True HD cameras

What are the choices for a true HD camera?
I'm talking about cameras that shoot 1920X1080 in camera.

I know of the Sony Ex1, are there any others for less then $6500 ?
Not including the Red. The 8x zoom is just to limiting.

I was going to upgrade my Sony HDR-FX1 anyway with a Canon XL-H1a but I'm wondering if a true HD would be better.


Thanks,
Jake

Yur not going to make me upgrade already to keep up with the Jake's are ya ;)

Don

No, you don't have to keep up :-) This is really something that may happen next year.

One of the reasons I'm leaning to a true HD camera is for the first time I had a Pond 5 customer that had a problem with one of my clips.
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/108551
As you can see there is a lot of movement and that is the problem with HDV, the in camera compression gives a lot of artifacts to fast movement.
I contacted the customer and gave him the original file from the camera but it still had the artifacts so he couldn't use it.

So I don't think this will happen a lot but it will be something I'll keep in the back of my mind as I'm shooting.

Jake

But the EX1 use the same HDV-Codec and this is limited to 35Mbit. That means the same problem will still happened if the Problem is the compression. A better choice can be the DVCProHD Codec with 100Mbit or the Red.

https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/107014

OK, not so extreme (tree) movements like your clip but also difficult (fine Rain and fine blades). This one I shoot on a HVX200 in Indonesia and I have no problems with artifacts.

Thanks for the reply.
I didn't know about the HDV codec on the EX1.
I was looking at the HPX170 that is replacing the 200. I like some of the features like variable frame rate. I'm not sure about the solid state capture.
How does that work for you? Is the native file in a format that editing programs can see?
Does the HVX200 and the 170 capture 1440X1080?

I know the Red would be a great camera to get. But like I said, I can't do that 8x zoom.
I guess my dream camera would be the red but 20x zoom, but I'm sure I couldn't afford it then. :-)

PS, Jason, I didn't see your call until this morning. I'll call you today.

Thanks,
Jake

I didn’t look closer on the 170 so I can speak only about the HVX200.

He is still one of the top3 semi professional cameras. Over 3 years on the market and over 2 years (!) on pos. one. He is still the most used camera for independent filmmakers. Right now, nearly any editing program can work with the MXF-Files from the HVX200. I work with PremierePro CS3 and it’s perfectly integrated.

When you start, the tapeless workflow it’s a bit different but NO f()cking DV-tapes and no coffee-killing-digitising-time anymore! Other features are the scene files or the different frame rates. The following clip I shoot in 720/50p (in the US you can shoot with 60p).

https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/144408
I love this clip but the preview here is not so good. In full size it's a dream!
I put this clip in a 25 fps project (US 30p) and I got that REAL SMOOTH slow motion without any plug in and without rendering. Simply press play and you got that result! You can also under- and over cranking the camera. You will find a bunch of more information on www.dvxuser.com !

Rudi