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I own the PD170. It's a great camera. I've used all four of the
cameras on your list. - they are all comparable. Even if you
simply flip a coin you will be very happy with the camera you
end up with.

I know that's not what you want to hear so I'll say....

Get the PD170

I think having two camera's could be a good idea (if you can afford it) but I think they should be the same camera otherwise when you come to edit a scene the footage from one camera will look different to the footage from the other. Then you will have to waste alot of time colour correcting it all. You could get away with it if you used one camera for a whole scene and then another for a different scene but then wants the point having two cameras.

I would say if you get 2 get them both the same or save the money to buy a slightly more expensive camera.

Rob - UK

I've recently started using the EX-1. I will say that I am super happy with the colors. It does pretty well in low light as well. I think though if you're going to make a feature you want to have the option to shoot in 1080p just in case something happens with it. I realize that it doesn't come with all the options but I've seen some footage from it that used a 35mm adapter lens, and it was just beautiful. I'm afraid the hvx200 is going to be grainy on you in low light.

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Originally posted by Hyve_Mynde

So, I'm shooting my first feature. I've got a budget of between 20 and 30k and I want to spend up to 5k on a camera. Its a horror movie so they've got to perform well in low-light and still look good. That's why I scrapped my initial use of the Canon XH-A1 (also it's lack of pulling focus and zooming). So on the table now are:

Sony PMW EX-1
Sony DSR-PD170
Sony HDR-FX7 (Not crazy about the fixed lens)
Panasonic AG-HVX200 (people are talking about the 200a as well, though I haven't done any research into that yet)

And while I'd love to shoot in 1080p I haven't found ones in my price range that allow me all the things I want. One of my assistants mentioned possibly using two cameras, not just for coverage but to capitalize on each one's unique abilities. Any suggestions?

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Why are you even thinking of purchasing a camera? Say you buy a camera for this project. Will the project pay for it? Will you definitely be using the camera on the next project and be able to make money with it?

You say that you'd love to shoot in 1080P but no cameras to BUY are in your price range. Your total budget is $20,000 for the entire project. My first question is, are YOU the DP and the Director? If you are just the Director and will have a separate Cameraman, why not scrap the idea of buying equipment and do like the professionals do. Concern yourself with getting qualified and skilled PEOPLE (even if you have to pay a little bit to secure them). In a lot of cases, if you have a low-budget production, many rental houses (or the Cameraman himself) will have quality equipment for little to no cost. They do this because they are building your loyalty for the future. If the project is worthwhile and they believe that YOU will keep making projects, they hope that YOU'LL remember THEM and how they helped you to make a higher quality project.

Your options are to buy some relatively inexpensive equipment that likely isn't even close to being able to deliver the quality you desire.... or invest your budget into gathering PEOPLE who have the skills, experience, and connections to make your project everything you hope it can be.

Far too many aspiring "filmmakers" are taught to be too equipment-centric. You could spend your money and get SOME of the equipment you should have, but on a budget, the chance of getting what you REALLY need is low. For $5,000 you won't get the camera and all the necessary support equipment that you should have. And the camera is really only a part of what you should have. What about lights, grip, electrical? Maybe you can get a cheap dolly, but will you have a qualified person who knows how to best operate it? Will you rely on an eager PA to hold the boom mic and risk not getting the best sound possible? If you're buying a camera, why stop there? What about wardrobe racks, makeup kits, playback equipment for video village, a sound mixer and quality recorder? Cstands, sandbags, flags, lights, spare bulbs, AC cables, cube taps, grip clips, light stands, mafers, scrims, single nets, double nets, diffusion, ladders, sound blankets?

The point is, there is A LOT more than a camera involved in shooting a movie. You could blow your five grand a camera that you're really not happy with... or, you could invest your money in people and then work out rental deals for the equipment you need for this project. And because you do it that way, your project will be better and the hope to do another project with a bigger budget improves. Or, you can have a half-a&&ed project and an obsolete camera a few months from now.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com