DVX100.... how future proof is it?

G

GRIMWORX

Well-known member
Hey guys

Ive been making short films for a while now, just a few independant things and alot of projects on my university course. Ive done the mjaority of this on the Sony Z1. Ive decided to take the plunge and buy my own camera, which will be primarily used for shooting music videos for bands.

Ive got a budget of around £3k. Its possible to dip into other funds, but i really would prefer not - unless its neccessary.

My basic question is this - with HD growing at such a rapid rate, should I take the plunge and get a HD cam (HDV or possibly the hVX201!) orwith a DVX100 do everything I need. The plan is to buy a camera which is going to be'good enough' to last a good few years. I dont want the market to move from under my feet leaving me with a camera that just dosnt cut it.

I have the oppurtunity to get a DVX100 (with less than 40 hours on the clock) second hand from a guy I know, with a decent tripod for £1500. Ive seen lots of the music vids shot on DVX100's on this forum and think there are some great examples. I just dont want to blow my budget on a camera that within a couple of years will no longer cut it.

Any thoughts and opinions/advice greatly appreciated!
 
Top Gear switched to HD only this year. But widescreen SD has been commonplace for some time in Europe. So you want at least the camera that shoots widescreen SD. The DVX does not shoot widescreen DV video. AFAIK, the 100 cannot do it at all, the 100A has letterbox mode, the 100B has letterbox and squeeze mode.

I think that for a little more you can find a decent XH-A1, which shoots DV and HDV, interlaced and progressive, 4:3 and 16:9.
 
Cranky said:
Top Gear switched to HD only this year. But widescreen SD has been commonplace for some time in Europe. So you want at least the camera that shoots widescreen SD. The DVX does not shoot widescreen DV video. AFAIK, the 100 cannot do it at all, the 100A has letterbox mode, the 100B has letterbox and squeeze mode.

I think that for a little more you can find a decent XH-A1, which shoots DV and HDV, interlaced and progressive, 4:3 and 16:9.
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I should have stated its the DVX100BE. I dont know wether that makes any difference?

I wouldnt question it at all and just go out and drop the cash on a HD cam, but I see so many decent music vids shot with the DVX100 series. I must stress this will be mainly what im doing... but it would be nice to know if I move onto something else in the future the cam will still be good.

Ill look into the cam you suggested, thanks
 
It is the 100B, European. This is the latest and the best DVX. If you are sure that you don't need HD, then this is the one to go.
 
I worried about the HD issue. Everything is obsolete pretty quickly anymore. I quit worrying and got a DVX100B. It's not the right cam for everybody but it does what I need a camera to do. I wanted to make films. HD can look awesome but I've seen plenty of garbage shot on HD too. If you encounter bands that demand HD you might want to consider it. Otherwise get what you can afford and that with which you're comfortable. Success will enable you to move up in gear and if it takes longer you won't be in debt sitting on obsolete equipment.
 
Cranky said:
It is the 100B, European. This is the latest and the best DVX. If you are sure that you don't need HD, then this is the one to go.
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thats essentially the question I had come down to myself. My worries that give a few years time EVERYTHING will practically be HD. My videos will be gonig on the net, be depening on the success of the bands theres a decent chance some stuff can land on TV.

Just going HD would be great. But would cost alot more, and not leave me with readily available cash to get steadicam and tripod. (I have access to lights)

thanks guys keep it coming
 
You have to remember that prosumer HD is not real HD! To get that kind of quality you'd have to spend a good deal more. A DVX100B in squeeze mode can produce pretty good 16:9 pics that can be upconverted to HD if really necessary and look quite good enough.

(and BTW Cranky the DVX100A does have squeeze)
 
I duno how much the HMC150 is in Europe but u can also consider that. but since u are on a tight budget and thats AVCHD footage u may need to upgrade ur pc depending on what u have now. so thats a consideration. that said...the dvx in squeeze can look really good...and for a $100 more u can buy instant HD from Redgiant software to uprezz ur stuff. I would say the hvx/hpx is out fo the question for you due to p2 costs.

Here's an example of a fellow dvxusers vid. in squeeze mode.
http://vimeo.com/4437631

http://vimeo.com/6604004

the XA1's are good alsoand as cranky said shoots hd and sd
 
well i duno about the a model but the b model it depends on the display setting wheather it shows squeezed or not. if u setr the lcd dipslay to be 4:3 then it will be display squashed...u however get to see the underscanned image (full frame) which is good for framing for the net. if u set the lcd to widescreen it will show properly displayed in "squeeze mode" but show the overscanned image ( cuts off some of the frame)which is for tv. I keep mine on 4:3 so i can see the full frame cuz i have things going to net and tv.the squashed look doesnt bother me in the least.
if u shoot widescreen mode (overscanned) U may see a boom mic in the shot on ur pc when u edit, but not in the tv...this can easily be cropped i guess...but if i can avoid that i do.

Cranky said:
I stand corrected. The 100A has squeeze which looks squeezed on the LCD, the 100B has squeeze that can be made to look letterboxed on the LCD.

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/100b/
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The original 100 has letterbox.

Squeeze mode on a 100A or 100B isn't quite as sharp as native 16:9 chips, but it's close.
 
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