Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Want to hear first if it has good slow zoom. Thanks.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

I will try to get some raw footage up soon, and will try the slow zoom. Here is a PDF of my initial impressions regarding the camera design - no footage shot yet.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Interesting - Looking forward to seeing the footage

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

@Mark-

In regards to your comparison,
it has been documented that the EX1 lens (therefore the PMW-200 as well) when at full telephoto, is at f/2.8, even though it still displays f/1.9. Also, the HPX at full telephoto is at f/3.0, not f/2.8 as stated, according to Panasonic's specs.

My PMW-200 should arrive this week.

I currently shoot on an HMC-150, which has the same "front end" as the HPX170.

It's discouraging to read that Mark thought the PMW200's viewfinder isn't as good as the HPX170's.
I dislike the HMC150's viewfinder (which is the same as the HPX170). I think it's too small and low res.
The best I've seen on a handheld camera is on the Canon XF300/305 series.

I'm going to put the PMW-200 through it's paces next weekend and see how it compares to my HMC150. I'm sure it'll be better, but will it be $4000 better?

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

If it's the same as the EX1R viewfinder, you may encounter something known as "The Rainbow Effect." There is no way to adjust the saturation, but you can adjust the backlight of the EVF to be brighter.

Did you use the BP-U30 battery when you made your balance assessment, Mark? The same could be said for the EX1R being front heavy. I remember that the optimum balance for the camera is with a BP-U60 battery from Alister's review.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Yes Jack, the weight balance comments were with the BP-U30 battery in place. The slowest zoom setting is VERY slow, taking 88 seconds to go from full wide to full telephoto. I have a raw clip file that is 1.4 minutes long of the zoom, but it is 800 MB large. What is the best way to send or post it for others ? Also, I have a fast computer (PC) with 16 GB of RAM, and interestingly enough, the video from the camera (but not the audio) stutters when being played in the XDCAM brower from Sony. The same video, when played in my Edius 6 NLE, is as smooth as silk. With regards to the EVF, perhaps the lack of color saturation is not a problem if it is easy to focus correctly. I have not yet spent enough time with this to make a determination. I see that one option is to make the viewfinder black and white. I know that commercial cameramen used to swear by B&W viewfinders for focusing. Any suggestions ?

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Mark, regarding the EVF comparison - it's not abut how nice the picture looks on them but how faithful they are compared to the recording. You didn't mention what picture profiles did you use on both camcorders, I assume that you used an customized profile for Pana, but standard profile for Sony and maybe that's why the Sony's EVF was so washed out.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Peaking is essential to focusing. That should be on whenever possible (unless you're shooting something with texture that overwhelms the peaking to hide the image)

I personally use the high setting as that shows a refined threshold of the areas in peak sharpness. The only time peaking may not work is in Low-light or high gain.

I also personally think a 3x Loupe over the LCD is a much better viewfinder compared to the small FOV coverage of the rear EVF. On the LCD, you can adjust saturation and more precisely control the backlight level.

Sony XDCAM Browser uses a non-hardware accelerated MainConcept decoder. (CPU does all the work, and it's not really Multi-thread optimized) If it is an MXF, you can try VLC Media Player to preview as well. (though some versions of VLC have a audio bug with MXF files)

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

I wish this camera had had the shot transition feature. I could have managed without the rotating hand grip (i love that grip when power zooming tho') but one of the main reasons why i picked my ex1r and not a dslr was the shot transition feature.

I don't get why they removed it either. Some say that the rotating handgrip is gone due to customer feedback. Ok. Who did ask for the removal of this feature then? It was just 3 buttons under the handlebar. It can't be like people emailed to Sony saying "hey please remove this, along with auto iris and s&q buttons. They add significant weight to the camera", can it? I see that the specific area is reserved for heat sinking purposes on the pmw200 but there is still plenty of empty areas on the camera for those buttons.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but there's not another camera on the market that can do what the shot transition does. These cameras are made with broadcasting in mind, i get that. But it's not like if you are not a broadcaster, you are not allowed to buy one. The predecessor had a great, flawless feature. Why remove something that works?

I might have considered selling my ex1r and buying a pmw200. Now i'll just skip it instead.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Having used a Z1 over the weekend, anything that reduces number of buttons is a good thing. It gets to a point when they're just something that can be accidentally knocked and you get something you don't want.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

I feel just the opposite. The more buttons the camera has, the less time I have to spend getting into the menus. My PMW-200 has 5 assign buttons, but I wish it had 10 and there was a longer list of functions I could assign to them. I can't recall ever accidentally pushing a button on my Z1, EX1, EX3, or F3. Give me more!

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

It depends on what you're doing with the camera, I was doing a lot of hand held with the Z1 and the shutter speed changed a number of times. I've no problem with the Z1 assign buttons, it's the exposure option buttons located prcisiely where I'm sometimes holding the camera.. For some shots I tend to use the LCD as a V/F and dig the camera into my shoulder, so the rotating selector can be occidentally shifted.

In this regard I prefer the JVC GY HD cameras.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Well this thread is actually supposed to be about the new PMW-200 and not the shortcomings of a seven year old Z1U HDV camcorder. I assure you that shooting with the two cameras is quite different. The more buttons the better.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

The PMW 200 looks pretty clear of buttons in the danger zone.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Remember that there isn't a dedicated Bars button anymore, that needs to be assigned. Calibration of your displays got at least 1 step more complicated.

I love the Assign 4 button on the EX1R set as the Rec button since it reminds me of using shoulder cams if you didn't want to reach for the handle Rec button. That's gone from the 200. If you think about it, the 200 actually has 1 less assign button than the EX1R if the Zebra and Peaking buttons were also assignable on the EX1R.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Yeah, that's the way I look at it, too. The PMW-200 really only has three assign buttons. But since I have zebras turned on 100% of the time and NEVER turn them off, being able to re-program the zebra button for something else makes up for it. So I'm back to four.

However, I really hate not having two other missing buttons, and neither one can be programmed into an Assign Button:
1) S&Q Motion, with a corresponding menu to change the video format to 720P automatically.
2) SteadyShot On/Off

I'm lobbying Sony hard to get them to add those features to the Assign Button choices in a future firmware update. I'd say the odds are good because they've listened to me before on other cameras and they know I speak for many other people with the same ideas. We'll see.

I have to say I like the 200 more and more every day. I think the picture quaity looks great and I love the ergonomics of it. I don't understand why some people are bitching about the lack of a rotating grip because I find the camera 10x easier to handhold than an EX1R. It doesn't need a rotating grip. I guess I wouldn't complain if it had one, but I sure don't miss it.

BTW, I've got a EX1 for sale if anyone is interested!

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Cristian - I took your suggestion and started adjusting the picture profile settings.The viewfinder is still not up to the Panasonic, but it much better with new settings. I was initially not happy with the video shot with the factory settings, but I can now tell everyone that this camera is capable of incredible color. I can't begin to say that I know what they all do, but based on watching the viewfinder, then checking the video on my NLE and examining a JPEG frame compared to an identical shot with my Sony A-65 still camera, I would recommend the following settings for bright saturated color shots :

Matrix ON, Select 1, Level +15, Phase +10, R-G 0, R-B +20, G-R +20, G-B +20, B-R 0, B-G +20
MultiMatrix Mode MultiMatrix
HD Detail ON, Level +15, Freq +15, Crispening +15, H/V ratio -15, White limiter 0, Black limiter 0,
V Detail creation G+R, Knee apt level 0
Aperature ON, Level +30
Knee ON, Auto Knee ON
Gamma level 0, Select STD 1
Black -5
Black gamma 0
Low key sat +10

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Those matrix settings may give issues with blues as you have a lot of blue phase shifts plus a blue sat increase, but with no corresponding red shift, and that's a lot of detail correction with added aperture on top. Just be sure to look at the images on a big screen.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

SteadyShot on/off can still be accessed via the direct menu, right? Cause if any direct menu functionality changed, that would throw some EX1/EX1R owners off.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Yes, that still works and it is a big time saver compared to using the regular menu.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

One simple question.

Do you get the full iris of 1.9 at full tele mode or will it shrink to 3.x ?

Curious to know

Thanks

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Rajiv:

LCD shows F1.9 at full tele zoom setting. Actual Fstop (T-Stop) may be different.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

As with almost any zoom lens, you're going to lose a little light at the telephone end. Even the $25K Fujinon lens on my F800 loses about a stop at the very end of the zoom. But on the PMW-200 the loss is barely noticeable, and certainly not enough of a difference that you'd have to compensate for the change in exposure. If you watch the Brightness Display at the center of the screen (kind of like a spot meter) you'll see that the level only drops 2-3% as you zoom in -- and that little difference is very hard to see with the naked eye.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Sara:

I'm no shutter-ologist, but I'd get rid of that auto-shutter setting. In fact, pretty much go manual with all your settings.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

It's the same lens as the EX1, so even though it says F1.9 in the display, in actuality it's F2.8

Also, have to agree with Bill. If you have the shutter on, only use it in progressive scan modes (30p and 24p) in a shutter angle of 180 degrees. In 60i, shutter off is your best bet. (locked in at 1/60)

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Bill W:

I turned the auto shutter off using direct menu and keeping the shutter on via switch on the side, as recommended by Alister Chapman. Thanks for noticing.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Hi all
Thanks for all the clarifications. I am about to buy this camera.
I expected it to maintain the full aperture at full tele mode. I am disappointed
a little to hear this fact though it is small. So I assume it will effect the low light ability
of this camera in full tele mode. isn't it?

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Rajiv, you can relax. A 2% to 3% drop still makes it one of the best performing lenses you can buy. What camera in this price range do you think would do better? I will be surprised if you can name one.
A 3% difference won't affect the low-light shooting capabilities of the PMW-200 at all. I think you are worried about something that doesn't matter at all.

BTW, here's some test shots I did comparing the PMW-200 to the EX1.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Doug Jensen, Thanks again for the information.
One more doubt after watching your video is:

Does the UDF mode vs FAT Mode make any difference in picture elements
other than file format like .mxf vs .mp4 and in DVCAM 4 channel vs 2 channel audio.

Thanks

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Rajiv, I'm not sure I fully understand your question. Perhaps you could rephrase it if my answer does not cover it.

The camera has 52 different video format choices and you can shoot many different flavors of 1920x1080 or 1280x720 codecs in both UDF and FAT. However, the biggest difference with UDF is that you can record 50Mpbs 4:2:2 with 4 channels of 24bit audio. The best settings you can do with FAT is 35Mbps 4:2:0 with 2 channels of 16bit audio.

Whether the files are saved on the SxS card as .mxf or .mov file won't really matter to most people because the worfklow with XDCAM Browser is exactly the same for both. In other words, you can view/manage/organize both types of footage the same way and the difference is invisibile to the user.

Also, as an FCP7 editor, I import and rewrap footage exactly the same way for FAT or UDF.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Doug:

Loved your very nice presentation on XDCAM Essentials Episode 1..

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

[QUOTE=Doug Jensen;1757588]Rajiv, I'm not sure I fully understand your question. Perhaps you could rephrase it if my answer does not cover it.

Doug Jensen, Exactly, your answer covered what I mean.

Thanks again.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Sara, thank you very much.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Mr. Jensen...excellent presentation, you must have been 'listening in class'. : )

Thanks for the overview of features, I look forward to seeing more.

Best regards,

J.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Doug - I've got a PMW320 and even though it's the 35Mbs codec, it will still record 4 channels of audio....... That makes me pretty sure the 4 channel ability isn't unique to the XDCAM422 codec. I suspect it's just that Sony made a choice to only implement 2 channels on the handheld range, EX1 and EX3?

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Hi David, I see your point -- but I did qualify my comments by saying 24-bit. Although the PMW-320 is capable of 4 channels, they are only 16-bit.
I should have been more clear.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Great overview, Doug! That answered all of my questions about these 3 new models.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Doug,
One more simple question.
Is the DVCAM format switchable between 16:9 and 4:3 ?

Rajiv

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

The camera offers options for "Squeeze" or "Edge Crop" when shooting SD. However, I can't see any justification to ever shoot SD no matter what type of program you're working on. And if you do configure the camera for SD, then a lot of the best features and functions will be disabled.

Re: Sony PMW-200 Brings HD 4:2:2 Workflow to XDCAM Camcorder Line
 

Doug,

The SD is required in India because most of the broadcast is still in SD 4:3.

It is important to me, since I am doing some broadcast stuff and some corporate work.

I prefer to shoot the broadcast projects in SD 4:3 since it is easy to edit and transfer to DVCAM tape

without sacrificing any loss in down scaling.

For the other projects of course I will shoot @ 50 mbps 4:2:2.

Rajiv.