Sell camera and switch to dslr?

butterstickinc

butterstickinc

Member
currently i have a hvx200 and everyone is talking about the dslr cameras and i like the quality that they are outputting and im not seeing the greatest quality in my hvx200 so i was wondering if it would be a good idea to sell the hvx200 and switch to a t2i maybe? or go to the hmc 150 or something different because right now the hvx isnt satisfying me
 
how is your hvx not satisfying you yet continually satisfies thousands??

Is there some abnormality with yours do you think?
 
The HVX ISN'T very sharp compared to a lot of other cameras (the DSLR's are sharper, the EX1 is sharper, hell even the HMC150 is slightly sharper) but it's a great camera. Would you like to maybe post a video of your results with the camera?
In all honesty though I am a LITTLE bit let down with my HPX170 as far as actual resolved resolution goes, but I knew going into the purchase it wasn't DSLR sharp (it also has no aliasing, moire, jello, ect ;).
 
The HVX is an amazing camera, the p2 codec is soo much easier to work with over the avchd codec, for me i would rather have a legitamate video camera than a DSLR and this is coming from a person who shoots with a dvx,i would even want my dvx over a dslr
 
Dude I'll take your HVX...When you get a DSLR you'll miss the handle plus the amazing (albeit film) potential of the camera. There are advantages of both, but I would stick to what you know rather than switching mediums completely.
 
video cameras are for video. HDSLRs are for wedding photographers/filmers.

That's just my opinion though. Someday (very soon) HDSLRs will be worth it, but right now, video cameras still shoot better video.
 
I couldn't disagree more.

I own both a 7D and an XHA1. I've shot with basically every 3 chip cam you can think of, DVX, XL2, FX1, HVX, HMC, HPX, EX1, EX3, (alphabet soup), and it took me a few days with the 7D before I was completely sold.

It operates much more like a film camera in the sense that you have to set everything manually, you can swap lenses, all audio is recorded separately, no built in ND filters, and so on (except unlike a film camera you can play back footage and not pay for developing). DSLR shooting definitely isn't everyone's cup of tea, but the 7D really fits my style very well.

It's probably important to note that I don't film skiing all that often, I mainly shoot commercials, films, and music videos. If you're interested in paid work, many people are only hiring DSLR shooters these days (at least that seems to be my experience).

Anyways, moral of the story is: since I bought a 7D my XHA1 has been collecting dust and depreciating in value every day.
 
That's fine, in my opinion 7d / 5d / hdslr footage is ugly; I can't stand how terribly it renders colors, especially bright oranges and reds. I've seen very few people that are able to tease the right colors out of these cameras, most making the sky and skin tones look terrible.

The sensors will be better soon, i'm sure, but they aren't there yet.

I'm a graphic artist / photographer, I'm super picky about that stuff. I think it's a shame people are only hiring hdslr filmers where you are; it's always a pain in the ass when the client thinks they know more than the professional.
 
I know how to use the hvx200.. i have had it for almost a year and i have watch barry greens book on it countless times and have all the settings correct. It just produces grainy images and are not as sharp as i see that it should be.
 
I would say don't do it. I have both an HVX and a T2i. Even though I've hardly used my HVX since purchasing my T2i, I can't imagine not having it. There are so many things it can do that the T2i can't. Plus, the DSLRs have a very digital look to them, and the HVX can look a lot more like film in my experience. If you're looking to get shallow depth of field, I would recommend buying a 35mm adapter like eheath did.
However, I do think that if you come to a point where you have enough money to buy a DSLR and keep your HVX, you should definitely do it.
 
How are your images grainy? Is your gain on? You still sound like you have no idea what you're doing.
 
just out of curiosity where do you work if you dont mind me asking?

and he basically nailed it, for his style it works perfect. I used a t2i and i know for a fact i wouldnt want it to be my only camera. Could be cool for getting some specific shots but as a whole not so much.
 
I work freelance in Seattle. I'm also a producer at a start-up media company, but that's more of an experiment in business at this point.
 
Hey, hold on here. I'm not very good with cameras and everything, but isn't the HVX200 a 4000$ (or more) professional camera?

Don't get me wrong, but why do some people even consider trading that in? And why do you have a 4G video camera if you think about getting a DSLR instead for video... That sounds VERY wrong... A 4G$ camera should have like 5000 advantages and better quality over/than a DSLR? Or am I completely missing the picture here...

 
Kind of but it's not exactly like that.
The DSLR's give such a different look, a look that you can't get with a "video" camera. The shallow DOF and amazing lowlight are not found in professional video cameras (AF100 is a different story) so people turn to the cheap alternative.
Look at this video and tell me it doesn't make you go "wow". It's just a DIFFERENT (and some would say superior) look than a stock HVX can give you.

farzana+shameer - ken + barbie, meet bollywood. from Michael Y Wong on Vimeo.
WITH THAT SAID. I couldn't have a DSLR as my only camera. There's just certain shots and styles of filming that I'd miss too much, styles of filming that make up how I personally film.

 
It looks absolutely stunning, sure! But what are camera's like a HVX200 used for? Sure enough they didn't use a DSLR for filming Lord of the Rings, but why not?

And most of all, why does the OP have a 4G$ camera if he doesn't know what it's capable of (or what it should be capable of)?

I'm just really confused, because lately I've seen so many DSLR edits that look absolutely stunning, and I'm just like: but the colors and everything look só much nicer than when they're made with a HVX kinda camera.
 
because a DSLR can't do a lot of things. for example, you can't do zebra strips on a dslr unless you download special/sketchy firmware. there are also just many more professional features on an HVX (variable frame rates, adjustable audio levels, etc.) that can't be found on most DSLRs. bear in mind, it's not like they shot lord of the rings on an HVX either.
and an experienced HVX user should be able to get amazing colors out of their camera, it's just that a lot of people who have an HVX don't really know what they're doing. Although I think there is more color data from a DSLR (bigger sensor I think? I could definitely be wrong), I have seen unbelievable colors from an HVX. To me, the main advantage of a DSLR is shallow depth of field without the bulk of an HVX with a 35mm adapter, which is what I used all year last year.
 
HDSLR sensors are photo sensors that have been rigged to capture video. Although in theory they should capture better color with more information, they definitely don't, at all. Canon and Nikon both SERIOUSLY lack when it comes to correct color rendition - it's a high resolution video and it's nice being able to use the different lens features, but they simply can't render color like a video sensor.

Advantages of DSLRs include low light performance, interchangeable high quality lenses to produce different effects, portability. Advantages of video cameras are mostly in the professional video specific features and color rendition.

I'm not a videographer though, I'm just curious and picky (some may call it snobbish) when it comes to quality in art, so I'm sure i'm missing some things other people can better fill you in on.
 
look at any videos in the HVX vimeo group, you'll see many short films, music videos, low budget shoots and commercials. also take a look at the knife show videos, all filmed on an HVX.

these and a other examples are enough to show you the sheer potential and depth a camera like an HVX gives you. I find it and other budget proffessional video cameras to be much broader and allow more personal style and adaptation than D-SLR's.

knife show:
http://www.knifeshowinc.com/

HVX group on vimeo:
http://vimeo.com/groups/hvx200

 
That's very helpful (and nice)!

Thanks a lot man. But yeah, basically it's what you're after? Because those quiet scenes of a cat on the couch look superb with a DSLR and a shallow DoF. But, for example, the knife show looks awesome because you can see the whole mountain range, whereas with a DSLR you wouldn't be able to get a shot like that without much bokeh?
 
If the cat on the couch is EHeath's shots, those were filmed with an HXV and an adapter kit, so he's filming through an adapter that allows him to use nikkor lenses made for 35mm cameras and dslrs.

You can for sure get a large DOF on a DSLR, it's just like when you are shooting pictures with it, you need to stop the lens down and you end up with a DOF closer to infinity.
 
dof dof oh my god oh my god

I'm starting to hate "DOF". I mean, who cares about the other elements that go into producing a pleasing image right?
 
yeah this is really true. I'll be the first to admit that I, when I upgraded to my 7D a little while ago, I was way over the top addicted to how shallow the DOF is. I still love it and find myself dwelling more on changing focus with my 7D than my HVX, but it's really getting over the top now with everyone, D- SLR DOF doesn't compare to 35mm adapter DOF in my opinion.

 
The 7D has variable frame rates, and nobody (or at least nobody should...) record audio through the 7D. If you care about audio you'd use a Zoom or Marantz audio recorder that can do 24 bit audio and have XLR ports ect. Similar story for the HVX, nobody uses the on-board mic if they want to capture good sound.

I feel most of the issues being brought up aren't really all that big a deal with the 7D. I've been shooting with one for a while now, and to me the issue isn't about color rendition or dof. The big problem with DSLRs is the aliasing and moire. Lots of fabrics or patterns cause issues with the camera because of the scanning method. To me that's what hold back these cameras from being a professional tool. The HVX is a great camera but the images look very flat to me without some depth of field control. To Horner: I'm not talking about shooting macro objects at f/1.4 to make everything look like butter. I mean reasonable control in order to give depth to a scene. The only way around this is of course the adapters which, lets be honest, are heavy and a pain in the ass to shoot with...

Anyways. Long live the AF100.
 
the 7D shoots at 1080p24p and 1080p30p, and at 720p60p. that makes for a whopping total of 3 pretty standard frame rates that you can find in a ton of HD camcorders. of course it also does SD at 60p but i'm ignoring that. the HVX shoots at 720p24pn,720p30pn,720p240p,720p30p,720p60p,1080i60i,1080i24p, and 1080i30p. plus, if you're shooting at a PN resolution, you can also overcrank or undercrank using frame rates of 12, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 48, or 60 fps.
and as for the mic thing, yea you're right that people should use a mic to record. but if you're doing guerrilla work or you just flat out don't have the money to buy a nice mic, the one on the hvx is considerably better than the onboard mic of the DSLRs.
but none of this is really here nor there because if you read my previous posts i told the OP to buy a DSLR if they are able to. I have one myself and use it all the time. haven't touched the HVX in months.
 
I agree; I believe it is a user error. 98% of the DSLR footage is just shitty "OMG SHALLOW DOF WITH NO INTENT" footage with warm blacks/mids/highs. I think that is why those who coming from a photo background are WAY better at shooting DSLR video than filmers.
 
This. Newbs: It's getting old. Cut it out.

Most of the time I stop my lenses down to around f/11 anyways, but then I get moire on some textures. Oh well. I still love DSLRs more than HVXs. Fuck all if I ever have to shoot one of those things.
 
I'd like to play with one long enough to see if I could do something to make it better, so I can sticky a thread that everyone will read so I don't have to look at it anymore.

I'm still skeptical one can fix the orange/red problem though.
 
Actually the older HVXs even shoot 1-60 over and under crank. Just have to know the little trick ;).
Also, many people may not know this, but the HVX not only shoots over and under crank, but it also shoots at variable frame rates. You can shoot at any frame rate that you can over/under crank to. You just have to know how to. I use it ALL the time when shooting urban. If I need that extra stop or more light in, but still want audio and dont want to over crank, I will shoot urban a lot of the time at 36 fps. Captures audio and with a film shutter is 1/36 at 354 degrees or whatever it is. Allows me more manipulation of the footage then 30p would.

My suggestion is, buy a t2i separately.
Everything has been covered here that i really want to say. But i will say, if you cant create an image you are happy with using an HVX, there is no way you will be able to create it with a DSLR. Just saying.
I just feel like you must have not played with it enough if your complaining about noise or crispness. Use the cleanest gamma curve (b-press), dont boost the detail level since above 0 is fake. Use Coring when neccissary, ect. I dont have any nosie or crispness issues and I have owned my for years. These are all things I learned the first week I owned the camera and then played with to make it look good.
BTW, I own a t2i as well as an HVX, and I still love my HVX just as much and will still use it as my primary camera for skiing (probably not other stuff).
 
i did not know all that about the frame rates, i will have to get some more detail from you at a later point. thanks though
good to hear another filmer also thinks buying a t2i in addition to the hvx is the right thing to do
 
Yeah definitely just hit me up on facebook or something one day if you need to know how.
Oh I couldnt imagine selling my HVX for a t2i or even a 5d, or hell even a AF100 (assuming I dont have 50 gs to go blow on cine style zoom lenses). DSLRs are basically another tool to throw into the tool bench. They serve their purpose as well as your typical 3 chip like an HVX does. Your not going to adjust your forward pressure on your bindings with a Phillips head when you have a flat head are you?
Right with you there.
 
It's pretty easy. It's just a matter of finding the "sweet spot" in the saturation/contrast settings, and not deliberately white balancing for warm tones. The DSLRs have a very fragile codec, and if you cater to its needs in the right ways, you can get just as good an image as any other.
 
do you think that i could talk to you about some settings?

and heath i have talked to many people that have alot of experience with the hvx and its just producing grainy images. it is the 1st hvx 200p so that can play a role in it. I have even sat down with mike benson and we spent alot of time trying to figure the correct settings.
 
Yes most definitely.
There are a lot of reasons that it might look noisier then a DSLR and it probably slightly is, but that shouldnt matter unless maybe your producing a blu ray (at that point, theres a lot more to consider).
Feel free to contact me on facebook- Bentley Atteberry
Or shoot me an email- bentley@dosmedia.net.
Im just not on NS consistently.
 
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