FS: DVX100a with Andromeda, M2, Nikon Lenses, Bogen 503/3051 and dolly

BugaBoo said:
What exactly is 'andromeda'?
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The Andromeda mod was awesome when it first came out. Its a raw 4:4:4 output directly from the image sensors on the DVX100 (whose chipset was actually higher res than the HVX200). Unfortunately Juan bailed right before the software got to where it needed to be and then refused to support owners who were second hand thereby making the camera nearly useless if you didn't get it directly from reel-stream. You couldn't even join their forum. As a result I sold mine.

If the seller has all the latest software and you don't mind being an island - buy it, it's a fantastic camera at that price point.
 
TheRedMenace said:
The Andromeda mod was awesome when it first came out. Its a raw 4:4:4 output directly from the image sensors on the DVX100 (whose chipset was actually higher res than the HVX200). Unfortunately Juan bailed right before the software got to where it needed to be and then refused to support owners who were second hand thereby making the camera nearly useless if you didn't get it directly from reel-stream. You couldn't even join their forum. As a result I sold mine.

If the seller has all the latest software and you don't mind being an island - buy it, it's a fantastic camera at that price point.
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Yep, I concur. It's too bad that reel-stream is no longer around. I've got their final revision of the actual hardware, and the latest builds of xLut and ScultptorHD. So while you'd be on an island in terms of support, you'd still have a camera that can capture 4:4:4 uncompressed 12-bit linear images, which is a pretty fantastic thing. At $1600, I'm not adding much of a premium either, as the actual Andromeda install cost was pretty close to that anyways.
 
anawrot said:
After shooting a short film written and directed by my wife (which made it into Tribeca last year, yay!), we now have our hands full with a newborn, are moving from L.A. to Portland shortly, and are ready to part with our Andromeda camera package.

The following is for sale:

DVX100a (150 hours) with the Andromeda mod (4:4:4, near 2k, 10-bit log, etc.)
5400, 5000, and 1600 mAh Panasonic batteries
Thermodyne AG-YUC100 Hard case
Just over 20 Panasonic MiniDV tapes
$1150
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When you say "close to 2k" does that mean the resolution has been upped recently? I thought andromeda DVX's recorded 1540 x 784.
 
What is the down sides to owning this camera besides the lack of support? I mean... if the DVX can still shoot HD quality @ 1540 x 990 why is everyone selling it?

Also anawrot, can you tell me a little more about the andromeda DVX... like how it actually records from the USB cable to a laptop? Does the camera give you a setting on the LCD screen to let you know when your recording? Or is there software on your computer that tells the camera to record via USB? I'm really in the dark how this works... ? Also here is an off beat question... when shooting in the HD 4:4:4 how many gigs of space per minutes are used? Last question... because of the 4:4:4 does that mean that the DVX would not have a problem capturing the color RED without the "Stepping"?

Thanks :)
 
jerbuds said:
What is the down sides to owning this camera besides the lack of support? I mean... if the DVX can still shoot HD quality @ 1540 x 990 why is everyone selling it?

Also anawrot, can you tell me a little more about the andromeda DVX... like how it actually records from the USB cable to a laptop? Does the camera give you a setting on the LCD screen to let you know when your recording? Or is there software on your computer that tells the camera to record via USB? I'm really in the dark how this works... ? Also here is an off beat question... when shooting in the HD 4:4:4 how many gigs of space per minutes are used? Last question... because of the 4:4:4 does that mean that the DVX would not have a problem capturing the color RED without the "Stepping"?

Thanks :)
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Heya jerbuds- There is no feedback on the LCD screen as far as what the uncompressed recording is doing. The raw capture is handled by the SculptorHD software, and the camera itself doesn't even know that the raw signal is being snuck out. The software gives you a live preview of the uncompressed output, and allows flipping the image, individual viewing of the R,G, and B sensors, zebras, histogram, screen overlays for different aspect ratios, and applying real-time three-channel viewing LUTs to the preview.

The uncompressed recording comes to 1.5 gigs per minute of footage, and no, there is no stair-stepping whatsoever with any colors. That's entirely a result of the DV compression on the DVX.

I wouldn't say everyone is selling it! I've still got 2 myself, and those aren't going anywhere. The downsides I see are the need for a computer to handle the recording, and the workflow which requires, well, a little work. But that's far outweighed by the quality you get with 4:4:4 uncompressed, the color reproduction of having 3 very good CCDs, the increased exposure latitude, and no issues commonly associated with CMOS sensors like jello or half-frames. The camera is capable of producing exceptionally organic looking images, and you're totally free to define the look of your images starting at the sensors themselves. It's pretty amazing how much manipulation can be done to an uncompressed image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmvlondon/sets/72157623456520622/
 
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