my dvc30 is pretty standard right now all i've got for it is the AG-MYA30G - XLR Microphone Adapter and Mount and the AGMC100G XLR Microphone. However, I just order a 43-58mm step up ring from B&H and some filters as well as the WD-58H 58mm 0.7x wide angle lens. i wanted to up the filter and lens size so i don't get any vignetting when i stack filters, and also the canon wide angle was cheaper than the panny, also i had resale value in mind. But if when I get i find there is no need to go up to 58mm I'll just send it all right back. After I get everything I'll post some pics.

Just ordered the DVC30
 

Hey all, this is my first post to this forum. I will be visiting the DVX/DVC assistant quite a bit though. I just ordered the DVC 30 from B&H. I use highend cameras for school, but this is the first 3 chip camera that I bought. I've heard good things about it too.

Congrats,

I hope you like it. I've had mine for 10 months and love it. Even if I got a higher end cam I would keep my DVC-30.

Regards,

Mark

Finally, matte box problem solved.
 

Hello to all interested,

Since I shoot in the field 99% of the time, I have a special hard time with dust and spots on my lenses. Most times it will show back in the studio and the only solution will be to go back to re-shoot, this is not practical most times...

Didn't seem anybody else was after a matte box for their DVC-30 anyway (my camera) but, just in case, here's my solution:

-This is for the Leica lens-
Cavision 3 x 3 matte box with French Flag
58mm conical adapter -Cavision-
43mm to 52mm step up - " -
52mm to 58mm step up - " -

It has two 3 x 3 filter holders and one rotating.

Not too heavy and FF serves as lens cover if you put your camera away with it.

It's great !

I have made a routine of blowing compressed air over the lenses every time I shoot, just before shooting and wipe clean lenses very softlly once a day during shoots.

Obviouslly more cleaning is done if needed...

For those as green/newbys as me and taking footage in nature, I do recomend matte boxes and high resolution monitors, they save lots of trouble later....

I would post a photo of the rig but don't know how yet.

Regards, and hope this is of some use to somebody.

Leo

Getting to Know It!
 

Joel -
I've had my DVC30 for about a week. It will be interesting to watch your reaction/progress and compare it to mine.

At this juncture, I am delighted with the camera. The initial learning curve was easy. The "Operating Instructions" were wordy but clear. Some sentences are a little convoluted but they are understandable.

What I am enjoying most is the ability to adjust picture quality. Camcorders for me have always been point-and-shoot; what the CAMERA wanted to do was what I got. So far, I LOVE the results I am getting with my DVC30!

How is it attached
 

Leo:

How have you attached the matte box? Are you using one of the rod systems made by Cavision?

Sounds like you are happy with it; I'd love to see how it looks.

The DVC30 is new to me but already I have had need of a polarizer filter and a graduated ND. As you know, none of the wide-angle lens accept screw-on filters. So where I could have gotten a very good shot I had to settle for poor to bad!

All of my round filters (for still cameras) are much larger than 43mm so it seems foolish to purchase rings just to attach them to the normal lens and still not be able to shoot wide angle.

DVC-30 with Cavision 3x3 Matte Box
 

Hello Dan

The following link will open with a photo of my camera with the Cavision.

The rods system with the 3x3 only supports the hand grips, you actually attach the box to the lens with a conical adapter that screws to the lens thread and then held by the Matte Box itself.

The Panasonic wide angle attachment is 69mm in dia and attaches to the Cavision with a 70mm to 80mm adapter.

I actually wanted a camera that could be somewhat discrete, but after my problems with dust and specks and Matte boxes...I dont think even this little camera can be concealed well enough.

http://www.leosalazar.com/dvc30.htm

I already have a B&W polarixer, a graduated neutral .6 and a gold and black film look filter.

I like them all... but it's getting to be pretty expensive.

Regards

Leo

DVC 30 photo
 

Hi Evan

Follow the link :

www.leosalazar.com/dvc30.htm

This is how mine looks these days

Looking forward to seeing your camera.

Leo

Your set-up
 

Leo:

Thank you for the link. After I looked at the camera I took the liberty of looking around your site; very impressive! Your son has done an excellent job of presenting your work. Buen hecho!

I too was looking for an inconspicuous camera that would produce nearly broadcast quality video. However, people have noticed something different about the camera, even when I use it without anything attached to it. But you are correct Leo, there is NOTHING discreet or unobtrusive about your set-up. WOW!

Did you exchange e-mails with Cavision in order to get a matte box and all the hardware that would fit the DVC30? I don't see the camera (or specific products for it) listed anywhere on their web site. Last question, I promiss, did you order everything directly throught them?

Thanks for all your help Leo ... Muchas gracias - muy amable

Dan

Cavision contact
 

Hi Dan

Thank you very much for the compliments to the web designer, he will appreciate it and so do I.

Glad you liked my work.

I e-mailed Cavision with my camera model and questioned as to matte box fit...

Jason Connors of Cavision answered all my questions with quite a lot of patience and knowledge and yes, I bought all I needed from them directly.

Jason is very polite and helpfull both via e-mail as on the phone.

For contact:
Jason Connors
Cavision Enterprises Ltd.
Tel: 604 298 9053
e-mail: jason@cavision.com

I got all my stuff well packed and pretty fast coming from Canada.

Hope it helps,

Regards

Leo

Dan,

The Raynox Wide angle lens adaptors have a front filter thread.

This one is supposed to be a very good one.

http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/video/hd7000pro/index.htm



Adam

DVC-30 Lens Cap problem
 

Recently I did a lot a lot of travel shooting for small amounts of time so I was removing the lens cap and then putting it back on a lot over the course of a day.

I noticed that the lens cap seems to not stay on the lens hood too well. If the camera was on a car seat and then got nudged or picked up in my hands, a lot of time the lens cap would fall off the lens hood (not stay secure).

Is it just me or does anybody else notice this problem ? Is there a trick to getting the lens caop to stay on securely ?

Thanks.

Same here. Mine doesn't stay on well either. I suggest you attach it with a small cord to your cam. I lost my cap about a month ago and had to replace it for a cost of $19.95.

Regards,

Mark

That's awesome I'd get the same setup as you Leo but it looks like I gotta sell my dvc30 I got another camera for free and won't need two. Anyone interested can check my listing in the classifieds, it has a lot of accessories.

joel if you can still return your dvc30 you might want to. i bought a dvc30 at the beginning of feburary from B&H and after using it for only 1 hour I've gotta sell it. i also bought some accessories you may be interested in, check my thread in the classifieds

The DVC30 Lens HOOD
 

On the DVC30 lens hood, there are threads.

Does anybody know what you could and would want to attach to those threads ?

Just wondering.........

Gotta sell it?
 

Evan

I'm puzzled...

Why do you have to sell it?

What problems did you encounter?

What is wrong with the camera?

What did you expect it to do that it doesn't do?

oh i'm sorry if i was wasn't clear. the camera is great there's nothing wrong with it. but a month after i bought it someone donated a canon gl2 to our production. i'm already completely firmiliar with the camera which is convient because our schedule doesn't allow me the time to get the knowledge of the dvc30 that i have for the gl2. so i'm selling my dvc30 kit.

Cap
 

Yup! I put the cap on very, very carefully. Even then, it is none to snug! It's irritating!

Are you asking about the 4 or 5 beveled lines between the Leica Dicomar lettering and the square lens opening? If so, I don't think they are threads.

My lens is threaded for filters etc. but there is nothing inside or outside of the hood itself other than those beveled surfaces.

Dan,

What you said about the 4 or 5 lines is what I am talking about.

I wonder if they have any function.

I found that after I squeeze the outside of the cap to put it on, if I turn the cap slightly, sometimes it will stay attached better.

Obsolete? Not true
 

FS4 now supports HD as well.

No comparison
 

There is no comparison between the cameras. If you want a pro camera you get a DVC or DVX. If you want a consumer camera then you get a PV or NG.

info on other fora indicates the FS4 does not support the Panasonic interface. You would need to start/stop recording via the FS4 button. But that also means you would not need a tape mounted in the cam.

Chris Byrnes is correct. You do NOT need to use a tape in the dvx100, however you need to start the recording from the actual FS4. Apparantly this issue will be resolved with a software update for the FS4.

Just got a DVC-30, would like some pointers...
 

Hey guys (first post!)-

This past weekend, my father and I (I'm 17) went out and bought a AG-DVC30. We also got the XLR Adaptor, Extended Battery, and a Carrying Case. I was wondering if anyone had any pointers on what to do pretty much right away? Just some general guidelines, or even specific instructions. I'm pretty much covered in terms of accessories; I've got a tripod, good headphones, and I have the things we bought with the camcorder. I'm not sure if I'm too crazy about a shotgun mic: I can probably borrow one from my school. I'd like some input on it though, pros and cons, what they're useful for, etc. Any other tips you guys have would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

-Derek

P.S. The guy we bought it from said to keep using the same tapes, and he noted that there are two major brands: Sony tapes and Panasonic tapes. He said that Sony tapes were sold under the Maxell, Canon, and Sony names, and that the Panasonic tapes were pretty much everything else. How true is this? It sounds believable, and I definitely believe the sticking with the same tapes part, I'm just not sure of the brand names.

Hi Derek,

Welcome aboard! You'll find an entire forum here dedicated to discussing DV Tape; it's called "The Long Black Line" on the main forum index page.

Regarding your DVC30, it's an excellent little camcorder which has a very broad set of features. I'd recommend first sitting down someplace quiet with the camera and the manual together, and start going through the manual one page at a time. Shoot with it as you go, don't start another chapter until you've mastered the current one. I'm sure plenty of other DVC30 owners will chime in as well. Congrats on your purchase, be sure to dig through the other topics in this forum for even more DVC30 info. Hope this helps,

Welcome
 

Derek:

As always, Chris has made an excellent suggestion regarding the instruction manual.

The other thing you might want to do immediately is set the camera to "full" automatic and shoot a few hours in that mode. If you don’t have a lot of experience it will help you get a feel for the camera.

Go to page 39 and set the Zebra pattern. Now, start alternating between auto and manual mode. Experiment with different camera settings. See how each affect and setting alters your shot.

Regarding the XLR adapter; because the mic is on the camera (some distance from your subject) about the only way to get effective audio is to use a shotgun mic. Be sure to plug the mic into “input 2.” Set the switches to: mic; att off; +48 on (if you want to use phantom power); and ch select to 1-2. Make all audio adjustment on the XLR box using the small dials on the back end of the adapter.

That's all I have time for right now. Let me know how things are going! Dan

Dan and Chris-

Thanks for the replies!

I've pretty much absorbed most of the instruction manual now, and I've shot a lot of stuff with the camcorder. I filmed two of my brother's JV lacrosse games for his team, put the first on DVD, and am capturing the footage for the second right now. I borrowed a shotgun from school and did exactly what you said, Dan.

I'm thinking of breaking down and buying a shotgun mic, and I'm looking heavily at the Azden SGM-1X. It's got XLR and looks decently sized (the 2X is 15" long!) and I think it would go pretty well with the camera. As always, I'm open to suggestions. I don't really know how the Sennheiser mics work...they've got a "capsule" for it and a "powering module?" Do they run off of phantom power?

I'm also looking into a handheld image stabilizer. I'm definitely going to hold off for the Steadicam Merlin just to see the price (rumors: $900?!?), but I'm also looking at the VariZoom (Hollywood Lite?) Ultralite and FlowPod. From what I've read, the Glidecam is a bit heavy. Any people here who've used handheld stabilizers with their DVC's?

Also, what do you guys set your user buttons to? Mine are:
User 1 - Photo shot
User 2 - Backlight
User 3 - AF

And how about your scene files? I haven't set mine yet...

I made a newbie mistake shooting on Wednesday too. The game went into overtime, and one of the coaches called timeout. All this time, I had been recording through the timeouts, but this time I got fed up (they're about 2 minutes long) and stopped recording. Well, the teams went back on to the field, and I didn't start recording again. Oh well. Is there any way around this? I've since turned the beeps on, but I was wondering if there was any sort of intermittent beep that lets you know that the camcorder is in pause? I think it'd be a good idea to have a beep every minute or so when it's in pause.

Other than that, the shooting continues to go well and I'm getting a lot of practice. Next year I'll be promoted to doing both the JV and Varsity games, so I'm pretty excited for that. And starting in a few weeks, I enter into the filming part of our Videotechnology class at school...any movie ideas?

Thanks

-Derek

Hi Derek,

Congrats on getting a great camera. As far as scene file settings the DVC-30 at the default settings looks at little "cool or blue" to me. My settings for a warmer look are as follows:

Detail +1
Chroma level +1
Chroma Phase +1
Everything else 0

See what you think.

Regards,

Mark

Sounds good
 

Derek:

I use the Sennheiser ME66 shotgun capsule with the K6 power module. The results “for the cost” are outstanding. It is clean, accurate, with nearly flat frequency response.

The K6 power module operates with one AA battery or with phantom power from an external source such as the DVC30. It also is the location of the XLR connection for the mic. There is an odd quirk to the K6. One AA battery must be in the mic even if you are using phantom power. There is no path for the current without a battery in place. The Sennheiser K6P is a phantom “only” power module and there is no separate “mic” battery.

The ME66 is the shorter of two lower cost cardioid polar pattern mic capsules made by Sennheiser. The other one, ME67, is about 5” longer and is useless on the DVC30 unless you plan on pole vaulting as you shoot. Total length of the ME66/K6 combo is about 12”. The ME67/K6 combination is over 17” long.

The cost is about $400. One unique aspect of the module/capsule configuration is the ability to use the K6 power module with other types of Sennheiser mic capsules such as a handheld cardioid.

Keep shooting, Dan

DVC 30 Scan Matching & low light
 

Okay, I read somewhere that the dvx100a changes the frequency of its ccd's to achieve the 24p...Now I was reading some specs on the dvc30 and saw that it can do scan matching from 24.1hz to 250hz... Has anyone tried shooting some footage in 24.1hz scan mode to see if it can replicate the look? Also does anyone have any info on the dvc30's lowlight capability. I'm not talking about the nightvision. I'm talking useable footage like, indoor footage, etc. With and without gain?

Thanks

It says so on B&H site, which is incorrect:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=316087&is=REG

The lowest synchro shutter speed for the AG-DVC30P is 60.3. The manual recommends using 100 synchro scan shutter speed when shooting TV in 50HZ locations. Check the panasonic site for the correct info:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...Model=AG-DVC30

I wonder though why when shooting 30p frame mode the manual recomends the 60 shutter speed for the NTSC model? It seems to have no flicker problem with fluorescent lights with those settings. Strange little beast.

I shot with a dvc80 the other day and loved it. I'm guessing that the dvc30 is basically the same, only smaller with smaller chips.

DVC30 questions about EVF DTL (viewfinder peaking)
 

I currently am using a PV-DV953 and want to upgrade to a better more pro than prosumer cam. Reading about the DVC30 a couple things came up that I am not sure I understand. One was EVF DTL (viewfinder peaking) can anyone explain this and how it helps manual focusing. The other was the "exposure knee". I don't think my camcorder has either of these functions. thanks, Mark

Buying a DVC30
 

What is essential equipment?
I'm talking about just camera accesories here. I'm looking to shoot movies. What types of lens's or microphones should I attain?

Really depends what type of shots & audio you're after.

Wide angle lens from Panny. Audio?.....Shotgun and Lavallier mics - add XLR adapter if really serious. Tripod for sure. Heavy duty battery. Stormcase to carry the stuff in.

Budget permitts - Ultra from Serious Magic and a dirty big green screen.

Good site for getting audio, lighting and shooting training material.
http://vasst.com/search.aspx?entity=16&sort=date

The Viewfinder Detail is quite a good tool when focusing manually, as it will make the "in-focus" edges look crispy :) .

Exposure knee is (anybody correct me if I'm wrong) a possibility to tell your camcorder how "bright" your image is to be recorded, it is a setting you might want to use in certain situations, for example trying to match another camcorder in terms of the overall look.

Have fun! Matthias

thanks for the info.

EVF DTL is indeed a focusing aid. It outlines anything that's in sharp focus with a thin white outline. The effect is subtle, but definitely helpful.

As for the knee -- the knee works for video sort of like how an audio limiter works for audio. With a limiter, if the signal is getting close to "clipping" (and thus in danger of distorting), a limiter will step in and back off the volume gradually in an attempt to reigh the signal in and prevent it from clipping. The knee does the same thing for video -- as the signal approaches burnout/clip, the knee will attenuate it some, trying to avoid the blown-out look. On the DVX100A you can set the level when knee compression begins to low/mid/high, meaning 80%, 90%, or 100%. Don't know about the DVC cameras.

DVC 30 Training?
 

Does anyone know of a book or video training for the DVC30. There is so much on this camera I have no clue what it means or how to use it. I can find it out, I'm sure, but if anyone knows of a training aid, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,