Such a different picture quality-Same DVX100!how?Help!

E

eladbari

Member
Hey there!
I am considering purchasing a DVX100A at the moment and am trying to grab as many video samples as i can of that camera.
I am so confused as i get to see these samples:
http://www.anvilpictures.com/video.php
[i know its low quality but you can sense the "feel" of the camera]

http://www.stickypod.com/videos/data/524/MOGTrailer.mov

http://www.jellyjam.com/gollum/cross_pollenation.wmv
[i can bring more but thats too horrible]


But on the other hand i see these samples:

http://digitaliconstudios.com/screening_room/
[AMAZING joy ride and daredevil]

http://thenovaproject.com/bcr_video_player.html
http://thenovaproject.com/ingram_epk_video.html
http://thenovaproject.com/tp_love_video.html
[the AMAZING thenovaproject]

WTF is going on here?!!?!?
All use same DVX100 and its a night and day difference!
Im speaking about Picture Quality and Cinematic feel to it!
I bet all used 24p!

Please...i need your help!
I cannot believe that the last samples i gave look so good because of "heavy editing" or something.
I mean...theres a chance the 1st videos were shot by people that didnt really know how to operate the DVX100... but STILL! there shouldnt be THAT much of a difference in quality!

what do you say guys?
im beginning to doubt the investment on a DVX100 coz of these samples [as im a newbie to it all] i dont wanna find out i will end up with that low quality\or unwanted results. it makes me consider buying those Sony HDV cams again :crybaby: [hc1+3=cheaper]
How can you explain this?
Need help!
thank you! :]
 
eladbari said:
there shouldnt be THAT much of a difference in quality!
Click to expand...


No, there should be. It's incredibly easy to shoot ugly, terrible, unuseable footage with ANY camera. Give most people a Cinealta and give an experienced DP a DVX100, and you'd probably come out preferring the DVX100. These are not toys. It takes a lot of knowledge and time to make the most of them. An eye for framing, lighting, color, experience with the equipment, editing, color correction... all make an enormous difference. If you can't grasp that, then it doesn't matter what camera you buy.
 
i can bring more but thats too horrible
Click to expand...

First I dont think its polite to come here and just critisize people for having a go. Thats what this forum is about. You could at least put forth YOUR opinion as to why you didnt like them.

Secondly I dont recommend you purchase a DVX. The reality is in full manual mode you need to do many things to get the picture right, which takes a lot of work. It doesnt seem your interested in that, just a point and shoot type camera so maybe a full auto Sony HDV cam is the best choice for you.
 
was sure it wouldve been easier.

was sure it wouldve been easier.

ncjice, i know.
im sorry bout that.its not pretty nice of me. but i had to be a little blunt to let you know how i really feel about this. this investment isnt about a 100$... its a lot more...hence i wanna know everything before i do my purchase.

briceman, thats really impressive right there :] was it in 24p?
[what is that comment about the adapter in that thread? adapter=?]

mostly i would like to create the feel in my picture of the last samples i posted.
thing is, would i be able to do it after purchasing that DVD instructional for example.
I am a newb, but i do have the vision and i like all the technical side of stuff. but the last few samples i found round the web just paralised me from considering this dvx100. i dont wanna come back home and watching results i dont like.
It would be nice to get a sony HC1 or HC3...just point and shoot and get great results like this:
http://homepage1.nifty.com/CUE/hdv_movie/hdv.htm
but i feel that if i go for this small consumer product-i might be running in place.not evolving as a creator. [plus..its a hard choice what to pick cause both models have such low points to one another that its really hard to pick one [low light difficulties...focus problems..sharpness problem...lack of manual control etc.].

ahhh... i really dont know what to do.
 
oh...and ...forgot..
main reason why i dont wanna pick an HDV camera right now is that

its a new technology.might not be wise to buy something way far from perfect

the Feel of these cameras can only relate to Documentries IMO.
I cant vision a videoclip using that cam.i just see "supersize me" :]

small cam=shaky cam=amature

i like the focus control for example,and bet if i knew more bout general manual control-i would like that.

HDV isnt that strong in market, and more likey i would edit in normal video.
But when i would like to use HD..i would need a killer computer to handle it.

i think using a dvx100 will repay itself one day...comparing to an HDV cam.
 
content rules over "the film look" or this cam and that cam any day IMO! tell a good story and capture the audience . they wont care what format it was shot with.
 
It's all about the shooter. The differences you're seeing are due to different skill levels. Look at the videos done by Matt McDermitt or Patryk Rebisz or Rich Lee or Bob Gundu or Neil Rowe or ... well, dozens more. In the right hands the DVX can produce amazing images.

In the wrong hands it can produce garbage.

Same with film. A novice shooter can make film look terrible. Conrad Hall could use the same camera and get absolutely brilliant results out of it.

The DVX is plenty enough to get incredible results. Don't forget that a DVX-shot movie won the Best Cinematography award at Sundance in 2004, and another DVX-shot movie won Best Cinematography at Sundance in the documentary category this last year. It's more than capable.
 
cinematography (lighting ya know)
magic hour
color correction
and maybe some in camera tweaking

only one of those four has anything to do with knowing "how to operate the DVX" per se, vs. just knowing how to shoot

you also have a bias for sepia tinted work

the first examples you showed just looked like sharp clean video to me

the DVX and NLE's are both powerful tools for creating a variety of looks

you will find stuff more towards the clean video end of the spectrum (your fisrt examples)

and you will find heavily CC'ed or carefully tweaked things that achieve a "filmic look" or are high on beauty factor
 
hey guys!
thanx for the replys! i appreciate it.
thing is...
do you think the DVX100A is a camera that suits a newbie in the cinematography area? should i get near it? or should i just pass?
Could i get what i want using my head and all these DVD guides for the DVX?

and....matt s. -i know content is important, but without the looks-its just nothing. i AM looking for the perfect feel of picture.
it might be just first infusiasm...but for me..picture a garbage can with the look of the last 3 links i gave [thenovaproject] and i will be sticking to the screen :]

thing is...how hard is to get that exact look?! that novaproject look?
doesnt seem like you need to be sucha pro to get it IMO.
dammit ... :]
what do you think?

ALL I KNOW is if you have to be a photographer with a 5 year experience or something-to get these results.....and if i wont be able to get them after a few months experience with the camera- i will be really frustrated.
 
Last edited:
I started shooting in July.
No experience or training.
I've done OK
(see my website link in my siganature)
If you get a new one that ships with Barry's book and DVD you will be more than fine
In fact I'm realizing that Barry's Book/DVD and this website should be listed in the PRO's column anytime somebody's in the DVX vs. XL2 conundrum.
There has just never been a better manual written that can be read and understood and appreciated by laypersons and old pro's a like (period)
... so if you get used one then by Barry's book (link also in sig).
No reason to get a lesser camera unless you can't afford the DVX.
The DVX will not bite you and you can put it on auto and shoot it just like a single chip family camera ...
but that's not what you wanna do is it?
you wanna make movies don't you ...

So get your DVX already and get to it!
 
eladbari:

Unless you are COMMITTED and PATIENT about learning your craft and spending time not only to learn framing, lighting, sound but the elements of camera work like DOF, Exposure, Focusing Techniques. And then all that goes with editing, no camera will make the difference.

The beauty of this is to see the difference in the final product as your skill grows and all the pieces come together. I have shot video for 20 years but it was just video. The DVX 100a and now the 100b changed everything and I am loving the challenge to shift my style and processes to the cinematic feel and look.

Its not the camera its YOU who will make the difference.

Good shooting,

S Cannon
 
Hey Jack!
That is a pretty impressive site and movies you got! [u submitted them to competitions allready? wow!].
allthough i really dig your work... i prefer the "feel" of this one. its better suited to my taste:
http://thenovaproject.com/oslo_video.html
its not a movie...but still :]
thats the look im looking for.

im pretty sure it was filmed using a DVX100 wasnt it?

After watching all these samples.....im pretty confused....
I cant believe the same camera can make all of these countless different "looks" and "feels" to the movies it makes.
is that possible? is that the magic of manual control?
or mostly what changes the feel\pic quality is done with editing?

really confusing...
 
I think the dvx is something worth investing. But i agreed that the learning time
is going to be longer than sony. as sony camera are easier to master.

but as you goes on into professional line, when detail determine destiny.
you will realise how important simple thing like water balance and color will
affect the look and the feel of your video
 
Eladbari,
First off thanks for your compliments on my work. I think you are a bit confused on how things work. Buying a DVX is not going to make you a good DP nor it is not going to make you a bad one. You can't take this camera out of the box and expect to magically become Roger Deakins. You also can't expect to shoot for a month and be anywhere close to good. You can have talent and shoot all you like and never find greatness. A camera is just a tool - tool of a trade that requires talent, patience, dedication and RESPECT in order to master. From your email and your comments I would not recommend this camera to you as you will be disappointed.
Thanks,
Pete
http://digitaliconstudios.com/screening_room/
 
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