Sony HDR-HC9 vrs Panasonic PV-GS500

swtrans · Post by **swtrans** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:27 pm

This probably does not belong in the VideoStudio area but VideoStudio has proven to be the most intuitive editing program I have used (trialed them all before I picked it).

I use Video Studio 11.5 with an older Panasonic CCD. As I posted in another thread, HD surprised me! I finally got the Sony importing into Corel (thanks to help from you guys).

I may have made a mistake going to the HD sony. I have 15 days to return it.

I'd like to record in HD, but I'm going to output in DV probably for at least a couple more years. A quality picture is most important to me. I'd love to hear opinions of whether to do the Panasonic or keep the Sony. Thanks guys, I value your opinions!!!

Panasonic is DV at $799
1/4.7" CCD (1.07 Megapixels) x 3

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... i_DV.html

Sony is HD at $899
1/2.9" ClearVid CMOS Sensor 3.2Mp Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T Lens

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... rder.html

The $100 difference means nothing to me. I'm trying to do the best thing. I'm thinking if they are about the same quality, keep the Sony because I can learn HD ... my gut is telling me that Panasonic may have a batter picture in the DV mode.

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:44 pm

What you should do is to make some videos from both cameras and judge the quality.

With the Sony you can down convert to SD video two ways.
1. Use the menu to output SD and capture in that mode.
2. Capture HD video and use Ulead to convert to SD video.

I have a SD Digital 8 camera and a HDR-HC1. I think the SD video I've produced from a HD capture down converted to is better then the Digital 8 camera.

On another note if you keep the Sony all your video will be HD.
HD is by far better than any SD video I've watched.

Judge for yourself.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:12 pm

I'm a little confused. Are you already using a Panasonic and have purchased a HD Sony but might return it? Are you then thinking of buying a SD Panasonic?

If you are in the market for a new cam then I would go the HD route. Why spend the money on SD when you may be ready for HD a year from now.

If you are not in the market for a new cam I would wait until you are. The technology will be better and prices will probably be cheaper.

swtrans · Post by **swtrans** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:44 pm

I've use a Panosonic GS120 for several years, its pretty much on its last leg.

I purchased a Sony HD but am having second thoughts. I didn't realize HD was so much different than DV. I got it from BH Photo, they have a 15-day return policy.

So I'm thinking, I probably will not output as HD for a couple years ... by that time the technology will change a bit, so until I output as HD why not output the best possible DV (staying in the $1000 range, using tape).

If that Panasonic 500 DV outputs a better pic than the Sony HD in the DV mode, I have a few days to flip-flop.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:12 pm

Thanks for the clarification.

In my opinion, if I was shopping for a cam today I would go for HD, knowing that is where I am heading in the future. I'm thinking of that from a monetary aspect. No sense spending $1000 now for SD and then spend $1000 again for HD in a year or two.

If money is not an issue then I suppose you can do whatever you want.

swtrans · Post by **swtrans** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:25 pm

Heck money is always important. I think what I'm reading is the HD (output as SD) will be at least as good as a SD ... if thats the case the HD makes sense

if the panasonic SD is significantly better than a sony HD (output as SD), then I'd probably do the panasonic

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:33 pm

My own two cents worth is to go for the Panasonic in the circumstances you describe. This is not because the downconversion to SD produces video which might be worse quality than the Panny. Far from it. I think the quality is better than you can get from a good SD mini DV camera -- except for one point.

You may -- or may not -- have read that a HD camera, any camera, must be panned horizontally verrrrrry slowly because if it is done too quickly, you get a panning 'shimmer' which is very hard on the eyes -- in my case, my eyes almost physically hurt when watching it. Vertical pans are OK, as are zooms in and out. But horizontal pans have this effect. So I just add that to my mental arsenal when I go out filming with my Canon HV20, and as far as possible avoid horizontal pans. This is a known phenomenon. And if you watch professional HD video, you will see almost no horizontal pans, apart from very, very gentle ones that don't move too far in the arc, just so that you get the faintest notion of horizontal motion...

But this shimmer seems to get transferred in the downconversion to SD from HD. You will, of course, get a similar shimmer using a SD camera too fast too, I acknowledge, but not as noticeably as from a HD camera.

So if you do a lot of work which involves horizontal pans, and you intend only to produce SD DVDs for the next couple of years, I would stick with a good SD camera...