HD Camcorder Suggestions

[ixlor8]

Not really a SpeedEdit question, but needs to work with SpeedEdit.

I am using a Canon GL2. I have been very happy with the quality of the video and sound. I shoot a lot of outside video of automobiles and squad cars. Final output is DVD. Future Blue Ray?

I am considering going to HDV format.

1) Is now a good time to jump in?

2) Are any of the consumer HD camcorders better in image quality than the Canon GL2?

3) Suggestions on what I should be considering?

Thanks

[ted]

I wouldn't "suggest" any camera, or product. Everyone's needs are different.

But I will state my pleasure with the Panasonic HVX200. There are more options coming. But the HVX was the front runner at offering any resolution or framerate at a very decent price. This thing even has Mini-DV capabilities. We've paid for the camera just by the mini-dv jobs we got that I wouldn't have done with our Beta SP cam.
Another benefit is the DVCPro quality. I think most would agree that it out performs the HDV cameras and is easier to edit then HDV. If you can record direct from the camera to another codec, then a lot of cameras will make great pictures though.

So many producers are predjudiced to 720p, 1080i, various framerates etc. The HVX can handle any preference, opening up more jobs you can handle. This was the biggest reason I became infatuated with this little wonder.

And don't forget, SpeedEDIT handles DVCPro now. So that's a biggie for us as well.
The editing of DVCPro files was a snap on this last project. No need to "capture" about 300 clips from 3 days of footage. Just opened the folder and drop them on the timeline. This probably saved about a full days work!

I've nicknamed this jewel the Swiss Army Knife of Video Acquisition.

[ScorpioProd]

And from the other corner of the ring, I would say if you can wait till the end of this year, check out the new Sony XDCAM EX. 1080i, 720p, all framerates. Long-GOP for TWO HOURS of 25Mb/s HD on TWO 16GB cards.

And frankly more important, true 1/2" chips for better low light performance than ANY 1/3" or 1/4" chip can dream of.

All I know is I really want solid state or optical disc instead of tape. I just finished putting all 26 hours of video I shot at a conference onto a hard drive, and man, what a waste of time that was! (And needless to say I need long form for either solution.)

And true, SpeedEDIT does NOT support XDCAM HD/EX yet, but hopefully by the end of the year. If not... Well, can't let the tail wag the dog.

[wvp]

I like th capabilities of the HVX200 but we have been using DVCAM stuff and unforntunately most of our playback machines won't play the DVCPro (we should have bought pro decks as many play cam :foreheads )

Love the idea of going card based (an eventually this will replace the tape) but we have 4-5 crews (long form like you Eugene) and the cost for storage (add in we can't edit immediately) is too high right now.

I was looking at camera options recently I notice a lack of of 1/2" chip, especially with Sony. Seems most stuff is 1/4, 1/3 or 2/3. Whats up with that?

[ScorpioProd]

I like th capabilities of the HVX200 but we have been using DVCAM stuff and unforntunately most of our playback machines won't play the DVCPro (we should have bought pro decks as many play cam :foreheads )

Well, yes and no... A friend of mine has the high-end Sony DSR-1800 decks. They play DVCAM, DVCPRO and DV, right? Well, true... BUT, they only let you play DVCPRO out the analog connections! They won't send it out the firewire card!


Love the idea of going card based (an eventually this will replace the tape) but we have 4-5 crews (long form like you Eugene) and the cost for storage (add in we can't edit immediately) is too high right now.


This will all be changing with Sony XDCAM EX.


I was looking at camera options recently I notice a lack of of 1/2" chip, especially with Sony. Seems most stuff is 1/4, 1/3 or 2/3. Whats up with that?

More like except for Sony. As I said, the forthcoming Sony XDCAM EX is 1/2" chips. Sony XDCAM HD has always been 1/2" chips. Of course, up till now, everyone's small form factor camcorders have been 1/3" or 1/4" chips, but this will be changing with Sony XDCAM EX. Though yeah, Sony did make their remaining DVCAM models 2/3" only. Not sure who would buy that, but ah well.

[stevehmeyer]

I have just begun using a HVX200 and would recommend investing in a Focus Enhancements FS100 digital video recorder. It store 100 minutes if 1080i or 720p, more of other formats and does it make the workflow smooth.

It does just more than just record to see all the features go to:

http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=150

Steve Horstmeyer

[Mr Rid]

When we saw that the 4k RED camera http://www.red.com/ was priced for what pro HD cameras cost a year ago, my wife and I thought we would wait to see how affordable 4k becomes in the next year or so. I predict that 4k, 60fps will eventually become a standard for all filmmaking- 'Showscan' without the high cost of film.

But not wanting to invest in expensive HD just yet, and living in L.A. where everyone is ultra-leary of cameras, for now I wanted something cheap and inconspicuous. We decided on a Canon HV20 ($1000), mainly since it was the only low-end consumer model with 24p, although there is an issue with that. The Cinemode is a nice 'film-like' setting as well. A true 1920x1080 image can be captured to hard drive (uncompressed if desired) directly from the CMOS thru the HDMI. But when shooting to tape, what NO ONE tells you is it records MPEG-2 at 1440x1080 with a stupid 2:3 pulldown. You must have capture or post software to extract the 24p from the tape (there is a special trick to do this correctly if anyone wants to know).

Less than perfect, but then all of the low-end HDs have issues that I read about. The single-chip HV20 has much better color than my old Sony-VX1000 DV. But here are comparisons to my old DV.

[kleima]

The JVC HD-110 is a great choice if you need interchangeable lenses.

[ixlor8]

I have been using a Canon GL2. I have been exploring the idea of purchasing a $1000 Consumer HD Camcorder.

I am not sure what I will be getting into. How is the image quality, clarity, color and etc of the Consumer HD camcorder?

I am considering moving to HD. I will still burn Standard Def DVD's for most of my projects.

What brands of camcorders are supported by SpeedEdit?


:confused: Canon GL2 or recommendations?

Thanks

[Dufusyte]

when shooting to tape, what NO ONE tells you is it records MPEG-2 at 1440x1080 with a stupid 2:3 pulldown. You must have capture or post software to extract the 24p from the tape (there is a special trick to do this correctly if anyone wants to know).
Mr. Rid, what is the trick to correctly extract 24p from the tape of an HV20? Do tell.

Thank you, from a prospective HV20 purchaser.

my apologies for temporarily hijacking this thread

[Mr Rid]

Mr. Rid, what is the trick to correctly extract 24p from the tape of an HV20? Do tell.

Thank you, from a prospective HV20 purchaser.

my apologies for temporarily hijacking this thread

Hopefully I am about to find out. I have been discussing this on other forums, as there is this inherent problem after reversing the pulldown from the signal that the HV20 always records to tape. Every 4th frame retains residual interlacing. The only way I knew to get rid of it was to run a post 'strip and interpolate field 1,' and a 'strip and interpolate field 2,' but then you lose some vertical rez.

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67029 post #7

A tech at Cineform is the only other person Ive found online who is aware of the issue. But he thinks the 4th frame interlacing result I am getting should not be so pronounced as what he is seeing. I have been a bit busy but was about to post some footage to him to see what is going on.

[Verlon]

In my experience, Camcorder brands are a lot like political parties...people don't jump brands very often.

From the GL2, I imagine the logical progression would be the Canon XH-A1. It should be familiar enough that you'll find it rather like an old friend. A lot of people do not like the battery storage and cassette loading on the XH-A1 (apparently not tripod friendly). Not sure how big a deal this is to you. Ebay has them in the ~$3500 range new.

I went with the HDR FX7 (and naturally, from a VX2000): I get better battery life and better detail as well as avoiding those pesky vertical streaks, but it does sacrifice some low light performance. I make it a point to film in good lighting (and I can always grade later if need be). The FX7 is priced around $2700 on ebay.

There is the FX1 which is the CCD version of the FX7 (and older). IT gets back the lowlight performance, but loses the CMOS advantages (size, weight, power). Price about the same as the FX7. Neither the FX1 nor the FX7 have XLR inputs.

That Panasonic is great, but Panasonic knows it. You'll clear $5000 on it. Everyone loves 24p and those nifty P2 cards.

In single chip, Sony makes the HDR-A1. Its nice, for a 1 chipper, has an XLR breakout box built in, and can be stripped down to a tiny little handycam when you want. You can get it for <$2000. It is also a CMOS camera like the FX7. I went with the FX7 thinking it would be easier to add and XLR breakout box if I needed one than to add 2 more CMOS chips to the video element.

I didn't see anything from JVC that tempted me enough to give it a serious look.

Canon has the $7000 HD upgrade to the XL-2, but those boneheads at the lottery commission can't seem to figure out which numbers to pick...It was far enough beyond my price range that I could not seriously look at it.