Should I buy the dvx100?

P

pickle900

New member
Before I buy a dvx100(A)(B), I want to know how well my previous camera (Canon Hv20) has prepared me for all of the amazing features this camera has. In case you don't know, the Hv20 allows manual control over exposure, shutter speed, aperture, focus, white balance, and audio levels, and(obviously) zoom. It also has a backlight button, and the ability to set a custom image effect (ex: turn brightness down, exposure up, color depth down, etc), and a 24p capture mode, which is pretty good for a consumer hand-held camera. I have mastered(to my knowledge) every of the features I mentioned.

I won't get it yet, but probably in the summer, if I save up enough. I just wanted someone who owns this camera to tell me either there are still many more features I need to understand, or that I have a good understanding of the basics. Also consider that I will probably have at least a month to practice using any features I don't know anything about, and from there I can continue to learn from future videos. Thanks for your input. To be honest, even if I still have a long way to go, I'll probably end up getting it anyway.

In the case that anyone cares, I want to go from high definition back to standard definition because my videos will be viewed online, where not only half of the audience doesn't have a fast enough computer to watch the footage, but I don't have the patience to upload high definition footage at about 12kb/sec (sometimes the internet is faster, but most of the time it takes forever to upload footage). Another reason that is obvious is, of course, more professional looking footage (if I learn to use it correctly).
 
Yeah , I think you should go ahead and get a 100b , you would probably be pretty comfortable with it considering the features your old camera had.
The 100b is a great camera!
 
Well, first of all, the DVX is an AMAZING camera. Its got almost everything I ever expected from it. BUT, coming from the HV20, you may feel a little let down by its resolution. Also, its days have been numbered, as it is being replaced this fall by the HMC-150, essentially an HD version of the DVX100. It will still kick some major arse, but at this point I'd just wait until you can afford a better HD camera, especially if your waiting till summer anyway.
 
dory_breaux said:
Well, first of all, the DVX is an AMAZING camera. Its got almost everything I ever expected from it. BUT, coming from the HV20, you may feel a little let down by its resolution. Also, its days have been numbered, as it is being replaced this fall by the HMC-150, essentially an HD version of the DVX100. It will still kick some major arse, but at this point I'd just wait until you can afford a better HD camera, especially if your waiting till summer anyway.
Click to expand...

I will certainly look into the HMC-150, and I'll put off buying the dvx100 until October, which is when I think it comes out, and maybe later so I can see some reviews online. I may still end up going with the dvx100 either because it will probably be cheaper by then, or because (based on my knowledge) high definition cameras are more grainy in dark places, such as outdoors in the dark, and the dvx100b in particular has probably had the second best poorly lit image quality out of any camera I've ever seen, the first best being the sony DCR-VX2100.

Another reason I like the Dvx100 is that I really don't think HD is necessary, although I have to admit, after watching the HD footage from my HV20, maybe I'll end up wanting HD. Does the HMC-150 record to P2 cards? I hope not, because that was the reason I didn't want the HVX200.

-Bryan

P.S. Isn't there an accessory that makes the dvx HD (http://www.reel-stream.com/andromeda_features.php)? This way I don't need to worry about SD becoming obsolete, as I can upgrade my camera whenever I want!
 
dory_breaux said:
I dont think so.

Pickle900, you may also want to look into the Scarlet from RED...
Click to expand...

I hear what you're saying, but honestly I don't think anyone should be holding out for Scarlet at this point. It's at least a year out- with the way things go at Red, maybe way longer.

If you need to buy a camera in the next couple months, don't bother thinking about Scarlet.

The DVX is still a great camera. Always will be. HD doesn't change that. I'd try to find a used one for $1500 and shoot with it until the plastic rots away. :thumbsup:
 
Check the for sale boards on here. I just bought a DVX with extras from Monster for 1600 bucks, and its in perfect condition. Seriously you wont regret it. I sold my Canon Xh-a1 to go to the 100b. HDV put added stresses on editing and frankly I personally don't think it's worth it for 1080i. Buy a dvx and even when the new hd cams come out, you can still use the dvx for web vids, commercial uses etc. The average person will be satisfied with the image the DVX produces and will be for along time to come.

My 2 cents,
 
zergtherobot said:
Check the for sale boards on here. I just bought a DVX with extras from Monster for 1600 bucks, and its in perfect condition. Seriously you wont regret it. I sold my Canon Xh-a1 to go to the 100b. HDV put added stresses on editing and frankly I personally don't think it's worth it for 1080i. Buy a dvx and even when the new hd cams come out, you can still use the dvx for web vids, commercial uses etc. The average person will be satisfied with the image the DVX produces and will be for along time to come.

My 2 cents,
Click to expand...

+1 Exactly why I just bought a used 100b. We can book the shoot and edit at the same time- taking a MBP for the edit to the client and knowing it will go smoothly- keeping costs down for the client and making us look good. I'm still putting a deposit down on a 170- but that will be for a different class of projects. A $1600 DVX is gonna pay itself off several times over before the 170 even comes out. I think it's a sound investment. The 100b is pretty much the most mature MiniDV SD system out there, and for that kinds of money it's a steal.
 
"If you need to buy a camera in the next couple months, don't bother thinking about Scarlet."

I'm probably going to wait longer than a couple of months, but I just wanted to know what people's opinions were. I actually plan on buying it next year (unless I manage to raise the money for this one over the summer, but that's unlikely, as minimum wage takes a pretty long time to get into the thousands). I asked now because I had this crazy thought that in a year, with the massive outbreak in HD camcorders, people's opinions might be a little different.

"Buy a dvx and even when the new hd cams come out, you can still use the dvx for web vids, commercial uses etc."

I will definately get the dvx100b, as the footage I've seen amazed me way more than any HD footage I've ever seen, excluding movies in theaters. Actually, it did amaze me more than movies in theaters, because I realized that I could have it if I saved for awhile.
 
If you don't want HD, I can't imagine a better choice than the DVX. And, even if you ugrade back to HD at some point, it makes a great B camera.
 
bluntforcetrauma said:
I may be mistaken but doesn't the hv20 shoot SD also. You don't have to shoot HD? right?
Click to expand...

You're right, there is an SD mode, but it doesn't allow 24p, like the HD mode does. I wanted the dvx100 because I want to learn more more manual controls, which the hv20 doesn't have (although it does have alot for it's price).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top