DVX100 -- various topics

Neil Goodwin · January 31st, 2004, 10:22 AM

This was shot in October, edited in November on the original DVX100. Probably 15-20% of the shots were not done on the DVX100 but on a much cheaper camera because I couldn't be there when needed and it was "stock" footage if you will...wish I could have captured the entire thing though on the DVX100.

Regardless, go to www.dec12studios.net and click on the main picture or click on documentaries.

Some of the sounds are temporary....but it's coming along....music by a Goth band called Leper, and a Nashville musician named Nathan Pohl.

Tavis Shaver · January 31st, 2004, 07:00 PM

looks interesting but you really need to kill the reverb or chorus or whatever you used on the voice over...it's a little, um... much

Mike Zorger · February 4th, 2004, 08:39 AM

does the dvx100 take still pictures??

Bill Peterson · February 4th, 2004, 09:42 AM

Not as a seperate function. There's no "still shot" button as such. You can however shoot at 30 fps and pull an ok still from those frames if needed.

B

Mark Grgurev · February 8th, 2004, 11:48 AM

How well of a widescreen image can you make by taking 2 DVX100s and puting them side by side and then editing the two images together in post.

Stephen van Vuuren · February 8th, 2004, 12:08 PM

I experimented with this several years ago with my XL1 (actually stitched 4 pictures together.

The big problem is focal length. Wider angle introduce distortion in the image and when put together, it's quite obvious. It can be a cool effect, but the day to day logistics for everyday shooting are formidable.

Ronnie Bryan · February 8th, 2004, 10:07 PM

How many hours should roll by before I clean the heads on my DVX 100? Should I use the head cleaning tape that came with this unit, or is there a better method?
thanks, Ronnie B

Peter J Alessandria · February 9th, 2004, 06:53 PM

I think you'll find people suggesting using the included (with the 100 - need to buy one with the 100A) Panasonic MiniDV head cleaning tape only when needed, i.e., after noticing image degradation. It's kind of a lame method (waiting until you notice problems) but the head cleaning tapes are abrasive and will eventually damage the camera's heads if used to much. In my experience heads become clogged/dirty all at once - it's not a cummulative kind of thing. Thus unnecessary cleaning can cause more harm (in the long run at least) than good. I say it's a lame method since clogged heads on key shot ruin the shot. There is some kind of a sensor that flashes on screen when the heads are in trouble but I'm not clear if this is more for moisture (in which case letting the heads dry out is the solution) or dirty heads.

Chris Hour · February 11th, 2004, 12:14 PM

Hi All,

This is my conundrum…

ZGC has a too good to be true deal on a New DVX-100 (because it has been discontinued).

My Visa is burning a hole in my hand, but I am in Canada eh, and Panasonic Canada will not warrant this camera, it would have to go to the States for service.

The closest service center I have found in the US is in New York City, That’s too far to drive, though I could drive to Buffalo, NY, 1 hour away and send it from there.

Are they reliable enough to not worry about the warranty, I’ve always bought used Pro cams, usually pretty good results, but they have all required some servicing.

Also is it worth to spend the Extra $$$ for the 100A? From what I have read the 100 should suit me fine… The difference I save I can get an anamorphic adaptor after I pay down the Visa…

What would you folks do?

Buy the new cam without a local warranty?

Save $$$ and buy the 100A?

I really value your insights and opinions.

Thanks,

Chris

Ken Tanaka · February 11th, 2004, 12:27 PM

Hello Chris,
This is a matter that does test one's convictions, eh?

The DVX100 is well-built but is probably no more or less prone to problems than any comparable electronic device. Like all such gadgets, manufacturing problems covered by warranty are most likely to surface when the camera is new.

The fact is that you would most likely be mailing your camera to a service center, even a Canadian one. So, aside from the customs costs and hassles, mailing it to a New York location might not be much different than mailing it to, say, a Calgary location.

Not to direct business away from ZGC, but have you looked into close-out DVX100 stocks at Canadian retailers?

Krishna Narayanamurti · February 12th, 2004, 06:43 AM

I've enjoyed reading other new DVX owners first impressions here, so I thought I'd share mine...

As a die-hard Canon user, I wasn't sure what to expect from my first Panasonic cam. I really felt I could benefit from the 24p & other features the DVX would offer me over my trusty GL2. So, I finally made the order...

My first 100A arrived today from ZGC, and I haven't been able to put it down. Now I'm left trying to figure out if I should keep my GL2 or sell it to buy more accessories for the DVX (or simply more DVX's!).

Things I like better on the DVX:
* picture quality (_in adequate light_) lives up to the hype
* love the focus ring and the corresponding numbers in the lcd/viewfinder... much easier to manual focus (and _rack_ focus) than my GL-2
* big LCD (compared to GL-2's 2.5") - easier to see what you're getting in the absence of a pro monitor
* definitely improved low light (as you would expect from bigger CCDs)

Things I like better on the GL-2:
* audio level dials easier to turn on the GL-2
* 20x zoom with the GL made event videography that much easier. With only half of that range on the DVX, taping from the back of a theater on single-cam shoots is going to be more difficult. then again, i got the DVX primarily for my 'narrative' work, not events, so i can live with less zoom.
* barrel distortion - on the GL-2 hardly noticeable, but on the DVX, the image is almost unacceptable in extreme wide . i realize you can minimize the rounding edges by zooming in with the DVX a little, but what do you do when you have no choice but to be at full wide ...give up on the shot? tear out a wall so you can move further back and then zoom in?

Anyway, hopefully I can post some clips after I've had a chance to really learn how to use all the settings and features on this amazing piece of equipment.

Imran Zaidi · February 12th, 2004, 10:02 AM

I made the same switch myself recently, from a GL2 to a DVX100A. I've been very impressed thus far.

A note on the barrel distortion - the DVX100A at its widest is wider than the GL2 is at its widest. Almost as wide as my GL2 was with the WD58H wide angle adapter I had, which did have barrel distortion visible. If you match the wide view with the Canon's most wide view, you'll see what I mean.

The zoom on the GL2 is definitely really nice. The lens on the GL2 is really a remarkable achievement. But for the stuff that I do, I very seldom went over half zoom or so with it, so I don't think I'll miss it much. I swear though, when I had the GL2 and went a-zooming, it never failed to surprise me each time. It was like a pair of binoculars!

Another thing about low light... A couple of weeks ago I did a walk through in downtown Orlando at night to see how the DVX does with available light in the city, and it was marvelous! I had tried the same thing with my GL2, and there really was an amazing difference, especially once you fiddle with the chroma settings on the DVX and play with it until you get it just right for the light available. Really no comparison. I'm very happy with the purchase myself.

Neil Goodwin · February 24th, 2004, 03:33 PM

Just some basic wedding footage using slow-mo and some special effects.

Keep in mind I wasn't the official videographer for the wedding, so I just had a typical aisle seat. Came in pretty well though-was the only one to catch the flying doves at the end outside, so that was nice.

www.dec12studios.net if interested

Marcia Janine Galles · February 24th, 2004, 06:22 PM

Beautiful, Neil. And I loved the doves being released. A really nice shot.

I'm just handing over a DVD of a wedding I did for a friend, and when I showed him (the father of the bride) the footage of an earlier cut, he just kept raving about what an amazing camera I had. Except for a few screw-ups by the operator (me), it really is really looks great. Rich colors. What a little cam.

Mark Grgurev · February 28th, 2004, 08:00 PM

Is there any way you can change the gamma and matrix from the ones that come standard with the camera. If not, it would be awesome if someone can make something for the DVX100 that could allow you to make gamma curves and matrices on your computer and then import them into the camera so that you can record in that gamma curve. This way you can make it look like any film stock you want.

January 31st, 2004, 10:22 AM	#121
Neil Goodwin New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 16	Documentary shot on DVX100 This was shot in October, edited in November on the original DVX100. Probably 15-20% of the shots were not done on the DVX100 but on a much cheaper camera because I couldn't be there when needed and it was "stock" footage if you will...wish I could have captured the entire thing though on the DVX100. Regardless, go to www.dec12studios.net and click on the main picture or click on documentaries. Some of the sounds are temporary....but it's coming along....music by a Goth band called Leper, and a Nashville musician named Nathan Pohl.

February 4th, 2004, 08:39 AM	#123
Mike Zorger Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Norther VA Posts: 163	stills with dvx does the dvx100 take still pictures??

February 8th, 2004, 11:48 AM	#125
Mark Grgurev Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fairview,nj Posts: 137	2 DVX100s for a widescreen image? How well of a widescreen image can you make by taking 2 DVX100s and puting them side by side and then editing the two images together in post.

February 8th, 2004, 12:08 PM	#126
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	I experimented with this several years ago with my XL1 (actually stitched 4 pictures together. The big problem is focal length. Wider angle introduce distortion in the image and when put together, it's quite obvious. It can be a cool effect, but the day to day logistics for everyday shooting are formidable. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

February 8th, 2004, 10:07 PM	#127
Ronnie Bryan New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5	head cleaning. how often? How many hours should roll by before I clean the heads on my DVX 100? Should I use the head cleaning tape that came with this unit, or is there a better method? thanks, Ronnie B __________________ RonnieB

January 31st, 2004, 07:00 PM	#122
Tavis Shaver Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC. Canada Posts: 209	looks interesting but you really need to kill the reverb or chorus or whatever you used on the voice over...it's a little, um... much

February 4th, 2004, 09:42 AM	#124
Bill Peterson New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida Posts: 17	Not as a seperate function. There's no "still shot" button as such. You can however shoot at 30 fps and pull an ok still from those frames if needed. B

February 9th, 2004, 06:53 PM	#128
Peter J Alessandria Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 293	I think you'll find people suggesting using the included (with the 100 - need to buy one with the 100A) Panasonic MiniDV head cleaning tape only when needed, i.e., after noticing image degradation. It's kind of a lame method (waiting until you notice problems) but the head cleaning tapes are abrasive and will eventually damage the camera's heads if used to much. In my experience heads become clogged/dirty all at once - it's not a cummulative kind of thing. Thus unnecessary cleaning can cause more harm (in the long run at least) than good. I say it's a lame method since clogged heads on key shot ruin the shot. There is some kind of a sensor that flashes on screen when the heads are in trouble but I'm not clear if this is more for moisture (in which case letting the heads dry out is the solution) or dirty heads.

February 11th, 2004, 12:14 PM	#129
Chris Hour Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 27	I need advice on a DVX 100... Hi All, This is my conundrum… ZGC has a too good to be true deal on a New DVX-100 (because it has been discontinued). My Visa is burning a hole in my hand, but I am in Canada eh, and Panasonic Canada will not warrant this camera, it would have to go to the States for service. The closest service center I have found in the US is in New York City, That’s too far to drive, though I could drive to Buffalo, NY, 1 hour away and send it from there. Are they reliable enough to not worry about the warranty, I’ve always bought used Pro cams, usually pretty good results, but they have all required some servicing. Also is it worth to spend the Extra $$$ for the 100A? From what I have read the 100 should suit me fine… The difference I save I can get an anamorphic adaptor after I pay down the Visa… What would you folks do? Buy the new cam without a local warranty? Save $$$ and buy the 100A? I really value your insights and opinions. Thanks, Chris __________________ Always trying to make a "Million dollar" production on a $20 budget ;-)

February 11th, 2004, 12:27 PM	#130
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Chris, This is a matter that does test one's convictions, eh? The DVX100 is well-built but is probably no more or less prone to problems than any comparable electronic device. Like all such gadgets, manufacturing problems covered by warranty are most likely to surface when the camera is new. The fact is that you would most likely be mailing your camera to a service center, even a Canadian one. So, aside from the customs costs and hassles, mailing it to a New York location might not be much different than mailing it to, say, a Calgary location. Not to direct business away from ZGC, but have you looked into close-out DVX100 stocks at Canadian retailers? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 12th, 2004, 06:43 AM	#131
Krishna Narayanamurti Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	just converted -- new DVX owner observations I've enjoyed reading other new DVX owners first impressions here, so I thought I'd share mine... As a die-hard Canon user, I wasn't sure what to expect from my first Panasonic cam. I really felt I could benefit from the 24p & other features the DVX would offer me over my trusty GL2. So, I finally made the order... My first 100A arrived today from ZGC, and I haven't been able to put it down. Now I'm left trying to figure out if I should keep my GL2 or sell it to buy more accessories for the DVX (or simply more DVX's!). Things I like better on the DVX: * picture quality (_in adequate light_) lives up to the hype * love the focus ring and the corresponding numbers in the lcd/viewfinder... much easier to manual focus (and _rack_ focus) than my GL-2 * big LCD (compared to GL-2's 2.5") - easier to see what you're getting in the absence of a pro monitor * definitely improved low light (as you would expect from bigger CCDs) Things I like better on the GL-2: * audio level dials easier to turn on the GL-2 * 20x zoom with the GL made event videography that much easier. With only half of that range on the DVX, taping from the back of a theater on single-cam shoots is going to be more difficult. then again, i got the DVX primarily for my 'narrative' work, not events, so i can live with less zoom. * barrel distortion - on the GL-2 hardly noticeable, but on the DVX, the image is almost unacceptable in extreme wide . i realize you can minimize the rounding edges by zooming in with the DVX a little, but what do you do when you have no choice but to be at full wide ...give up on the shot? tear out a wall so you can move further back and then zoom in? Anyway, hopefully I can post some clips after I've had a chance to really learn how to use all the settings and features on this amazing piece of equipment.

February 12th, 2004, 10:02 AM	#132
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	I made the same switch myself recently, from a GL2 to a DVX100A. I've been very impressed thus far. A note on the barrel distortion - the DVX100A at its widest is wider than the GL2 is at its widest. Almost as wide as my GL2 was with the WD58H wide angle adapter I had, which did have barrel distortion visible. If you match the wide view with the Canon's most wide view, you'll see what I mean. The zoom on the GL2 is definitely really nice. The lens on the GL2 is really a remarkable achievement. But for the stuff that I do, I very seldom went over half zoom or so with it, so I don't think I'll miss it much. I swear though, when I had the GL2 and went a-zooming, it never failed to surprise me each time. It was like a pair of binoculars! Another thing about low light... A couple of weeks ago I did a walk through in downtown Orlando at night to see how the DVX does with available light in the city, and it was marvelous! I had tried the same thing with my GL2, and there really was an amazing difference, especially once you fiddle with the chroma settings on the DVX and play with it until you get it just right for the light available. Really no comparison. I'm very happy with the purchase myself.

February 24th, 2004, 03:33 PM	#133
Neil Goodwin New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 16	DVX100 wedding Just some basic wedding footage using slow-mo and some special effects. Keep in mind I wasn't the official videographer for the wedding, so I just had a typical aisle seat. Came in pretty well though-was the only one to catch the flying doves at the end outside, so that was nice. www.dec12studios.net if interested

February 24th, 2004, 06:22 PM	#134
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Beautiful, Neil. And I loved the doves being released. A really nice shot. I'm just handing over a DVD of a wedding I did for a friend, and when I showed him (the father of the bride) the footage of an earlier cut, he just kept raving about what an amazing camera I had. Except for a few screw-ups by the operator (me), it really is really looks great. Rich colors. What a little cam.

February 28th, 2004, 08:00 PM	#135
Mark Grgurev Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fairview,nj Posts: 137	Editing gamma and matrix Is there any way you can change the gamma and matrix from the ones that come standard with the camera. If not, it would be awesome if someone can make something for the DVX100 that could allow you to make gamma curves and matrices on your computer and then import them into the camera so that you can record in that gamma curve. This way you can make it look like any film stock you want.