Canon T2i vs Panasonic HVX200

A quick comparison between the Canon Rebel T2i and the Panasonic HVX200. The tests mainly focus on color and depth of field, but there's a panning (rolling shutter) and an audio test too.

The audio test was supposed to be of both cameras, but oddly I lost the audio on my HVX footage, so you just get the Canon side.

I hate to admit this, but some of the rack focus tests are a bit weak, in that the zooms on the two cameras were so different that I had to get much closer to my subject to get a rack focus with the Canon, so if you notice any usual difference in perspective between the two that's why. Obviously the DOF is variable on the Canon since it has interchangeable lenses, but I only had one lens.

Look carefully at the hand-held shots of the Canon. You'll see evidence of the "rolling shutter" along the edges of the picture, even when it's not moving that fast. Surprisingly, the quick pans don't show rolling shutter as bad as I thought they would.

I also took footage at night with the Canon, but not the HVX. The T2i takes awesome pictures in low-light, but that's kind of known already, so posting it here seemed redundant.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Canon
• Rebel
• T2i
• Panasonic
• HVX
• 200
• compare
• contrast
• CCD
• CMOS
• chip
• footage
• camera
• video

[JacanaProductions]

The DSLRs don't have very good resolution. As far as real world resolution goes they have a lot less then good prosumer video cameras hence the reason that the HVX200 (with it's soft picture 1440 x1080 ) has the same as the T2i and probably the 7D too. Really depends on what you want to do with the camera. Shooting interviews, camera on tripod, lights, fixed focus act - the DSLRs are great. Get out into the field do some run and gun and DLSRs are rubbish - best to have both :) like me.

[Ontoe]

@JacanaProductions You make some good points- I have both now (well, the HMC 150 and T3i, but similar to the cameras in my video). I agree that a DSLR can't be your all-purpose video camera, although it does color and depth of field much better than a video camera.

[listerinekid]

Hey man thank you so much for doing this test. I'm in pre-production on my thesis film and am trying to decide between the HVX and t2i. This was really helpful.

[Ontoe]

@listerinekid You're welcome! I recently got a T3i and an HMC-150. You can expect a video comparison of those two in the near future also.

[hotgypsylips]

I'm looking to buy a HVX200, but the resolution worrys me, I have not seen yet a good res clear footage, I've got the T2i, is it worth the panny?

[Ontoe]

@hotgypsylips They are the same resolution for video, 1920 x 1080 (Actually, the HVX shoots at 1440 x 1080 which is then corrected to 1920 x 1080 in an editing application). Still, the resolution of the two is virtually identical, so don't let that stop you. However, the Panasonic HMC-150 is easier to work with and also really good quality, but you're stuck with AVCHD format. I couldn't justify (for myself) buying an HVX instead of the HMC-150 unless you really need P2-card quality.

[tacoscratch]

I almost sold my hvx200 to buy a canon 7d. That would have been a big mistake. I changed my mind when I learned about motion tracking

[JacanaProductions]

@Ontoe I have a HMC40 and and 7D. For some reason I never have got really good images out of the 7D and the bloody thing overheats sometimes too. Probably sell the 7D and get a GH2 and hack the bugger. GH2 - longer recored time, no silly 12 mins crippled shooting, lCD rotates, auto focus etc and she's cheaper too!

[JacanaProductions]

@robertlam18 Remember the Panny was released in 2006, thats one old camera and the t2i in 2010 I think.

[Ontoe]

@ZxanderProductions I actually did do an audio test also, but for some reason that didn't really export correctly here. Either way, the Panasonic did better on audio.