Will there ever be a DVX with 16×9 ccds?

[Noah Kadner]

Not likely with the HVX available now.

Noah

[John Trent]

Canon has the XL2 and XL-H1 both in 16×9, why should Panasonic allow their flag-ship SD camera to fall behind Canon? I kind of figured the DVX B didn’t have the 16×9 chips because Pannasonic wanted people who wanted 16×9 to be forced into buying the HVX. But now that the HVX has had it’s roll-out, I hoped (wishfull thinking probably) they’d give their loyal DVX user’s what they want.

[Michael Sacci]

Even if I had no immediate plans to shoot HD I would pay the extra $2K and get just HVX camera which gives you a 16:9 DVX right out of the box, no accessories needed. Then you can shoot HD anytime you want to by adding cards or a drive. (Not to mention DVCPro50). You get so much longevity with the HVX I

[John Trent]

I’m surprised too, that anyone would buy a DVX in it’s current incarnation. Working with the widescreen adapter is a pain and sqeeze mode cuts resolution and degrades the image – just what you want to blow up to a big screen at home or in a theater (sarcasm and wishfull thinking in one sentence).

As far as the HVX is concerned it’s a lot more than $2,500, after the cards, new computer, and new lighting gear. The HVX needs more light, according to a article in the new “American Cinematographer” magazine it’s a poor low light camera (all the 1/3 chip HD cams are) and required buying a new more powerful light kit. Oh, and let’s not forget the $1,000 Blu-Ray recorder.

After weighing things, and knowing better cameras will come and prices of cards, computers, and Blu-Ray recorders will come down, maybe it’s not so wrong-headed to stay with SD for awhile. SD offers increased sensitivity, better latitude, EASY WORKFLOW and frankly I’m not impressed with this generation of HD cams – maybe one or two generations down the line, they’ll get it right.

[Noah Kadner]

Again I have no insight into Panasonic’s future projects and whether there will be a DVX100C but I kinda doubt it. The HVX is selling incredibly well and it would not make great business sense for Panasonic to potentially cut into sales with a cheaper 16:9 DV 24p camera. The XL2 is considerably more expensive than the DVX and fills the gap for those who want 16:9 but aren’t quite ready for full HD. And with the DVX100B already in its third generation and a success for years there’s likely a sense that anyone who is seriously wanting one has already purchased it.

Noah

[Michael Sacci]

John, you miss my point, if you just want a 16:9 DV25 camera you don’t need anything other then the out of box camera. It still uses the same tapes so you can put off buying all the extra stuff

[John Trent]

But Sacci, I’ll get less sensitity, less latitude and some say more noise in my SD footage…AND it’ll cost me $2,500 more.

Plus, everyone I talk to says if you shoot SD with a HD cam it looks worse than if you shot the same thing with SD cam to begin with. HD cams only give equal SD quality if you SHOOT IN HD THEN DOWN CONVERT TO SD. Doesn’t that mean buying a P2 card and downloading my footage to a hard drive every 4 or 10 minutes. Sounds like a lot more trouble than it’s worth. If this is the case, what’ll I do with the footage – I’ll need a new Mac and software to do the down convert…hell, I’ll need a new more powerful light kit to shoot the damn footage. I’ll be spending $20,000 before it’s over to get my 16:9 DVX.

[Noah Kadner]

Not true at all. The SD mode of the HVX shooting to DV tape in 16:9 looks awesome. Clearly you need a demo- get thee to a dealer with a DV tape and you can see for yourself.

Noah

[John Trent]

That’s interesting. Probably due to the fact that the HDV cam’s tape heads and circuitry are doing double duty (HD & SD)so the SD is compromised, whereas the HVX ONLY does SD to tape. Still, with the price and low light issue I’ll take the 16×9 DVX and there is a rumor now, that there will be one. Let’s hope.

[Noah Kadner]

If your business model allows you to wait around for a camera no one says is coming- more power to you.

Noah