Undecided camera purchase. Is DVX good for events?

TowerFan

TowerFan

Senior Member
Greetings All!

I'm undecided as to what camera I'm going to buy. I'm 95% sure it'll be a DVX100B (in part because of great resources like DVXUser) but I'd like some opinions on using it for events. I'm just a noob/hobbyist at this point. My main subject lately has been airshows. I'm using a Sony consumer cam and it's OK but I'd like something that looks good.

I know the 10x zoom isn't great for events, but how well do 2x telephoto converters work with zoom, focus, etc. on the DVX? Any quality loss or other issues I'm probably not aware of?

Also, I read somewhere that 24p isn't the best for moving objects. Any real world experience/tips that can be suggested?

Thanks in advance. :beer:
 
Events might be a bit of a weak spot for the DVX. It doesn't have the absolute top-notch low-light of a Sony VX/PD series camera (though it's close) for weddings,etc. , doesn't have the super long zoom, doesn't have the best form factor for handheld/shoulder mount.

It seems much more geared towards indie filmmaking. Might get the job done with the right accessories, but it's not really built specifically with your purpose in mind.
 
I made a lot of money shooting events on the DVX. It's extraordinarily well suited to event/convention shoots. Only thing it'd be missing for something like an air show would be some more telephoto reach.
 
I found it very suitable for shooting parades and outdoor stage events and street interviews and chasing roller-blading drag-nuns through crowds while flying it on a stabilizer oh lordy now I'm reliving that again


24p is trouble when you're recording a subject moving rapidly through the frame; more than a certain rate of movement and you'll get strobing which can be distracting and unpleasant. So for sports or stuff where your camera or subject movement or panning will be rapid, switch over to 60i for more smoothly-rendered motion.

All this kind of info and more is in the book and dvd that ship with the camera. And the guy who *wrote* the book, is always around here someplace watching us I can feel it
 
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Thanks all for your replies. OK, 60i for fast motion. Low lighting isn't a problem as I'll be outside (for the events anyway).

Thanks Barry for the reply. Panasonic has a rebate package that includes your book and I think it's really cool that they offer this with the camera.

Anyone have an opinion on the telephoto converters? Good, Bad, Ugly???

Thanks again all. :D
 
Telephoto converters aren't a strong point for the DVX. There are some super-crapola ones that get foisted onto unsuspecting users which are useless, and then there's one that actually does work (the Century/Schneider Optics 1.6x tele). The Schneider works, but it's a mild telephoto, only 1.6x magnification. And you can only use it in the upper half of the zoom range or it'll vignette and then porthole.
 
Thanks again Barry, and others. I think the pros of this cam far outweigh the con of a short zoom. I think I'll buy one and join the ranks of DVX users!

:dankk2:
 
I hope this helps, The DVX is great in the Full auto mode (set it for manual white balance) Let everything else go full auto. (Never thought I'd ever tell anyone to do this but the DVX will get you through) Be careful of the auto focus on infinity shots, while on the long end of the lens. Whatever you can do manually will assure quality, but in a pinch, let that beautiful piece of modern technology shine. Good luck and have fun!
 
I agree with Barry Green that the DVX is well suited to events, mabye moreso suited to event shoots than wedding shoots.
A well-known leader in wedding videography production house in my country use exclusively Sony PD170s & VX2100s. I asked them why they don't use the DVX102A cameras & the chief videographer told me that the DVX cameras suffer from overly blown out noise spikes esp. when the volume of a source nearby suddenly becomes loud. Like when a person nearby suddenly shouts. The audio in the DVX will spike to a high level. This chief videographer told me that the Sony cameras their wedding video company uses have better control of the audio volume & have some sort of limiter circuit that will reduce the noise if it suddenly gets too loud, or boost the noise louder if the source is too soft. I'm not sure if this is really true or not as I have not tried Sony cameras. They did try DVX102 cameras before, but due to the noise problem, they stuck with Sony cameras. Barry, any comments on this? I have posted a similar thread about this at : http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=75461
 
In my opinion, I don't think that filming fast moving objects using 24p, or 24PA is an issue. Sure there will be some strobing when shooting fast moving objects. But you can make it not so obvious. For example, you're filming a subject sailing by fast on a skateboard from right to left. So, in 24P or 24PA, you make sure your camera is locked on & following the subject. This way, the subject, even though he's moving rapidly is actually in sharp focus & not strobing. The background may strobe, but most of the audience will be focused on what the subject is doing & will hardly notice the strobing background.

Even the top of the line flim cameras like the Panavision produce strobing effects when filming high-velocity subjects. It's just how you compose the shots to draw attention away from the strobing & unto the subject being filmed.
 
The DVX does have a limiter; perhaps they just didn't use it? But the Sony has automatic audio level control (boosting audio during quiet passages) and the DVX doesn't have that.
 
Hey all. Thanks again for the tips & info. I purchased a DVX on 12/1 which makes it eligible for the $500 rebate! Sweet! Found it online for $2800. Minus the $500 = $2300!!! For that price I'm willing to work with the minor cons of the cam.

Concerning 24p and fast motion. Keep in mind I'm a noob. Not sure what strobing looks like. Is it kinda like motion blur? Would a faster shutter speed help? I'd really like to use the 24p for airshows, but not bent on it. 60i mode looks good too. I also read somewhere that the autofocus on the 100A is really slow in 24p. Think I'll need to learn how to focus manually or has the focus speed been improved in the 100B model?

BTW - Any tips/tricks/pitfalls working with Avid and the DVX? I use Avid Express Pro HD.
 
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strobing means that when you pan the camera from side to side, or up to down, you will see in your camcorder's viewfinder & flip-out LCD screen that the motion of the video would look somewhat jerky. But when you render it to DVD, the strobing will no longer be visible. It only happens during shooting. Yes, the autofocus on the 100A in 24p is very slow. I usually manually focus in 24p. Not sure if the auto focus feature in the 100B has been improved on.
 
Not at all. Sunshine Electronics in New York. Found them on eBay. I did a lot of research on them before buying and I'm confident that it is legitimate. Very good feedback on the eBay store site. We'll see if it's truly a USA model in the factory packaging. My delivery tracking says I'll have it on Monday so I'll report back.

The price was $2848.00, and it comes as a package with various cases, lenses, tapes, etc. I'm sure the accessories aren't top shelf, but just the camera is worth the price.

When I ordered they, of course, pushed the extended warranty really hard, tried to upsell me on the included accessories, and I think they lied about the included battery to get me to buy another one. Said the included battery is only a half-hour model, but I've read in numerous places, here included, that the 100b now comes with a 5600 battery.

We'll see, stay tuned.
 
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Not an authorized dealer, and they're based in Brooklyn, so -- good luck, let us know how it turns out, but don't be surprised if it's gray market and the rebate is not honored.
 
OK, I'll cross my fingers. Thanks.

BTW - How does one determine if it's authorized for the rebate or not? If it is grey market, should I be concerned about the product I receive?
 
D'OH!!! Grey market all the way. Add one more idiot to the list.

Barry, add Sunshine Electronics, New York, to the un-auth list. Also, move to Auth - Non-Auth thread if you like. Called Pany with the serial number, definately grey market.

Apologies to the authorized vendors I didn't shop from. I'll rationalize my purchase as follows, feel free to kick me in the shins:

Auth prices are around $3300 - $500 = $2800. I paid 2848, a wash there.

No US Warranty(?) - If the camera functions for the limited warr term, and I trust Pany for a quality prod, then I'd have to pay to repair it anyways. Just a noob hobbyist so probably won't do anything brutal to it. For now. I didn't purchase the seller's extended warr. Mistake?

No Magic Bullet or Instant HD software - Oh well.

No DVX Book - D'OH!! This is the one thing I feel bad about. Really wanted the book. Barry, I'm going to buy it anyway ASAP.

On the plus side - the box was unopened and came with all factory accesories, including the 5600mAh battery.

Hope my bad purchase will not make me any enimies on this forum. Will undoubtedy post with questions, and I hope a bad start won't black ball me.
 
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