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Home: Video University Forums: HDV:
FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review

belsokar
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May 7, 2005, 3:35 AM

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FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review	Can't Post

Just received my FX1 earlier this evening...I currently shoot with a pd150 and vx2100...I was originally going to get another vx2100 to add as my 3rd camera, but after going to NAB and seeing the B&H show special price of $2999 on the FX1, it just seemed to make sense to spend the extra money on the FX1....

I've spent the past 5 hours just going through the manual, and learning some of the new features that the FX1 has over a vx2100 or pd150/170...All I can say is that I am very happy (so far) that I picked up the FX1...Without even considering the native 16x9 chips or HDV, just as a DV camera it is a far superior camera when it comes to controls and functionality...The layout is much better, the ability to control your picture just goes so far beyond the pd150 and vx2000 that I now just sit back and wonder if I should upgrade all my cameras...I'm not actually going to just yet, but I can see myself feeling limited by what now seems to be almost amateurish control features on my vx2100 and pd150 when compared to the FX1...

My favorite feature so far??? That would be the shot transition feature...I really love a good rack-focus shot,...and even more, a nice rack-focus completed in conjunction with another camera move (i.e. a slight reveal shot) Its not always easy to get your focus just right as you're also worrying about your changing composition...what the shot transition allows you to do (and its very fast and easy to use which makes it even nicer!!!)...basically just set your focus on your first object (flower in foreground), then set your focus on the object in background (bride), and then execute your transition back and forth as many times as you want...you get perfect rack focus everytime...you can essentially transition from any set of image settings to another...its really a great feature...

I also did some preliminary HD tests by hooking up the camera to my widescreen 55" HD television,...the test was not scientific by any means, but it definitely looks better than DV at that size...thats all I can really say for now until I can start shooting in some better conditions...

So was it worth $700 more (based on B&H prices) to get the FX1? Personally, it was for me. Low light is not an issue, I shoot with a light anyways and am not concerned with that 1Lux lower rating than my PD150. I haven't actually shot and compared anything yet in DV mode, so I can't yet say how everything is going to matchup, but I suspect that won't be a huge issue.

I realize some people argue against whether HDV or native 16x9 chips are even necessary at this point in our industry, or even if the HDV technology is really ready,...but this purchase for me was not meant to be an upgrade to HDV, but rather an upgrade to a better camera in general for DV. The fact that I can now shoot HDV or native 16x9 when I need to is only a bonus.

So for anyone sitting on the fence,...I can't say which way to go, everyone has their own needs and budgets, but if like being able to have alot of control over your image, as well as several other handy features and functions, then the FX1 is a very impressive option at $3K.

RustyB
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May 7, 2005, 4:21 AM

Post #2 of 20 (3444 views)
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Re: [belsokar] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was at Fry's Electronics picking up some blank tapes last week, and they had an FX1 on display. I couldn't put it down. The lcd was a dream compared to my VX2000, since I shoot everything using "in-cam" 16:9, which doesn't look real hot.

It did seem a little light for it's size, although it didn't have a battery attached either. Plus, I'm accustomed to my VX2000 with the 960 battery, WA lens adapter, lens hood, light, 503 tripod plate, G2 receiver....I would imagine the new larger battery and larger WA lens adapter for FX1 will add a lot of weight, to help steady my handheld shots. I was surprised at how much bigger and professional looking it was. Very cool!

All of those manual controls were nice! I think the Fry's salemen thought I was going to cut the security cord and run out the front door with it. Maybe if it didn't look like it had been run over with a forklift and kicked around the warehouse! Tongue

faith poison wedding films
anger is an energy

observerXP
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May 7, 2005, 4:35 AM

Post #3 of 20 (3435 views)
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Re: [belsokar] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

What light do you use?

FX1, DVC30, XH A1, VX2000

Nikon D50, SB-600, Nikkor 18-55, Tamron 28-75
Nikon FM2, Nikkor 50mm F1.4

memorytracks
Veteran

May 7, 2005, 5:14 AM

Post #4 of 20 (3431 views)
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Re: [belsokar] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Same here dude. I got mine 2 days ago. It's so awesome.
I like the customizable zoom speed feature (I have mine on the painfully slow setting for a subtle zoom effect).

I have an HDTV too (and kids) so I'll be getting multiple uses out of it, not just weddings. But it is nice to know that I'll have the FX-1 for my entire batch of 2005 weddings. By year's end, I will no doubt put together a new demo authored entirely with HDV footage.

I shoot with a 10/20 light, and it's fine.
From what I've heard from DSE in past posts, the FX-1/Z1 cameras' noise level are very clean because there are so many more pixels to work with. I've seen night footage of the FX-1 and it's VERY nice.

I think it was a good decision too...even if it does become my 2nd camera a year from now when I "need" a true 24p .5 lux main camera. Fine by me.
Have fun!

(oh and Rusty, trust me...if you add a 10/20 light, TWO 960 batteries, and a quick-release plate it will be plenty heavy)

-Dave Graton
MemoryTracks Films

scotthayes
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May 7, 2005, 8:32 AM

Post #5 of 20 (3392 views)
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Re: [memorytracks] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

damn, thanks for the reviews. I am currently pondering selling my VX200 for an FX1. My new Ike is starting to get VERY heavy. Having a high quality small camera might be just the ticket.

If your gear is paid for, KEEP IT!

szerangue
Veteran

May 7, 2005, 11:50 PM

Post #6 of 20 (3195 views)
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Re: [scotthayes] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Do it Scott. Just shot my second wedding using my FX1s and my Z1 and I am here to say the quality is phenomenol. I will be posting more here with some samples as my edits progress, but its just great. There is no need to worry about low light, it will handle very little light just fine. When it gets too dark for even a VX2100, add 10watts. You cannot go wrong.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

wed-nes-day
Novice

May 8, 2005, 5:56 PM

Post #7 of 20 (3140 views)
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Re: [szerangue] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

What media do you use to send the video to the bride & groom?

This is whats been holding me up on getting a HD cam. Unsure

szerangue
Veteran

May 8, 2005, 7:09 PM

Post #8 of 20 (3127 views)
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Re: [wed-nes-day] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I create DVDs.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

wed-nes-day
Novice

May 8, 2005, 11:07 PM

Post #9 of 20 (3105 views)
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Re: [szerangue] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I create DVDs.

I am talking about HD. Since there isn't an adequate way to send HD on DVD. Or is there?

Do you convert the HD to SD and loose the quality? What I am wanting to know is how to distribute HD in such a way as to preserve the quality.

szerangue
Veteran

May 8, 2005, 11:24 PM

Post #10 of 20 (3100 views)
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Re: [wed-nes-day] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ok, well at this time there is no viable way to deliver HD to a client unless they want to view the movie in a Windows Media format or play the finished HDV tape on a $3000 deck. So with these two options in mind, and I am sure there are other options, I offer the client thier movie encoded to a windows media format burned onto a DVD. This movie can be played on a PC using Windows Media Player 9 or above, an adequate video card, and enough horsepower to play the highly compressed file. I do offer a package that includes an AveLink Player2. This is a settop DVD, MP3, networked machine that will connect to an HDTV through component out and will allow the client to play the windows media format movie directly to the HDTV. Other than that, I capture using the Canopus HQ Codec to my harddrive, edit the movie using an HDV project, then encode to DVD. There is some quality loss but the quality is still super. If you've watched some of the movies produced on here using the VX2100 cameras you will see that those cameras produce very high quality footage. Shot correctly, your encoded movie should surpass that quality.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

StudioAdam
Enthusiast

May 9, 2005, 12:12 AM

Post #11 of 20 (3091 views)
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Re: [szerangue] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm still on the fence. I'm a month out from getting started and purchasing cameras. Always thought i'd go the VX-2100 and/or PD-170 route, and lately, after seeing Hal's sticky about doing movie theater ads thinking an FX-1 wouldn't be bad, even as a third camera to a VX and PD. Am I better off getting three FX-1's? Where's Joel on all this? Where's Glenn? I'd still need the Beachtek deal for audio, right? I can get the FX-1's here in Taiwan for close to $3,000, maybe less if I haggle. That's cheaper than the PD.

How is all this encoding to be done on a Mac? Can I shoot in HD so I have HDV masters and output in a format my customer can use on their DVD player at home? I'm sure they don't want to watch their wedding video on their computer all the time.

Help!

Adam in Taipei

Adam

VU Minnesota Campus

szerangue
Veteran

May 9, 2005, 12:24 AM

Post #12 of 20 (3087 views)
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Re: [StudioAdam] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Adam,
First let me say that if you were to buy 3 FX1s, you would absolutely love the quality of the pictures you take. But there are much bigger issues than just buying the cameras. You absolutely need to have a powerful computer to edit this stuff. Forget all the talk about huge harddrives, thats not the issue. Processing power and memory is, especially processing power. I can tell you right now I am using a PC with 3.0ghz dual xeon procs, 3gb registered ram, 128mb GeForce 6600 video card, 2x200 SATA Raid video drives, and I am still somewhat sluggish on 2 layers of HDV with 1 standard PIP filter.
If you shoot HDV and edit HDV you can create HDV masters. But editing HDV is the issue, believe me. I am successfully editing HDV but it is a step back in performance from editing DV, believe me.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

StudioAdam
Enthusiast

May 9, 2005, 1:36 AM

Post #13 of 20 (3077 views)
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Re: [szerangue] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'll be getting a G5 tower dual 2 Gig processor with 2-4 gigs of RAM as soon as I get back stateside. I plan on making the purchase in July or August, but I'll get at least one camera here in Taiwan B4 heading back--probably in the next month--which is why I want to get my choice squared away soon.

Thanks a lot!

Adam

VU Minnesota Campus

Chuck_e7
Veteran

Jun 3, 2005, 7:21 PM

Post #14 of 20 (2455 views)
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Re: [belsokar] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I got my FX-1 yesterday. I like the heft of it. Haven't done any shooting, but I'll do a test run at a wedding tomorrow nite. It looks impressive, I like the controls (the ones I've found so far) and it's a good way to transition when HD does become viable for the Knotties.

"600 yards out, I can still see you!"

David L
User

Jun 3, 2005, 7:28 PM

Post #15 of 20 (2454 views)
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Re: [Chuck_e7] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

chuck: I'd be very interested in your thoughts on how well it works at the wedding, esp. if you are in lowlight situations ... thanks.

belsokar
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Jun 3, 2005, 8:53 PM

Post #16 of 20 (2445 views)
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Re: [David L] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

I shot with my FX1 at two weddings now, and the lowlight is absolutely fine. One argument that many people make is that their VX2100 runs at 3db gain in a dimly lit reception, whereas the FX1 has to be set to about 9db gain. (At least that is what I found in my trials). The difference is, an FX1 at up to 12db gain looks GREAT! So its comparing apples and oranges. I think you will find that most people who have been shooting with an FX1 will say they shoot at a bit higher gain than if they were shooting with a VX2100 or PD150, but the image quality of the FX1 at 12db is so much better than a VX or PD at 12db gain, that it just doesn't matter...

Lydian
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Jun 4, 2005, 4:13 PM

Post #17 of 20 (2397 views)
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Re: [wed-nes-day] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi wednesday you can author HD DVD'S with a mac and final cut studio, i'e final cut pro 5 HD and DVD studio pro HD.

*Vu bookmarked on the phone.

Chuck_e7
Veteran

Jun 8, 2005, 6:22 PM

Post #18 of 20 (2309 views)
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Re: [David L] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

HI David, it all went well. Didn't have a lot of low light situations, because it was in a well lighted hall. BUT, the great thing was the backlight function! We shot some stuff against a stained glass window, impressive. I think having the gain controls where you can easily get to them is a plus though. The investigation continues...

"600 yards out, I can still see you!"

David L
User

Jun 8, 2005, 7:10 PM

Post #19 of 20 (2307 views)
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Re: [Chuck_e7] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Chuck: thanks for that report ... I'm still on the fence about getting one but one of my current cameras is acting up so it may make the decision for me ... if you do a lowlight wedding I'd be very interested to hear how it went. Thanks!

Chuck_e7
Veteran

Jun 8, 2005, 10:15 PM

Post #20 of 20 (2293 views)
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Re: [David L] FX1 Kicks Butt...my personal review [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ok, I've got a real low-light situation comingg up on the 25th. It's in the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. The light in there is really bad plus all the pews and furniture are dark wood. We'll see on that one.

"600 yards out, I can still see you!"