After looking at some of the new announcements about mid-range cameras coming out from Silicon Imaging, Red, Grass Valley and Sony's XDCAM-HD line, I realized why I've been so underwhelmed with the prosumer HDV offerings. It seems that while all the HDV cameras all offer greater visual resolution than SD DV cameras, they also take significant steps backward in areas such as recording time, audio fidelity, motion artifacts, and low-light sensitivity.
Look at the XDCAM-HD specs, for example: 4 channels of 24-bit uncompressed audio, greater exposure latitude, more robust compression schemes, PLUS a random-access file media system. (Makes me wonder if it's technically possible to record an XDCAM-HD signal to DV tape -- probably only get 30 minutes or so on a 60-minute DV tape, but that's O.K.). I'd gladly trade the coolness of XDCAM media for DV tape, if I could just get the signal quality and 4-channel audio, in a handicam-form factor camcorder for under $10,000.
Maybe I've been spoiled by ever-better video technology, but these tradeoffs are a lot to swallow... especially since I'll still be delivering on an SD DVD for a while yet. Here's hoping all the activity in the $15,000-$25,000 HD camera market segment puts some pressure to come up with some sub-$10,000 offerings with fewer compromises.
Look at the XDCAM-HD specs, for example: 4 channels of 24-bit uncompressed audio, greater exposure latitude, more robust compression schemes, PLUS a random-access file media system. (Makes me wonder if it's technically possible to record an XDCAM-HD signal to DV tape -- probably only get 30 minutes or so on a 60-minute DV tape, but that's O.K.). I'd gladly trade the coolness of XDCAM media for DV tape, if I could just get the signal quality and 4-channel audio, in a handicam-form factor camcorder for under $10,000.
Maybe I've been spoiled by ever-better video technology, but these tradeoffs are a lot to swallow... especially since I'll still be delivering on an SD DVD for a while yet. Here's hoping all the activity in the $15,000-$25,000 HD camera market segment puts some pressure to come up with some sub-$10,000 offerings with fewer compromises.