DVX100B - Good price?

TJ Crucial

TJ Crucial

New member
Hey all,

I'm new to these forums, so I'll start off by saying hi to everybody!

I finally saved up and bought a DVX100B, and I was hoping for opinions...

First of all, should I have saved a bit more and gone HD? I'm not doing anything serious, just getting my feet wet. I've seen alot of people on the 'net saying that SD is dead, but it seems to be much easier to work with and much more affordable in terms of the price of the camera itself and not needing a more powerful computer than I already have...

Secondly, I bought it brand new from Panasonic with a one year warranty for $2000 CDN. Is that a resonable deal? Or will it be selling for $999 or something crazy in a few months or so?

Any info would be appreciated, thanks!
 
Hey man, welcome to the forum. I am a month long owner of the 100b and I couldn't be happier with the purchase. I do skateboard filming and sold my Sony vx2000 and fisheye to get this camera and it's a huge difference in how new skate videos are being done. I didn't want to go with the HVX just because I want a film look rather than an HD look and dealing with P2 cards and things that are really expensive right now. I got mine for $2499 next day air, so the $2000 is a good deal. Don't worry about this selling for really cheap anytime soon, but even so, you will be really psyched on the camera that you feel you should have spent a ton more money on anyways. It will take a while to outgrow this cam. Have fun!
 
where did you purchase it for that low new? thats crazy good price, the best i'm getting is 2400 (before mail in)
 
Bobby;

Thanks for the welcome and your opinion! I'm sure I'll be happy. I pick it up tomorrow, I've been itching to get my hands on it... BTW, I checked out your skate promo, it looks awesome! Keep the vids coming! You're so lucky to be living out on the west coast, I plan on moving out there shortly, I can't handle 6 months of sh!t weather every year...

Homer & John;

I have a friend that works for Panasonic up here in Canada, he gave me the staff discount. I know a lot of people in the audio/video business because of the work I do, so I found a deal with Canon and Pansonic, and IMO the DVX100 just seems to be an all around better camera compared to, say, the GL2.
 
I actually have a question about that...

What are some of the differences between the GL2 and the DVX? Is it that much of a quality gap?
 
this is absolutely ridiculous!!! I WORK FOR PANASoNIC they don't give me a freakin discount.

and I work in a office not some third party crap or retail.

I'm talking to HR tomorrow. absolutely ridiculous.
 
The two differences between the dvx and the gl that convinced me to buy the dvx are 1/3" vs 1/4" ccd's and the Leica lense. Maybe the two xlr inputs and 24pa too.
 
Clarkage,

I'm an audiophile, so the XLR inputs with phantom power was a big selling point, as well as the 24p recording.

And like Alasken said, bigger CCD's are good too. I really liked the zoom on the GL2, but apparently it doesn't perform as well as the DVX100 in low light.

I played around with a GL2 for a bit and it just didn't seem worth it to me, but I'm sure it would still be a great camera.
 
Thanks TJ, I will be posting more up. That whole video was done on the VX2000. I will have more videos posted as soon as I get my fisheye for the panny. I am only about 25% good without the fish. and I think everyone is freaking out about the $2,000 price because it is Canadian currency correct?
 
Hey,

Don't get the DVX. Rent if, only if your doing a quick shoot. The reason why I say don't buy it is because the life line for the DVX is another 8 months, at the most. Right now there's people on this board who can't find parts for their DVX because Panasonic has discontinued making them. Also, the scarlet will be coming out in early 2009. It will be a way better cam then the DVX or HMC. However, if you can't wait till next year for the scarlet, the DVX's new brother, the HMC 150 is coming out this fall. It will be around 2500 - 2999. . If you save until then you should have enough for it.

Just my 2 cents. Best of luck.

Manymoosh
 
8 months? I hope to be using mine for a couple of years. By then HD might be ironed out.

Enjoy your new DVX100. It is a great camera that will be used by many for years to come.
 
The HMC-150 has a suggested retail of $4500 and won't be available until Fall. At best you'll be able to buy one by the end of the year and pay less than $4K for it.

I agree though that it is troublesome that Panasonic is discontinuing parts for older DVX models. However I don't see them discontinuing the 100b model for another year or so.
 
BobbyLab said:
Thanks TJ, I will be posting more up. That whole video was done on the VX2000. I will have more videos posted as soon as I get my fisheye for the panny. I am only about 25% good without the fish. and I think everyone is freaking out about the $2,000 price because it is Canadian currency correct?
Click to expand...

Bobby,

I'm hungry for a fisheye too, any recommendations? And yes, it's Canadian currency, but it's a pretty close conversion rate these days. I guess it was a good deal if everybody is freaking out. I wish I never had've mentioned it though, I just wanted some reassurance.

FYI - I finally got the camera and I love it. You were totally right. I don't have a single complaint, except maybe the 4:3 chips, but whatever...

Thanks to everybody for their opinions!
 
I have an HV20, and its okay. I feel i outgrew it too fast though. My first camera was an Elura100 which is surprisingly awesome for what it is, but the HV20 really wasn't a big enough of a step up. I wished i had waited and saved up for a DVX or an XL2.

PS, are there any other prosumer SD cameras with Native 16:9 besides the XL2? I've looked around and that seems to be the only one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top