Hi everyone. I am a student currently learning media production. At school I am able to use HMC40 cameras, but I would like a unit of my own to practice with and explore, try things out, and so forth. I see that DVX100(B) cameras are somewhat affordable (I do not have much money to spend on this, nor will I any time soon, so cameras like HMC40s are out of the question for me). My question is, is this camera just too old to be helpful? I feel that despite its age, it will help me to learn the fundamentals about shooting video and becoming comfortable doing so, as well as developing an eye for what works and what doesn't. It is my understanding this is one of the best SD cameras available. Despite all this, I wonder am I going to be satisfied with this camera? In a world where EVERYTHING is now HD, is it going to look "bad"? Hopefully someone who has one still can chime in. If I were to shoot a wedding for instance (not professional, would be secondary to videographer), would the first thing people notice be that it looks poor?
should I buy the DVX100B, or is it just too old?
- Thread starter mnewxcv
- Start date
It will look a bit soft compared to HD. The image is beautiful for SD, and the anamorphic 16:9 squeeze and can be up-sized to HD failry well for an SD image... but it is still SD.
It is a camera that is past EOL, so there is little support for it if something breaks.
It is a tape-based workflow, which (though I do miss having my footage on a tape for safe keeping) is time-consuming. If you're on a Mac, tape-based workflow is being phased out of Apple's NLEs. If you're on Windows, you'll need to add a FireWire port and check your NLE for DV support.
Tape stock is not as widely-available as it used to be, though it isn't dead yet.
There will be no resale value, and you'll be hard-pressed to monetize that investment. It will be a learner, but that may be it. You won't see that money again.
It is a camera that is past EOL, so there is little support for it if something breaks.
It is a tape-based workflow, which (though I do miss having my footage on a tape for safe keeping) is time-consuming. If you're on a Mac, tape-based workflow is being phased out of Apple's NLEs. If you're on Windows, you'll need to add a FireWire port and check your NLE for DV support.
Tape stock is not as widely-available as it used to be, though it isn't dead yet.
There will be no resale value, and you'll be hard-pressed to monetize that investment. It will be a learner, but that may be it. You won't see that money again.
thanks for the reply! I know that if anything breaks I am SOL. As for tape based, I would likely be using firewire direct to laptop for live recording to avoid tape altogether, except as a last resort, or, if I just need some short footage quickly, to be extra portable. I use Avid MC and Premiere Pro so I can capture fine.
As for value, I know this is not an investment. But buying used on ebay, they are pretty cheap as it is, and when I upgrade, back to ebay it will go.
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Anything else I should look for, or worry about?
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
The DVX100b is an excellent camera to learn with. It has all the professional controls you could want plus a good zoom range. If you have a firewire port on your laptop (rare these days) the DVX100b should work great for you!
I just happen to have TWO DVX100b's that I need to sell -- don't WANT to sell them because I love this camera! But need to. Got spare batteries and a carrying case that holds both cams. Would let the pair go for a VERY reasonable price. Message me if you're interested.
I just happen to have TWO DVX100b's that I need to sell -- don't WANT to sell them because I love this camera! But need to. Got spare batteries and a carrying case that holds both cams. Would let the pair go for a VERY reasonable price. Message me if you're interested.
ah, thats what I meant, not stretch! Thank you, I will play around with that within Premiere Pro and On Location.
I tested it out briefly in the back yard to see how it handled. I put focus and iris on auto, and cranked the chroma to see what effect it would have. A bit too much, but still finding the sweet spot. This test was really to see how 480p -> 720p would look, so framing, white balance, etc, were not priority. I think it looks pretty good actually in terms of detail. I do need to sharpen it though.
https://youtu.be/b1iFy-G6atM
https://youtu.be/b1iFy-G6atM
Drew Ott
Wish I were banned.
I find the aesthetic of this footage to be surprisingly nice. It's definitely soft though. I'm not sure if you're missing the focus, or if the camera and post process are making it soft. Either way, the colors are very nice. There's less of a plastic / clinical feel that a lot of newer cameras have. Be sure to clean off your lens with a lens cloth.
shot another video today.
https://youtu.be/izNVh7UwjnQ
learned that on ATW it doesn't white balance constantly, so the indoor shots are overly warm because I thought it automatically corrected without having to hit the AWB button. Oh well! practice is good.
https://youtu.be/izNVh7UwjnQ
learned that on ATW it doesn't white balance constantly, so the indoor shots are overly warm because I thought it automatically corrected without having to hit the AWB button. Oh well! practice is good.
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
Glad you're having fun with it! Just be careful how you connect the firewire cable when you are using it -- or another camcorder -- to capture footage to your computer. Do it wrong and you can blow the camera's firewire port.
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
This has been said a zillion times here, but it's always worth repeating.
If your firewire cable has a wide plug (6-pin) on the computer end and a narrow plug (4-pin) on the camera end, then BE CAREFUL! You can VERY easily blow the firewire port on your camera by connecting things in the wrong order.
On the 6-pin firewire jack on your computer, 2 of those pins are for POWER. This is mainly for use with firewire hard drives, I believe. The camera doesn't need power from the PC, so it doesn't use those two pins -- thus, the 4-pin connector on the camera end. HOWEVER, if your computer is turned ON and you connect the CAMERA end of the cable first, followed by the COMPUTER end, you run the risk of accidentally brushing the data pins of the 6-pin jack against the power pins of the plug. This sends power through the data lines of the cable, and that fries your firewire port. It's very easy to do, unfortunately -- as many here have learned.
There are several ways to avoid this.
1. Only use a cable with 4-pin connectors on both ends, which requires having a 4-pin firewire jack on your computer. As long as both are 4-pin, then there are no pins with power on them so no problems.
2. Always have your computer turned OFF when connecting the cable -- not just in 'sleep' mode, but completely powered down. This way there's no power at the pins of the card, so no power can be sent to the camera.
3. Always connect the COMPUTER end of the cable FIRST. Only after it's connected, then connect the CAMERA end. As long as you always do it in that order, there is no danger of accidentally sending power to the data pins.
Any of those methods will keep you from blowing the firewire port on your camera.
If your firewire cable has a wide plug (6-pin) on the computer end and a narrow plug (4-pin) on the camera end, then BE CAREFUL! You can VERY easily blow the firewire port on your camera by connecting things in the wrong order.
On the 6-pin firewire jack on your computer, 2 of those pins are for POWER. This is mainly for use with firewire hard drives, I believe. The camera doesn't need power from the PC, so it doesn't use those two pins -- thus, the 4-pin connector on the camera end. HOWEVER, if your computer is turned ON and you connect the CAMERA end of the cable first, followed by the COMPUTER end, you run the risk of accidentally brushing the data pins of the 6-pin jack against the power pins of the plug. This sends power through the data lines of the cable, and that fries your firewire port. It's very easy to do, unfortunately -- as many here have learned.
There are several ways to avoid this.
1. Only use a cable with 4-pin connectors on both ends, which requires having a 4-pin firewire jack on your computer. As long as both are 4-pin, then there are no pins with power on them so no problems.
2. Always have your computer turned OFF when connecting the cable -- not just in 'sleep' mode, but completely powered down. This way there's no power at the pins of the card, so no power can be sent to the camera.
3. Always connect the COMPUTER end of the cable FIRST. Only after it's connected, then connect the CAMERA end. As long as you always do it in that order, there is no danger of accidentally sending power to the data pins.
Any of those methods will keep you from blowing the firewire port on your camera.
I appreciate the tips! I always leave the computer end plugged in so I don't face an issue.
some more "test" footage, playing with manual focus and exposure. all handheld.
https://youtu.be/7cl1YoRYu2A
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David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
How did you have the ATW setup? Where was it allocated?
Mike Parker
Active member
Don't let anyone sell the DVX100B short. It remains a fabulous camera that has a certain "look" that HD doesn't have. I have a Panny GH3 and two GX7s but use my DVX100B with a FireStore FS-H200 Pro Compact Flash recorder whenever I am seeking that softer and often more flattering look when shooting interviews. The FireStore drive uses the FW400 port on the DVX and records .mov video files while the camera is recording on tape. You then pop the CF card in your laptop via a USB card reader and drag the files on to your desktop. I used to have a DVX100A and bought a used DVX100B with 6 hours on the clock about five years ago for $1200. These days, you can find similar cameras on eBay in the $500 range. I paid $1300 for my first FS-H200 Pro recorder 10 years ago and bought another one a couple of years ago from B&H for about $500. The drives are a huge time-saver, "capturing" one hour of video in about five minutes. I shoot in Squeeze mode at 24p and the video looks fabulous on a DVD.