dvx100a, dvc80, dvc30. Help please.

[seantree]

I know this is a DVX forum and all but I am looking into buying a cam soon and the DVX is somewhat out of range. I was looking into the DVC80 and it's soon to be replacement the DVC30. I know the DVX is superior, but out of the DVC80/30 which is the better cam? I've read both positives and negatives about each, and dvc30 info is hard to come by right now. I mainly want to use the cam to shoot some wedding videos (for extra cash) and some short films I've been writing. I have already shot some stuff on a crappy 1ccd cam i borrowed from a friend, but really want the image quality a 3ccd cam can offer. So, if anyone could post up some info/opinions i'd appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

[J.R. Hudson]

Can't hold out for the DVX100? You don't really need the 'A' although some might beg...

Sorry. You mentioned SHORT FILMS. Are you into doing videography or are you really a fimmaker screaming to be set free?

[seantree]

Actually I tend to think I'm a filmmaker. I've gone through almost every art medium (oils to 3d CG) and now that I'm 30 I finally realize that film is my true passion. I guess it's only now that it is really possible with DV cams providing the image quality they do these days that I've realized what I want to do. The wedding thing was just a side thing to help get some of the cam cost back. But I really want to do films. It's funny, after posting the thread I sat back and thought " I won't be happy without the dvx." So, I'm going to hold out a bit longer. Thanks for the reply though, and I'm still interested in what the DVC30 can do just out of curiousity. Thanks again.

[David Jimerson]

Good for you! You'll be much happier.

Not too far beneath the surface of every single "DVC80/30 v. DVX100" post is someone trying to convince himself he can buy the cheaper cam and still be happy with it, when what he really wants is the DVX. You'll never be happy with less than what you really want. Don't settle. Never settle.

[kylelewis1]

I don't know what a DVC30 is going for, but you can find a DVX100 (not the A) used on ebay for about 2300 (give or take a hundred bucks). I have seen it sell a few times for just over $2000. I can't imagine the DVX30 is going to be a whole heck of a lot cheaper than that.

And yes, the DVX100 is worth the wait.