What is the best cam for me?

robotriderdh

robotriderdh

Active member
I'm new to DVX user, I was directed here by a friend, and it seems to be super helpful and perfect for learning more.

My question:

I have a GL2 right now, and i was wondering if (as my friend claims) selling the GL2 to go towards buying a panasonic HVX or DVX would be a good idea? I don't know how easy it is to get XLR to 1/8th inch converters (which is waht i need to properly record audio), and I know that those panasonics have XLR inputs.

Thanks for your help.
 
The DVX and the HVX are superior cameras to the GL2. But the question is -- do you need a superior camera? The GL2 makes some very nice video. What are you shooting, that you think you need something better than what you've got? I mean, maybe you do, but for many people the GL2 is more camcorder than they know how to use as is, so don't get too hung up on the particular tool until you get to the point where the tool itself is what's holding you back...
 
Well put Barry, i always enjoy your words of wisdom.

On that same note though, as a person who only a couple of months ago thought that "whitebalance" was what mom taught me to do at the laundry, I can say with all sincerity and no disrespect that sometimes with the wealth of knowledge, it is easy to forget that a new member might not have that same understanding we do and for a simple question is looking for a simple answer.
I remember when I first asked the question if buying an hvx as my first ever camera was the best decision, the responses were acurate and helpful but they freaked me out!
It was like i had started a debate that was never meant to be, a compilation of answers meant more to sound intelligent amongst themselves ( I exclude Barry of course) than a real explanation or answer.

Robot, I'll try to answer your question the best I can. If your the type of person that has been looking at reviews non stop, going from camera to camera trying to weed out the best possible choice and are saving the money for that camera? then i wouldnt want you to waste your money on a "friend of a friend's recommendation", we've done the research. For your level of experience? Go with the DVX, Get Barry's book and start shooting. Yes, if the GL2 is "ok" for your needs by all means keep it... but if your searching for an answer to what prosumer camera to buy and you ARE going to get one regardless, don't hesitate, DVXuser's marketplace is full of great deals on a DVX a or b.

Edit: I just thought of something: senior members are probably fed up with giving the simple answers to us noobs after 5,000 posts... dont worry guys, the new generation is here to help you relax!
 
Last edited:
If you do get an HVX or DVX think about all the benifits you will get other than a
great camera. You get to hang out with us monkeys all day, now how about thaaat?
:P In fact you better set DVXuser as your homepage, get a comfortable chair, and get use to lounging like this since there is really only one way to do it...

lounging.jpg



Whut, whud i do? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Barry - in response to your passage (which was helpful), I do know how to use the camera very well, and am looking for something with a more film-like quality. i've been told that the DVX shoots in 24p, and have looked at some amazing reels shot with the DVX. Also, it has XLR inputs, which the GL2 does not (it only has 1/8th in. mic input).

Concerning depth of response, I would like any and all information, which I can handle.


thanks a lot, by the way.
 
What's your budget? And what do you need? Just a filmlook? Are you shooting weddings? Docs? PR videos? short films? Gotta let people know what purpose you want a cam for before they can give advice.
 
I think you could probably get a pretty decent film look with your GL2, depending on what NLE you're cutting with.

Prior to purchasing my DVX, I shot some test footage with a 1 chip cheapo camcorder (now my capture deck). Then I used Vegas to deinterlace the 60i footage into a 24p .avi file. The results were surprising. After CC and adding a couple of filters, the footage had a very film-like quality about it (comparable to telecined super8). I don't know how the deinterlace process works with other NLE's, but with Vegas its almost too simple.

I would see how far you can take the image from the GL2 before trading up.
 
I shoot weddings, documentaries and short films. I hope to do longer films as well. Budget isn't much of a concern. I do many projects for my school (not class assignments, but films for them). I basically am looking for something to make a more professional looking product. I like the capabilites i've seen of the DVX, and think that they far outlperform those of the GL2.

I didn't know you could deinterlce 60i to 24p. I don't have vegas, i have premier pro, and don't know if oyu can do it on that or not.
 
You can do it with Magic Bullet in After Effects, although it's rather pricey. Magic Bullet Editor for Premiere Pro will allow you to mimic the look, but not 24p.
 
Whatever you deciede Robot, if you buy the DVX don't hesitate for a second to buy Barry's book. Any and all information you need to know will be in there.
The fact that he made a book for the DVX alone (along with some tidbits in the intro) confirmed that buying my DVX was the right decision.
 
robotriderdh said:
I shoot weddings, documentaries and short films. I basically am looking for something to make a more professional looking product.
Click to expand...

Those two sentences seemed most important to me, Id grab a DVX if I was you.
 
Exactly What I was thinking ncje,It seems to me Robot's mind is made up, he just needs the foundation to harden.
And hey, if you get one right away maybe you could beat out Michael Mann from doing Miami Vice 2... because i gotta say part one made me want to O.D.
 
hahahah, no kidding. was that shot partly with the DVX or HVX? i saw bits of it a few days ago, while checking out other films in the theatre, and noticed a lot of grain in many shots in the opening scene (i saw very little of it). I thought click was actually quite good, considering that it was adam sandler and all...
 
yeah, sandler's got his moments, Punch drunk love and stuff like that. I'll tell you about miami vice though, there was more visual noise than audio noise (and that is saying something of a movie of this type). PLot was lacking, yet it was stylish. Sometimes too much so. The gun fight scenes are remenicent of Heat, but both actors dont come close to Deniro and Pacino. But hey, besides all that, this and any movie has got to be better than Olver Stone's World Trade Center.... Sorry, but I fu@#%ing hate people trying to cash in on that tragedy. United 93 was completely different, World Trade Center filmed on location at the santa monica promanade and featuring Scarface & Fat Joe is beyond my pardon.
 
No, I know what you mean. Also, it seems that bringing that tragedy up time and time again only makes it harder for the families of those affected to cope. A family I know lost the mother to breast cancer and their town keeps making dedicational events for the family. I was talking to one of the children, and he said that he hates the events with an deep passion, because he finally learns to cope with the loss, and it comes back again. In another note, click actually was good, and incredibly engrossing, I found myself completely consumed by that movie, and didn't even notice it until the movie ended.
 
robotriderdh said:
I thought click was actually quite good, considering that it was adam sandler and all...
Click to expand...

yea, it was pretty awesome, for some reason it reminds me of bi centenial man.
Also, for some reason i think i wouldve liked the movie to have ended at his death... sorry, i'm a hemingway fan.
 
Yeah sorry I was slo on the uptake. Would definately hold of for the moment. But still when all is said and done you will need an extra $1000 USD in your wallet to grab it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top