People ranting on about DVX100B!?
- Thread starter Jbadham77
- Start date
There's a "Normal movie mode" right?
If I set it to that... then I woundn't have to mess with the color, brightness, Focus, and all that stuff? I could just set it to Normal movie mode and I will get the best video and audio? + w/ Normal movie mode does it give me the correct frame rate for the big screen, and on the cam does it acctualy say "Normal movie mode" in the settings... I know there's a lot of Qs, but PLEASE try to answer.. Im very serouis w/ my work...
If I set it to that... then I woundn't have to mess with the color, brightness, Focus, and all that stuff? I could just set it to Normal movie mode and I will get the best video and audio? + w/ Normal movie mode does it give me the correct frame rate for the big screen, and on the cam does it acctualy say "Normal movie mode" in the settings... I know there's a lot of Qs, but PLEASE try to answer.. Im very serouis w/ my work...
aravance
Well-known member
If you are very serious with your work...why would you settle for a "normal movie mode" option anyway? Most people that I know who are serious about their work opt for just about 'manual' everything and preset their camera to their own specifications.
I found the DVX100b very easy to use. Just invest a little time reading Barry's book...it pays off in spades.
I found the DVX100b very easy to use. Just invest a little time reading Barry's book...it pays off in spades.
Mack Fisher
Active member
Jbadham77 said:
mabye you should try something like the HC3 from sony. it has a faux progessive mode called cineframe, its a good out of box camera I guess. But the DVX100B isnt for someone who just wants to grab it and spend no time on settings or learning about the camera and just shoot.
Jbadham77 said:
It won't have the quality you need if you don't learn how to use it. There is no "best setting." Trust me, I've seen some awful DVX footage; the settings, the white balance, learning how to use the zebra feature, all of the great things that the DVX is popular for make good footage. You have to learn to use anything, like a computer or a cell phone, and then you get good at it.
ugafan
Looking for a woman
I purchased the dvx with no knowledge of the camera settings. I've just been using barry's book and dvd to teach myself. I'm obviously still very inexperienced, but I'm growing more comfortable with the camera. A lot of it is trial and error to see what the image looks like when I change something. You'll have to put in a little effort to learn what various things do, but it's worth it. Plus if you have questions, there are people on this site that know what you're talking about.
Justin Kuhn
Veteran
Everything these guys have told you is true. Most technically skilled filmmakers are control freaks. And that's a good thing, as long as you're controlling about your equipment and your own job. And that's what I like about good equipment: you can control everything. The DVX has that. The camera's only flaw that I can immediately think of, its Achilles's heel if you will, is that interchangeable lenses need to be native to the camera. *cough* let's hope Panny listens *cough* Until then I guess I've gotta get an adapter...
But if you're not a control freak like that you probably don't care about the lenses.
But if you're not a control freak like that you probably don't care about the lenses.
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robot909
Well-known member
It takes experimentation to "get to know" your camera. Just take it out as often as you can and experiment. There are many settings and while its not necessary to know all of them, I feel that its important to get the best out of the camera based on what you want me to see. Great cinematography/photography does not happen on its own.
Just imagine how hard it would be to shoot real film, there is no "easy" button, you have to do your homework just to be able to film something. The DVX will work out of the box, but you want to use it for more than that, the camera is a tool, it takes practice to learn how to use it.
Just imagine how hard it would be to shoot real film, there is no "easy" button, you have to do your homework just to be able to film something. The DVX will work out of the box, but you want to use it for more than that, the camera is a tool, it takes practice to learn how to use it.
MiniMan
Well-known member
Do lots of tests, read Barry's book, watch his DVD, read a LOT here on DVXuser, and you will learn the DVX in and out in a short period of time. 
I guess it took me all in all a year to learn absolutely everything about my DVX, how the shutter speed, iris and so on affects the image. Hell when a 14 year old can do it, you can too
I guess it took me all in all a year to learn absolutely everything about my DVX, how the shutter speed, iris and so on affects the image. Hell when a 14 year old can do it, you can too
GageFX
Carbonite Member
While I agree with what everyone has said about the benefits of learning all the ins and outs of the camera and all the detailed settings, I disagree with one thing:
Yes, you can just turn the camera on, switch to F6 and be automatically set for some good 24pa footage. Can it get better by changing the settings? Yes. Can you flub it up by changing the settings? Yes. But the default F6 is a great place to start. Just make sure you at least take the camera off Auto Iris and be sure to set a custom WB or no one will feel sorry for you when the trolls steal your Panny back from you in the middle of the night.
Should you learn the settings? You should learn to set the camera to get the look you want. If that look is a preset, then you are ready to go. You dont have to do what all these guys are doing, you need to do what you want/need to do.
-GageFX
Yes, you can just turn the camera on, switch to F6 and be automatically set for some good 24pa footage. Can it get better by changing the settings? Yes. Can you flub it up by changing the settings? Yes. But the default F6 is a great place to start. Just make sure you at least take the camera off Auto Iris and be sure to set a custom WB or no one will feel sorry for you when the trolls steal your Panny back from you in the middle of the night.
Should you learn the settings? You should learn to set the camera to get the look you want. If that look is a preset, then you are ready to go. You dont have to do what all these guys are doing, you need to do what you want/need to do.
-GageFX
The DVX is very easy to use... the difficulty can be setting it up. I have got lots of great looking footage from pretty inexperienced shooter by setting up the camera for them. I think the thing that frustrates people more than the use of the camera is their lack of experience and talent in general. Dont take that as an insult, just as a challenge to shoot shoot shoot. I can love music and go out and buy the same guitar that Joe Perry plays but that wont make me a great guitar player... there is no setting for that =o)
ash =o)
ash =o)
filmamigo
Member
It's like any professional tool.
Surely, if you bought a lathe, you wouldn't expect the lathe to make you into a master machinist?
The DVX100 has lots of automatic features and presets that can, when used judiciously, make life a little easier. On the whole, you should turn them all off and learn how to control every aspect of the camera yourself.
If you feel that you are too busy/uninterested/impatient to do that yourself, then hire a DP. It's the job of the DP to know EXACTLY how an image is formed on the camera at hand, and how to manipulate the camera to get the desired look.
There is no "best look" or "best setting". It's not an either-or question. There are thousands of "looks" -- to find a look you like, you can reference Hollywood films, or great painters, or home movies, whatever you like. The knowledge of how to achieve those looks is hard-won. Almost every camera setting can be part of that equation.
Like a lathe or a milling machine, your DVX has the power and control to completely wreck what you are trying to produce. You can make an ugly image, you can ruin your audio, you can even fry your microphones. If you would rather not have the ability to wreck things, then buy a camera with less control:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRHC3
Surely, if you bought a lathe, you wouldn't expect the lathe to make you into a master machinist?
The DVX100 has lots of automatic features and presets that can, when used judiciously, make life a little easier. On the whole, you should turn them all off and learn how to control every aspect of the camera yourself.
If you feel that you are too busy/uninterested/impatient to do that yourself, then hire a DP. It's the job of the DP to know EXACTLY how an image is formed on the camera at hand, and how to manipulate the camera to get the desired look.
There is no "best look" or "best setting". It's not an either-or question. There are thousands of "looks" -- to find a look you like, you can reference Hollywood films, or great painters, or home movies, whatever you like. The knowledge of how to achieve those looks is hard-won. Almost every camera setting can be part of that equation.
Like a lathe or a milling machine, your DVX has the power and control to completely wreck what you are trying to produce. You can make an ugly image, you can ruin your audio, you can even fry your microphones. If you would rather not have the ability to wreck things, then buy a camera with less control:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=HDRHC3
