How much $ for Better Image Cam than VX2000?

Boyd Ostroff · October 6th, 2003, 03:13 PM

As far as shooting landscapes and nature goes, DV just has some serious limitations. You can minimize these with good composition, exposure, etc, but they still remain.

This has been driven home to me on my current project where I'm using a lot of computer animation, including landscapes created in Bryce. The individual frames look great when you same them as JPEG's, but once you compress them as DV you really lose the fine detail and they turn into something completely different.

After a lot of experimentation I've been able to get results that I'm pretty happy with, but the next time I try something like this I'm pretty sure I'll want to go the HD route...

Christopher Toderman · October 6th, 2003, 06:19 PM

PDX10 will give you better resolution on wide screen

Wait till someone comes out with a decent HDV camera. It will not take that long.

HD will soon become the only way to shoot anything to have any kind of longevity.

UD (ultra definition) systems were demonstrated already and Sony is about a year away from introducing UD resolution projection systems.

If you can wait, forget SD.

Frank Granovski · October 6th, 2003, 06:29 PM

Yes, HD. However, a jump to digiBeta will be a big jump---both expensive, so maybe settle for the DV5000. Oh, and one more thing. Most, if not all, pro cams don't come with OIS. Personally, I found the VX2000 resolution very good. If I owned one, I wouldn't be dreaming about something better just yet.

Tom Hardwick · October 8th, 2003, 03:25 AM

Don't let the kit a person uses plant pre-conceived ideas in your brain about how good a filmmaker they are. Good video comes much more from experience than from expensive kit, believe me. Sharp lenses and expensive microphones will not go amiss, but even so, what really matters is experience.

tom.

Frank Granovski · October 8th, 2003, 03:35 AM

Good one, Tom. I think. I'm still quite happy using my old---real old---1 chip JVC miniDVs. I think it's because:

A) they're paid for
B) their lux requirements are low
C) they do the job
D) I'm used to them / easy to use
E) they're paid for

Dave Largent · October 8th, 2003, 03:54 AM

Which JVC models do you have, Frank? As I understand it, the older miniDV cams were better in low light than any of the newer low-end ones.

Frank Granovski · October 8th, 2003, 03:59 AM

I have 2, JVC GR-DVL9500U models. Not as good as many of the newer models, but they hold their own, and then some, with lower light conditions. Plus they're paid for. :)

G. Lee Gordon · October 15th, 2003, 12:01 AM

This may not be the correct forum for my question but, please endulge me. In comparrison to most of you in the DVi Community I am a novice. I am reading your posts and am blown away at the incredible amounts of knowlegde you people have. Could you take a second and let me know what type of digital work you do. Are you professional DP's, Cameramen, etc? I am just extremely curious.

Frank Granovski · October 15th, 2003, 03:20 AM

Weddings, funerals, instructional videos, the odd news clip when I catch something, and a lot of video just "for fun." I'm no pro. A pro would be someone with at least broadcast training and shooting 20 or more hours a week (except on holidays). :):)

October 6th, 2003, 03:13 PM	#16
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	As far as shooting landscapes and nature goes, DV just has some serious limitations. You can minimize these with good composition, exposure, etc, but they still remain. This has been driven home to me on my current project where I'm using a lot of computer animation, including landscapes created in Bryce. The individual frames look great when you same them as JPEG's, but once you compress them as DV you really lose the fine detail and they turn into something completely different. After a lot of experimentation I've been able to get results that I'm pretty happy with, but the next time I try something like this I'm pretty sure I'll want to go the HD route...

October 6th, 2003, 06:19 PM	#17
Christopher Toderman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York Posts: 60	PDX10 will give you better resolution on wide screen Wait till someone comes out with a decent HDV camera. It will not take that long. HD will soon become the only way to shoot anything to have any kind of longevity. UD (ultra definition) systems were demonstrated already and Sony is about a year away from introducing UD resolution projection systems. If you can wait, forget SD.

October 6th, 2003, 06:29 PM	#18
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Yes, HD. However, a jump to digiBeta will be a big jump---both expensive, so maybe settle for the DV5000. Oh, and one more thing. Most, if not all, pro cams don't come with OIS. Personally, I found the VX2000 resolution very good. If I owned one, I wouldn't be dreaming about something better just yet.

October 8th, 2003, 03:25 AM	#19
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Don't let the kit a person uses plant pre-conceived ideas in your brain about how good a filmmaker they are. Good video comes much more from experience than from expensive kit, believe me. Sharp lenses and expensive microphones will not go amiss, but even so, what really matters is experience. tom.

October 8th, 2003, 03:35 AM	#20
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Good one, Tom. I think. I'm still quite happy using my old---real old---1 chip JVC miniDVs. I think it's because: A) they're paid for B) their lux requirements are low C) they do the job D) I'm used to them / easy to use E) they're paid for

October 8th, 2003, 03:54 AM	#21
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Which JVC models do you have, Frank? As I understand it, the older miniDV cams were better in low light than any of the newer low-end ones.

October 8th, 2003, 03:59 AM	#22
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I have 2, JVC GR-DVL9500U models. Not as good as many of the newer models, but they hold their own, and then some, with lower light conditions. Plus they're paid for. :)

October 15th, 2003, 12:01 AM	#23
G. Lee Gordon Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 431	This may not be the correct forum for my question but, please endulge me. In comparrison to most of you in the DVi Community I am a novice. I am reading your posts and am blown away at the incredible amounts of knowlegde you people have. Could you take a second and let me know what type of digital work you do. Are you professional DP's, Cameramen, etc? I am just extremely curious.

October 15th, 2003, 03:20 AM	#24
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Weddings, funerals, instructional videos, the odd news clip when I catch something, and a lot of video just "for fun." I'm no pro. A pro would be someone with at least broadcast training and shooting 20 or more hours a week (except on holidays). :):)