AG-DVC30 review

Justin Boyle · March 31st, 2004, 06:58 AM

also were you saying that the mx-500 is better or worse then the 953/mx-5000 or ntsc versions

Justin Boyle · March 31st, 2004, 07:07 AM

thanks for those links tommy. I didn't know that the 950 and pdx-10 were different. i just thought that the pdx-10 just offered dv-cam and xlr but obviously not. what i am getting from these links though is that it looks as though the focal on the lense fills up the whole ccd but the effective is not all of this and when in 16:9 mode it just widens the boundaries rather then cropping the top and bottom. does this mean that the 950 will have a wider angle then the pdx10 becuase it uses the whole ccd. just a thought. It is just a bit of a pity that the gs-100 info wasn't so clear and logical as the pdx10. It would probably help if i could read the writing. Tommy, assuming that the pana aus powerpoint document is true would you say that the mx-500 is as good as the pdx-10 for 16:9.

Justin

Justin Boyle · March 31st, 2004, 07:10 AM

heh i think we have to be careful in here this being a pana forum and all. sony users might come in here and think they have the edge over them. Lets just assume that the mx-500 is a better cam then the 950/pdx10 and the the dvc30 is better then the vx-2100. :). we do have one thing though. sony doesn't have a consumer cam with true progressive scan and 24p. hahaahhahha. we still have the edge:)

Justin

Justin Boyle · March 31st, 2004, 07:45 AM

heh just for reference has anyone used the eia resolution chart to check the vertical resolution in bot 16:9 and 4:3 in any of these cameras discussed because i think that this is the best way of comparing both modes. I would assume that if there is no resolution loss then 16:9 is good. maybe if both the pdx-10 and 953 are tested, the better of the two would have higher vertical resolution. I am on my way to check one site i know to have resolution grabs on the mx-5000 and the 950. I know the 950 does not have the same 16:9 as the pdx-10 but it is worth a look.

Justin

Justin Boyle · March 31st, 2004, 07:55 AM

i don't know how to read the res charts properly so is someone able to analyse them and tell me the results. http://www4.big.or.jp/~a_haru/0208_3CCD.html
Justin

Tommy Haupfear · March 31st, 2004, 08:55 AM

Quote:

also were you saying that the mx-500 is better or worse then the 953/mx-5000 or ntsc versions

MX500 appears to be better with no loss of resolution whereas Panasonic Japan leads us to believe that there is resolution loss with the MX5000 (and presumably NTSC DV953). I have Japanese friends at work who have read the page to me.

Quote:

Lets just assume that the mx-500 is a better cam then the 950/pdx10

I've owned the DV953 and PDX10 and there is a quite a difference in their 16:9 modes even if you ignore the fact that the PDX10 gives a wider viewing angle. Maybe it would be better to say the MX500/DV953 is a better value for your dollar.

Quote:

Tommy, assuming that the pana aus powerpoint document is true would you say that the mx-500 is as good as the pdx-10 for 16:9.

I prefer the wider shot of the PDX10 but I love the look of the DV953 with frame mode. Of course my budget usually makes my mind up and since they are both quality widescreen cams I would opt for the less expensive cam.

Tommy Haupfear · March 31st, 2004, 09:03 AM

Here are some 16:9 frame grabs from my PDX10, DV953, and GS100

DV953 16:9 and frame mode

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-...DV953wide2.jpg

PDX10 16:9 interlaced

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/74415/Bird.jpg

GS100 16:9 Pro Cinema

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-...ProCinema1.jpg

Guy Bruner · March 31st, 2004, 07:50 PM

There are and have been EIA resolution charts of the DV953 in the Gallery on my website. If there aren't enough, just say so and I'll post whatever you want. Also, I have a PPT slide that duplicates the slide on Frank's website but for the MX5000. I got it from another website, but not Panasonic. It is not the same color scheme. Forgery? There has been so much conflicting information on this posted, I will only believe what I see or can measure for myself.

Peter Jefferson · April 1st, 2004, 10:48 PM

breaking news...

here in oz the dvc30 will retail for about $4500 bit pricey, but i can find cheaper street prices... bout 3700...

WAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

i bought my bloody mx500 for $3600... now THATS what pisses me off.. prices.... :(

Frank Granovski · April 1st, 2004, 11:52 PM

Quote:

here in oz the dvc30 will retail for about $4500 bit pricey, but i can find cheaper street prices...bout 3700.

Deja vu? Isn't that what the MX300A was going for 4 or 5 years back? I guess that 1/4" chips go for a premium Down-Under (and up here in the Americas). :-))

Justin Boyle · April 2nd, 2004, 07:48 PM

well i wouldn't really call it a premium. I think the vx-2100 is retailing around 7000 and the mx-500 has a reatail price of 3800 so that considered i don't think it is too bad at all. Unfortunately we pay a fair bit more on that kinda gear then you guys.

Justin

Frank Granovski · April 2nd, 2004, 08:34 PM

If indeed the MX500 is retailing for 3800 AU, then that's more or less what the MX300 was going for; and the $4500 DVC30 price tag isn't that much more. But the trouble is, the DVC30 comes in 2 pieces, so if you want both pieces it's going to cost a lot more tha $4500 AU, making the 1/4" CCD'd MX300 the better deal for the history books. :-))

------------------------------------------
I've now lost interest in GS400 specs. If anyone wants a good deal on a Pana 3-chip with 1/4" CCDs, contact Allan for those MX3000's he found. A better deal may be found on e-bay, if you think you can handle the risk. :-))

Peter Jefferson · April 3rd, 2004, 08:22 PM

thing is, i can import a spanking new dvx100 (not A) for 3500 US (inc taxes, shipping etc ec... )

makes u wonder...

Justin Boyle · April 4th, 2004, 12:53 AM

That is fine but just consider how much you could bring the dvc30 in for. I could bring the 953 in for under 1500 aus so that considered it would be very tempting. however if you do this, you will not recieve a warranty so for me i would prefer to buy a second hand cam without warranty then a new cam without warranty for the same price because it is a known fact that if something is gonna go wrong with ur cam it is more then likely to happen in the first few months while it is still under warranty. If you are happy to take that risk well then that is great. I am a little on edge here. i don't know if i would or wouldn't import. My brother just bought a 70-200 nikon lens for is d100 and saved a hell of a lot of money because he got it from us and it is on his way.

Justin

March 31st, 2004, 06:58 AM	#16
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	also were you saying that the mx-500 is better or worse then the 953/mx-5000 or ntsc versions __________________ jlboyle

March 31st, 2004, 07:07 AM	#17
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	thanks for those links tommy. I didn't know that the 950 and pdx-10 were different. i just thought that the pdx-10 just offered dv-cam and xlr but obviously not. what i am getting from these links though is that it looks as though the focal on the lense fills up the whole ccd but the effective is not all of this and when in 16:9 mode it just widens the boundaries rather then cropping the top and bottom. does this mean that the 950 will have a wider angle then the pdx10 becuase it uses the whole ccd. just a thought. It is just a bit of a pity that the gs-100 info wasn't so clear and logical as the pdx10. It would probably help if i could read the writing. Tommy, assuming that the pana aus powerpoint document is true would you say that the mx-500 is as good as the pdx-10 for 16:9. Justin __________________ jlboyle

March 31st, 2004, 07:10 AM	#18
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	heh i think we have to be careful in here this being a pana forum and all. sony users might come in here and think they have the edge over them. Lets just assume that the mx-500 is a better cam then the 950/pdx10 and the the dvc30 is better then the vx-2100. :). we do have one thing though. sony doesn't have a consumer cam with true progressive scan and 24p. hahaahhahha. we still have the edge:) Justin __________________ jlboyle

March 31st, 2004, 07:45 AM	#19
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	heh just for reference has anyone used the eia resolution chart to check the vertical resolution in bot 16:9 and 4:3 in any of these cameras discussed because i think that this is the best way of comparing both modes. I would assume that if there is no resolution loss then 16:9 is good. maybe if both the pdx-10 and 953 are tested, the better of the two would have higher vertical resolution. I am on my way to check one site i know to have resolution grabs on the mx-5000 and the 950. I know the 950 does not have the same 16:9 as the pdx-10 but it is worth a look. Justin __________________ jlboyle

March 31st, 2004, 07:55 AM	#20
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	i don't know how to read the res charts properly so is someone able to analyse them and tell me the results. http://www4.big.or.jp/~a_haru/0208_3CCD.html Justin __________________ jlboyle

March 31st, 2004, 09:03 AM	#22
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Here are some 16:9 frame grabs from my PDX10, DV953, and GS100 DV953 16:9 and frame mode http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-...DV953wide2.jpg PDX10 16:9 interlaced http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/74415/Bird.jpg GS100 16:9 Pro Cinema http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-...ProCinema1.jpg

March 31st, 2004, 07:50 PM	#23
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	There are and have been EIA resolution charts of the DV953 in the Gallery on my website. If there aren't enough, just say so and I'll post whatever you want. Also, I have a PPT slide that duplicates the slide on Frank's website but for the MX5000. I got it from another website, but not Panasonic. It is not the same color scheme. Forgery? There has been so much conflicting information on this posted, I will only believe what I see or can measure for myself.

April 1st, 2004, 10:48 PM	#24
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	breaking news... here in oz the dvc30 will retail for about $4500 bit pricey, but i can find cheaper street prices... bout 3700... WAHHHHHH!!!!!!! i bought my bloody mx500 for $3600... now THATS what pisses me off.. prices.... :(

April 2nd, 2004, 07:48 PM	#26
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	well i wouldn't really call it a premium. I think the vx-2100 is retailing around 7000 and the mx-500 has a reatail price of 3800 so that considered i don't think it is too bad at all. Unfortunately we pay a fair bit more on that kinda gear then you guys. Justin __________________ jlboyle

April 2nd, 2004, 08:34 PM	#27
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	If indeed the MX500 is retailing for 3800 AU, then that's more or less what the MX300 was going for; and the $4500 DVC30 price tag isn't that much more. But the trouble is, the DVC30 comes in 2 pieces, so if you want both pieces it's going to cost a lot more tha $4500 AU, making the 1/4" CCD'd MX300 the better deal for the history books. :-)) ------------------------------------------ I've now lost interest in GS400 specs. If anyone wants a good deal on a Pana 3-chip with 1/4" CCDs, contact Allan for those MX3000's he found. A better deal may be found on e-bay, if you think you can handle the risk. :-))

April 3rd, 2004, 08:22 PM	#28
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	thing is, i can import a spanking new dvx100 (not A) for 3500 US (inc taxes, shipping etc ec... ) makes u wonder...

April 4th, 2004, 12:53 AM	#29
Justin Boyle Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 207	That is fine but just consider how much you could bring the dvc30 in for. I could bring the 953 in for under 1500 aus so that considered it would be very tempting. however if you do this, you will not recieve a warranty so for me i would prefer to buy a second hand cam without warranty then a new cam without warranty for the same price because it is a known fact that if something is gonna go wrong with ur cam it is more then likely to happen in the first few months while it is still under warranty. If you are happy to take that risk well then that is great. I am a little on edge here. i don't know if i would or wouldn't import. My brother just bought a 70-200 nikon lens for is d100 and saved a hell of a lot of money because he got it from us and it is on his way. Justin __________________ jlboyle