pannie dvx100 or the canon A1? what would u do?

R

robfilms

Veteran
over on the dvx100 board, there is an interesting thread about the merits of each camera.

here is the link: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=123647&highlight=canon

here is my situation:

i find myself in the same quandary, buy a used dvx100b (50 hrs-$1600-local) or a used A1 (100 hrs-$2500-local).

I have several upcoming productions. This one client has me adding talking head interviews to a piece shot "charlie rose" style 2 years ago. At that time, I shot the interviews and "b" roll with a dvx100a. Client was happy, the piece even won a CINE Golden Eagle. Now the client wants some additional talking heads and more "b" roll. Maybe they'll have me re-edit the original into a longer form or just make a 2nd version of the piece that won the award.

If I go out and buy the used dvx100b, i can effectively match the footage from the previous shoot.

If I buy the A1, I get 16x9 native (how well will 16x9 cut with 4x3 footage-so so at best?) I also can future proof with HDV.

The client receives sd dvds and I post to their website.

So, which way to go: dvx100b or A1?

Thanks in advance.

Be well

Rob

please click on the above, take the poll and share your thoughts.
 
The A1 is very customizable (to an extreme). With enough work on the settings, you should be able to match up pretty well.
 
is renting not an option for the dvx job? if the work is for a client, and matching prior dvx footage is a requirement, i think you should seriously consider the dvx and write it off as a project expense. you can probably get the dvx and xha1 to look close enough, but why go through all that trouble on a paid gig where the client knows what he/she wants? if you do buy, you can always unload the dvx and put the cash towards an xha1 or other camera after the job is over.
 
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Would you be matching footage to a DVX for all the several upcoming productions? If so, a DVX could make a lot of sense. If you would only be matching for one of the productions, the A1 would seem to make more sense to me.
 
henry/robert-

thanks for sharing your experience.

based on the idea that i might need to match the previously shot talking heads, i think i really need to bite the bullet and get a used dvx100. for the number of days i'll be shooting (five or six) the rental price won't be that different than a buy price.

lastly, what has your experience been mixing 16x9 and 4x3 footage. i can only imagine the imagine popping like crazy forcing me to convert one type to the other.

thoughts on the 16x9 - 4x3 mix?

again, thanks for your thoughts on the dvx100 - a1 debate.

know onyone in the metro nyc area wanting to sell a dvx?

be well

rob
 
i love the xha1, but i think going dvx for that job is the right play.

regarding mixing different aspect ratios, do you want to use them together in the same sequence? you can use masks, get creative with your compositions using PIP to layer 4:3 stuff on 16:9 backgrounds (or vice versa), or, if the final output is 4:3, play around panning & scanning the 16:9 footage.

i think b&h has a used dvx100 (not a or b) right now.
 
That $1600 for a DVX100b w/50hrs sounds good, if the camera has been taken care of. Sell it after the project, and you might even come out ahead on the deal.
 
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