professional shooter or production company. In short, become a sponge and learn as much as you can in the next 4-6 months, and spend time testing your gained knowledge with camera rentals BEFORE you spend your hard-earned money.

"HD content is on-line and being delivered everyday" Really, by whom? Do you mean online, or on-line as in broadcast? I think suggesting the purchase of HD to a relative beginner is irresponsible advice. Less than 20% of broadcast channels are HD(BTW if you end up with a show on the first kick I will retire and take up basketweaving), BR has yet to reach even 5% penetration(who will you give the discs to?). There is no reason for a noob to be on the bleeeding edge. It's simply a waste of money. There is much more to shooting video than pixel counting. $3000 for a BR burner and no mention of a tripod? Seriously guys.

A starter package should include;
Camcorder
Fluid Head Tripod
Shotgun Mic
Lav Wired or WL
3 pt Lighting Package
Editing Suite-Hardware/Software/Storage
and a nice 5 in 1 Reflector
Don't forget Cases unless you want to carry your gear in grocery bags, and milk crates.

You can really spend whatever you can afford. I could spend 75,000 on an SD package as easily as spending 7,500 for an HD one. It all depends upon what serves your purposes the best. The key is knowing this before you commit.

Regarding the HVX, my experience has been awesome. The main reasons I decided to purchase it were P2 recording, and it's compact form. 35mm adapters on some of the other cameras are ridiculous in length. The pictures it produces are beautiful albeit they can take some tweaking, mostly some desaturation and a little bpressin'. Good Luck, Chuck.

And really, that is the best advice for Aaron and anyone in a similar position: get more knowledge and face-time with the equipment before reaching for the wallet.

Thank you for your insight. I know I didn't mention the tripod (or any other accessories for that matter), as I didn't think they all needed to be listed. I omited the chase vehicle I need and the office i need also. I tried to keep it limited to the primary technological pieces I feel I need. Sorry if that seemed short-sighted.

Also, I would do some of the shooting, but I would have a professional videographer do most of the shooting. Also, I am looking to get a few months of video done before we really go public with anything. I'm not looking to get a tv deal (though I wouldn't dismiss it if I did), but I want to provide still & video coverage of the automotive world, both online and on dvd. To help seperate ourselves from the rest of the automotive press, I'd like to be able to offer this in HD.

Again, I'm in the early stages of this. I really appreciate all the comments. They have been very helpful.

Also, in re: to the rental suggestions, there are no authorized Panasonic dealers around here that carry that camera. I'm not sure if I want to try and learn a camera other than the one I plan I getting in the future.

Hello,

You're probably already thinking about this, but you may want to evaluate the style of your content when thinking about ways to separate yourself from the rest of the "automotive press." The style (the pace of the cuts, graphics look, and presentation of information relative to your audience) that you use is an important distinction from your competitors. Watch your competition and then think about the questions you're left with or "what if" scenarios you'd like to see played out.

Information is also a big deal in addition to the style of the packaging. There's always information left on the cutting room floor that could be meeting the needs of a niche audience. Specific information targeted to a niche audience is what the internet and cable TV venues are built on. Evaluate your target audience and see if your competition is leaving out information that could be meeting their needs. HD content has a higher perceptual value over SD, so you're smart to want to acquire content in HD. Just don't overlook the greater content values of style and information thinking that the HD will do the talking.

Good Luck,
Cale

good points. thank you.

I would never rely on HD to define me. if you fill a disc with crap, it just becomes higher resolution crap in HD. And I am looking at the media outlets that exist now, analyzing what they do well, but seeing also where they fall short. It's those steps that they arn't taking that we will.

-Aaron

ps: almost couldn't find this thread w/ the new title...

yebo !

Talent trumps technology every time !

Greetings, Herman.

On the other hand, HD is spreading quickly and buying an SD-only camera makes little sense these days unless you have a specific reason to do so. If the HVX-200 seems too expensive there are decent HDV cameras starting as low as $1500-3000, and all you need to shoot HD with those is standard miniDV tape. Blu-ray burners are selling for $599-699 if you shop around and will undoubtedly continue to drop in price. Basic Blu-ray authoring software starts at $79 and blank discs are under $15 each. Editing HD footage isn't all that big a deal on today's computers, so there's really no reason *not* to invest in HD unless your camera budget is negligible. It's good advice not to get too carried away worrying about HD at this point, but don't overlook it either.

really, HD is another tool for me. I would never base what I'm doing only on HD, but it is something additional I can offer to my clients that others in my industry are not...