Lumix DMC-FZ2500 as AG-DVX200 B-cam?

JRJphoto said:
I'd love to be able to have a gig where I could destroy cameras. :D

The only thing dissimilar about the FZ2500 compared to DVX200 is the former's 1" chip. Otherwise, it's the same camera in a tiny wittle body. I just turned down a job doing a multicam shoot because I'd need a few more DVX200's and several FZ2500's to do it (plus the manpower...and the support...and a live switcher). I demo'd a FZ2000 a while back and liked it. The FZ2500 is only $1200 new ATOW and so would make a lovely crashcam.
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That's a lot of cameras and manpower. The DVX is also not cheap to rent. Sometimes you have to let the big fish go.
 
Little fish that wanted to be a big fish but didn't have the gumption to put forth the effort. Sometimes little fish talk big talk but can't or won't walk the walk. It's hard to say no to any kind of work when you're just starting out, but after you get screwed over a bunch, it gets easier.
 
JRJphoto said:
Little fish that wanted to be a big fish but didn't have the gumption to put forth the effort. Sometimes little fish talk big talk but can't or won't walk the walk. It's hard to say no to any kind of work when you're just starting out, but after you get screwed over a bunch, it gets easier.
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I think that is called wisdom. Wisdom born of experience. Those little fish who talk big talk are subscribing to the "beat me, whip me, make me write bad checks" philosophy.
 
I brought the FZ2500 in December to do exactly this. Be a good B Cam to my DVX200, i can honestly say that i really really want to love this camera but it just doesn't cut it when it comes to the final image. It has every feature you could want and more in a B cam but its incredibly noisey in the final image. Shooting all manual, wide open in every picture profile keeping to iso400 and there is just so much noise in the image.
 
rowanhs said:
I brought the FZ2500 in December to do exactly this. Be a good B Cam to my DVX200, i can honestly say that i really really want to love this camera but it just doesn't cut it when it comes to the final image. It has every feature you could want and more in a B cam but its incredibly noisey in the final image. Shooting all manual, wide open in every picture profile keeping to iso400 and there is just so much noise in the image.
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I found that noise is relative. Shooting wide open in low light could easily push an inexpensive camera to have noise. It's not a A7 - Noise is another word for not lighting properly, etc. People also complain about noise in the DVX. Reality tells us that cameras have limits. Expecting a $1,000 camera to perform like a $4,000 or $10,000 camera is not realistic.

Even in major feature films the B cameras do not perform as well as the A cameras and the director makes adjustments to the shooting style, etc. Your expectations sound a little too high. Besides a little noise, were you able to produce any good shots? Are there any redeeming qualities to the inexpensive camera? Could you adjust your shooting style to adapt. Keep in mind this is a very inexpensive camera. Do you think there is another camera in that price range that would perform to your specs? Interested in feed back, since this camera is on my buy list.
 
JRJphoto said:
I see gigantic levels of noise in television shows all the time. We're the only people that notice this.
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You are totally right about noise in TV shows.

Every production is a compromise of time and money. If a shot is not perfect, the production must still move forward. If people notice a particular mistake, it is often because of the story or creative process is lacking and the audience is not engaged. The trained eye will see things that the general public does not see. I was hoping someone bought this camera and created some B footage for the DVX.
 
You are right about noise, my partner never notices it but it drives me nuts lol. I love a clean image! I'm using it right now on a shoot as the B Cam to my DVX 200, using it to get pickup shots, it's cutting in fine with the DVX overall but i don't know if i could recommend it over a GH4 or GH5. I know it's in a totally different price range but now with the GH5 being out I think id suggest to anyone to pickup a bargain GH4 someone is selling off than buy the FZ2500. It really is basically a baby GH4 with a fixed lens and smaller sensor.
 
rowanhs said:
You are right about noise, my partner never notices it but it drives me nuts lol. I love a clean image! I'm using it right now on a shoot as the B Cam to my DVX 200, using it to get pickup shots, it's cutting in fine with the DVX overall but i don't know if i could recommend it over a GH4 or GH5. I know it's in a totally different price range but now with the GH5 being out I think id suggest to anyone to pickup a bargain GH4 someone is selling off than buy the FZ2500. It really is basically a baby GH4 with a fixed lens and smaller sensor.
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Buying a used GH4 out of warranty product is a risk in itself and extra cost. I like the concept of the FZ2500 due to its small compact size, and I can carry it everywhere on a day to day basis. But as you stated, the quality will not be on par with a more expensive camera. Still it could be used for B roll in a quick production that does not justify two main cameras. Very interested in seeing how well it cut in with the DVX. Could you post a short clip where you integrated the two cameras? That would be great.
 
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