EFP / ENG Shooters! PLEASE ADVISE

[Jay A. Kelley]

Guys I am faced with buying a new HD camera. I need advice.. I am coming from an AJ-SDX900 and considering the SPX-500 or the SPX-2000 (Panasonics)

My feeling: The 500 is by far cheaper, and the 2000 is a much better quality.

My clients range across the gambit and I am troubled that so many clients seem to be ok with the HVx200!! But nevertheless, quality matters to me.

I would love some feedback from those that are out there every day like me.

I can get either one, but the 500 would allow me to put more money in RED..

I can only get one industrial/broadcast/corporate camera.. So of these two, which is it?

Jay

[Paul Hazlett]

The HPX might be the better way to go. I think the only major difference is the better compression codec on the SPX.

What you might want to do is get a redrock micro lens set up for the HPX
for a little less money you can offer your clients a choice of looks and still have money left to put into red.

I have found with corporate clients, that if you want to charge industry standard day rates you need to come in with a bigger camera so they can
see what there paying for, even though an hvx or dvx might do the job.

in thelast 2 weeks I shot for GMA, ESPN, and CNBC, all broadcast outlets and all of it was with the betacam SP package. Most of my broadcast day jobs are still Beta, So as far as quality goes, if you like the look of the HPX and
it does what you want, go for it.

hope this helps,

Paul

[Bruce Allen]

You mean the HPX, not SPX?

Personally I wouldn't buy the more expensive one, especially with rumors of Red Pocket Cam announcements next NAB.

Maybe you could glue a pocket Red, a great sound mixer, and a high-res screen together and put it in a nice custom-designed housing for less than the HPX-2000 ;) Of course we'd need to know what lens options there were...

I think there's too much overlap between the HVX-2000 and the Red... I'd look at the HPX-500, the Sony HVR-270, JVC HD-250, etc. Maybe if you're looking for something more portable to complement your Red, you should get something smaller, like that new EX1 cam? It has manual lens controls, might actually be a usable camera.

Go and check them out firsthand! Good luck!

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Jay A. Kelley]

You mean the HPX, not SPX?

Personally I wouldn't buy the more expensive one, especially with rumors of Red Pocket Cam announcements next NAB.

Maybe you could glue a pocket Red, a great sound mixer, and a high-res screen together and put it in a nice custom-designed housing for less than the HPX-2000 ;) Of course we'd need to know what lens options there were...

I think there's too much overlap between the HVX-2000 and the Red... I'd look at the HPX-500, the Sony HVR-270, JVC HD-250, etc. Maybe if you're looking for something more portable to complement your Red, you should get something smaller, like that new EX1 cam? It has manual lens controls, might actually be a usable camera.

Go and check them out firsthand! Good luck!

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

You make some good points here. The 2000 does have some overlap. The 500 does not, but still has the size to convince clients they are paying for something...
Thanks
Jay

[Steve Murray]

I am coming from an AJ-SDX900 and considering the SPX-500 or the SPX-2000

I can get either one, but the 500 would allow me to put more money in RED.

Jay,

HPX500 P2 HD camera

I replaced my Varicam (after 5 years) with a HPX500 and I love it. It is my ENG style and "temp" HD camera until my RED arrives.

IMO: The image quality is very similar to the Varicam, you can shoot variable frame rates 2-60p (the HPX2000 does not), the low light performance is better than the Varicam and much better the HPX200.

I have also had a HVX200 for 2 years and I feel the HPX500 is a much better camera. I only use the 200 for underwater and dangercam shooting now that I have the 500. The images are sharper than the 200 without any enhancement turned on.

I would not get a Redrock (I have one) as it is too much trouble to shoot with in ENG style situations.

If you care about shooting variable frame rates -- I would get the HPX500 and put more money into the RED.

Steve

[Jay A. Kelley]

Jay,

HPX500 P2 HD camera

I replaced my Varicam (after 5 years) with a HPX500 and I love it. It is my ENG style and "temp" HD camera until my RED arrives.

IMO: The image quality is very similar to the Varicam, you can shoot variable frame rates 2-60p (the HPX2000 does not), the low light performance is better than the Varicam and much better the HPX200.

I have also had a HVX200 for 2 years and I feel the HPX500 is a much better camera. I only use the 200 for underwater and dangercam shooting now that I have the 500. The images are sharper than the 200 without any enhancement turned on.

I would not get a Redrock (I have one) as it is too much trouble to shoot with in ENG style situations.

If you care about shooting variable frame rates -- I would get the HPX500 and put more money into the RED.

Steve

Do you feel your HPX500 offers the same or better image quality than the Varicam or HPX2000?

Jay

[Steve Murray]

Do you feel your HPX500 offers the same or better image quality than the Varicam or HPX2000?

Almost as good as the Varicam. I think it is very similar to the 2000, only the HPX3000 is better since it has 1080p chips -- but again no variable frame rates and much more $$.

[Scott Webster]

Jay,

Check out the HDX900 it should be very familiar to you if moving up from the SDX900 and offers excellent value for money. If you want to go tapeless simply add a FS-100 to your kit.

You get all the advantages of the HPX2000 by adding the Firestore and have the ability to go to tape for those clients who prefer that. You can then also pitch work to those that don't own a DVC-PROHD VTR as they can utilise the Firestore and not be up for VTR hire.

[Steve Murray]

Good camera, but does not do all the variable frame rates like the HPX500..... And shooting P2 is a good step in developing a work flow for RED.

[Mike Prevette]

I love the HDX900, but the firestore is not a reliable product IMHO. Tape is great, and producers are used to it. Now days I would try to stick to the P2 stuff as much as possible. It all depends on your shooting environment. Do you have an AC or a trusted PA who can do the downloading.

_mike

[Jay A. Kelley]

From what I am hearing. A lot of you seem to thing the HPX500 is way to close to the 2000 to justify the cost of the 2000.

Do we know if LARGER networks like Foxsport and such accept the 500's footage or do they look for the sharper image of the 2000?

Jay

[Petr Dvorak]

I heard some rumours about new 2,2K Pany with crisp image that somebody already tested, which is maybe just about to launch... but can't rember on which forum - here, DVX or DV?

[Paul Hazlett]

I love the HDX900, but the firestore is not a reliable product IMHO. Tape is great, and producers are used to it. Now days I would try to stick to the P2 stuff as much as possible. It all depends on your shooting environment. Do you have an AC or a trusted PA who can do the downloading.

_mike

I have not had any trouble with the fs100, but there was a firmware update
shortly after I got it so you might want to try that.

As for Networks Jay, accepting the footage. I think you will be fine, Like I said earlier I am still getting requests from the networks for BetaSP.

[Paul Hazlett]

I heard some rumours about new 2,2K Pany with crisp image that somebody already tested, which is maybe just about to launch... but can't rember on which forum - here, DVX or DV?

that camera is the spx-3000 I believe and they are listing it at 48 large
but its full raster HD.

[Jay A. Kelley]

You see I am TRYING to get a full set of tools here.

Right now I have an AJ-SDX900

I WILL have a RED in one month.

What I do not have is an HD camera for the Talking Heads / Industrial / Broadcast world. So I am looking for the best camera to fit this hole. I have the following options:

1: Purchase an HPX500 to cover the HD side of things and Keep the SDX900 for SD tape based situations
2: Purchase an HPX500 to cover the HD side of things, SELL the 900 and use the money to beef up the RED package
3: Purchase an HPX2000 and SELL the SDX900 (I would then have NO tape based cameras though).

So my equipment package would consist of ONE of the three packages:
1: HPX500, SDX900, & RED (Basic package: EVF, LCD, Production pack, Nikon mount, CF Card)
2: HPX500 & RED with more options
3: HPX2000 & RED

Just trying to find the best way to go.. Any further advice would be good.

Jay

[Silverlined]

The 500 is not a bad camera but is no varicam. In my opinion it is only slightly better than the 200, chip size and lens adding less than one might hope. It is also a very heavy and bulky camera. I can make the 200 look almost as good as the 500. I'd say forget about buying this rig and save for your red, buy a 200 or rent a varicam until them.
Brad

[Chris Forbes]

The HPX500 has the same chip size as the HVX200 which is then pixel shifted.

[Paul Hazlett]

The HPX500 has the same chip size as the HVX200 which is then pixel shifted.

isn't the HPX 23" chips? and the hvx 1/2 or even 1/3?

[Jay A. Kelley]

Yes.. The 500 has 2/3" chips and the 200 has 1/3" chips.. This makes a HUGE difference in DOF

Jay