FilmmakerIQ.com

• Andrew Vlcek said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I am looking at Sony’s HDR-AX2000 and Canon’s XF100. The XF100 is yet to be released, but has anyone here used the HDR-AX2000? I have an old HDR-FX1, but looking to upgrade and get out of using mini DVs. Should I wait for the Canon or should I spring for the Sony right now? Any input on either of these cameras is welcome. :)

  In addition I have 2 other technical questions. One is about the difference between CMOS and CCD cameras. I hear contrasting information about them. It seems like a lot of people believe CMOS to be better. However, I also read articles that give the impression that CCD will give you better images. Whats really the case? Which is the best?

  2nd Question I have refers to the 2 cameras I am deciding between. The Sony can record at 24mbps and the Canon at 50mbps. Does this have a direct effect on image quality? Will the fact that the Canon can do 50mbps mean the picture will most likely be better?
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• John P. Hess said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  I am having a hard time deciding what to do. I am looking at Sony’s HDR-AX2000 and Canon’s XF100. The XF100 is yet to be released, but has anyone here used the HDR-AX2000? I have an old HDR-FX1, but looking to upgrade and get out of using mini DVs. Should I wait for the Canon or should I spring for the Sony right now? Any input on either of these cameras is welcome. :)

  I recently sat in to videotape a portion of a self defense class. The question was posed to the class, “What’s the best weapon to use in a fight?” – answer: the one you have access to at that moment.

  The best camera for you, is the one you can have access to.

  I did a review of the AX2000 a year ago and I found a pretty good and thorough review of the XF100

  
  

  Both cameras are priced similarly. For my money and from my experience I would go with the Sony AX2000. First of all, I prefer Sony when it comes to camcorders – the 3 ring focus/zoom/iris is a lot closer to the controls on bigger cameras. The advantage the XF100 has over the AX2000 is it records to 50mbps but being that it’s a single chip 1/3″ CMOS, it’s kind of a wasted effort

  The ironic thing is even though the XF100 records to CF cards which are more “common place” – the Sony AX2000’s miniSD cards, though a little more rare, may be cheaper because CF cards of the same size and speed are very pricey.

  In addition I have 2 other technical questions. One is about the difference between CMOS and CCD cameras. I hear contrasting information about them. It seems like a lot of people believe CMOS to be better. However, I also read articles that give the impression that CCD will give you better images. Whats really the case? Which is the best?

  You really don’t have a choice much anymore. Everything new in the prosumer line is CMOS. Personally I think CMOS has developed into a better capture format (with it’s own share of flaws) and it’s certain very much compatible with solid state recording (allowing you to overcrank/undercrack)

  2nd Question I have refers to the 2 cameras I am deciding between. The Sony can record at 24mbps and the Canon at 50mbps. Does this have a direct effect on image quality? Will the fact that the Canon can do 50mbps mean the picture will most likely be better?

  So kinda answered this earlier. The Canon does shoot 50mbps which means it uses less compression so you’ll see fewer artifacts. But the camera is a single 1/3″ CMOS. The AX2000, is a three 1/3;” CMOS chips (one for each Red Green Blue). This means it will record richer colors so it sort of evens the playing field. When I was playing with the Ax2000 – I was never able to break the codec (force artifacts to appear).

  Ultimately, given a well lit scene both cameras will give you a great picture.

  ,

  All my Best,
  John Hess
  Creative Industries Media Group | GospelJohn.net
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• Andrew Vlcek said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  I did realize that the Canon only had one sensor. Eeek! I was thinking it had 3, but I guess I confused it with another camera I saw. I heard the Sony one splits video once a clip reaches 2 GB, which is about 12 minutes. If you stitch those in editing software, you lose about 6 frames. The only way to join them and not lose those frames is by using included software, which only runs on windows. I use all macs. :( This could be a deal breaker. I think this is because it uses FAT32 file system. Which I am clueless as to why they did that.
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• Scott Jarvie said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  @andrewwilliam said:
  I did realize that the Canon only had one sensor. Eeek! I was thinking it had 3, but I guess I confused it with another camera I saw. I heard the Sony one splits video once a clip reaches 2 GB, which is about 12 minutes. If you stitch those in editing software, you lose about 6 frames. The only way to join them and not lose those frames is by using included software, which only runs on windows. I use all macs. :( This could be a deal breaker. I think this is because it uses FAT32 file system. Which I am clueless as to why they did that.

  Fat32 is the only format that both a MAC and PC can read and write too.

  Dudley Do-Right says:
  “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!”
  “Remember to always look before crossing the road.”
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• John P. Hess said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  @andrewwilliam said:Sony one splits video once a clip reaches 2 GB, which is about 12 minutes. If you stitch those in editing software, you lose about 6 frames. The only way to join them and not lose those frames is by using included software, which only runs on windows. I use all macs. :( This could be a deal breaker. I think this is because it uses FAT32 file system. Which I am clueless as to why they did that.

  You’re not technically loosing frames, it’s the tail ends of the AVCHD file which uses a Long GOP (Group of pictures) and you just need software to recover those frames.

  Reading some reviews – this issue may not be a problem if your using Adobe CS5 for Mac… but Final Cut doesn’t have the built in ability to handle AVCHD.

  There are a few “MTS joiners” for Mac out there that will solve the missing frames issue. Here’s the first one I found:
  http://www.mtsconvertermac.biz/MTS-Joiner-for-Mac.html

  Not free but at least you won’t have that problem.
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• Andrew Vlcek said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  Thanks for the link John. I actually ruled out the Canon but started looking at the HXR-NX5U now too. I am assuming this too has the gap issue?
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• John P. Hess said 1 year, 3 months ago:

  If it shoots AVCHD (which the NX5 does) – you’ll need that MTS gap fixer on the Mac.
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• Raoel said 10 months, 1 week ago:

  Is this camera enough to go pro? I must say I love the quality. I’m also thinking of buying a new camera, but I want a camera with wich I can go pro. What would you suggest?
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• Pavol Timko said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  I am reviving this thread with another question.

  I am shooting my videos mostly with Canon 7D and I am more than satisfied with results. However I need to solve the following issue:
  - I need to shoot longer videos (lectures)
  - it should be able to be combined with 7D as multicam shooting (thus larger sensor and full HD is needed)
  - taking photographs is also important, especially when I need to be more stealthy or I can’t take a DSLR due to weight etc.

  What about Sony Alpha NEX-5NDB (with 16mm and 18-55 lenses)? I wasn’t able to find any review from videography viewpoint, is there anybody here who can give some advice?

  Any idea? Other camera recommended?
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• John P. Hess said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  If you want to shoot lectures – I would advise highly against a DSLR for three reasons: 1. the 12 minute recording limit, 2. lack of a good audio input, and 3. The sensor size is over kill (you don’t need shallow depth of field for a lecture).

  My advice is to step it up to a camcorder. You can still use the 7d as a supplemental camera if you have the camcorder rolling on the main medium/wide and use the 7d for CU and cutaways. Plus the camcorder with XLR inputs will be able to take most feeds from sound boards. And lastly you don’t want to have to worry about a speaker going in and out of focus. Camcorders also have zoom servos so you’ll be able to get nice push in/pull out shots as well.

  Now I realize that won’t solve the taking pictures and stealth issue… but to me that’s really a completely different task for a camera.

  Regarding the Sony NEX – I think Philip Bloom posted an article about that camera or a similar model:
  http://philipbloom.net/2011/09/19/sonynex5n/
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• Pavol Timko said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  Ah, 12 minutes says it all! So let ’s forget the photo side of it. Thank you.

  Now, combination of 7D with camcorder is a bit tricky thing. I have a consumer full HD Sony HDR CX11 which makes surprisingly nice shots in good light but combining it with DSLR is something I wasn’t able to master yet. I am shooting longer lectures with Sony as a main (rather static) camera and 7D is used to take supplement shots I can use in editing but the difference is too visible. Though I try to use higher f stops on 7D (focus is also better with this) to rectify the problem but I am not very happy with the result.

  And yes, autofocus is an issue too.

  Well, 7D is perfect for most of my work but demands to do jobs with multicam setup are coming more often and I have to decide. Canon XF100 or XA10 would be nice, but it is way over my budget for a moment.

  Any ideas on how to solve this issues?
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• John P. Hess said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  Was going to suggest the higher f stops as well…

  I’ve been able to get away with a 5D and Sony EX1 combination for a while… but I think the issue between your 7d and Sony CX11 might be an issue with glass. I just don’t think the CX11 has as nice a glass as the what you’re shooting the 7d with.

  Could also be the fact that the chip sizes are so different 1/3″ up to about 4/3rds arena (I don’t know exactly the number).

  Have you played with the color and sharpness settings of the 7D? Canon and Sony (to me at least) have different philosophies when it comes to color. In my opinion, Sony shoots sharper images at the sake of color while Canon shoots more color at the sake of sharpness.
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• Pavol Timko said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  I did some tests with various color profiles including Cine style on 7D but as I said it is still not the best result especially in poor light. Sony has Zeiss lens with relative good quality but the tiny sensor is a very limiting factor. Imagine difference in DoF…

  So far shooting neutral with decreased sharpness and color is the best solution. I downloaded Final Cut Pro X and I am going to test the matching color utility, let’s see if it helps.
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• John P. Hess said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  @pali said:
  I did some tests with various color profiles including Cine style on 7D but as I said it is still not the best result especially in poor light. Sony has Zeiss lens with relative good quality but the tiny sensor is a very limiting factor. Imagine difference in DoF…

  So far shooting neutral with decreased sharpness and color is the best solution. I downloaded Final Cut Pro X and I am going to test the matching color utility, let’s see if it helps.

  I wouldn’t say so much that it’s the sensor size, but if you compare the glass on a small consumer camcorder to a larger prosumer camera – the physical size of the lens is much bigger even though the sensor is about the same (1/3″)
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• Pavol Timko said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

  Yes, if compared it looks like a toy.

  There is always time to learn new stuff.
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