AG-DVX200 4K Large-Sensor Handheld Camcorder

pancam said:
http://idxtek.com/press-room/more-power-for-your-ag-dvx200/
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There are a few things that just scream at me about this... the first is simply IDX batteries for the DVX, the X1000, and PX270. And cheaper than the OEM batteries.

The second is the battery has a built in d-tap (their new C-XTAP) type connection. Sweet... that much less stuff to try and rig and less weight if you rig monitors or recorders to any of these cameras.

Now this is where it gets really interesting to me... The official listing says "AJ-PX series camcorders". When I tried to find the OEM Panasonic batteries on B&H, I found this listing for a Swit battery that states it's for the AJ-PX270, AJ-PX285, and AJ-PX295 handheld camcorders.

Did I miss something? What in holy flying Fahrvergnügen is the PX285 and PX295? Did a pair of battery manufacturers just unwittingly out some new cameras, because I can't find a reference to them anywhere using a Google or Bing search (other than the affore mentioned batteries).
 
Hello All
I follow this Thread all the pages long. A big issue for most members is noise. I'm not an owner now, but want to buy a DVX200. But beforehand and not make the same wrongs (I use a AC130A, bought because I'm not need the Cranking function and at time of purchase Panasonic speaks about brother cam's AG160 - AG130. But only the 160 get the 50p upgrade. Both Cam's are from hardware side same. So the Pana decission is just marketing!!!). That's why I'm getting now as much information as possibel. I hope Barry can answer the questions:
A) Why is the izoom limited to approx. x1,5? There are so many sensor scanning modes and pixels. So a x2 izoom should be possible. Like Sony can do it. What is the exact limit to x1,5?
B) A German testhouse has made some measurements and found that the resolution in 4K and UHD is excellent. But in FHD it is limited to 700 and 800 linepairs. FHD limit is 960. A €800,-- consumer Cam (X929) from Panasonic is doing a better job with 850 linepairs. Why? What is the real limit?
C) 10Bit 4:2:2 for external recording is not possible for UHD/50p, correct?
D) Any remote control (except wired like Varizoom,ect.) is not possible, correct? (This is very helpful if the Cam is on a tripod as a 2nd Cam for a dancing video or wedding, to start/stop recording)

I have'nt found for those questions any answer in this very (259pages) thread. Hopefully someone of the community can help.
Thank you!
 
Better

Better

Richard Speedie said:
So...I think the DVX200 will be the go to outdoor summer camera...but it's a bloody expensive solution for that. I'm €6000 in the hole so far and trying to make excuses.
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So, I had a pretty bumpy ride with the DVX200 on my first gig with it mainly using it inside at a wedding and finding the noise unacceptable whilst shooting 8 bit V Log. Solution - put the work in, open the eyes, read these boards, read Barry's book, twice and I did a lot of practice with the camera shooting in my living room in various low light conditions.

I used the camera yesterday at a wedding. I had a mishap and left my brand new Ninja Assassin at home so I had to shot 8 bit. I used Saltflyer's Scene file, with a small modification bringing the master detail down by 5 notches and the knee set to off. I shot in High Sensitivity mode at UHD 50p, mainly because a good number of the shots will be slowed down. The brides I work for are suckers for slow mo. I constantly checked by scope for exposure and over-exposed by 1 to 2 stops as often as I could. So the results are very good. I'm very happy. I think the key here is with the DVX200 is that you need to put in the hard yards to get it to work. I also accept that certain scenarios it's not perfect for. As was rightly pointed out, it's not a swiss army knife. I used my Blackmagic Cinema Camera with a Canon Prime 50mm 1.4 and a Rokinon 85mm 1.5 for when it got really dark. I realised, why the hell would I expect a 2.8 fixed lens camera to perform as well as that combo just because I spent €4000 on it? Thats ridiculous. So my bad for complaining. I think you get a scare when you take the chance on a new camera, and it doesn't perform well quickly, you get that sinking feeling of panic that you've just messed up big style. Well, I think the more I use it, the better it will get and I know out in the sunshine this summer doing 3 weddings a week, it will be a life saver. It will also be the first thing I pick up when the **** hits the fan and I need to get a money shot done in a hurry.

One negative is build quality. It got a very light rub as I took it out of the case and the power/record button came off. I haven't figured out how to get it back on yet but I'll tell you it's very very flimsy. Very thin plastic and very delicate. Watch out for that one.
 
That's good to hear Richard. Besides the original scene files not being what everyone was expecting now with Barry's scene files I think it's just a matter of getting out there with the DVX200 and getting used to it.

As you have done, I've spent a decent amount of time with my DVX200 in my living room. It hasn't helped that I have a few different temperature lights in a around the same area so getting colors correct have not necessarily been my main focus but maintaning proper exposure and quick acquisition of the various controls has been more of the exercise for me.

I expect to have a few very minor projects in the next couple of weeks that I can afford to not be at the top of my game with and just get rolling with the DVX200. That's when I think I'll finally get comfortable with the camera and maybe start and transition over to it from my Sony FX-1 which the DVX200 was purchased to replace.
 
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Things are looking pretty good Brad. The first time I watched it though I was immediately thinking that some of the highlights were blown out. After watching it a few more times I think you had such a mix of light to deal with that it may have been impossible to correct for that without compromising the exposure in the rest of the frame. 0:20 comes to mind when that guy stepped into the sunlight which I'm sure was much hotter than you were exposing for, definitely unavoidable.
 
Thanks mapper. You hit the nail right on the head. It was very tricky. I may switch to auto in a similar instance next time, but it takes so much away from what this camera can do. Without time to expose correctly though it may be my only option in those cases. Thanks for your input.
 
Brad Forman said:
Thanks mapper. You hit the nail right on the head. It was very tricky. I may switch to auto in a similar instance next time, but it takes so much away from what this camera can do. Without time to expose correctly though it may be my only option in those cases. Thanks for your input.
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I just loaded Barry's SCN3 in and looked at it. I see that Knee Mode is off. I'm wondering if turning Knee Mode on in that situation would have helped? I am by no means an expert with the DVX200 at this stage of the game but maybe compressing the highlights would give you better results? Just a thought.....
 
mapper65 said:
I just loaded Barry's SCN3 in and looked at it. I see that Knee Mode is off. I'm wondering if turning Knee Mode on in that situation would have helped? I am by no means an expert with the DVX200 at this stage of the game but maybe compressing the highlights would give you better results? Just a thought.....
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I may give that a test run and see how funky the skin tones get. So far, using the knee has hurt more than it's helped. I'll definitely give it a shot and report back.
 
Barry_Green said:
Yes, it ramps, pretty much every lens ramps.

In terms of brightness, the PX270 can be on par with the DVX200, but when a bit of gain enters the picture the DVX200 produces a far superior picture. In terms of image quality at a given low light level, the DVX200 wins easily in the comparisons I've done.
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Agreed.... having owned both cameras, the image quality of the 200 beats the hell out of the 270.
 
How do I connect HD TV thru SDI...what kind of cables do I need and converters for live board-cast shows on TV or on a projector... Please help me understand and necessary cables/adapters needed. Thank you.

Sudhakar Roy
 
Been shooting lots of hockey in small low-light venues. Barry's Scenes 1 and 4, 1080p60, high sensitivity, 9dB gain, f6, 1/100.

Except for the lack of manual focus refinement, I'm liking it.
 
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