What to do with 4:3 cam at DVinfo.net

David Bird · July 3rd, 2005, 09:54 AM

Hi folks,
I gotta tell you, I'm confused about the direction I should take. I see all the new 16:9 cams coming on the market, all the discussion of frame rates, hd, anamorphic lens, etc...

So, I have a Pana AG-DVC 200 that delivers great video. I'm completing a shoot for a small city promo...interviews with the mayor, major employers...and will be editing in Vegas 6. Looks like I have another similar project to work on beginning in August.

With all the changes evolving, do I keep the Pana or do I need to look at purchasing a new cam that can take advantage of 16:9 capture, native 24p, hd,and all the other goodies that are on the way. I really like the abiity to use the full size DV tape the Pana uses but is my cam going to be obsolete (aka, impossible to sell) in the very near future.

Thanks for any input - David Bird

Glenn Chan · July 3rd, 2005, 11:01 AM

I think most of your audience right now can't view 16:9 footage?

If you really do need to shoot 16:9, there may be an anamorphic adapter available for your camera.

Jacques Star · July 10th, 2005, 07:51 PM

Keep your 4:3 camera.

I laugh when I hear that "everything's going 16:9" Most of what I shoot is still 4:3 BetacamSP, or DV, or DVCAM. Some of my clients won't even accept DV. I shoot for a lot of the networks, and BetaSP is still king. Of course, I also do corporate work as well, and it's primarily a DV world. It sounds like your camera is working just fine. Unless you have all of your clients asking for 16:9, it's not worth selling your camera just to satisfy the one or two clients that ask for 16:9. You're better off renting a DSR 570 or similar DVCAM for your shoot. (Your deck probably reads DVCAM tapes) As most DV decks will. 4:3 will not be dead tommorrow, and it's not going away anytime soon. Just as BetaSP is still the broadcast standard format and will continue to be so for AT LEAST 2 more years.

You have a very good camera, it's the best DV-format (NOT DVCAM) camera you can buy. and you should use it for as long as possible. If you get it checked every 100 head drum hours, is should last you a long time. My advice is to find a good engineer who will keep your camera up and running. Bexel is a good place to go.

July 3rd, 2005, 09:54 AM	#1
David Bird Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sikeston, Missouri, USA Posts: 118	What to do with 4:3 cam Hi folks, I gotta tell you, I'm confused about the direction I should take. I see all the new 16:9 cams coming on the market, all the discussion of frame rates, hd, anamorphic lens, etc... So, I have a Pana AG-DVC 200 that delivers great video. I'm completing a shoot for a small city promo...interviews with the mayor, major employers...and will be editing in Vegas 6. Looks like I have another similar project to work on beginning in August. With all the changes evolving, do I keep the Pana or do I need to look at purchasing a new cam that can take advantage of 16:9 capture, native 24p, hd,and all the other goodies that are on the way. I really like the abiity to use the full size DV tape the Pana uses but is my cam going to be obsolete (aka, impossible to sell) in the very near future. Thanks for any input - David Bird

July 10th, 2005, 07:51 PM	#3
Jacques Star Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 68	keep it Keep your 4:3 camera. I laugh when I hear that "everything's going 16:9" Most of what I shoot is still 4:3 BetacamSP, or DV, or DVCAM. Some of my clients won't even accept DV. I shoot for a lot of the networks, and BetaSP is still king. Of course, I also do corporate work as well, and it's primarily a DV world. It sounds like your camera is working just fine. Unless you have all of your clients asking for 16:9, it's not worth selling your camera just to satisfy the one or two clients that ask for 16:9. You're better off renting a DSR 570 or similar DVCAM for your shoot. (Your deck probably reads DVCAM tapes) As most DV decks will. 4:3 will not be dead tommorrow, and it's not going away anytime soon. Just as BetaSP is still the broadcast standard format and will continue to be so for AT LEAST 2 more years. You have a very good camera, it's the best DV-format (NOT DVCAM) camera you can buy. and you should use it for as long as possible. If you get it checked every 100 head drum hours, is should last you a long time. My advice is to find a good engineer who will keep your camera up and running. Bexel is a good place to go.

July 3rd, 2005, 11:01 AM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	I think most of your audience right now can't view 16:9 footage? If you really do need to shoot 16:9, there may be an anamorphic adapter available for your camera.