Topic: Ordered new Cam today. Has anybody used a Panny HVX-200?

[coloartist]

I can't wait to see the results. I am running video for http://www.endlesspeaks.com/ festival at the end of the month.



 Signal System
   NTSC
1080/60i, 30p, 24p
720/60p, 30p, 24p
480/60i, 30p, 24p
Image Device
   3-CCD, 1/3"
16:9 Native Aspect Chips
Lens
   Leica Dicomar 13 x Zoom
4.2 mm to 55 mm f/1.6
(35 mm Still Film Equivalence 32.5 to 423 mm)
82 mm Filter Diameter
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Horizontal Resolution
   1080 Lines
Sensitivity
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Minimum Illumination
   3 Lux
Vertical Smear
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Built-in Filters
   1/8 ND, 1/64 ND
LCD Monitor
   3.5"
Viewfinder
   0.44"
Monochrome/Color Switchable
Scan Matching
   Yes
Different Ranges for Different Record Modes
Memory Card Slot
   SD Memory Cards for Scene-File Sharing
Two P2 Card Slots for Video
Shutter Speed Range
   1/12 to 1/2000 sec (Range depends on Record Mode)
Gain Selection
   0-18 dB Range
   
VTR   
Tape Format
   Mini Size DV Cassettes Only
Tape Speed
   SP: 18.812 mm/s
LP: 12.555 mm/s
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Maximum Recording Time
   60 Minutes with Mini DV Cassette
16 Minutes with 4 GB P2 Card
Audio Dynamic Range
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Audio Signal Format
   16 bit/48kHz Four Channels
Audio Frequency Response
   20Hz to 20kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio
   Not Specified by Manufacturer
Input and Output Connectors
   FireWire- 4-Pin (x 1)
Component Video- Special D Connector (x 1 output)
S-Video- 4-Pin (x 1 input and output both)
Composite Video- RCA (x 1 input and output both)
Audio- XLR (x 2 input)
Audio- RCA (x 2 input and output both)
Headphone- Stereo Mini (x 1)
USB- Type 2 (x 1)
Power- Special Coaxial (x 1 input)
Power Requirements
   7.9 VDC
Power Consumption
   14W
Operating Temperature
   32-104°F (0-40°C)
Dimensions (WxHxD)
   6.7 x 7.1 x 15.2" (16.9 x 18 x 39 cm)
Weight
   5.2 lb (2.4 kg)

[kuuan]

wow, this is a semi pro HD cam!
though not the newest, nevertheless a gem...

check what user say here: http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=136

( or also:
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/HVX200/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_AG-HVX200
http://www.dv.com/columns/columns_item.php?articleId=193001363 )

[KurtMichaels]

This cam appears in the pro/semipro forums quite often.

To sum a few things up:
- the cam loves good lightning setup and produces a good sharpness in well litten setups
- good slow motion
- good, but not perfect, auto focus

Remember that such a complex cam requires you to read, read, read. At university here students spend no less then 6 months learning on the camera and then they start shooting.

Also remember: rendering 50p material at half speed is not the way to produce 25p, since those 1/50 frames use a shorter shutter setting. Doing so will produce the Ridley-Scott-shutter-effect: normal speed, but jumpy impression. Unless you want exactly that, shoot in 50p only where it is appropriate.

To decide between P2 and Firestore:
http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_fs100

[coloartist]

Thanks for the input. I wish I had 6 months to play with the camera, but I don't.

I am hoping it has similar functionality to my DVC30. I know it will be some learning. I am still figuring out my DVC30 to tell you the truth, but I think I am shooting some good video these days. At least two angles is crucial, and I my computer is as fast as you can get, for rendering to SD. I got a new 1080p 52" TV, and decided I didn't really want to video anything in SD if possible. Sort of like when I stopped recording in 16bit, and went to 24bit. I can't afford a 2nd HD, but someday I will.

Luckily the Festival I'm videoing will be 80% during the day, so there will be lots of light, except the last shows of each day. Should be fun to try and figure this one out.

I did get the the  instructional 2 DVD set, to hopefully learn some stuff, by Barry Green.



Once again all of your input is appreciated!

[KurtMichaels]

I guess for such a mainstream camera it's not hard to find info for.
Look here for example:
(dvxuser.com)
http://66.225.214.124/~dvxuser/V6/forumdisplay.php?s=bffc294d06be9503d3354b94cd0b1222&f=54
or
http://www.lafcpug.org/forum.html

Good luck

[John Kary]

It's an amazing camera, but if you're going to be using it in the field like at a concert, you might be in trouble unless you did your research...

If you plan to shoot any HD at all...
1. The camera shoots to Panasonic P2 cards, which are a solid-state media storage card.  You can only record so much footage on them before you have to transfer it off using a laptop.
2. Your other option is the FS-100 Firestore, a hard drive enclosure that connects to the camera via firewire.  You can record more footage this way, but probably not a day's worth of shooting without offloading it.

If you plan to shoot SD...
1. You can record to P2 card for easy off-loading, but again you must off-load the card before using again.
2. You can record to minidv tape, but then you're really bypassing the best features of this camera, that being it's HD resolutions.  On tape, you can only record SD.  (I don't think you can do long-form HDV 1080/60i like a Sony cam does).

How far away is your shooting date?
Do you plan on shooting HD?
Do you have a laptop on-set to offload P2 cards?  Actually, do you HAVE P2 cards?
What are your plans for editing?  Different systems have different workflow requirements.

Good luck, and are you sure you're ready for what you just got yourself into?   The HVX200 is a great-deal more complex than a point-and-shoot HDV camera like I would recommend for most concert tapers.