DVX100A or XL1S

M

mdcox

Member
:undecided What do you think I can get an XL1S at a great price from a buddy for around $1700 or should I get the DVX100A which I'll have to spend double that I have been looking at the DVX100A pretty hard. What do you think?

For this exercise forget about any extras or what nots and just focus on the cameras themselves. :cheesy:
 
.. thats not even a real comparison if you can afford it, and are serious about your gear and what you plan on doing with the cam.. get the DVX.

if your not that serious or " into it" juet get he XL1 and save our dough for whatever you are really actually passionate about..
 
Three things...

The DVX blows the XL1s out of the water.

Everyone on a DVX board is going to say get the DVX.

Get the DVX.

(I agree with Neil's sumation.)
 
The two cameras aren't really in the same class, so it's a matter of how important the extra power of the DVX is to you. Ask yourself if it's worth the extra money for what you'll be doing with it.
 
wow! that's an odd question...

- xl1s is heavier then dvx (not good for vacation stuff)
- xl1s has lower resolution and no cine-features (not good for indie filmmaking stuff)
- xl1s has a longer lens and ability to exchange lenses (good for capturing nature stuff and concerts)

//IMHO the only canon camera which is comparable with dvx is xl2 (my personal best)
 
For vacation video, get yourself a Canon Elura or ZR series. The XL1S has some cineability otherwise it wouldn't have ever been considered by indie and some feature film makers. Compared to a DVX or Xl2, it's definitely old school. If you do buy XL1S, it shoud be in mint condition, low hours and all original accessories for $1700.00. You really shouldn't pay more than $1500.00 for something like that.
 
I agree with all comments so far:
XL1S is still a great camera. DVX is a newer camera. They aren't really comparable.

If you're digging the Panasonic gamma vibes, maybe consider the DVC-30.
It's a 60i-only camera with a 16X optical zoom...More comparable features to XL1S.
 
For me, it comes down to pretty much one thing (OK, two but they're related)

Focus pulls.....

I have an XM2 - servo, crapola lens. I am now requiring in the stuff I do, the ability to do a focus pull. I won't use it all the time, but if I want to do one I'd like to be able to. The XM2 and the Xl1s are no go in this area. Now to the second related thing...I couldn't afford another lens for it.

Now you might be slightly different in that for 1700 + another K I think you can get the 14x manual. But if you're spending that to get a manual lens, you might start to then think about the other things the cameras offer and in this case, the DVX just wins pretty much hands down.

Oh, and another things...damn, that's three!

Think of audio in also. The audio circuits on the DVX are great for this class of camera. Also it has XLR inputs, the XL1s DOES NOT so you need to buy an adapter and attach the stupid thing to the bottom.

So for me, the focus pulls and the XLR's are the two most important things in looking at a new camera (I am in the process of getting a DVX100a once I sell my XM2) More so than the image tweaks and quality that the DVX offers. I'm starting to get to that point where useabilty of my gear matters a lot! Less setup time is good. Less dicking around with adapters and cables and stuff is good!

Aaron
 
Wells,

If you're recommending the DVC30 which I think is a great cam for what it is, why not also recommend the DVC60? It's got everything the 30 has PLUS the DVX100A's viewfinder and on board mic. Not to mention built in XLR audio jacks. I feel it's definitely a great step in between the DVX100A and the XL1S. If they could just build it with 1/3" chips, and 24P we'd have another runaway hit.
 
I really must disagree with the anti-DVX for vacations viewpoint. I have shot countless hours of vacation footage with the DVX, and it friggin rules it all. If you were to see the majesty of my Yellowstone footage, which blows commoners away when they bear witness.....you'd.....well, think it was really really good. I mean, if you just go on vacations to get drunk and play putt putt, then sure, get one of them little pocket pixle thingies, but if you go on vacations where the location is the star of the show, take the DVX. Even without a tripod the footage I have of the mudpools, multi-colored hotsprings, glacier cut mountains, buffalo, elk, geysers ect... alll just stunning beyond words. I think the DVX is the finest sub HVX camera for almost ALL use, even for home movies of my family. Simple footage of my son playing in our yard looks like it was shot with a magical tool forged by the Gods.
 
What a mess I dug up!

What a mess I dug up!

Thanks for all the good input and the putting up with the dumb question, It's settled I'm getting the DVX100A this week. :laugh:

Now all I have to do is figure out how to use the damb thing... :huh:

P.S. any other advise is welcomed!
 
Spider's right.....24p sucks anyways. It's all *Jittery* and sh*t!! Besides....the DVX's all make that damn rattling noise when you turn them off. Total defect. SERIOUSLY!!

~reservoir~
 
24P is just a fad, it's like the polaroid pictures of video. And cinegamma is so overrated. Give me interlace or give me death. :thumbsup:
 
mdcox = good choice. As for 24p being a fad? Well, that's like saying film is a fad. As for 24p and the care you have to take shooting in that mode? Learn how to shoot in 24p or stick with interlaced cams.
 
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