What you don't like in the DVX?

Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=boo link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#16 date=07/21/04 at 11:05:23]hey, i think aejaz is actually a panasonic engineer in disguise looking to see what to change and include in the upcoming DVX200HD!   ;D[/quote]


;D  thanks for honouring me...though apparently unintentionally. I wish I was as knowledgeable as a company engineer could be.  :D


:-X...have I again started sounding like a Panny Guy :P  
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

wait the dvx doesn't work good in low light? how low is low light considered.

I wanna do a short that requires a lot of just complete darkness and sometimes a flashlight.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

hmmmm. complete darkness? Never seen a movie in complete darkness. I imagine that it would be kind of boring. :D
The dvx in all actuality does great in low light. Progressive mode cuts down a little on the low light ability, but if you are shooting a short that needs to look dark, then you need to light it to look dark.
I recently did a wedding where the reception was lit all by candles which ran till about 11:30pm. I used my 35watt camera light and had beautiful color reproduction, and absolutely no noise in the shadows. No cameras look good with low light, so if you need it to look "low light" then you need to light it accordingly.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

I own the DVX100a as well as several other cameras.  My main dislike in this camera, although overcome in controlled environments - NOISY VIDEO GAIN.  I try and always use 0db if at all possible.  When in dim lighting forget about using more than +6dbs...  They should have just left anything over that disabled.  It's not useful at all IMO.  However, that is really only a minor problem if you can control your lighting.   For some, it could be a problem.

As a very frequent user of both the Sony VX2000 and Panny DVX100A in lower lit environments, I can honestly say the Sony is easier to use and get a good picture (in very dim lighting).  Sure, I put an NRG Varalux on my DVX and I get very nice results, but only on what is directly lit.  The falloff quickly becomes dim.  Although I prefer the look of the DVX footage in nearly all cases, the Sony does do a better job in dimly lit rooms.  I know this is an argument you see here often.  All I can say, is I shoot them side by side all the time...The difference is substantial.  HOWEVER, as the Sony does gain up much cleaner, the color and picture quality suffers a bit.  Give the DVX a little more light and it'll beat the Sony nearly every time.  But it's those dim receptions, when shooting a toast from 20ft away (when you have to) that the Sony's handling of light drop off becomes invaluable.   One thing to note though, the LCD on the DVX can fool you (even when you think you have it adjusted correctly).  There are many times where I think my footage is going to look grainy, only to be pleasantly surprised when I get it back to the studio and view it on my monitor.  It holds its color very well and is clean in the blacks when gain is not used.

As always, these are just my opinions after using them side by side a lot.  I wouldn't trade my DVX for a VX2k/PD150/170.   But, if the only thing I was shooting was dim wedding receptions, I'd consider it.  Thank God that is not the only thing I am shooting.  LOL.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

As for the low light...I try to compensate grain by loweirng the detail a bit and increasing the detail coring by 2-3 nothces. the trade off with the detail does a fantastic job.

First I used to feel upset about having a lesser detail ( to say -2 or -3), but then I realised that it DID make sense to have lesser detail in less well lit areas. No one expects an HD quality pic in an low-average lit room.

and off course the possibility of use of addtional light is always there.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

I have not tested the Sony so...really cant say anything about its performance.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

Iris ring on the lens please!

Interchangeable lenses a la XL1.

XLR covers you won't lose.

Oh...and it should automatically run itself...compose the shot, pan, tilt, focus, make comments to the talent, and fetch coffee.
;D
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

My list:

1. Interchangeable lenses
2. 16:9 chips (true anamorphic)
3. Adjustable stops on focus ring
4. Iris dial on the lens
5. Lanc type control for focus/zoom/etc.
6. LCD that displays entire captured image
7. End focus == infinity and not some out of focus region

Finally...

8. Espresso maker for late night shoots ;)
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=booggerg link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=0#5 date=07/20/04 at 12:17:02]-slowest zoom speed is too fast
-Too long of delay switching from Interlaced to Progressive mode
-Tricky to use lens cover design
[/quote]

I take it that you have a 100, not the 100A? All of those were addressed in the 100A.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=aaandre link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=0#8 date=07/20/04 at 14:19:25]
- demands expensive dry lube master quality tape
- ditto on LANC support,[/quote]

You consider $5 expensive tape?

Why does everyone want LANC... it isn't magic... if Panny added more than 3 steps their remote can do anything LANC can do with the possible exception of remote focus. Remote focus is completely unusable on any LANC control I've ever used (which I believe is all of them).
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=Stas_Tagios link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=0#11 date=07/21/04 at 02:38:58]I would love a more variable servo zoom on the camera.  I know the 100A at least improved on the zoom's slowest speed, but I'm still stuck with the DVX-100, and a 15 sec slow zoom that's not even particularly smooth in 24p.
I'm talking super-slow creep, a la the opening shot of "The Conversation," and any pro servo zoom. [/quote]

I get real close to that using a Zoe and the 100A... real close to our 300's with the zoom controls. 

[quote author=Stas_Tagios link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=0#11 date=07/21/04 at 02:38:58]And 16:9 chips, of course. :)

Actually, 16:9 guides in the viewfinder would have been nice too. [/quote]

Those are the two I'd really like to see.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=Aejaz link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=0#13 date=07/21/04 at 06:34:42]I think it would also help if you could specify whether you have a DVX 100 or 100A.[/quote]

Ditto... a lot of these comments are fixed in the 100A.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=shai link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#19 date=07/22/04 at 00:34:52]
* bring the iris ring to where it belongs - on the lens!
* be brave and make it -- once and for all, a non-infinite focus ring.
* as mentioned here, but further more -- 1.78:1 / 1.85:1 / 2.35:1 guides in the viewfinder.
* another record on/off button, on the front - lower side of the camera.[/quote]

Nice list... I wonder if we could also add what price we would be willing to pay for all these improvements. I for one would pay more for native 16:9 chips, true focus ring, etc.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=scharky link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#22 date=07/25/04 at 11:05:20]No cameras look good with low light, so if you need it to look  "low light" then you need to light it accordingly.[/quote]

I was wondering when someone would bring this up. Low light sensitivity is an over rated requirement. There ought to be an "I wouldn't accept this crappy quality at that level of light" rating. The key is that many cameras can capture in low light (the 100A included), but to get any color you need some light! Like others, I use a 50w Frezzi dimmable with a soft box on it. I can shoot just about anything with that "less than 50W delivered" light.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=AndrewD link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#23 date=07/25/04 at 19:13:20]I can honestly say the Sony is easier to use and get a good picture (in very dim lighting).

HOWEVER, as the Sony does gain up much cleaner, the color and picture quality suffers a bit.  Give the DVX a little more light and it'll beat the Sony nearly every time.  But it's those dim receptions, when shooting a toast from 20ft away (when you have to) that the Sony's handling of light drop off becomes invaluable. [/quote] 

I really don't understand these comments. I too had both. I find the controls on the DVX much easier to use than the Sony. The Sony's destroy color saturation under gain, can't produce a proper black and is grainier than hell. Yes, the picture is brighter, but none of my clients would ever accept that "consumer home movie" quality.


[quote author=AndrewD link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#23 date=07/25/04 at 19:13:20]One thing to note though, the LCD on the DVX can fool you (even when you think you have it adjusted correctly).  There are many times where I think my footage is going to look grainy, only to be pleasantly surprised when I get it back to the studio and view it on my monitor.  It holds its color very well and is clean in the blacks when gain is not used.[/quote]

Absolutely... experienced that shooting the Beach Boys... was much happier in the studio. It's good that you reminded new users of that...
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=boo link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=15#28 date=07/26/04 at 12:14:15]hansk,

pass me the pipe... :P[/quote]

Yeah, but I like his list (1-7)... I already have an espresso machine
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=Mike_Donis link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=30#36 date=07/27/04 at 10:31:16]The Beach Boys?[/quote]

The California group that The Beatles said they got inspiration from... later the beach Boys said they were in awe of the Sgt. Pepper transformation... a revelation in their minds.

Anyway, they were in town doing a Charity performance and consented to letting me shoot the performance (I was there for the Charity client). They don't often allow that. The footage was shot on my first 100 (wish the 100A had been out), but it is incredible... the color saturation, the rich blacks.

I've had more people buy 100s after seeing that footage. I showed it to a local WEVA contingent (wedding videographers), and half the group bought 100s for low light work (replacing Sony's). As of last week, all but two have 100s.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

Boo...

now you tell me! WHO sounds like a Panasonic Engineer ;D ;D

just joking :)
 
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