DVX100 or 7D?

andythefilmer

andythefilmer

Veteran
Hi guys, so I own both of these cameras. I know their pluses and minuses, but I am getting ready to shoot my next documentary, and I am contemplating on which camera to use. This is basically choosing 16:9 SD or HD. I do not know what the future of the documentary will be, but all I know now is that it will be submitted to many film festivals. No commercial DVD Distribution, etc...

I think the MAJOR drawback of the 7D is the audio. I have a beachteck but the camera still has AGC. I don't want to deal with a two-sytem setup, so that is what is making me think that the DVX will be better. Now, I know now that this documentary will require very minimal low-light shooting, so the DVX won't suffer there. Other than that, I like shooting to CF vs. firestore, but I can hold WAYY more footage on the firestore...

Any other ideas?
 
well lets break it down.

HD vs SD; thats entirely your call; depends how you use it and what you would do with it
Workflow; which are you set up for or familiar with?
CCD vs CMOS; can you afford to deal with rolling shutter issues?
recording times; HANDS DOWN DVX wins
startup costs; DVX is cheap and widely available; 7D, not so much
audio; i wouldnt even bother but to record with an external device on the 7D; another DVX win
DOF: personal call; for the same price you could pick up a 35mm adapter AND DVX with lenses, vs 7D alone
additional costs; what cords/cables/adapters/cards would you need vs tape, etc

Personally, i would go with the DVX and use it to make enough to buy a 7D as well.
 
I just can't imagine shooting anything this day in age that wasn't HD. Even the somewhat low resolving power version of 1080p that the 7D brings to the table seems head and shoulders over SD in my opinion.
 
Well I own both cameras, and I own a firestore hard drive for the DVX100, so I don't have to deal with tape. I certainly can deal with rolling shutter, since there won't be any fast-paced action being shot. However, I think I am going to go with the DVX, primarily for the audio. SD it totally fine with me.
 
if you dont mind, what do you intend to shoot?

for me, the reason i went with used XH A1 units was recording length (weddings/events) and CMOS issues, plus the costs of switching to Canon from Nikon gear.
 
Zissou said:
if you dont mind, what do you intend to shoot?.
Click to expand...

I assume you mean content of the documentary. I will be shooting LOTS and LOTS of interviews. The documentary is about the LGBT community perceived in high school. Not too much extra stuff to be shot. Maybe a march or rally, but nothing in low light (I hope)!
 
andythefilmer said:
... nothing in low light (I hope)!
Click to expand...

That's really funny, given the nature of the doc! Anyway, good choice because of the audio capabilities of the DVX. I'd much rather watch a SD doc with great audio than crappy audio with HD. It can't be professional with bad audio as you know.
 
It's funny. The past two days, we have been running around my school grabbing quick interviews from students and teachers for the trailer, and the first day, I had my 7D with me, so I figured we could shoot it on the 7D. So we did. The next day, I brought my DVX, and after shooting many interviews, I loaded the tape in, and I listened to both cameras' interviews. I just wanted to dunk my 7D!!! There is NO WAY I am doing anything audio related with that thing... The DVX uprezzed to 720p looks great, so that is what I am going to do for it! Thanks guys.
 
interviews can get long and you dont want to break a subjects flow or train of thought; go with the DVX for now, plus its audio is superior. if the story and work is good, HD really doesnt matter
 
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