The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! - Page 11 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Open DV Discussion
For topics which don't fit into any of the other categories.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 18th, 2003, 12:40 AM   #151
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 8,314
How about control accessibility and extra features?
Does it have something comparable to Frame Movie Mode?
Dylan Couper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 02:40 AM   #152
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cupertino, California, USA
Posts: 301
What about manual settings? Does it have any? That has been my major problem/concern with 1 chip cameras.
__________________
Scott Silverman
Shining Star Digital Video Productions
Bay Area, CA
Scott Silverman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 07:54 AM   #153
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 888
Shop around and see what you can get. Besides my XL1s I have a Sony TRV340 digital camera. I think it's a good camera for the price. It's good for vacation, family stuff. It would probably be good for school too. Just look around, check them on line, compare prices and options. There are are plenty of websites that rates products.
Bob Zimmerman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 10:50 AM   #154
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 436
So what I can gather is that this panasonic DV852 is my best bet for around the 1k range? The GL1 looks cooler but costs 3 hundred bucks more but is outperformed by the panasonic in every catagory? Both of these cameras have changeable lenses or lense converters for wide angle lense or telephoto right?

-ZimVG304 - I've been checking out a ton of sites with reviews and even picked up a copy of some mags with reviews of the camcorders and they all pointed to the Sony TRV27 to have the best picture quality etc. That's why I was kinda set on that cam, this is also why I was shocked to hear about this Panasonic model because I hadn't heard it mentioned in any of the reviews that I read which makes me weary. I would guess because it's list price of 1,500 k wouldn't place it in the same price bracket as the TRV27 for comparison in magazine tests. So does Panasonic make a pretty quality camera? I never connected their brand name with quality.

You guys almost have me sold on this panasonic camera as it seems a general consensus that it has great quality picture and onboard sound and will beat the hell out of the sony? Is there anyone who strongly disagrees with what has been said so far?
Bryan Roberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 02:00 PM   #155
Warden
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 8,287
Numbers, numbers, numbers, which ones do we choose to pick our cameras by. Lines of resolution are only one factor out of many. Almost universally 3 chip cameras will out perform a 1 chip camera. An easy test of the superiority of a 3 chip camera is contrast. If you shoot a very high contrast scene (dark bird on a wire against a light sky) and the 3 chip image is clearly superior. It will maintain more detail in the highlights and shadows.

The 3 chip GL1 is perhaps a better investment. It is near the price of the Panasonic and over time will hold it's value better. If the $1200 investment just isn't doable the Panasonic is a good second choice. However, a camera like the Canon Optura Pi ($500) may be a better investment also. The savings in cost will allow you to purchase the needed accessories, batteries, tripod, microphones, filters, lens adapters etc. Search Optura Pi here and you'll see it is thought by many to be the best single chip camera ever made (because of the use of a true progressive scan CCD). I used one for several years and the image quality rivaled the XL1 under certain, ideal lighting conditions.

Jeff
Jeff Donald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 02:04 PM   #156
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 8,314
<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Roberts : The GL1 looks cooler but costs 3 hundred bucks more but is outperformed by the panasonic in every catagory? Both of these cameras have changeable lenses or lense converters for wide angle lense or telephoto right?
-->>>

Only the XL1 has changable lenses. The other miniDV cameras mentionned will have to use screw on converters.

I don't know if the Panasonic does indeed outperform the GL1. It surprises me, but is possible. I'm still waiting for someone to post a link with a head to head review.

Here are a few things to consider as a film maker:
First, the onboard mic will rarely be used. You will usualy (if you are smart) mount an external mic on a boom to get better sound.
Ease of use of your sound controls is nice too, especially if you have built in VU meters.

Second, manual controls and other features which allow you to get a more "hands on" approach to your shots, quickly and efficiently, are very valuable. Most important is a good manual focus system as well as easy access to white balance, shutter and iris controls.

These are things I would definitlly place in importance over a slight increase in picture quality. I've never handled the Panasonic in question, so I can't compare them to the GL1 for you. Make sure you do this before you make your final choice.

Don't forget to add accessories to your budget. A reasonably good tripod, extra batteries, bag, basic filters, and hopefully an external mic can easily add $300-$500 to your spending spree.
Dylan Couper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 02:51 PM   #157
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 436
Dylan - what do you mean by basic filters? What are some that I simply must have as a basic set?

Thanks all, these all are tough things to consider. I think I might go with the GL1 if I could find it for sale new somewhere, but everywhere I check only offers the GL2 and I could never trust the EBAY way or even used in general. I guess I'll go with panasonic.......... any more feedback is appreciated, thanks all!
Bryan Roberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 03:40 PM   #158
Retired DV Info Net Almunus
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,943
Bryan,
You'll be very hard-pressed to find a new GL1. Canon efficiently cleared their inventory pipes just before launching the GL2 by offering substantial incentives for GL1 buyers. Not saying you can't find one, but it may really not be worth the effort considering the marked enhancements offered by the GL2 at basically the same price point.

The two basic filters you should consider as starters are a high-quality UV filter and a good circular polarizing filter. Once you recover from the initial outlay you can begin exploring others, such as some of the soft-effect filters.
__________________
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
Ken Tanaka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 18th, 2003, 05:09 PM   #159
New Boot
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 24
Here is a basic list of what I got for under $1350 at bhphoto.com

Panasonic DV852
5 hour battery
Tiffen Wide Angle Lens (43mm)
Tiffen set of 4 filters (43mm)
Shotgun Mic
Tapes

And then I bought an aluminum case with foam inside for $20 at lowes, here is my review of it:

"I just thought I would report on the case from lowes. It is fantastic! I am using it for my DV852 and there is more than enough room. The quality of this thing is MUCH better than expected. The foam inside is high quality and you can adjust it to fit your needs. I feel my camera is much better protected in this $20 case than it was in my $60 soft case.

This thing gets a 10 out of 10... I would have paid double after seeing it.

(it's not a $200 hard case... but for $20, hell, $50, you cant get any better!) "


Like I said before, I used a GL2 and my DV852 last week to shoot video and I honestly cannot tell much of a difference in the two once I am editing in Vegas...
Eric Reynolds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 19th, 2003, 05:30 AM   #160
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: norfolk Va.
Posts: 124
You had the right idea when you started with the thought of getting the TRV-27. Everyone will give you a different oppinion so you best check out a few you are interested in and decide on you own likes and dislikes .Take a tape with you a shoot a bit of footage with each and compair them in your editor.
KennJ
__________________
KennJ
Kenn Jolemore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 19th, 2003, 06:32 AM   #161
Outer Circle
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Hope, BC
Posts: 7,524
The PV-DV852 has lots of manual controls. But it doesn't have frame mode. The horizontal resolution playback test was done by Stuart Cooper, Pana AU. There was another one done that I read but cannot recall the link. The GL1 res test, well, it was mentioned in DV Mag., CNET, Videomaker, and one other place which I cannot recall. (That's when Videomaker accually had writers that did these kinds of tests and included them in their reviews. Remember now, the GL1 goes a way back.)

Dylan,

Go have a look at the Panasonic PV-DV852 at Leo's Cameras (Granville Street, Downtown Vancouver). From the time this cam first cam out (as a MX1000/Japan and as a MX8/PAL Land), until a few months back, I snubbed my nose at it. Then reading all the hype over the last year, I actually went and looked at one, like several times. In my opinion, it's the jewel from the junk, among new 1 CCD cams. (But I still like the GL1, and the GL2 even better.)

(PS: I do like my MX300 best, however.)
Frank Granovski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 19th, 2003, 02:12 PM   #162
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 8,314
Frank, I'll check it out next time I'm there. You've got me curious about it now!

One thing Jeff brought up that shouldn't be overlooked, is that if you buy a used Optura Pi, or GL1, instead of a new camera, you will be able to re-sell them in a year or two for much closer to what you paid for them. Optura Pi's seem to be holding their value really well in the used market.
Dylan Couper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2003, 05:48 PM   #163
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 436
ok, so I'm pretty set on the dv852 but compare it to the panasonic AG-EZ50 which is only 200 bucks more on bhphoto.com. It's 3 CCD's, and I wasn't sure if this was a great deal that I should look into or should I just shutup and get the dv852? I mean, what is it about the DV852 that makes it so good? What specification is the tell tale sign that it's so good in the spec list? There is a new panasonics coming out that is 1.5 megapixels for $899 list and the dv852 is 1499 list for just 1 megapixel.... I just am not catching on to how to tell them apart. Sorry for being a newb with so many continuous dumb questions, I just want my first "big" camcorder purchase to be the exact right one. Thanks so much to everyone!
Bryan Roberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2003, 05:56 PM   #164
New Boot
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 24
I would stick with the DV852... first, the AG-EZ50 only has 1/6 ccds, so the low light footage will not be as good as the DV852... second, the AG-EZ50 has a smaller lens.

I was in the same postion not too long ago, and I decided that getting a high end 1ccd, is better than a low end 3ccd.

(i have heard that panasonic will be releasing the dv953 in april, but who knows...)
Eric Reynolds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2003, 07:57 PM   #165
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 8,314
<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Roberts :

There is a new panasonics coming out that is 1.5 megapixels for $899 list and the dv852 is 1499 list for just 1 megapixel....
-->>>

Dude!
You are getting hung up on numbers!!!
STOP IT!!!!!
You will never win the "numbers" game, because there will always be something better for less money.

Try and find some footage from the cameras you want and compare the "look" of the footage. I bought an XL1 over a PD150 or VX2000 because I liked the look of the picture, rather than by how many pixels it has (less than the Sonys).
Dylan Couper is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:37 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network