from filmmakermagazine.com

I WANT MY HDV

Notes on low-cost HD.

BY D.W. LEITNER

HIGH DEFINITION, OR HD, FOR THE MASSES.

Compact and affordable, like Mini DV 10 years ago. Still feels like a pipe dream.

Or maybe a fever dream. Discussing the new HDV format stirs confusion because there are two flavors, three manufacturers and four camcorders. A major player, JVC, launched a popular 24p version of HDV that a year later none of the major nonlinear editing systems can readily capture. Plus there’s Panasonic’s compact P2 camcorder, the HVX200. It’s not HDV — as Panasonic reminds us at every turn — but belongs to this discussion because of its Handycam dimensions and autofocus zoom lens.

One thing is certain, however. Don’t let anyone tell you that HDV isn’t true HD. While both of Sony’s HDV camcorders are professional versions of consumer products, each camcorder mentioned below is capable of superb 720p or 1080i images. I’ve shot documentary projects with all four HDV camcorders: Sony’s Z1 and A1, JVC’s HD100 and Canon’s XL H1. I’ve test-driven Panasonic’s newly arrived HVX200. I’m not talking out of my hat.

to read the full thing go to:

http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/spring2006/line_items/my_hdv.php