Next step up from DVX?

[tumblemonster]

I'm budgeting for a short film, and want to shoot 24p 16x9. It is an effects and stunt heavy film (my background). I bought the DVX book and read about the animorphic adapter and the extra care it takes to get good focus and such. My first plan was to shoot the film in 24pa with an animorphic adapter, but there is a lot of dynamic movement of the camera and I am worried that the care it takes to get clean animorphic shots is too much for what we're doing. If I don't buy a DVX, what do I buy? What is the next step up that has 24p and native 16x9 CCDs? I realize the price goes up, but in the range up ot 15 grand, what would give me the features I want? How reliable are the rumors that we'll see a native 16x9 DVX (in my opinion the only thing missing) in the next few months?

thanks

-tm

 

[Prairieboy]

Re: Next step up from DVX?

Not sure about the "new" DVX, but really the next step up would be the SDX. But it is more like $20,000. It is a great camera. 24P, pro sized, native 16x9, lens mount, card settings, the whole stuff. Very nice image, but a huge step up in price range.

 

[Barry_Green]

Re: Next step up from DVX?

I don't think we'll see a 16:9 DVX anytime soon. We may see an announcement sometime in the next 4-6 months, but as to when an actual camera would come out, that's a big question mark. For reference, the original DVX was announced in April 2002 and hit the store shelves in October 2002. So even if there was an announcement at NAB in April, there may not be a physical product until October, or later... or earlier, who knows? The XL2 was announced with basically "immediate" availability.

For the DVX, have you looked at squeeze mode footage? 24p/thin/squeeze looks pretty darn good, and it's as much resolution as an interlaced TV can handle without flickering.

The SDX is the next step up in the Panasonic lineup. However, I'd advise you to look at the XL2. The image quality is pretty good, and if 16x9 is vitally important to you, it does a good job in 16x9 and it also offers 24p. You'd have to make some decisions regarding the lens, for filmmaking purposes I might recommend the 16x manual.

If the DVX in squeeze mode delivers enough res for you, that's the least-expensive 24p/16x9 option and offers the most flexibility as far as the built-in lens goes. The XL2 will give you higher-res 16x9, at higher cost, and you have to choose which lens options are most important to you.