What you don't like in the DVX?

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

I like everything about my DVX. My suggestion for improvements, though, in order, maybe:

1) Better servo and manual zoom control. I have a "P", but even the A's are a lot less smooth than I'd prefer. Sadly, many cheap cameras with LANC offer close to "true stepless" zooming, where the DVX has those 3 clunky steps. And, of course, the light touch of the manual zoom on the "P" makes it almost useless (for what I do, anyway...)

2) Greater headphone volume

3) Remote focus capability

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

[quote author=Mitch_Ives link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=30#38 date=07/27/04 at 10:38:45]

The California group that The Beatles said they got inspiration from...[/quote]


Oh I know who they are, I just was wondering what you did with them! I thought it might have been a film about them or something...
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

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. RGB Output (SDI?, w/o compression)
8. LCD guides
9. Fix the reds!
10. Save/load settings from
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

I have an easy one. Loose the built in mic that only gets in the way of the matteboxes, add that shitty directional mic included in the package (stop trying to rip people off with that...) just like the Sony. Then we will have a shitty mic that we, at least, can remove if it's in the way.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=taubkin link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=30#43 date=07/30/04 at 06:38:17]I have an easy one. Loose the built in mic that only gets in the way of the matteboxes, add that shitty directional mic included in the package (stop trying to rip people off with that...) just like the Sony. Then we will have a shitty mic that we, at least, can remove if it's in the way.[/quote]

I'd agree... it would make it appear more pro as well... the onboard belongs on a consumer model...
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

Interestingly...NOW... no one finds the strobing effects of fast pans in progressive mode...any more annoying in the DVX. Earlier this year, there was heated discussion on this issue, in the forum. There was even an opinion poll where votes seemed to be evenly divided for and against the camera.

Perhaps folks have learnt to live 'progressive'..ly. :)
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

It's hard for people, who haven't had the experience of shooting film, to get used to the "strobe" on pans, but video-only user seem to have finally "educated" their eyes.... :D Something else didn't show up :
The ever present smear on the CCDs ( the 150/170 has the same probs )
When you're used to HighEnd HAD chips it's always frustrating to be hampered by those vertical "prison bars" when shooting a concert for example.
Anyone else here annoyed ?
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

*sigh*, I *need* a solid Telephoto Lens. I can live without 16:9, but not
a longer lens ... One that holds focus :( ...
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

MAJOR
-Focusing sharpness in displays is often annoying.
-Zoom control could be improved more.
-Bottom plate should be more substantial. Have busted those. Try steel, not composite/aluminum. Maybe even bigger hole. I need 100% solid, unbreakable mounting.
-User diagnostic software. Press a button to ask "Are all systems go?"
-REMOTE FOCUS. Period.
-better, adjustable OIS
-Take zoom SILENT
-Transport and eject mechanism beefed up to unbreakable standards. It still feels like a consumer cam mechanics.

MINOR
-more "tooth" to focus & zoom rings.
-matte plate in front of lens is annoying for cleaning.
-on-board mike is never used.
-Audio port covers lost long ago.
-gain swith for headphones would be useful.
-Affordable pro matte box
-simple, extensive time lapse functionality
-get rid of "clunk" sound

DREAM
-interchangable lenses
-removable hard drive recording
-larger CCDs
-cheap, full-day batteries.

Still the best for the price range hands down. Thanks Panasonic.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

The DVX100 and 100A are just wonderful and unique cameras; the biggest problem is that they are able to come so close to "pro" level cameras in terms of imnage quality, and generally sound quality, while being in the consumer level for other aspects, like the servo-zoom options, and the total lack of servo focus ooptions!
-For example of course you can remote-control the zoom with a variety of 3rd party solutions, yet none, to my knowledge at this point anyway, actually allow a true creep zoom, esp at the start of a zoom; rumor has it that a re-send to Panasonic can help, but that may be urban e-legend!
-noisy darks; the 100A improves substantially on the original in this area, but still...
-a problem that all "24p" cameras have, is the viewfinding systems inability to display an interlaced, smooth image when capturing 24p or 23.97p; even the Hdef offerings from panasonic, S0ny and Thomson show a stuttering reporduction, making follow-focus quite difficult.
-related: if only the live output of the DVX could play back smoothly (pre-pulled-down?)image when you are recording AND displaying via a projector or monitor; as it is, at our facility when describing the "24p look" the two step process of recording a scene, with the puzzled or worried look of students or clientts, then playing it back to show a smooth 'filmic' like motion, is a little clumsy, with the client or the students being nervous about 'the look' once they've seen the single-field stuttry one already...
-better battery options would be nice; by the way, theones sold on this site are quite nice, if a bit ooptinistic in their estimations!
On that subject, has anyone else found it takes longer to charge them that you'd expect?

Overall the DVX is the sweetest DV camera out there!
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

I must admit, I love my DVX, but those itty bitty, cheezy mic gain dials are terrible. How about the kind that pop out so you can get a real grip on the things? How much could that possibly add to the cost of the camera?

I second the motion for a real solid power switch.

I also second the motion to get rid of the matte plate in front of the lens ort at least make it easy to remove for cleaning.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=alexcam link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=45#46 date=07/30/04 at 14:40:05]It's hard for people, who haven't had the experience of shooting film, to get used to the "strobe" on pans, but video-only user seem to have finally "educated" their eyes....  :D      [/quote]

i think people learn to avoid the strobing or at least limit it.

when you watch DVDs (feature films i mean) there are some with lots of strobe and there are others with none at all even obn relatively fast pans. go figure.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

[quote author=alpi69 link=board=nws;num=1090309559;start=45#53 date=08/01/04 at 09:20:56]

i think people learn to avoid the strobing or at least limit it.

[/quote]

I fully agree. DVX, in my opinion has helped both new and potential videographers improve their progressive shooting skills considerably.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

The limited Depth of Field of the DVX: Is it an issue concerning this camera or the DV cameras in general.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

Every video camera. Especially the ones with small 1/3" or smaller CCDs.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

I've had my DVX100A since May. This past week, I spent the whole week as the official videographer for a high school religious youth camp. I spent all my waking hours with the camera and used it under a wide variety of conditions.

Forget the wish list of 16:9 chips and interchangeable lenses - my list is totally practical and functional given the general specifications of the camera:

-The auto focus is too slow - I missed some critical shots because of it. By the time I realized and flipped the switch to manual and focused - too late
-the lens cap is tough to put on - only after hundreds of opportunities can I get it on first try
-the XLR caps should flip back and be anchored to the camera - I'm down one now (anyone know how to replace those?)
-The audio gain dials are awkward to use while shooting
-Yes, Barry, 16x would be just about right, then I could get a head and shoulders shot from the back of the auditorium
-There should be a consumer type "auto white balance" option for when you're in a pinch. I spent the week finding something white to white balance when the 56k and 32k presets were inadequate.
-The hiss coming out of the headphone jack is a pain
-The zoom rocker and record button on the top handle is a great idea, but the choice 1 is too fast, choice two doesn't work, and choice three is too slow
-Most embarrassing - using the professional DVX all week and the professional Final Cut Pro HD all week, my 17 minute music video recap and the end of the week played from my DVX into the LCD projector. Much to my horror, the default setting for playback of the date was on the whole thing. It gave it the amateur home video touch!

With all of these complaints vented, I love the camera, I love what it can do. I used 24p all week. While up on the LCD projector much of the quality was lost, I just watched it on our 19" TV at home and the color and clarity were just supurb. It looked network quality to me. Some of the lighting was tricky, with some well lit parts of the staging, some poorly lit, and some bright and dark areas of the crowd. The blacks were black (except were I use the gain, which was not too impressive). Just like Andrew said above - the 3.5 inch LCD screen doesn't do justice the the picture you're getting under those less then optimal conditions. Even campfire shots which I though were useless turned out to be quite usable.
 
Re: What you don't like in the DVX?

-The zoom rocker and record button on the top handle is a great idea, but the choice 1 is too fast, choice two doesn't work, and choice three is too slow

There is a menu setting under SW mode to optionally make the number 2 position on the handle zoom to Off or Medium speed zoom.
 
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