DVX vs. Varicam
 

Picked up from another forum

Panasonic DVX100 with anamorphic adapter and in progressive mode has an overall quality that is close to Panasonic Varicam HD camcorder. The compression scheme on Varicam is basically based on the DV format. Varicam records at 100 Mbps at 60p. When you do frame conversion to 24p you discard 60% frames. You end up with 40 Mbps. 720p needs 2.25x larger streem than 480p so for the same compression the Varicam should have over 56 Mbps stream. It does not. What this means? The Varicam is a lot more compressed. In luminance the compression is a lot bigger; in chroma it is about equal. So although the Varicam has a better resolution, the lower compression of the DVX gives it an edge in other areas. The DVX is also a lot less compressed than JVC HD1/10 with its 19 Mbps. Is the Varicam with a lens worth 15x the price of DVX with the anamorphic adapter? It depends on situation. Is the DVX a lot better bargain. Absolutely. Is the JVC HD camcorder worth even looking at? Yes. Buying? No. The DVX has no competition. Sony, JVC? Go back to drawing boards guys!

is the VARI worth 15X the price ..it all depends on where you are sitting doesn't it ... if you can only afford a dvx then paying 15X the price is not worth it. most persons do not BUY these camera's they rent em ... so if you can afford to rent one for your project then it's worth every penny for the rental.

at the RES fest in SF they projected ( digital projection using digital beta deck , approx size 18x25ft ).. they showed a music video ( CC and not CC ) shot on varicam ( transferred to digibeta) the image was excellent. next they projected the DVX transferred to digibeta - 1st they showed straight dvx clips then the same clips that had the magic bullet treatment ( both vari/dvx clips were shot by the company that makes magic bullet - the orphanage) ..

the only clips worth talking about were the varicam clips ( and this was standard def not Hi def) ...
the dvx 24P clips looked better then interlace .. the magic bullet clips looked better then non magic clips ...