DVC30 CineGamma
 

From what I have read, the cinegamma mode on the 30 puts the camera in 16x9 mode as well. Can you use cinegamma without 16x9?

Can't answer that, but there is a review of the DVC-30 by Adam Wilt in the new issue of DV magazine. One thing that surprised me is that when you use frame mode it merely doubles the fields, resulting in a 50% vertical resolution loss (according to Wilt). Seems like shooting at 1/30 sec would accomplish the same thing.

Other than that, he loves the camera.

I have had a DVC30 for a couple of months, and it's a great camera. Anyway, yes you can use cine gamma with 4x3 recording. You can also use cine gamma with frame mode or interlaced.

I hadn't heard about the frame mode resolution loss being so much, and had thought it might be only 25%. Is the frame mode of this camera not like other frame modes on the other Panasonics? (and maybe the GL2) In which case it should be only 25% right?

I have never used a DVC-30, but Adam Wilt wrote:

To me this is *very* bad news. I really like the look of frame mode, and had hoped that it was similar in resolution loss to cams like the GL2. To me (and no doubt other DVC30 owners) a 50% resolution hit is unacceptable, and really makes this a not as good camera if it's true IMHO.

Maybe some other DVC30 owners could chime in with there thoughts. I'm sure they will also think this is bad news (unless they don't want to use frame mode anyway, in which case it doesn't make much of a difference ;)

Maybe its time to invest in some good post de-interlace software.