Buy A New TM300/700 or a used DVX100 for indoor low light shooting?

W

wheresgrant

New member
18 months ago I started filming shows and video promos for my band using a hand held Flip and an iMac/iMovie/FCE. I've since graduated to some higher end consumer gear... Canon HV40, Rode VideoMic for short export projects to the web. After alot of research and review reading I settled on HDV as a recording format and Canon's HV40 for it's excellent reviews, manual controls and great low light capture. It was a gamble.... I've been burned by purchases before only to find that the camera couldn't function well in low light settings. My research paid off and the HV40 has not only married well with my iMac/iMovie setup but it is pretty easy to use. However the DVX has been my dream camera for many years and I'm seeing quite a few in a great price range and wondering whether is worth it to invest in one versus the newer TM consumer cameras for low light capture. I've been planning for a while to purchase a 2nd to use as a backup and to take some strain off my primary camera with logging and transferring video. Of course tape is a real pain... and isn't easy to find (I can only buy miniDV tapes online these days).

I was about to order a refurbed TM700 through B&H refurb department when I spotted a DXV100a for sale locally for $800. It only has 164 hrs on the head and is in excellent condition. I've also spotted an agDVC30 for $850. Knowing a little about each I'm wondering how they compare to the HV40 and they would be a compliment?
 
Hmmm... not a single response? Maybe it would help if I posted some clips of the low light footage I've captured using my HV40.



Again... I understand that the DVX shoots 24P in SD. It's not really my intention to shoot in HD. In fact under the conditions I'm shooting in it's probably hampering my image. I'm just looking for some insight on how DVX will help me capture crisper low lit images vs the newer wave of consumer camcorders on the market TM700, TM300.
 
Richter Video Equipment said:
The dvx is a great cam. You can do better than that price on ebay. It is an SD cam so i would recommend getting a hpx170 if you can afford.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply. I'm really trying to keep my budget between $500-1000. I'm not making direct income off these videos (it's for marketing and promotional purposes) and additionally I have the same fear that most skateboarders or extreme sports enthusiasts share... I spend $2500 for a new camera and in 6 mo-1year it's toast. Dark nightclubs are just asking for instant depreciation on camera gear.

However I am intrigued by your suggestion. I originally would have looked at the HVX200. This seems to be a bit more middle of the road. The turn off for me is shooting to P2 cards. I'm pretty married to DVC... it's an affordable way for me to shoot and archieve... not that I need to archieve every moment I shoot, but with a P2 card I'm using AVCHD and that alone will affect my workflow. I know the TM700 is a Flash drive and I'd end up in an AVCHD format anyway, however it's only $700. The HPX is over $2700.

The other question I have is whether it makes sense for me to shoot band footage in HD. I'm finding even with the better lens of the HV40, CMOS capture and native 24P images still come across with artifacting, especially in everchanging stagelighting. I'm worndering if it makes sense to instead shoot in SD. Although it's a step back, it's less pixels to illuminate. The HV40 is pretty decent in low light, but I imagine the DVX is even better. I could shoot crowd and band footage using the DVX and shoot interviews and extremely well lit footage in HD with the HV40.

Thoughts?
 
The DVX is more sensitive and better in low light than many HD cams that cost more, including the original HVX. This is according to Barry Green. The HMC150 if I'm not mistaken ends up looking better in low light (all things considered) than the DVX. The TM700 is also not as sensitive as a DVX. If you want low light capability....the DVX has it.
 
For low light, nothing beats a DSLR. You can pick up a new T2i for $800 with a kit lens. Based on what you shoot, a small, lightweight camera like that would work best. You can spend a little more and get the new T3i, which also has an articulating screen and manual audio controls. Plus, you can spend just about $100 on a few good, fast SD cards for the camera. Another $80 for a 1TB external hard drive for backup, and you're good. The quality will certainly beat HDV and DV. Much better low light abilities, and the ability to have interchangeable lenses.
 
wheresgrant said:
However I am intrigued by your suggestion. I originally would have looked at the HVX200. This seems to be a bit more middle of the road. The turn off for me is shooting to P2 cards. I'm pretty married to DVC... it's an affordable way for me to shoot and archieve... not that I need to archieve every moment I shoot, but with a P2 card I'm using AVCHD and that alone will affect my workflow. I know the TM700 is a Flash drive and I'd end up in an AVCHD format anyway, however it's only $700. The HPX is over $2700.
Click to expand...

P2 is not AVCHD. P2 is DVCPROHD on the HVX/HPX, and AVC-INTRA on higher end cameras. Totally diffrent animal than AVCHD. It is a MUCH more robust codec that is used by almost every broadcast outlet and has 422 color space and up to 100mbps bitrate. AVCHD is 420 color and up to a 24mbps bitrate.

Also, with archiving, you will find that a large hard drive is now cheaper for archiving than the equivalent space in tape, and just think of digital on camera storage as a magazine, and archive to hard drive. Not to mention HDV tape really is not a good way to capture HD video.
 
andythefilmer said:
For low light, nothing beats a DSLR. You can pick up a new T2i for $800 with a kit lens. Based on what you shoot, a small, lightweight camera like that would work best. You can spend a little more and get the new T3i, which also has an articulating screen and manual audio controls. Plus, you can spend just about $100 on a few good, fast SD cards for the camera. Another $80 for a 1TB external hard drive for backup, and you're good. The quality will certainly beat HDV and DV. Much better low light abilities, and the ability to have interchangeable lenses.
Click to expand...

I've long thought of the DSLR route and I'm planning to add one to my arsenal (looking at the Lumix G2) but there are certain things that turn me off a bit for using one in this application. For one... I'm performing as I'm filming. Very often at the same time. Although the light weight of the DSLR might be an advantage, stabilizing, protecting and preventing damage on stage is probably going to be some concern. I've built a semi rugged stabilizing rig from a monopod, X-grip and it takes a few seconds to go from performing to getting a stable panning shot or focus on whatever I'm shooting.

DSC00191.JPG


It works in that regard the HV40 I'm using has enough 'heft' to allow me to balance shooting in one hand and performing in the other. Crazy I know. I just fear a DSLR will require greater care... sometime our shows can me like a combat zone... drinks spilling, sweat flying, bodies mashing. I went with the HV40 to start because I felt it could easily handle those elements... and it has flawlessly.
 
I started as a member (here) around 6 years ago with a new DVX100 . . . never regretted my purchase.
That one you described is in the ballpark, especially considering that it has reletively low hours on it.
From the 100 I went to the HVX200, then the HPX170, and now the AF-100.
I also have, and frequently use, a TM700.
You can get a new one (as they're being replaced by the 900) well within your budget.
Nice thing is you'll be shooting full HD if you decide to go that way.
It's just too easy (convenient) to shoot with the little TM700 . . .
It'll get you in and out of run and gun situations like a breeze--good choice for use in available light.
And . . . it's a camera that gives excellent results in fully automatic mode.
DSLR? Nah . . . I've got a Canon 60D, nice camera, can shoot some great video but I would never consider it for my primary (only) camera for video.
 
I don't think I know anyone who ever said they regret buying a dvx100 so you can't go wrong getting the DVX100.
I don't know much about the TM700 so won't say anything about it.
what ever you buy, good luck with your purchase!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top