Spare camera

shamsheed

Member
Has anyone had the chance to test the GS 180. I am thinking of getting 1 to use as a 2nd camera for shooting weddings... I like it as it can be discreet to catch emotions. What's the image quality compared to my DVX 100b. Will it do the job? Even in poor loght conditions

thx
 
The CCD is 1/6", so it's pretty bad in low light. Probably 2-3 stops slower than the DVX.

How about a used DVC30 or even a DVC7. At least they have 1/4" CCD, and they have a low pixel counts, so big pixels on the CCD to soak up light.
 
Joshua Provost said:
How about a used DVC30 or even a DVC7. At least they have 1/4" CCD, and they have a low pixel counts, so big pixels on the CCD to soak up light.

I second that. If you use the GS180, you will see a difference in the footage when you try and cut it together.
 
Thx. Got that. But still budget wise, I am looking for an alternative. Next consideration goes for the GS 500. That 1 seems to have 1/4" CCD and is half the price of the DVC 30. As for the DVC 7, I assume if will need more light as it is only 1CCD.
As far as I understand, CCD's are meant for colour re-production. In what other aspects does it affect the image?

CHeers
 
Hi SS, have you considered just hiring a second shooter for a particular gig for cheap? You can probably get another shooter with a DVX for cheaper than a rental, only because he or she will want the experience and to establish a relationship with someone who is obviously already able to acquire new gigs (you) :)

$100-$125 here and there to pay a shooter for a 3-4 hour music gig with an MC is going to get you a much higher quality product than a locked off second camera with a lower-grade chip. You have two shooters roaming and getting great shots. The DVD will look nicer, client's happier, recommends you to others, you make more moola on the next gig! And that way, you only have to pay someone when you have a paying gig, rather than shell out another $1000 for a lower quality camera right now.
 
Thx 4 the advice. I wish that was possible... But I'm in Mauritius, tht tiny winy golden island of the Indian Ocean... N as far as I know, I'm the only one that has the DVX on the Island... I was renting a Sony HD Z1, the pic is nice, but as I like to shoot with the cine gamma, the diff is 2 obvious.
 
Oh wow, that's a unique situation! :) Well then yes, I would say to go back to the earlier plans of getting a GS400 or DVC30. Still, finding someone to run around with it will get you a better video than locking it off, because a viewer is more likely to forgive lower quality 2nd camera footage by getting drawn into close ups of people rather than seeing grainy static wide shots. Good to do, unless there is alot of pomp and circumstance, i/e people doing group dancing where it is better to see the pattern of the group's movement than individual people.
 
My only prob is tht I would wish these cams had easy manual overrides as I like to use shutter speed instead of iris so as to have a minimum depth of field. These manufacturers should have speed dials on cams instead of touch buttons or panels. Just to share a tip, I add a +1 close up filter to my lens most of the times so as to add a bit more defocus 2 the backgrund. Wish I cud afford the 35mm adapters...
 
depending on your budget ive great things about the gs500, dvc30, dvc80 and if you can still find one the pv-dv953
 
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