I can´t decide!! please help!!

N

newbie

Active member
I have read many posts in these forums and also at e.g. camcorderinfo and I just can´t decide between the DVX, DVC30 or Sony VX2100. The prices are 2770 euros for DVX, 2300 euros for VX2100 and 1800 euros for DVC30.

PD170 is priced at 3700, which I don´t think is justified. I´m going to make a documentary and will encounter some low light situations, but only with little camera movements, so I´m thinking if slow shutter speeds could be used?

The overall image quality is also important. I have read that many people simply don´t like the VX2100 *look* compared to e.g. FX1.

Then I don´t know if DVX will have any advantage over DVC30 as I will not have any fast movements in my footage and I have FCP 5 to convert i to p, if it is benefitial. You tell me...will the extra 900 euros do much for the final output in my situation? It will be broadcasted in a small TV station.

I have very limited experience in this field. I have just owned a Panasonic GS 120 for home videos but photography is my passion, so I hope I can benefit from that.

Any help is much appreciated!
 
Well, on this forum you are always going to get a nod towards the DVX. And why not? It's a great camera. I haven't even used the 24p much (haven't had time...have done weddings in 30P) and even that frame rate yields some gorgeous results. I mean, if you can swing it, I think you will be incredibly pleased with what it can do.

Having said that, I'm sure others will be able to chime in on the laurels of the other cameras you are considering. I wish you well.

Rick
 
I say between those 3 choices you have listed above (DVX, DVC30, and VX2100) you're gonna get what you pay for. Go for the DVX man!
 
rlm7189 said:
Well, on this forum you are always going to get a nod towards the DVX. And why not? It's a great camera.
Click to expand...
He's right, you will most likely be pointed to the DVX. I agree, and not just because the DVX is an excellent camera. One clue you left behind in your first question really makes the answer obvious. You said your passion is photography. Well, you're really going to like the DVX then. Neither of the other cameras (while still being good cameras) gives you as much, or as easy, manual control as the DVX does. I would also say go with the DVX.

One question for you. What kind of low light situations are you looking at? You can light low-light areas without making it look like a supernova. :happy: I think you will be well pleased with the results from the DVX. I certainly have been and I've only had mine for a few weeks.
 
I have to agree - dvx. I bought a DVX100 as soon as it was released back a couple of years and paid a premium. but, never regreted it.
I have owned many video cameras and my dvx 100 is the one I USE.

In your fist sentence you listed the order I would choose - dvx, dvc30, and the other one.
 
You shouldn't even compare those cameras to the mighty DVX.

I can't even believe the PD170 is $3,700! If your gunna get the VX2100 make sure you get the VX2000 instead, its the same thing pratically and its much cheaper.
 
Now I have found a local dealer with used DVX100ae but they come with a year warranty. Therefore, I´m *this* close of getting one this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

However, I would like to ask you about the specific features that e.g. the Sonys hasn´t....except for 25p. Can the DVX e.g. have more contrasty footages...or just plain better looking? I´m sorry for these idiotic questions...but I have no experience with these camcorders.

If the DVX can deliver overall better footage than the Sonys, I think it is the best choice, although the lowlight will be not as good....only a part of my work is very low light...and yes...it is not a controllable situation. If the low light will get messy, I´m going to try to use a very slow shutter and move the camera very slowly...in low light I´ll only be filming static objects.

Thanks all for your advice :)
 
Thanks for your suggestion, but in my case it wouldn´t be any cheaper. I don´t know how much it would cost to rent it but rentals are overpriced in Europe, at least in photography.

I also would like to have the camera for some time so I can get used to it and use it for the videos of my 9 month old daughter. It is also very likely that I would need the camera for the next 10 months or so and when I don´t need it anymore, I can just sell it on ebay. It would be difficult, especially if I sell it before the warranty expires. :thumbsup:
 
You're comparing a 3213 Euro cam (DVX) to a 1800 Euro cam (Sony)
As far as I read, you're mostly into documentary stuff.
I think you can get very good results with the sony here as well.
It's known to do quite well on the documentary side. AFAIK the German TV-Musicchannel "Viva" uses it for quite a while on the outside documentary shots.

A Sony 2100 will get you results that will blow the sh.t out of every < 1000 euro consumer cam, that's for sure. It will produce something that a small TV station will defently accept. It will be overkill for the family video stuff about your daughter.

Of course, the DVX produces a much more "film-like" image. But that seems to be not too important in your case. I'd seriously consider to buy the sony. It'll save you around 1400 Euros and will get you a 3CCD camcorder with fantastic low-light capabilities.

I usually don't like Sony at all, but I have never heard anything really bad about the 2100. I wouldn't go for the 2000 though, there were some major improvments made. I don't remeber what they exactly were, but I can remeber reading about it and thinking: "well, that's a hell of a difference!"

So, in conclusion: I'm a Panasonic fan. I will buy the HVX. I don't like Sony at all. In your case I would still buy the 2100.

Just my $0.02

regards,
Oli
 
Hi Newbie, sounds like we are in a very similar situation. Does your dealer have more than one camera? How much is he asking in total?
cheers
Dan
 
Oli.S said:
You're comparing a 3213 Euro cam (DVX) to a 1800 Euro cam (Sony)
As far as I read, you're mostly into documentary stuff.
I think you can get very good results with the sony here as well.
It's known to do quite well on the documentary side. AFAIK the German TV-Musicchannel "Viva" uses it for quite a while on the outside documentary shots.

A Sony 2100 will get you results that will blow the sh.t out of every < 1000 euro consumer cam, that's for sure. It will produce something that a small TV station will defently accept. It will be overkill for the family video stuff about your daughter.

Of course, the DVX produces a much more "film-like" image. But that seems to be not too important in your case. I'd seriously consider to buy the sony. It'll save you around 1400 Euros and will get you a 3CCD camcorder with fantastic low-light capabilities.

I usually don't like Sony at all, but I have never heard anything really bad about the 2100. I wouldn't go for the 2000 though, there were some major improvments made. I don't remeber what they exactly were, but I can remeber reading about it and thinking: "well, that's a hell of a difference!"

So, in conclusion: I'm a Panasonic fan. I will buy the HVX. I don't like Sony at all. In your case I would still buy the 2100.

Just my $0.02

regards,
Oli
Click to expand...
Where can you buy the Sony for only 1800 euros?

The lowest price I have found for VX2100 is 2330 euros and then I would need a beachtek with panthom power for 300 euros, total about 2650-2700 euros with the shipment. The price for 100 hours used DVX, with the full Panasonic Europe 1 year warranty cost 2900 euros, so the price is pretty similar....at least, not a deal breaker.
 
Sorry, I was wrong about your first post. It says 1800 for the DVC30, not for the sony. My mistake, sorry.

From a quick look @google
2320,- cheapest price for the Sony 2100
3349,- cheapest price for a new DVX100AE

Well, in that case... :huh:

Did you see this yet?
No info about the 2100, but some interesting stuff about the DVX.

If the difference in price between the sony and the DVX is 800 Euros or less, I'd probably go for the DVX without thinking about it too much.

1800,- Euros would be a different story. (around $2150 btw.)

BTW: 3349,- Euros means nothing but: cheapest price for a DVX100AE in Germany is pretty much exactly $4000,- USD.
And this is no bundle whatsoever. Just the plain camera. :shocked:
Nice, hu? :cry:
 
We love our DVX but we wish we had a pd-150 / pd-170 as well. You can do alot with either camera.

I´m going to make a documentary and will encounter some low light situations, but only with little camera movements
Click to expand...

I don't exactly know what you're doing but my hunch would be the sony is better for you. Are you going to need to also purchase a mic kit?

Slow shutter speed or not the sony will perform better than the DVX in low light no matter how your swing it.

But... this is a hard question to ask really. The people answering usually own their cameras already so they would make whatever situation work using their camera...

I dont think I helped but again my hunch is youd do better with the sony!

-Ben
 
I will chime in and make it very simple and sweet for you.
If you want your image to look film like get a DVX. If you want your footage to look like video or the 6 O'clock news get the Sony.

They are both great cameras. Personally I like the film look and that is why the DVX is the only solution for me.
 
I just disovered that Sony offers 2 year warranty with the VX2100 while Panasonic only offers 1 year warranty with the DVX. IMHO manufacturers should always offer 2 year warranty with 3000 euro electronic devices.

I don´t know why this difference is between Sony and Panasonic....but it just makes me think that the Sonys are more durable and not as prone to failures.

I once bought a laptop with only a one year warranty and the logic board died after 13 months....so it was more expensive to fix it than buy a new and better computer...
 
What? Where did you hear this?

The VX2100 is from Sony's consumer division. Last I checked, the consumer division offers a 90-day labor, 1-year parts warranty. The DVX offers 1 year labor, 1 year parts.
 
Barry_Green said:
What? Where did you hear this?

The VX2100 is from Sony's consumer division. Last I checked, the consumer division offers a 90-day labor, 1-year parts warranty. The DVX offers 1 year labor, 1 year parts.
Click to expand...
http://cgi.ebay.de/Sony-DCR-VX2100-...817876951QQcategoryZ28899QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But Sony Britain says that the warranty is only 1 year... so you are probably right. Another ebay dealer stated that Canon offered 2 year guarantee, but I´m not interested in Canon...
 
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