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DVX-100’s film look still alive?
Hey, sorry to bother everyone here, but back when the DVX-100 came out, their was, as I remember, such a great look and feel to the 24p look to this camera. I’ve used and rented other cameras in the past, but I look back at past projects that I shot with the DVX-100, and it seems to me that, that camera had some sort of pure magic to it, the look, it just looked a lot more like ‘film’ as I remembered.
Maybe now years later, as more cameras come out and are able to shoot in the 24p mode, whether true 24fps, or 24p, or whatever, I feel like that the DVX had a film look that I’ve not seen since, the newer cameras definitely shoot better and shoot cleaner, but does anyone out their agree, and if so, what is the state of the film-look at large? The HVX has a good film look, and I know a ton of people are going to reply and talk about how you light it, where you are shooting, how and etc, etc, but above all the technical lighting aspects of it, the camera right out of the box, shot great imagery.
Discussions or comments?
Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCS3/Sony EX-3/Mac Intel -
17 Replies
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Ya know, as much as I love (and still use) the DVX100, I am a big fan of it’s newest incarnation – the HMC150. Basically the same camera and HD and it shoots to SD cards instead of tape. It feels nearly identical, but with a better lens and more advanced pro features. I really like the latest crop of Canon DSLRs, too. On the other hand, if you have a DVX-100 or are planning on picking up a used one, you can’t go wrong. I’d go with the 100B, though.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Yea, I think that in alot of ways, this film look developed by Panasonic does have that tinkle to it that makes anything you shoot have that film look, in which when people talk in terms of the film looks of other cameras, the one I’m using now for work, the Sony EX-3, when shooting in film mode, or in the 24fps, with settings speced out for film, it just doesn’t quite look like the “look”, you know? Especially where you have so many filmmakers still shooting films and going to DVD, if its going to DVD, then why not still use the DVX? I think that in terms of acquisition for the big screen, the DVX-users have had to battle out the best way to blow this video up, but as we are seeing now in theatres, more and more films are bring shot digitally on the RED or on other platforms that are non-film-looking. So, the audiences’ trained eyes are now becoming more and more aware as well as forgicing of this, and with the wealth of film grain filters and editing tools, anything can be done in post to make video look more like film. Do you know of anyone still using the DVX for feature films these days, or has this dog been run over for good? How does the HMC truly compare, image-quality-wise the the DVX, and will this DVX film look return to the ring, in terms of future cameras?
Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCS3/Sony EX-3/Mac Intel -
Tom, I hear about TONS of indie stuff made with it – they still make it and it’s used as much as the Canon XL2 or Sony EX1 – they’re reliable and . I use it for tons of projects around town, but I’m getting the new Canon t2i DSLR here pretty soon so I may have to squelch that: I’ve used footage from the 5D and 7D and it just doesn’t compare with anything out there right now in that price range. I’ll keep my DVX100 around though. 😉
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Hey guys, I was just browsing online in an attempt to find pricing ranges for purchasing a DVX. I am a film student at Temple University in Philadelphia and my friends and I had used the DVX consistently over the last year or two for school and other work and had been really impressed with the look that it had. Recently, I personally, have started noticing that certain student filmmakers and a lot of regular people have grown fixated with the concept of HD, and even further with the RED, just because of the technological notion that is attached to it. If its shot in HD it looks good to this generation. In fact, I have been using the Sony Z1U and V1U lately and really love the footage I’ve gotten from those but in the hunt for purchasing a camera of my own, I can’t think anything else but the DVX, it seems to have that “look” and it is also very familiar to me and has great manual functions. But is it going to last in terms of quality and price? Any feedback would be much appreciated
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Put it this way: I used to shoot on film. I love film. To me, it is far better than anything out there, BUT it’s expensive and time-consuming.
When the RED came along, I was excited – a camera that shoots a series of single frames (high res ones, too) and you can eliminate half the work flow! No more film processing, transferring to digital, etc. Now, you go straight to digital and…oh wait, most theaters don’t support digital – they still want a 35mm print. Almost there. If you’re going straight to video, get the best image you can. Shoot HD, but if you’re a student or on a limited budget, I’d get a DVX-100B (or C) or a tapeless format like the HMC-150 (or a DSLR if you want to go that route).
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
So what does standard def 16×9 shot by the DVX compare to the HMC’s standard def 16×9? Identical?
Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCP7/Sony EX-3/Mac Quad-Core Intel -
Okay now is where you get into non-square pixels a bit. The DVX does an SD version of 16×9 where it stretches the frame to mimic widescreen 16×9 (still 720×480 with irregular pixels to mimic 16×9). The HMC shoots full resolution 16×9 (1920×1080). The HMC is much better for widescreen and HD than the DVX-100. Remember, though: HD is still kinda catch-phrasey. Cable is still SD and satellite is still heavily compressed HD. Regular broadcast is still the standard at full-res HD. If you want, spend the $ on an HMC-150 and you are covered and it’s tapeless. If you want to save a little, get the DVX-100 and get cozy with a tape workflow. I love the DVX-100, but I also love the HMC-150. If I wasn’t already using DSLR video, I’d have an HMC-150.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Have you seen side by side comparisons to the look? Can you tell the difference, and how?
Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCP7/Sony EX-3/Mac Quad-Core Intel -
I’m shooting an independent feature film right now with my DVX100. I also have a Canon XL2 but I like the “film” look of the DVX better. To me, the DVX100 has better contrast latitude and I’m guessing this has a lot to do with the CCD and associated electronics. I’ve shot with the XL2 in bright daylight and sometimes get some strange looking video, where the DVX100 seems to handle ‘high noon” sunlight better.
Bill Moede
Replay Media Productions
Appleton / Green Bay Wisconsin -
So, I mean, if I’m understanding you, you’re saying that the DVX “film look” looks better? I’m referring to this film look versus let’s say other cameras as well, like the HMC-150 or the HVX-200, which i’m sure you’ve seen or have shot with as well, so does the DVX, for you, give you a better film look, than these other HD cameras? I kind of see better film look, you? (And these are SD camera too!) The other thing I think about is most people are getting indie feature straight to DVD, so the whole 1080p thing, to me is great if your ultimate output is a BlueRay or a theatrical release – right? DVX shot features still look great on regular DVDs.
Tom Laughlin
Producer/Editor
Salt Lake City, UT
FCP7/Sony EX-3/Mac Quad-Core Intel
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