dvx100 vs PV-DV953

T

themagickite

Well-known member
i've only ever used the later and i'm thinking of getting the former, please give any info at all on how these compare

cheers!

btw way i can read and understand the differences in specs on paper, just wanted to get an idea of how that translates into making films, and what kind of images you end up with

just to give you some background about me (to put my question in context) ive been using the mx500 (pal version of the 953) at uni (grr, they should give us better cameras) and trying to make films in a somewhat professional manner (with 3 point lighting, ext audio, full manual mode etc) and now looking for something better
 
Do you have a 953 ntsc version im looking to buy one? the differ between the 953 and the dvx is that the dvx has bigger chips and more manual controls. oh yeah and then theres that 24p thingie.
 
i don't own either version, but i use my unis pal versions

i know the difference in spec

i just want to know how different it is to work with
i find the dv953 really frustrating and (although it can get good images) you really have to push it.

i wonder how much better the dvx will be to work with, i know it will be better (of course) i just don't know how much.

a big concern is the dynamic range the dvx is supposed to have, trying to have a window in shot that isn't completely blown out requires a lot of intense lighting that actors find difficult to work with. does the cinegamma help this a lot? is it like using film? or not quite but better than standard video?

also i can't stand it how the dv953 always turns itself off when you haven't done anything for while (please tell the dvx doesn't do this) cause it adds extra time to wait for the thing to start up and then you have white balance again, and the less things chewing up time on location the better.
 
no the dvx does not turn it self off dont rember if its the settings but the cam stays on till you turn it off.
 
that alone is almost worth the price of admition to me

just to have a camera that treats you with a bit of repsect, rather than a mindless tourist!
 
The DV953/GS400 has one of the best manual controls designs ever, with the multi-function wheel. The DVX100 gives you more control (and a much better progressive image), but it is quite a bit more complicated. Instead one set of controls for all manual settings, every setting has it's own controls with its own way of working. Focus is on a ring with a couple switches and buttons as well, zoom can be a ring or rocker, iris has a little auto/manual button and a tiny little wheel, white balance has a three-way switch and a button under the front of the camera, shutter has a couple of buttons under the LCD, gain has a three-way switch. It's all over the map, but pretty standard for a pro cam.
 
I sold my GS-400 about 2 months ago and upgraded to the DVX100A and let me tell you, its a world of difference. With more manual controls you have to work a little more with the focus/irus/shutter/etc but the picture quality just doesnt compare to that of the gs-400. I find myself doing alot less color correcting b/c the image already looks that good, IMO! The actual size difference is something to get used to also but once you've gotten a feel for it you can easily navigate the buttons and switches quickly to adjust picture. Once you capture your footage and view it back you really start to notice the increase in clarity and the crispness of the picture produced by the DVX. When i first bought the DVX I had some trouble getting that Hollywood film look but that was because i was treating it like the smaller camera i was used. I guess what Im tryin to say is, after you step up and get to know the larger camera, the images produced will amaze you.
 
Mike, you nailed it. One look at your crisp, detailed progressive images afetr capture, and you'll hardly care about the learning curve or layout of controls. Killer!
 
thanks joshua! Yeah one night after filming all day i connected my camera to my tv just look at what my friends and I had shot and i was absolutely amazed. it looked like we were watching ourselves on a tv show. that was all before any image adjustements. You can get so much out of this camera if you operate it correctly. but like i said, if you're filming like a tourist or some home movie birthday video, you wont get much out of it.
 
i read that the dvx has about 7 stops of lattitude

anyone know how many stops of lattitude the 953 has (and/or similar consmer based cameras)?
 
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