HV20 vs DVX100

[StayNuts]

Does anyone the differences between the DVX100 and the new HV20... talk about the image quality, not about XLR connectors, etc... in that field is the DVX100 absolute the winner I suppose... saw some footage around here and was really impressed about the quality, very clear & sharp... I am on the point of making a decision of which cam I gonna buy ( wednesday or thursday )...
very curious also to the low lighting performances...
thx for the help

 

[Ill Eagle]

Your budget should pretty much answer the question.......

Though even if not, saving $1500 sure sounds nice on the pockets.......

 

[Solomon Chase]

I "downgraded" from DVX100a to HV20. It has actually been an upgrade because the HV20 image quality is just amazing. Yes, a little short on manual controls but I've managed fine.

The HV20 cmos latitude is very good.
DVX100a is a little better in lowlight.

Here's some grabs from my HV20:
http://solomonchase.com/HV20/

I used the extra money saved buying the HV20 on stuff that matters, like lighting equipment, tripod, etc.

 

[Zim]

if the price drops alittle more , rebate or I find a good used one,,,I'm going DVX100.

 

[Emanuel]

I "downgraded" from DVX100a to HV20. It has actually been an upgrade because the HV20 image quality is just amazing. Yes, a little short on manual controls but I've managed fine.

The HV20 cmos latitude is very good.
DVX100a is a little better in lowlight.

Here's some grabs from my HV20:
http://solomonchase.com/HV20/

I used the extra money saved buying the HV20 on stuff that matters, like lighting equipment, tripod, etc.

Great stuff. The picture quality of this camera is really very interesting.

 

[GlimmerGhost]

IMO the image quality is better on the HV20, maybe i got a faulty cam that works way too good, but so far as i can tell on the Big Screen TV the HV20 footage jumps out at you, the colors are more vibrant and looks clear. On the other side the DVX, forgetting as you specified about the prof. stuff, didnt look as good to me on the same tv and others. The picture when stretched like that seemed a little dull. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Artscroll]

I would agree with Glimmer, however the color of the 3 CCD and low light capability as well as all the pro-controls on the DVX are worth their weight in gold. I'm selling mine right now and I have an HV20 but I will miss THOSE capabilities of the DVX heartfeltly.

 

[ScottMcLeod]

So wait... the DVX is still a better camera in low light than the HV20?

I've been hearing conflicting results from various tests and reviews... has anyone owned both?

 

[Artscroll]

Scott, I've owned both and I just sold my DVX. There are things I will certainly miss about the 100B. I've shot things indoors with the HV20 and DVX100B and I do prefer the 100B indoors in low light conditions. Plus there is something about the wonderful color the Panny puts out. It is not to be equaled in my opinion. However, I was willing to let that all go for affordable 24p HD. If you are careful dialing down exposure in indoor low light conditions (to rid yourself of the HV20's auto gain), then you will have an acceptable image with the HV20 (compared to the DVX though it is a little dark and washed out color). In my opinion the 100B shines in those moments and still retains A LOT of color and hardly any grain. I am a firm believer in the low light capabilities of the 100B. Now, on the contrary, correctly exposed outdoor footage with the HV20 blows the pants off the DVX for resolution and not quite the Panny colors but close for a CMOS vs. 3 CCD

 

[Barry_Green]

So wait... the DVX is still a better camera in low light than the HV20?

Of course. All the SD cameras are better low-light performers than the new crop of HD camcorders, and the DVX is one of the best low-light performers out there.

But here are two pictures, so you can judge yourself. Taken at the same location, same lighting, same basic instant in time, using the same settings (0dB of gain, 1/48 shutter, cine mode, 24p; the HV20 image was captured using in-camera downconversion to DV and the DVX image was shot in Squeeze mode, and they were composited in Vegas).

Then, I also shot the same shot in 60i. Again, 0dB and 1/60th shutter in 60i; HV20 was in CINE mode with the exposure locked at 0dB & 1/60th, DVX was in manual mode, both had wide-open iris and full wide angle, using Cine-V gamma.

 

[Jason Ramsey]

You've got a freakin' arcade game? Punk.

 

[Artscroll]

Barry was that the stock DVX, A or B? Thanks for posting the comparison.

 

[john818]

ok wait,you could control the gain,how did you make the hv20s gain lock at low light.

 

[Barry_Green]

Sorry, should have posted that info in the original post! That was a 100B.

 

[Barry_Green]

ok wait,you could control the gain,how did you make the hv20s gain lock at low light.

Read the big ol' thread called "HV20 Gain"; we went through and dissected how to lock the exposure at 0dB and 1/48th.

The easiest way to do it is to zoom out to full wide angle and completely block the lens so it's the equivalent of having the lens capped. This will force the HV20 to open up the iris to the maximum and put the gain up at max (+27dB). Then you press the joystick to bring up the EXP function, and you lock the exposure at -11. When you're shooting 24P in CINE exposure mode, the exposure locked at -11 means 0dB of gain at 1/48 shutter. It's different in 60i though; you do the same process but you set the EXP to -7 for 60i; that gives you 1/60th at 0dB.

 

[Emanuel]

Read the big ol' thread called "HV20 Gain"; we went through and dissected how to lock the exposure at 0dB and 1/48th.

We? You.

That is the best HV20 gain info we can get crossing all over the web. Stick it!

[EDIT]

Canon would win -- and the Canon users too, having this guru posting abroad Pana. Fortunately, he's here/also/always helping other users to handle and shoot with their new toys.

In and on behalf of this other-cameras-sub-forum community,
:dankk2:

 

[john818]

YES! that was the only reason stoping me from the hv20,im getten it for sure.thanks a lot Barry

 

[Fugitive]

So that issue is finally solved! Whoa, thanks

 

[Barry_Green]

We? You.

That is the best HV20 gain info we can get crossing all over the web. Stick it!

Thanks, Emanuel. I've written it up as an article for posting in the Articles section so it stays permanent.

 

[Patrick Bower]

I have a DVX100 original model, PAL, and I have just bought the HV20 (PAL). Here are some comparisons of frame grabs from Vegas. It was difficult to film the pink flower on the HV20. I had to reduce the brightness by about 8 to stop the highlights from blowing. I then used levels in Vegas to make the pictures brighter. I changed the file properties in Vegas to reduce the HV20 shots to DV resolution, and also to upscale the DVX100 to HDV. The DVX is set at 25p, cine gamma, but with scene file settings at 0. The HV20 in P mode.
The DVX 4x3 grabs were taken full frame. The DVX 12x9 grabs were from a different frame (taken zoomed further out, so that, after cropping, the flowers would be the same size). I don't have squeeze mode on my DVX, so these frames were cropped and stretched in Vegas.
I would rate the DVX picture in DV as better than the HV20 at 4x3 screen size, and comparable when cropped and stretched to 16x9.
In HDV I think the up rezzed DVX 4x3 picture is as good as the HV20, but the HV20 is better for the 12x9.
Patrick