Why do I love the look of the DVX100 so much?

mrbrycel

Well-known member
I've filmed skateboarding for many years, and am a long time Sony VX1000/Century MK1 Fisheye user. When the DVX came out, I wasn't really into any other type of video production or film making other than skateboarding, so at the time I was clueless to what 24p and 30p were. To me, shooting video was shooting video, and I loved (and still love) my vx1000.

I never liked the vx2000 or vx2100. It never bothered me that my vx didn't have an LCD, or that it was the lowest of the 3 vx's. But any skateboard filmer knows that vx1k/mk1 was THE skateboard camera set up. But there was something about the DVX100, not only when I saw its normal 60i footage, but just the physical attributes of the camera itself that intrigued me and want it so bad!

I took about a year and a half of working two jobs and got wrapped up in the unhappy cycle of working, eating, sleeping, and not filming. Believe it or not I started collecting valuable Nike dunks. Then, realizing again that my passion was videography, I decided I should look into school.

So I started going to Art Institute of Santa Monica, where I currently attend, majoring in Video Production and Digital Film Making. Its a great school, and I think its what really re-lit my passion for video/film. I learned a great deal about video and film, and I finally understood WHY the DVX100 was such a superior camera to the whole VX series, and even the PD150/170.

I wanted the DVX more than ever, now not only because it looked beautiful physically, and that it was pretty wide with a fisheye, but for its features (cinegamma, 24p, 30p, etc.)

So I looked back at my Nike Dunk collection (that I never wore), and decided to sell them all. Turns out, I made about $4,200! My Dad, proud that I was able to even save that much, spotted me an extra $1,000 to buy a brand new HVX200a.

That HVX is the most amazing camera I've ever used. I know a lot of people probably think thats funny, and call it a "cheap HD alternative", but man, thats an amazing camera!

But every time I see a DVX, even though I own an HVX, I look at it with amazement and think "wow... a DVX100..." I don't know what it is about it, the unique looking lens hood.. the color.. what is it? What is so great about a DVX100 that makes an HVX owner look at it like its something even better?? hahaha

Of course I know my HVX is better, and I don't plan on getting a DVX, but I just wanted to share my strange and funny DVX amazement, and see if anyone else loved the physical qualities of it as much as I do.
 
DVX is LEGEND.

I have this awesome 'make your own' black ikea shelf. So I basically turned it into a shrine for my dvx/sgpro setup for all to stare at. And the best part is I put LED diode lights in the top four sections of the shelf so I have a nice blue hue flowing over all the dvx's goodness. I really need to get a picture of it.

And that's crazy about your nike stuff selling for $4200. I love the dvx, and always will, but I still want to get an HVX or another hd camera... I almost feel like I would be betraying my roots though to go onto any other camera.
 
I remember the first time I held a DVX100. I was a freshman at film school and I remember how I thought it just the biggest camera ever!!!!

Now I work with Panavision 35mm cams and suddenly the DVX is not so big as it used to be.

Great camera! Good memories. Great Image!
 
I had a Sony BVWD600 Betacam. A $64,000.00 camera. After I sold it, I bought my first digital video camera, a DVX100A. I have since moved on to an HVX200, and now an HPX170. Did I sell off the BVWD600? Yes. Did I sell off the HVX200? Yes. Did I sell off the DVX100A? No. I still have it, I still use it and it still makes me money. Love that camera, even though I also love the HPX170 as well. But there is something about the look and feel of the DVX100 that is just magic, I totally know what you are talking about. So easy to use and so easy to light for. Small, light, classy looking, great looking 24p images. I shot my first A&E Biography on Brad Pitt in 2004 on this camera. I also made a ton of money with this little $3,500.00 camcorder, I think it paid for itself about 20 times over from 2003 to 2006.

I don't think I will ever sell it. Even after it breaks down and isn't repairable anymore, I will still keep it. It is what is known as a "classic". No really that different than a 57 Chevy Bel Air, a Herman Miller Aeron Chair or a really good In-And-Out Burger.

Dan
 
I've never used an HVX, but I'm familiar with that gear-lust. But strangely, whenever I get that gear-lust, I think of my trusty DVX and still feel good about it. Even if it is SD, it still yields beautiful results, and it's such a workhorse camera. I think even if I upgrade, I'll have a hard time letting my DVX go. I'll use it till it dies.
 
What is this HD of which you speak? The DVX rocks and I don't need anything else.

SD lives on with the Web, that's for sure. And my main corporate client, he loves everything shot in 4:3 30p DV and he also has a DVX so there is life left in it for a while for me. Although he did say that one of his clients is now just starting to request HD so we may have to start using the HPX170 for his shoots as well.

Dan
 
I also didn't sell the DVX after upgrading to the HVX. There's something very pleasing about the image that you can't get with the HVX. I might shoot the next DVXFest short on the DVX just for this look.
 
I had a DVX100, but I didn't like it at all.

Also, it had this weird noise like something was broken in it.







gniddik tsuj
 
The more and more I think about it, there is no way I'm going to sell my DVX100-A. Thing's classic. Got mojo coming out of its ears.
 
Art Institute???
but I LOVEE my DVX to death... got it last year (soph in highschool, junior now)
Great camera, best decision in buying a camera so far..
 
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