JT_Productions
Active member
Just curious, what were the improvements that took place between the original 100, 100a and 100b?
What are the differences?
- Thread starter JT_Productions
- Start date
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but...
- The chips improved with each generation.
- The 100a fixed some 24p bugs with the original 100, added anamorphic 16:9, and unlocked the color bars in 24p mode.
- The 100b added the ability to monitor anamorphic 16:9 during production using a letterbox display on the LCD; the LCD can flip out a little bit past 90º, though this added feature required the omission of interval recording (time lapse); the 100b can record using TC from an external FW source, meaning a two-camera shoot can result in both cameras having TC sync; and I believe the 100b has some additional menu features for tweaking image and settings.
- The chips improved with each generation.
- The 100a fixed some 24p bugs with the original 100, added anamorphic 16:9, and unlocked the color bars in 24p mode.
- The 100b added the ability to monitor anamorphic 16:9 during production using a letterbox display on the LCD; the LCD can flip out a little bit past 90º, though this added feature required the omission of interval recording (time lapse); the 100b can record using TC from an external FW source, meaning a two-camera shoot can result in both cameras having TC sync; and I believe the 100b has some additional menu features for tweaking image and settings.
Richter Video Equipment
Well-known member
100---->A
http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/#DVX100A
Delivery date? Shipping: folks had them in their hot sweaty hands in January 2004, just as Panasonic promised.
MSRP? US$3995. Reputable dealeras have them as low as US$3500 (as of January 2004).
Is it worth getting a DVX100A model instead of a used or discounted DVX100? The “plain old 100” is still a mighty fine camera. I still have my 100, and I haven't even begun to exhaust its capabilities yet. I'll probably upgrade to a 100A at some point, but it'll be driven by a specific job; I can't justify the upgrade on its own merits unless those merits include significant paying gigs, grin.
In late 2005, Panasonic announced the DVX100B. While the main purpose of the B model was RoHS compliance (Reduction of Hazardous Substances in manufacturing, required in the EU starting in 2006), Panasonic squeezed in a few additional improvements, such as sharper EVF and flip-out LCDs, true 16x9 monitoring, more remotely-controllable functions, and FireWire scene file transfer. See http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/100b/ for
details.
a--->B
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/100b/
http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/#DVX100A
- Video
- In-camera 16x9 using 4x3 CCDs; very good in progressive mode
- More gamma and matrix settings; knee present in cine gammas; more latitude (pix below)
- Adjustable knee in video gammas: auto, high, mid, and low settings
- Adjustments for vertical edge enhancement and detail coring
- New color matrices and changes in color rendition
- M.O.D. at telephoto reduced from over three feet to 1 foot 8 inches (i.e., from “50” to “37” units)
- New prism for improved color reproduction; less flare
- Slow shutter speeds: as slow as 1/6 in 24p, 1/4 in 60i and 30p
- Audio
- Perfect audio/video sync at 60i and 30p; much better than DVX100 at 24p
- Progressive
- Gain boost (to +12dB) and color bars in progressive shooting
- “Focus assist” in progressive (auto-focus, but slow!)
- Instantaneous switching between progressive and interlaced modes
- Operations
- EVF DTL – peaking in the EVF and on the LCD to improve focusability! Hooray!
- Zoom ring has viscous drag for much smoother manual zooms
- Raised guards on audio pots and scene file dial
- Slower power zoom speed (30 seconds vs. 15 on my DVX100)
- 3 USER buttons instead of two, and two additional options for those buttons
- VF readout of zebra setting when MODE CHK is pressed; high zebra extended from 100 to 105 units
- “Marker” numerical exposure readout extended from 90% to 99%, with a center target zone for the spotmeter shown in the marker
- More scratchproof EVF lens (I am told; I didn't test it!)
- Color / B&W mode for EVF; more EVF and LCD adjustments
- MODE CHK shows user button settings
- Improved lens cap
- The stabilizer still “clunks” when the camera is shut off and tilted back and forth.
- The color saturation patterning problem still exists.
- Same size, weight, lens threading, tripod socket, etc.: all DVX100 accessories will fit the DVX100A.
- Same exposure responsiveness, manual controllability, etc.
Delivery date? Shipping: folks had them in their hot sweaty hands in January 2004, just as Panasonic promised.
MSRP? US$3995. Reputable dealeras have them as low as US$3500 (as of January 2004).
Is it worth getting a DVX100A model instead of a used or discounted DVX100? The “plain old 100” is still a mighty fine camera. I still have my 100, and I haven't even begun to exhaust its capabilities yet. I'll probably upgrade to a 100A at some point, but it'll be driven by a specific job; I can't justify the upgrade on its own merits unless those merits include significant paying gigs, grin.
In late 2005, Panasonic announced the DVX100B. While the main purpose of the B model was RoHS compliance (Reduction of Hazardous Substances in manufacturing, required in the EU starting in 2006), Panasonic squeezed in a few additional improvements, such as sharper EVF and flip-out LCDs, true 16x9 monitoring, more remotely-controllable functions, and FireWire scene file transfer. See http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/100b/ for
details.
a--->B
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/100b/