DVX Reliability?

kenackr

kenackr

Well-known member
I've been working up to buying a new DVX100B for quite awhile and finally have the cash to do it.

I don't have a lot of camcorder experience but have had less than happy experiences with some lower end Sony's (120's) that the local community TV station has lent me to use with the thought that I would produce some 30 minute local interest programs for them. It should be said that they loan these out to just about anyone who walks thru the door and signs up as a member.

I realize that these cams get the worst abuse you can imagine as loaners.

I had to run a cleaner tape between every daily use, because I'd get an error message that would say "heads need cleaning" and the whole thing would be real grainy. etc. It also didn't stay in timecode, eventhough I "black" recorded new master Sony tape. I was less than thrilled and essentially stopped the project because of it. I was also getting a lot of pixilating on slow pans and the #@&** Zoom was SOOOO jumpy that it was almost impossible to get a smooth one. ( Yeah, I know the sticks they gave me were crap but it seemed like every time I got near the camera (on the tripod) it would shake (no OIS).

I also realize that there is going to be a world of difference between a $3K camera and the cheap Sony in terms of quality, But I don't want to spend $3K if I'm I'm going to have to go thru problem after problem.

I'm convinced the 100B has the features I want & will use and I'm also convinced that I don't need or want HD or 16:9 at this point.

So what I'd like to hear from you is: how has YOUR DVX reliability been (especially those who have the B)? I'm not asking you to bash Panny - but I really want to know if I'm going to have buyer's remorse because of operating problems.

A great deal of shooting will be outside in the California sun (and heat - seems like way too many mid 90's and triple digits) and I do intend to get a matte box, and a variety of good filters, etc. One aspect that has me concerned is that on outside panoramas will I come up wanting for more zoom?. The Sony's I used were suppose to be 20x 0ptical and some times I felt constrained even by that, so does a 2X adapter work well without a lot of artifacts? But I will also be doing a lot of shots from 15 feet or less for interviews and training videos, etc. I'm thinking the B would be good becuse it can be remote zoomed and focused AND if I ever get to a 2 camera rig, the remote camera setting capability might be quite handy.

I'm thinking about going to EVS (because I'm in California) so I won't have to send it across country if it breaks - or is that not an issue (meaning does it not go back to the seller when there's a problem)?

I heard at one time there was a guy at EVS who gave DVX users a discount, anyone know if that still happens?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ken :)
 
EVS does give discounts. You may not want to buy it there because you'll have to pay tax, which will be a lot.

When it breaks, your camera goes back to Panasonic, so it does not matter.
 
I've had my DVX for a couple of years. First used it for three years on mostly indoors stuff in alaska, but I had shuttled it around in my trunk in freezing temps. I made the mistake of re-using tapes when I first started using (I was pretty clueless.)
I don't do that stuff anymore, however.

All in all, no problems, about 150 hours on the heads (I use the DVX as a deck too, which probably isn't a good idea.) I don't want to use head-cleaner because I hear a lot of bad stuff about it here on the forums. I don't really get much artifiacting (every now and then when I use a TDK tape the first few seconds may have some artifacts.)

I also seem to get a lot of timecode breaks, but it doesn't seem to effect picture quality at all, just makes it tricky sometimes when I capture footage (I turn off all of the crap that warns me and stops capture.) Still the camera is brinking on 5 years of use, and its still damn rock solid. Sometimes I expect something to go wrong, but it hasn't happened yet, but I take good care of it now.

A camera repair shop damaged my anamorphic lense- but thats another topic altogether.

So... no remorse. Except for my damaged anamorphic lense (not panasonic's fault, but the idiots at the repair shop.)

My advice - buy it.
 
ballplaya,

Thanks for the tip!

Since that's the case, Should I just go for the lowest price from an authorized dealer (who's going to give me the stuff that's supposed to come with it) ? I've heard everyone say B&H is great and I've the Able Cine gives DVX users discounts. Any other thoughts?

Ken
 
Redcap,

Thanks for the reply, it's good to hear that you've had no problems.

Have you had any use with a 2x doubler on it?

Ken
 
Well I think you pay tax on the DVX if you live in the same state as the reseller. I'd look for an authorized dealer not located in Cali.

All of the authorized dealers are going to be great to work with, but the ones that get the best praise around here are B&H, Abel Cine, and EVS.

Happy shopping.
 
Reusing tapes is a bad thing?!??????

just checking cause i do that all the time with my wedding tapes.....
im a cheapo. and cut cost on buying new tapes.
 
kenackr...

I bought mine in february of '03 and sad to say it's been dropped (not by me) and survived. lost my anamorphic though...anyway i bought mine through a company in albuquerque. they're the only authorized dealer in my area...however just to give a little ribbing...you're asking about the reliability of the dvx on a dvx forum where you're bound to get praise and i doubt anyone here is going to bash panasonic. now ask about the XL-1, XL-2 and you'll get differing opinions. :) however your scenario sounds like a video store...the more people rent out a movie, the more wear and tear, but if it's something you bought and kept care of then it will alst a lot longer. so if you had bought one of those sony cams brand new then you'd have better results because it's yours. which goes to any camera heck anything, but yes getting the DVX will be a good purchase - rebate or not.

skywalkerG...

re-using tapes is a bad thing...but if you erase them then record that would work better than rerecording over existing footage.

redcap...

Still the camera is brinking on 5 years of use, and its still damn rock solid.
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wasn't the camera released in october of '02??? did you get some kinda pre-release that we don't know about or is that some kind of special math that you are doing or wait...there was a rip in the space time continuum :grin:
 
sorry to continue on this : but recording over footage, is that bad thing for the camera and heads or just for the footage with drop outs and picture quality?
 
It's bad for the footage because dropouts are more likely. You also run the risk of tape particles flaking off and clogging your heads. I'd advise against doing it.
 
At EVS if you buy it under a DBA you get like 50% less tax, i was able to buy a glidecam with the tax i saved on my trip to the shop when i bought all my stuff.

bballplaya283 said:
EVS does give discounts. You may not want to buy it there because you'll have to pay tax, which will be a lot.

When it breaks, your camera goes back to Panasonic, so it does not matter.
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Web Dog,

I'm completely unaware of that.

I always thought the only only time the retail or wholsale seller wasn't required by the state to collect tax, was if you (the buyer) were also a reseller with a tax number.

I always thought they were required to put your tax ID on file to prove to any state auditorn that sales to you were untaxed. At least when I owned a music store, those were the rules I was required to play by.

Do you remember if they asked you to see your business license or tax ID number?

Ken
 
There's a form you fill out there. California gives a huge sales tax break on equipment that's used in the film/video production industry, it brings the sales tax down to 3% IIRC.
 
kenackr said:
I'm thinking about going to EVS (because I'm in California)
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I bought mine from EVS. I think Abel is the current official DVXuser choice but I think EVS is still a good company.

Jarred Land said:
EVS isn't our partner anymore.. But Abel Cine can take care of you, They have Cartoni, Panther and all the Manus. Plus they give a DVXuser member discount.
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Barry_Green said:
There's a form you fill out there. California gives a huge sales tax break on equipment that's used in the film/video production industry, it brings the sales tax down to 3% IIRC.
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It's always nice when they give us a break. Here in Texas we have a form and break also. If the equiptment is to be used in Texas Production it is tax free.
 
Barry & Webdog,

Thanks! I had no clue.

In general, I really like to buy locally and form a relationship because it seems like you have a little more "protection" when you can bring it back to "Jerry" if it breaks or has a problem. It seems to like it's too easy for someone who's never seen you and is 3,000 miles away to just say "no" or not really work the "golden rule".

So here's the question now: Considering it's a 10 hour drive for me to LA (meaning EVS) , I'm probably not going to be driving there anyhow. So does it really make a difference (other than transit time for shipping) if Abel Cine had a better deal and I were to go with them?

Ken
 
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