which way to go

[berpelding]

Which is better way to go if you're going to buy a camera for tapless production? Should you go P2 which Adobe is pushing or Sony X by X?

[bravershooter]

This is a tough question, and for many folks a religious one. In general I'd say Panasonic's MXF format "P2" seems to me better suited for the exigencies of tapeless production owing primarily to the system's superior metadata support. Sony's MXF format called "XDCAM" offers the relative advantage of reduced file size but the many long-GOP XD implementations and interweaved audio and video may entail a more complicated workflow. With respect to the recording medium itself, the SXS card may be more practical due to the proliferation of Express/34 slots in many computers, but the P2 card is considerably more rugged and less prone to physical damage as it is constructed to military-specifications.

[warnerl]

"In general I'd say Panasonic's MXF format "P2" seems to me better suited for the exigencies of tapeless production owing primarily to the system's superior metadata support. "

I'd need to know more about what is superior over XDCam in metadata arena.

"Sony's MXF format called "XDCAM" offers the relative advantage of reduced file size but the many long-GOP XD implementations and interweaved audio and video may entail a more complicated workflow."

In what way is it more complicated? All the major NLE programs support XDCam seamlessly. Though long-GOP compression is a different codec than the P2 I-frame approach - a file half the size (50mbps) is cleaner (less artifacts - particularly in high detail / hard edge images) than the P2 (100mbps) - and XDCam takes up half the disc space as the P2 data 100 AVC mode.

"With respect to the recording medium itself, the SXS card may be more practical due to the proliferation of Express/34 slots in many computers, but the P2 card is considerably more rugged and less prone to physical damage as it is constructed to military-specifications."

Have you handled the SXS cards? Why are they more prone to damage?

And what about archiving? The P2 archiving solution is completely dependent upon redundant backup of hard drives. And hard drives fail. Even with the lower end of the XDCam family, you have the option of backing up your material to an XDCam disc, with the use of a PDW-U1. The discs - optical blue ray discs - will last at least 50 yrs. We don't know yet because - the hard data as you might imagine, is not back yet. All I know is that I don't care 50 yrs from now what is going on with my footage. What hard drive will last 50 yrs?