A Few questions about the DVX

[Noah Kadner]

Not sure what a ‘cold shoe’ is. But I assume you’re talking about a still camera’s flash hot shoe as opposed to the bracket on top of a video camera. The DVX, like most prosumer videocameras, has a single mount on top that does not function like a hot shoe. It’s generally where you slide on a microphone or a light.

And yes the DVX100B has a 16:9 anamorphic squeeze mode, though it it derived electronically, i.e. not native 16:9 CCDs. That said for standard definition, it’s pretty good.

Noah

Check out my book: RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera! Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
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[John Quigley]

Generally, a hot shoe can provide power to accessories I think, and a cold shoe is just a general accessory shoe.

[Noah Kadner]

Ok- did I answer your question? There is not a hot shoe on any video camera that I know of. So all are cold shoes by your definition. And the DVX, like almost all prosumer cameras has one.

Noah

Check out my book: RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera! Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
Call Box Training now featuring the Sony EX1 Guidebook, Panasonic HVX200, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, and Panasonic DVX100.

[John Quigley]

Yes, thank you very much, I had a look at the DVX100B today at a Camera shop and I definitely think it’s the camera for me.

[Noah Kadner]

Ok btw I would be remiss in pointing out this is 2010 and buying a new standard definition camera is a little nuts. I’d suggest at least looking at an HMC40. That gets you into a really nice high-definition camera for under $2,000. Of course if we’re talking a used DVX of course you’ll be in for less.

Noah

Check out my book: RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera! Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
Call Box Training now featuring the Sony EX1 Guidebook, Panasonic HVX200, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, and Panasonic DVX100.

[Jim Bell]

Hi Noah,

You say its nuts to buy an SD camera in 2010 BUT…

Does the HMC40 emulate the film look as well as the DVX100B? Some applications actually call for varied definition don’t they?

How does finished file size compare between HD and SD for webcasting? Lots of people are on cable which can be very slow in the evenings…

Does the HMC40 mention support multi-camera shooting? How easy is timecode synching?

These are all issues for me…

Thanks!

[John Quigley]

I Actually already have a High definition Camera, a Sony HVR-HD100E, as It was really cheap for me to buy at the time, It didn’t matter that it didn’t have XLR ports, however, now, more and more It seems that I need them.

Plus, I always ask customers if they want me to shoot on HD Tapes or on SD Tapes. About 99 out of a 100 times it’s SD, due to the cost increase on the workload for downloading and editing HD, and the cost for HD Tapes.

An SD Camera is much easier and I will have two cameras, plus the DVX-100B is much, much smaller than my sony!

[Noah Kadner]

Regarding ‘film look’- yes the technology and gamma settings are pretty much the same. Panasonic has owned 24p in this market for years. Regarding final file size- that’s kind of irrelevant. You can downconvert HD to whatever frame resolution and data rate you need and it’s going to look better than starting in SD to begin with. But good look upconverting SD to HD without spending a few bucks to get to acceptable.

I’m not saying the DVX100 isn’t a great camera. It is- but it’s 8+ years old now and to totally ignore HD is not a good call for most businesses. Not when you can easily shoot HD, 2K even 4K with cameras that have been out for a few years now.

Noah

Check out my book: RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera! Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
Call Box Training now featuring the Sony EX1 Guidebook, Panasonic HVX200, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, and Panasonic DVX100.

[Jim Bell]

Really? Can I take that to the bank? No-one I talked to indicated the new HD line had equal “film look” capabilities… that would be best of both worlds for sure… please confirm 🙂

And lest we forget, can you address the multi-cam capabilities as compared to the DVX100B when working in final cut?

Thanks!

[Noah Kadner]

Not sure what your definition of take it to the bank is but it all comes down to aesthetics. Go test these cameras out if you’re really thinking about it. HD is not the wave of the future, it’s a done deal already. 3D 4K+ is the wave of the future now.

Noah

Check out my book: RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera! Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
Call Box Training now featuring the Sony EX1 Guidebook, Panasonic HVX200, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, and Panasonic DVX100.