DVC60 vs. DVX100a
 

Hi, new here. I do wedding and event videos. I want to upgrade to 3CCD equipment, and the Panasonics look like the best ones. Except for the phantom mike voltage, what makes the -100a better, like $1200 better?

Bigger chips. 24p. 30p. Cine-gamma. Scene file dial.

For starters. The list is pretty long.

Remember that the DVC60 is a repackaged DVC30. It's the same exact camera in a big box. Nothing in there but air. So, basically you're talking about DVC30 versus DVX100. The DVC30 is the little brother of the DVX, and it therefore doesn't have some of the cool features, but it is great for getting into small little places, and it's magnesium alloy body is awesome.

The DVC60 does away with those two things though. Personally I'd just go with the 30 and a shoulder brace and XLR adaptor. More than a few people on DVXUser have said that the DVC30 has incredible image quality, on par with the DVX, and that it's 30p mode is spectacular. It also has the Cine-Gamma.

The DVC30 doesn't resolve detail in shadowy areas as well (at the same pedestal setting), probably owing to the smaller CCDs, and the cine mode is slightly -- not much, but slightly, enough to notice if you compare side-by-side -- lower-resolution compared to the DVX's progressive modes. Remember, it's not really 30p on the DVC; it's a "frame" mode, an interpolated interlaced image, so a little resolution will be lost.

I've found it also saturates colors more highly than the DVX at identical scene file settings, which can be good or bad, depending the situation and your intent.

Overall, though, it's a sweet little camera. Not the DVX, but a sweet camera nonetheless.

I also feel that if you're seriously getting into the photographic business Dick, then you really need to go for the best you can afford. As you've got the 100A on your shortlist, then its low-light supremacy alone should lead you to it. Bigger chips with bigger pixels really do help in this regard, and if you've done any weddings you'll know why people always want the best low-light capabilities. Which is why they choose the VX2100 and PD170, but that's letting our eye off the ball.

The big problem with the DVC30 was its lack of exposure info. Again - if you're serious about shooting professionally you'll want to set shutter speeds, gain and aopertures manually, and be told what settings you're shooting at. The auto ND filters built into most cams leave you in the dark about what's going on. Fine for family picnics, but not fine when you're charging real money.

tom.

Hello, Jeff!

It is very important information about mic on DVC60, thank you.
Could you describe it in detail? Our local serviceman claimed DVC60 hasn’t automatic microphone level control at all, so only manual microphone level adjustment available. Is it true? What do think about it?

Regards,
Mikhail

DVC60 vs. XL1
 

I need a quick replacement for my XL1, until I can afford the HVX200. In the meantime I need an extra DV camcorder that doesn't reach the $3,000 mark. Will the 1/4 CCDs of the DVC60 beat the 1/3 CCDs of the old 1998 Canon XL1 in terms of image quality, sharpness, resolution, gamma curve, frame look, and low light capabilities?

I need something now for shooting weddings.

-EDWIN

DVC62 comments
 

I have a DVC62 (I don't know how they are different to the 60) and have used it for 6 months. I am in some ways very happy with the camera but in others very dissapointed.

One thing for sure is that it really good in low light and the XL1 is a dog. Here are my thoughts.

The good are:

1. Very fastand slow zooming like pro camera
2. Fairly light for a shoulder mount
3. XLR inputs are great
4. Low light performance is very good - beautiful soft image
5. Shoulder mount camera makes you look good to clients but I find them cumbersome and really only better when on a tripod.

The bad are:

1. Picture in normal sunlight is flat. Previously I used a Sony TRV900 and there is no question that it had a more sharper "alive" image. The VX2100 is much sharper again.

1. My model of the DVC62 has an inheritant audio problem and I get distorted audio in loud situtations. Camera is about to be fixed hopefully it will be OK when it returns. This is a very common problem with the 62 but is fixable by panasonic.

2. LCD screen is only 2.5 inch and is rather poor quality

3. Batteries just don't last as long as the Sony's

As you do wedding I would go for a VX2100 or DC30 but again the VX2100 has a sharper more alive picture. Just my opinion though.

Keep in touch.

Extremely happy with DVC60
 

After nearly a year of studying different models, trying them out, and comparing prices I decided on purchasing a DVC60 about a week ago. Hoping that my experience would get me through basic use, I filmed an airshow this past weekend. And I would like to state for the record that this camcorder is positively amazing. Of course I'm stepping up from a GS35 but the color and sound quality is sparkling. I have not experienced any problems with the audio hissing or clicking that some have wrote about, but I was conservative and kept the levels down low (since being 15 feet from running aircraft tends to spike the meters in a heartbeat). Getting the automatic white balance to work took a little work and I'm still not completely up to speed on how to accomplish it manually but thats a matter of rereading the instructions. The only "problem" was noticing vignetting with a 2x teleconverter even though had what I thought was plenty of zoom on the lens. It turns out that the OIS was moving the camera lens around and picking up the edges of the tele. No problem now, just leave the OIS off. Other than that, the camera is a joy to operate. Heavy and stable, it does take a toll on the shoulders after 8hrs of filming at awkward angles, and I do wish it came in white to help reflect some of the harsh sunlight. Those two things aside (which are pretty much peculiar to my subject matter) I would reccomend this to anyone looking for a low cost 3chip step-up procam.

I know this camera is billed as a shoulder mount,
 

but did you choose to go so long (8 hrs +/-) actually using your shoulder, or can it not be mounted to a tripod at all?

I'm considering this camera as a primary for legal work, but only if I can mount it on a tripod. I can't see myself using my HVX for depositions and wills.

It can be mounted on a tripod, monopod, stabilizer, virtually anything with a standard thread. In fact for some shots and projects unrelated to aviation I do use a tripod. The frame mode is probably as good as you can get for the price and the controls make sense once you set them up for yourself. One pain is having the audio controls behind the viewscreen though.

I like mine
 

I purchase my Panasonic AG-DVC60 in Feb 2006 and have been very pleased with the results. I am a professional sound engineer and the xlr's are a plus for quality and convenience. Also you can record in Stereo with multiple inputs from a professional mixing board (I have 32 channels with 4 grouping sends and 2 stereo sends) The cable length is not a problem also the length of cord I have used is from 25' to 100' without sound loss. I also use boom mics with lightweight and older style - Shure mic 16a which usese one AA battery (unidirectional) so phantom power is not always necessary off the board. Panasonic AG-DVC60 also has a switch for either installed mic l or r seperately and input 1/8" outside source along with the XLR. The lightweight of the Panasonic AG-DVC60 is another plus. Also downloading DV is also convenient with the firewire connection. You wont be unhappy with the Panasonic AG-DVC60, as I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.
Jaii Hein is online now Edit/Delete Message

DV Newbie w/ DVC60 Hardware/Editing Questions
 

Greetings All! What an excellent Forum! Kudos to all involved! This is the best managed forum on DV I have found. So may of the others are full of SPAM/Porn/nonsense.

I hope you folks don't mind, but I have a few basic questions. I will try to be concise, while providing basic tech specs.

After about 18 years as a still photographer I recently became interested in DV. So, to get my feet wet, I purchased a used, "Mint Condition" Panasonic DVC60 w/ less than 70 hours on the heads. It seems to be working fine. So far. I've only shot about an hour of footage, putting it through all the basic tasks in the manual. Now I need to transfer that footage to my computer.

Question: can anyone advise me on what type of Firewire (IEEE1394) cable to purchase and where? I tried Panasonic's web site, but they don't offer one in the Accessories section for the DVC60. They have not responded to my emails. I've found thousands of cables on ebay, but have no idea which would apply, except that I need 4pin to 4pin connectors. My computer features a Firewire port. Thank God.

I plan to edit my footage on my Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop -after I upgrade it. I've read that laptops are not ideal for DV editing, but mine is a very robust "Desktop replacement". It has a Pentium M 740 Processor (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB). I will upgrade the current 80 GB 5400 RPM HD to a new 100 GB 7200 RPM HD and install *only* XP SP2 and Adobe Premier Elements 3.0. I will also upgrade from 1 GB of DDR2 533 MHz RAM to 2 GB RAM. I have a 256 MB NVIDIA 6800 video card and a 17" True Life Widescreen UXGA display. I will not install any other software on this system; it will be used only for DV editing. Of course, I will add an External HD for storage.

Question: does this sound like an adequate system for DV editing? Any other suggestions? If possibe, I want to learn the basics before I invest in a more sophisticated camera and computer system.

TIA! Any and all input/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Happy filming to all!

Regards,

Merton Gaudette

any firewire will do.4pin to 4pin or 4 to 6pin. It depends on your laptop and camera's port. Not too long, or less you might lose data, I can't remember the exact length before the camera has problem in transfer data.( but the shorter the better.)

*Any* Firewire Cable? Good!
 

Thanks for the info David. I thought any 4 pin to 4 pin cable would work, but I wasn't certain. And your tip on the cable length was most helpful. Are any particular brands favored for quality?
Thanks again!