Buy another DVX or go HD?

Jon Neely said:
If you want super low light capabilities, the EX1 with its 1/2'' sensors are quite amazing.
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But still not up to par with a DVX. A DVX is 1280 ISO in interlaced, and the EX1 is 800, so the DVX is still a half-stop faster.

However, the EX1 is quite good with noise performance, so you could probably easily go to 3dB of gain and get that extra half stop of performance. For a lower-cost HD camcorder the EX1 is the only one that can get in the ballpark of a DVX for low light performance. But now we're talking about something that's nearly 3x the price, so does that still fit into your plan? Plus, if shooting weddings with their flash photography, you'd have to be sure that you're okay with the rolling shutter issues.
 
mcp said:
When you live in Toledo, OH, you don't get the luxury of trying them out. I've read mixed reviews of the XH-A1's low light abilities. Can anyone vouch for it?
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Hey! I was born in Toledo! Bowling Green's where all of my family lives. =B

XH-A1 is a really great HDV camera. I've had the chance to play with it a few times and I love it. I really wish that it was tapeless, but tape might not bother you.

Keep your eye out in the Marketplace, you can get a used one pretty cheap! I've seen two right here on DVXuser for about 2600 - 2800.
 
Hey Berry, all I hear about is how great the Pd170's are with light, what makes them so great? I used to film with one a few years back for weddings and I liked it a lot. It seems to have a much less noisy images compared to the DVX100b I have. Im just curious. But that is good to know about the EX1, but how do they compare when they are shooting progressive? like the EX1 at 720/24p and the Dvx at 480/24p?


Jon
 
O.K. Guys, I bought the HVX200 in the market place this morning... It'll be sometime before I receive it. So it looks like I'm going to be spending my time over in the HVX Threads...

It is coming with a 4gig P2 card... I'm going to have to figure out what is the ideal storage FS100 or P2 Cards.

Yes, I have used the search function for "Wedding" in the HVX200 Section... some pros and some cons to shooting with the HVX at a wedding however, I'll
make it happen... I mean come on, its an HVX... If you guys only knew how much I've wanted one... God Bless, RED, HPX, EX1... I knew this would be the only way I could afford to get one...

Do you guys think it would be better if I held on to my DVX100b and shoot weddings with that instead of using the DVCPRO features of the HVX or even the SD feature? Im I going to recognize that much light loss?

Barry, I recently got a Nikon D80 and couln't understand why I couldn't take a picture without using the flash. Everything was just so blurry, until I realized that I could change my ISO Settings on the camera along with shutter speed in order to achieve the right shot... I guess what I'm saying is I understand what the ISO Sensitivity means to a camera. I'm now curious to know what ISO Standard the HVX is?

and Barry, Thanks a Million... you're the best...
 
Jon Neely said:
Hey Berry, all I hear about is how great the Pd170's are with light, what makes them so great?
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They have the same basic sensitivity as the DVX, but Sony has really learned to control grain/noise.

but how do they compare when they are shooting progressive? like the EX1 at 720/24p and the Dvx at 480/24p?
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They're pretty close at that point, the EX1 in 720p is about 500 ISO and the DVX is about 640.
 
Thanks Berry for that greatly need info. That is good to know. It looks like I will be waiting for NAB before I do any Camera purchasing myself. he HMC and the Scarlet look like something I should wait for. The DVX is plenty for me right now anyways.


Jon
 
Barry_Green said:
But still not up to par with a DVX. A DVX is 1280 ISO in interlaced, and the EX1 is 800, so the DVX is still a half-stop faster.

However, the EX1 is quite good with noise performance, so you could probably easily go to 3dB of gain and get that extra half stop of performance. For a lower-cost HD camcorder the EX1 is the only one that can get in the ballpark of a DVX for low light performance. But now we're talking about something that's nearly 3x the price, so does that still fit into your plan? Plus, if shooting weddings with their flash photography, you'd have to be sure that you're okay with the rolling shutter issues.
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The EX1 is probably more than I want to spend.

Could you explain what rolling shutter is?

Kholl, I also live in BG!
 
if you get an HVX and can't go for the p2 card now, the hvx would still be a good investment. you can still shoot on panasonic mini dv tapes until you can get a p2. and it can just be nicer to have a tapeless solution even if you are still shooting SD.
 
Barry_Green said:
YES.


In progressive mode the DVX needs half as much light as the HVX. In interlaced mode it needs 1/4 as much light.


320, unless you're using Cine-D camera at which point it's about 250.
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Thank you for answering my questions Barry.
 
I have two XHA1's and love them. I beat the crap out of one on a shoot in China and it didn't flinch. I don't really do too much in low light stuff but have had descent results using the gain. As far as delivery in HD goes, with BluRay winning out I would imagine things are going to progress rather quickly into more mainstream HD usage. One thing I do now is to include an Apple TV for my clients. I don't do weddings, mostly corporate stuff and everyone has LOVED the results. The Atv has 1/2 the resolution of full HD (960x540) but looks great on a HD television. You can even load some photos into the Atv and have that be the screen saver or make a simple slide show. Your clients will love it. If Apple could only have a repeat function for videos...

I also have a PD and a DVX and prefer the PD. Nothing SD comes close in low light to a PD170. I like the DVX, good picture quality, and it has some great features but it has spent an exorbbinnate amount of time in the shop. Currently it is a very expensive paperweight because of a discontinued PC board. Parts availability is becoming an issue with the DVX so just be aware of that. A friend of mine uses PD170s for weddings and loves them. He shoots all his weddings at 1/30 shutter and they look fantastic!!! IMO just about as good as the DVX 24p and you get the durability and low light capabilities of the PD.
 
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