On the search for a pro camera.

[cybersun]

I just started to work as a videographer and my work might play on the tv!! So, I'm looking for a more porfessional camera. I am very pleased with my HF-100 but I thing I should upgrade. So...

1) Can you recomend a professional camera (especially for music clips)? I saw at the website of Canon the models XH G1s, XH A1s, XL H1S, XL H1A. Pretty good, but I was wondering why none of these models shoots at Full HD (1440x1080 is the max they can shoot) while my tiny HF100 records at 1920x1080 progressive.

2) Do you know what type of cameras they use at all these famous series(heores, lost, true blood etc) and the look of the image is so fancy? So... cinematic!

Thanks a lot guys.

[beansontoast]

Looks cinematic because some of the shows you mentioned are shot on 35mm. To get the nice look you need to shoot through nice glass, 35mm prime lenses. the sony EX series shoot full raster 1920x1080 if that is what your looking for, the ex three also has interchangeable lenses.

[aroot]

What's your budget? Is the $10k EX-3 out of your price range?

[cybersun]

what's the advantages of the ex3 compared to the ex1? almost 2.000 dollars up, I hope it worths it.....

[beansontoast]

Interchangeable lens, better view finder and some more.

[netzukijr]

The great thing about the EX3 is that when you get a 35mm adapter for cinematic DOF you can go through a relay instead of the stock lense. You loose less light and your not spoiling the images your getting off your good glass by then going through an inferior lense. The other cameras you mention only record 1440x1080 because they record to HDV which has to be Anamorphic and interlaced. Saying that though, if your going to TV then interlaced isnt a big issue. The biggest American shows will use 35mm, some are on 16mm. In the digital realm you're looking at the really high end HDCAMSR like the F23 and F35 (probably the best tape based camera that will ever be made) with a few shows shot on RED or Vipers etc. Lower end HD productions are still predominately HDCAM I believe but this may have changed since some really strong solid state options have recently become available.

Andy

[jeremiahjw]

I got an EX-1 for $4,800 that was used. IMO it's not worth it spending the extra 4-5k on the EX-3.

[dbmpro]

EX3 cameras are better if you have multiple camera situations. And if you need to use other lenses. I'm actually buying one this week after months of research and debate between the EX1, EX3, and the JVC HM700.


Do your research!!!

[OlaHaldor]

I'm gonna rent a JVC GY HM700 this week. I'll be testing it on the shoulder (I loved the GY HD251! Too bad it was HDV) and on the Glidecam rig, as well as in a multicam session for recording a musical performance on friday.

The Sony cameras mentioned are NOT built for use on the shoulder, whereas the JVC is. This is a HUGE point for me as to what to buy. Also, the JVC can record in XD, just like the Sony EX cameras. So I really don't see any reason to stick to Sony when the JVC has come with an excellent option.

The other option for ours sake is the Panasonic HPX 300. A tad expensive for us at the moment though, but REALLY interesting with its AVC Intra codec.

[maxsmith2061]

Both the JVC and the HPX 300 use 1/3 inch chips to the EX's 1/2 inch chips.

You might want to do a camera test before you buy. And not just still pictures but with a moving camera. All CMOS cams, RED included, are subject to jello but you tend to see more of it in smaller chip cameras.

Or I did.

If you go to a camera rental house they will usually let you set them up and run a comparison. Best to take the time if you're going to drop some money.

[AllenEllis]

What's your budget? That hugely affects what cameras we can suggest.

More and more TV shows are moving away from 35mm to digital (slowly but surely). Nat Geo and Fox's Dollhouse are both shot with Panasonic Varicams (I can't find which models unfortunately), these are in the $15K - $60K range IIRC.

Take a look at Pansonic's HVX/HXP 150/170/200 cameras (priced $3200 - $5500). They are all essentially the same camera with different recording mediums (SDHC / P2 / and MiniDV + P2 respectively), give a very nice film look (indie filmmakers love them), configurable from 24p all the way to 60p (so you can over-crank for slow-mo, a lot of prosumer cameras still don't offer this).

In case you're wondering, yes, I own one of those cameras. And yes, it's absolutely changed my life around. The folks at dvxuser.com are extremely helpful and the entire series gets glowing reviews everywhere I look. It's currently a major challenger to the Canon A1/G1, you'll see lots of threads comparing the two. Canon wins on sharpness a little and the 20x zoom, but the Panasonics have a wider zoom and much better color reproduction. Not to mention being solid-state!

[OlaHaldor]

We got both the Sony EX3 and the JVC HM700 here for a demo this week. Just unpacked it a couple hours ago. I have already found my favorite. The JVC HM700 is superior for use on the shoulder, and handheld it's really good. Its slim body makes it very nice to work with. The EX3 is like a huge elephant in comparison.

What I like about the EX3 though is the fact that I have both Gen-lock and TC in/out whereas the JVC don't have this. I also like the foucs assist better on the EX3. The EX3 also has the variable frame rate setting as knob - the JVC has it in a menu setting.

Ergonomics and button placement on the HM700 is superior to the EX3. Everything is where it used to be on our old work horse, the JVC KY-27. I feel at home once I put this thing on the shoulder.

SDI connectors on the EX3 is a joke. They are kind of cut into the shape of the camera, and is REALLY tight. They will prove to be a really hard thing to plug and un-plug. JVC has these guys on the side, with loads more space (even though it's literally a few more millimeters, it makes connecting the SDI cables easy compared to EX3).

EX3 has a large LCD monitor, with a optional viewfinder-ish thing you can attach/detach as needed. It's REALLY sharp and nice. The JVC has a nice large LCD screen as well. Nice image, thought not as sharp as the Sony. JVC also has a dedicated viewfinder which can run in both color and B/W, just like the old days.

I've stabilized the JVC on my Glidecam rig, but I'm out of battery power right now, but I'll have it up and running before the day is over I hope. Can't wait to fly this thing! I'll post photos soon.


edit: fixed the EX1 to EX3 which is the one we are testing..

[netzukijr]

Just to avoid confusion, everything you just said is true of the EX3 and not necessarily the EX1 OlaHaldor.

Andy

[OlaHaldor]

Haha! That's interesting.. I checked the order confirmation again. We asked for an EX1, but actually got the EX3!

[OlaHaldor]

The unboxing and size comparison

[OlaHaldor]

only 3 images per post....

As you can see, the EX3 won't really do well on the shoulder vs. the HM700. It's light weight makes it easy to use handheld, but for our case, that's not gonna be enough.

We're VERY happy with the JVC, and as former JVC users (now owning a Sony PD-150 since 2001 and two Canon XL H1 the past three or four years) we're happy that JVC is still having the same layout of buttons and switches.

Our only concern, as mentioned, is the lack of Gen-Lock and TC in/out. Other than that, it will fit right into our workflow and what we really NEED a new camera for. News and broadcast, and for more cinematic use.



A HUGE deal for us, since we know the Canon XL H1, is that the Sony EX3 (as far as we know) doesn't have much detailed menus to configure colors, color matrix, black levels, you name it.. Both Canon XL H1 and JVC GY-HM700 has about the same level of customization, which is very important for our use both inside and outside, just to make the images nice straight from camera and spend a little less time in Color to make them look killer.

[AllenEllis]

Is that the stock lens on the JVC that gives you near-35mm DOF?

[OlaHaldor]

That's the Fujinon stock lens, yes.

[netzukijr]

Could you explain how a macro lens gives 35mm DOF? Surely you can only use it if you are focusing very close to the lens?

Andy

[OlaHaldor]

Not necessarily.


Been using the JVC all day on the shoulder, on a tripod and on the Glidecam. This is seriously worth every freakin' buck.

I REALLY miss the more advanced settings on the EX3. We're matching four cameras. Two of them being XL H1, and the other two the JVC and Sony. JVC and Canon were no problem at all to match, but the Sony wasn't even close to getting it to look as good as the others. The lack of a more advanced menu for editing colors is really, really a bad thing about the camera...

[tkit]

XDCAM EX Color Matrix Setup and How To instructional video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gerb8QjfeA

[netzukijr]

There are picture profiles on the EX cameras.

Andy

[DarkRoseEnt]

Go with the sony Z5u! Though if you have the money get sony EX1, EX3 is when you plan for more than one cam you can hook it all together, plus not much of a HUGE difference between the EX1 and EX3. Minus the interchangable lens on the EX3. If you want interchangable lens go with the sony Z7u. But again it all depends on money and personal choice!. Check out youtube for some video on the select cams!