I'd go for the FX1. It can be used in DV mode, so you can continue what you're already doing (and I expect DV mode looks pretty good), but when the opportunity presents to do something special you have what appears to be a stunning camera in your hands.

I've been asking a similar question - I don't need HDV for my business at this stage, but I am overdue for a new camera, and I'd love to be able to do some work in that format.
I was aiming towards a PD170, but I've had a good year, and ... I'm going for the pro version of the FX1 (the Z1) .............. sorry, can't stop drooling ....

Personally I'd go for the Sony too, but it all depends on what you plan to use the camera for. Another factor to consider is what editing tools are available for HDV format video, but hopefully Sony will have a new version of Vegas out to support HDV by the time the camera ships.

Richard Hunter

Well, Vegas will quite happily take in the footage from the camera, many Vegas users are doing this already, see posts elsewhere.
It's also possible to shoot in 1080i and downscale to SD but pickup a boost in sampling which is better than shooting DV25 with the camera or potentialy any DV25 camera.
Other factors of course may also come into play, early days yet but so far it looks very promising. The one guy whose giving it a good shakeout in Japan and posting lots fo footage is demonstarting what has been said about HD in general all along, it's far less forgiving than SD, things like focus being ever so slightly off is quite apparent at the higher res.

Bob.

Another factor to take into account is the need for upgrading hardware to deal with this extra amount of digital info? Is that correct? How will render times be affected on a P4 3.2 ghtz with 2Gig Ram? And I guess that's only where it will start .. ? HD monitors? Any other takers on the surrounding "extras"? Dual burners and HD Cammies? Funny how our industry gets us by the short and curlies - yeah? I thought I was getting there with my latest purchase of a Prod Monitor! ha-bleedin'-ha!

Grazie

Funny how our industry gets us by the short and curlies - yeah?


Oh yeah!!! You hit it right on the head Grazie. Have a look at the DVD Face-Off article. The first paragraph says "If all goes as planned, two incompatible hi-def DVD formats will be unleashed on an unsuspecting public in 2005. Called Blu-ray and HD-DVD, the two formats will be competing to lure consumers to their flavor of high-capacity DVD player/recorders and camcorders."
Can you say Betamax/VHS wars all over again? :-(

Mike

As so many others here have said before, it's far too early in this game (HD) for anyone like me to make any serious investments. As any Vulcan would tell you, "It isn't logical."

So to answer your original question, my vote is "just ego."

Jay

In this case, I believe the statement "Speed Kills" is appropriate. The technology IMO is not matured enough for my taste. Without a doubt I will be moving eventually to HD when my local market dictates...but for now I'll wait and let everyone get the software/hardware considerations worked out.....

It really depends. If you want output to true HiDef, then think BIG dollars, we're looking at spending $250K for such a facility, note this'll be a facility for Vegas users.
However with pretty much the hardware and software you already have you can downconvert to SD at 4:2:2. The only other way you could get that quality is either DVCPro 50, DigiBetacam or XDCAM cameras, again think big dollars.
So for under AUD 10K there does seem the potential to shoot broadcast quality 16:9 video, that's 10% of the price of anything else currently available. If you think that's just ego I'm sorry I don't get it.
It is early days and unless you can afford to take the risk by all means hold off. So far I've not seen anything from this camera that makes me nervous, fortunately it's not my money on the line though.
All I'd say is don't buy anything just yet, if you can afford to take a punt then join the rush. I sure wouldn't be spending money on any other camera at the moment, if this thing flies I think we'll see a lot of fire sales.
Bob.

What is there to work out?
Vegas users are already burning footage to DVD, and they don't even have the camera!
See recent post about fooatge being available for download, Grab some and drop it onto the V5 TL, sure it plays back real slow so encode to WM9 and be amazed.
Bob.

Ego!

It's all EGO. Why care about having better video? Because your ego demands it.
Why be on the bleeding edge is more the question.
Currently you can only deliver on WMV-HD. This will change, but for the moment, that's it. Is that bad? I dunno....only you can decide that.
Your customers won't be able to play it, but they'll soon be able to play it. Do you want to be one of the first in the format? Probably not if you're feeling the need to ask the question.
But like it or not, it all boils down to ego...that's what drives most of us as video editors.

SPOT,
I beg to differ, well not about the ego bit. I think what is being very much overlooked is the potential for this camera to deliver stunning SD.
Firstly the cameras will shoot DV25, I'm hoping but not confirmed in the specs at true 16:9. But the more interesting option is downscaling from 1080i at 4:2:0 to SD at better than 4:2:2, now that's mighty interesting.

And oh yes you can deliver on HDCAM, budget permitting.
Bob.

You can tell who has and who hasn't downloaded and seen the Sony HDV footage just by reading thier posts! There is no way you can see the Sony footage and not want one of these cameras! It is simply orders of magnitude better!

http://www.hdvinfo.net/media/kakugyo/

I agree, but the point is, is it worth getting right now if you've got good cameras already? Maybe I misunderstood the question.
Is it ego to want to shoot/deliver HDV?
Or is it ego to simply want better video quality?
Or is it necessary to get this cam to shoot better quality?
Is it necessary to get this cam to be on the bleeding edge?
for me, the answer is "Yes" to all of the above, regardless of what this cam is for, or what it's delivered on.

So, Larry, how does one view this amazing footage--with which tool?

Jay

Difficult to capture, altho' this may get fixed soon.
No way to burn to DVD without downrezzing....DVD won't take HD formats.
No way to playback as there are no settop players
Very limited number of HD monitors available...none of my customers have them.
I saw serious motion artifacts, or at the very least interlaced field lines, on the files I downloaded. On all of my monitors, both LCD and CRT, my XL2 images look as good as, if not better, than the images I downloaded. I don't have those interlaced field lines and my images look just as clear. Just my opinion.

Oh yeah, one more critical thing...there is NO, repeat NO, path to film transfer with this camera.

You can't tell me this is something I should be interested in. One of these days I may be, but, certainly not right now. My ego would like one, but, my wallet doesn't. Sorry, I hate being the one crying, "the emperor has no clothes", but, guess I'm stuck with the job.

Jay, it will open up right in Vegas 5. Drop the m2t file in there and go to town.

Bill, neither do my clients!

Douglas, thanks!

Jay

Didn't the original poster say that the camera was being "given" to him (that is, free) instead of cash?

If that's so, and the Sony can deliver higher-quality SD, plus more if desired, I'd take the Sony, since you also get HDV. Although the Canon does have some nice features like interchangeable lens.

I do run and gun stuff exclusively. To see this kind of amazing quality on shots done from a moving vehicle at night impressed the heck out of me! I downrezzed several files to SD myself and loved how they looked!

DVFilm is already doing 24p conversions from HDV in the latest version. I'll run some tests to see how they look a little later when I have some free time. This is not really important to me though. I don't expect to ever shoot anything that will end up on film. Now, hi def digital projection does excite me though!

I've experimented now with several software video players, and motion artifacts vary quite a bit between them. I have a feeling that what you're seeing is more in the player than in the footage though.

The emporer's suit looks just fine to me ;)

Sony are going to sell this camera by the container load, that's for sure. Certainly in this country even if you don't need to deliver HD you do need to deliver 16:9 and what a better way to go.
So even if you don't buy one at least it'll get some of the red ink off Sony's P&L and that's good news for Vegas users.
Visiting a few of the forums that are discussing this camera the name Vegas is there in every second post, the Macolites are trying hard to howl us down without much success. Even if you think this is all smoke and mirrors the portents for Vegas look good.
Bob.

I posted a short philosophical piece here-------> http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33967
If you have the interest in exploring my experience.