Buy DVX 100 B or continue using T2I or something else?

Vox

Vox

New member
I have always wanted the DVX100B prior to HD becoming the thing, but ended up buying a Canon T2I. It does have beautiful images, especially in low light, but it's a pain in other ways. I mostly shoot interviews and wouldn't mind turing a few of them into a half hour documentary. I am by no means a professional or even an intermediate film maker at this point. I am pretty good at telling a story and getting folks to open up in the field I am in. What I have found with the Canon is carrying around a H4n and such to get the sound is a pain. From what I have read you can get good image quality and great audio using the DVX100B which would make it much more natural to do the interviews and without having to deal with multiple items to sync.

I saw the sale price on the DVX on B and H at $1995.00 an figured with the popularity of this camera even in Standard Definition. I have seen where some feel this camera is simply outdated and not worth the price and etc. Problem is, the other prosumer HD stuff seems so expensive and some don't have near the same amount of good reviews as the DVX. I thought about the HV40 which a friend has and loves, but I have seen him going through quite a bit of fumbling with the smallish camera to get it to produce. I priced setting up the DSLR into a rig, but it's really expensive and again..I think much of it looks clunky.

I'm sorry if this has already been answered somewhere else on this board, but if it's not too much trouble is would be nice if some of you who are more knowledgable could point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.

This is also my first post here.
 
You must decide for yourself whether or not this is a hobby which you plan on heavily investing in. Many will argue that the dvx100b is still viable and worthwhile, but I personally could not recommend investing in SD at this point. Your T2i is a highly capable machine even with it's drawbacks. If I were in your shoes I would look over my immediate priorities(consider decent lighting) instead of something that is really manageable in the grand scheme of things. If you do decide to buy a 'real' video camera look at other options as well and READ READ READ from this vastly knowledgable forum.

Good luck regardless :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
 
Zxander34 said:
You must decide for yourself whether or not this is a hobby which you plan on heavily investing in. Many will argue that the dvx100b is still viable and worthwhile, but I personally could not recommend investing in SD at this point. Your T2i is a highly capable machine even with it's drawbacks. If I were in your shoes I would look over my immediate priorities(consider decent lighting) instead of something that is really manageable in the grand scheme of things. If you do decide to buy a 'real' video camera look at other options as well and READ READ READ from this vastly knowledgable forum.

Good luck regardless :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm still looking into outfitting the T2I or possibly biting the bullet and spend the extra money and buying an HD. Already checking into some good lighting. Trying to find it as portable as possible as the interviews I do are controlled but are also usually on location. I probably need a couple of extra folk to do it right, but have been winging it alone mostly. So in your view. SD and the old DVX100 B have really seen better days?
Thanks
V
 
In my opinion, if you are a freelancer, investing in SD is just money down the drain. The boat has pretty much sailed on that one, and there are affordable HD cameras now, so the DVX, while a fantastic camera, just has no place in a modern kit. Even though a lot of clients end up just going to web or DVD, they will demand HD cameras no matter how much you try to educate them. It's not worth the headache.

An oldtimer gave me some good advice a while back that I am going to keep in mind for my next camera purchase. "Buy what everyone is buying, because it almost guarentees you'll make your money back." He has a 5DmII, a camera that as an electrician I really don't care for, but he made a lot of money off of it because that's what producers wanted. Not because it was the best, but because of all the hype and marketing that sold a whole section of the industry on these tiny cameras that were cheap as all hell.

Now if you are just doing personal stuff my advice would be just to get what you like. The DVX is limited compared to the options you have these days and if your primary footage is interviews you can do better with less. Like the GH2 or 60D. Used HMC-150s are probably going really cheap nowadays with the new AC1XX cameras coming out next month or so, and that camera is like an HD DVX. I like it alot.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Vox said:
So in your view. SD and the old DVX100 B have really seen better days?
Thanks
V
Click to expand...

I don't know how much you've checked out the stickies on the canon APS-C thread but by doing so you'll learn sooo very much.

Also do you have Magic Lantern installed? If you don't I highly recommend doing it and quickly!
 
Zxander34 said:
I don't know how much you've checked out the stickies on the canon APS-C thread but by doing so you'll learn sooo very much.

Also do you have Magic Lantern installed? If you don't I highly recommend doing it and quickly!
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
Mister Stocks said:
In my opinion, if you are a freelancer, investing in SD is just money down the drain. The boat has pretty much sailed on that one, and there are affordable HD cameras now, so the DVX, while a fantastic camera, just has no place in a modern kit. Even though a lot of clients end up just going to web or DVD, they will demand HD cameras no matter how much you try to educate them. It's not worth the headache.

An oldtimer gave me some good advice a while back that I am going to keep in mind for my next camera purchase. "Buy what everyone is buying, because it almost guarentees you'll make your money back." He has a 5DmII, a camera that as an electrician I really don't care for, but he made a lot of money off of it because that's what producers wanted. Not because it was the best, but because of all the hype and marketing that sold a whole section of the industry on these tiny cameras that were cheap as all hell.

Now if you are just doing personal stuff my advice would be just to get what you like. The DVX is limited compared to the options you have these days and if your primary footage is interviews you can do better with less. Like the GH2 or 60D. Used HMC-150s are probably going really cheap nowadays with the new AC1XX cameras coming out next month or so, and that camera is like an HD DVX. I like it alot.

Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice. I will look into your suggestions. I can't find anything online about the AC1XX cameras?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top