Demo'd a HPX300 today... - Page 8 - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking

puredrifting · 11-18-2009, 10:58 AM

As long as the 300 fits your needs for movement, you won't find a better deal out there. I am so missing the 300 here, every shoot I have done lately with my 170, I have really wished it was on the 300.

Dan

jameswmulryan · 11-18-2009, 12:09 PM

On a shoot in DC for a political doc. HPX 300 is far exceeding my expectations. When set up properly, noise is not an issue. Skew not yet visible. Rarely have to take it out of -3db gain. A really easy camera to use, which after struggling with the 200 and ex1s and 3s is a blessing. It is a pro camera.

puredrifting · 11-18-2009, 01:57 PM

Good to hear James. You are going to love that camera. It will make you a lot of money.

Dan

Cranky · 11-19-2009, 12:39 PM

From Sony online expo: "Please don't compare HPX300 with PMW350. It's unfair to them. Their CMOS scanning speed is so slow that it was probably not usable in hi-speed situations. Also, their imager is 1/3 inch which probably forced you to bring a lot of lighting gear (or forced you to crank up the gain). PMW350 is a 2/3 inch so they are in a completely different class. You may want to look at Sony's HVRS270U also if you had HPX300 in mind and wanted to save money. S270U outperforms HPX300 ni low light, speed."

puredrifting · 11-19-2009, 12:55 PM

Sony marketing doesn't have much credibility around here, based upon their almost to the point of lawsuit for slander outright lies about P2 and the past crop of Panasonic cameras at NAB, IBC, etc.

That said, the 350 seems like a match made in heaven for what I am pursuing, lower end cable programming. The only issue is the same as P2 that leads me away from it, the having to download P2 or SxS as you shoot when you are shooting a LOT of footage for documentary/reality series.

I am doing an EPK shoot at a multi-day press event in Europe in a few weeks and the client told me that I will be side by side with CNN, Reuters and BBC, shooting a large amount of footage at press conferences and shooting interviews all day. Working by myself, no P2 tech and no great opportunities to dump cards as the day progresses because we will be running all over the city all day shooting. I would like to be shooting 1080 but with my meager allotment of P2 cards, I will have to shoot 720 24pN to get enough run time. I wish that I could afford some 64GB E-Series but there is not enough budget. And guess who will be in their hotel room all night, dumping cards and cloning drives?

In a situation like this, tape or even XDCAM HD discs would be superior to P2 or SxS for just the sheer practicality of the situation. I can see the same advantages for two shows I am producing, we will be running three cameras for many hours a day and I am not sure if we will be able to afford P2 for the simple fact of the amount of cards needed and that we would have to use a P2 data wrangler position, which costs at least $250.00 - $400.00 for someone who knows what they are doing.

Perhaps with the advent of E-Series 128GB P2 cards, this will become practical. But even with 64s, I can't afford to shoot 1080 for many hours a day if I don't have time to dump cards.

Dan

Cranky · 11-19-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puredrifting

In a situation like this, tape or even XDCAM HD discs would be superior to P2 or SxS for just the sheer practicality of the situation. I can see the same advantages for two shows I am producing, we will be running three cameras for many hours a day and I am not sure if we will be able to afford P2 for the simple fact of the amount of cards needed and that we would have to use a P2 data wrangler position, which costs at least $250.00 - $400.00 for someone who knows what they are doing.

So, he has a point by recommending the S270? Same 1/3-inch sensor, but large DV tape holding about 4.5 hours of footage. I know, I know, it is HDV. But it is practical, isn't it?

tommygunn · 11-19-2009, 01:00 PM

Can you dump footage (via USB) from the first P2 card after it has switched over to the second card during a recording?

puredrifting · 11-19-2009, 01:07 PM

If I was doing this kind of show for an outlet that would accept HDV like Travel Channel, I like the Z7 and the 270. My friend uses it to shoot Bizarre World for Travel and it is a decent camera.

Unfortunately, it would just depend on the network, most of them WON'T touch HDV or will only let you do less than 10% of the total content on HDV. Travel Channel is one of the few that seems to have no problem with HDV, many of their best shows are shot in HDV.

Dan

puredrifting · 11-19-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommygunn

Can you dump footage (via USB) from the first P2 card after it has switched over to the second card during a recording?

You cannot simultaneously dump a P2 card and shoot to a P2 card on the same camera. You can remove the card from the camera as soon as it switches to the other P2 card and then dump the full card while you are still shooting the other card without stopping.

Dan

tommygunn · 11-19-2009, 11:18 PM

Thanks Dan.

11-18-2009, 10:58 AM	#71
puredrifting Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 4,471	As long as the 300 fits your needs for movement, you won't find a better deal out there. I am so missing the 300 here, every shoot I have done lately with my 170, I have really wished it was on the 300. Dan __________________ Using the HPX-170 to produce extraordinary content for all of your favorite DVDs and the 5D MKII to have fun.

11-18-2009, 01:57 PM	#73
puredrifting Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 4,471	Good to hear James. You are going to love that camera. It will make you a lot of money. Dan __________________ Using the HPX-170 to produce extraordinary content for all of your favorite DVDs and the 5D MKII to have fun.

11-19-2009, 12:55 PM	#75
puredrifting Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 4,471	Sony marketing doesn't have much credibility around here, based upon their almost to the point of lawsuit for slander outright lies about P2 and the past crop of Panasonic cameras at NAB, IBC, etc. That said, the 350 seems like a match made in heaven for what I am pursuing, lower end cable programming. The only issue is the same as P2 that leads me away from it, the having to download P2 or SxS as you shoot when you are shooting a LOT of footage for documentary/reality series. I am doing an EPK shoot at a multi-day press event in Europe in a few weeks and the client told me that I will be side by side with CNN, Reuters and BBC, shooting a large amount of footage at press conferences and shooting interviews all day. Working by myself, no P2 tech and no great opportunities to dump cards as the day progresses because we will be running all over the city all day shooting. I would like to be shooting 1080 but with my meager allotment of P2 cards, I will have to shoot 720 24pN to get enough run time. I wish that I could afford some 64GB E-Series but there is not enough budget. And guess who will be in their hotel room all night, dumping cards and cloning drives? In a situation like this, tape or even XDCAM HD discs would be superior to P2 or SxS for just the sheer practicality of the situation. I can see the same advantages for two shows I am producing, we will be running three cameras for many hours a day and I am not sure if we will be able to afford P2 for the simple fact of the amount of cards needed and that we would have to use a P2 data wrangler position, which costs at least $250.00 - $400.00 for someone who knows what they are doing. Perhaps with the advent of E-Series 128GB P2 cards, this will become practical. But even with 64s, I can't afford to shoot 1080 for many hours a day if I don't have time to dump cards. Dan __________________ Using the HPX-170 to produce extraordinary content for all of your favorite DVDs and the 5D MKII to have fun. Last edited by puredrifting; 11-20-2009 at 07:04 PM.

11-19-2009, 01:07 PM	#78
puredrifting Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 4,471	If I was doing this kind of show for an outlet that would accept HDV like Travel Channel, I like the Z7 and the 270. My friend uses it to shoot Bizarre World for Travel and it is a decent camera. Unfortunately, it would just depend on the network, most of them WON'T touch HDV or will only let you do less than 10% of the total content on HDV. Travel Channel is one of the few that seems to have no problem with HDV, many of their best shows are shot in HDV. Dan __________________ Using the HPX-170 to produce extraordinary content for all of your favorite DVDs and the 5D MKII to have fun.

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11-18-2009, 12:09 PM	#72
jameswmulryan Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 93	On a shoot in DC for a political doc. HPX 300 is far exceeding my expectations. When set up properly, noise is not an issue. Skew not yet visible. Rarely have to take it out of -3db gain. A really easy camera to use, which after struggling with the 200 and ex1s and 3s is a blessing. It is a pro camera.

11-19-2009, 12:39 PM	#74
Cranky Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 1,752	From Sony online expo: "Please don't compare HPX300 with PMW350. It's unfair to them. Their CMOS scanning speed is so slow that it was probably not usable in hi-speed situations. Also, their imager is 1/3 inch which probably forced you to bring a lot of lighting gear (or forced you to crank up the gain). PMW350 is a 2/3 inch so they are in a completely different class. You may want to look at Sony's HVRS270U also if you had HPX300 in mind and wanted to save money. S270U outperforms HPX300 ni low light, speed."

11-19-2009, 01:00 PM	#77
tommygunn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 136	Can you dump footage (via USB) from the first P2 card after it has switched over to the second card during a recording?

11-19-2009, 11:18 PM	#80
tommygunn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 136	Thanks Dan.