HV20/30 vs Panasonic DVX 100

[kentpix]

Hi I am new to this forum. I must say it is a great forum. How did we live without the web? My question is this. I own a Panasonic DVX 100 that I have been using happily for the last couple of years. As some of you know it is a high end prosumer sd camera that had a lot to do with starting the 24p frenzy that has swept the camcorder world. I think it is a great camera that creates an image that has been used successfully to shoot indie features and reality shows etc. Sorry...the question. Simply put. Is it obsolete? I have been considering buying the hv 30. I think the 30p feature is something I would like and use. I did read the camcorderinfo review of the hv 30 posted today and the review refers to blocked pixels when the camera is panned. This doesn't happen when the dvx 100 is panned and I am worried that this is a major problem that limits where footage can be shown...PBS for example. I am anxious to start using an HD camera and I would appreciate any imput. Thanks.

[Lunchbox]

Here's a comparison of screen shots of Canon GL2 and HV20. the extra resolution in HV20 makes a big difference.

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=4454

[Sean Michael]

I own both, but am thinking of putting my DVX100a up for sale.

The DVX is a great SD camera. If you go to an HV30, you will sorely miss DVX manual controls. DVX colors are outstanding, and its 24p is much easier to edit (the HV20 firmware doesn't include pulldown flags, so you may need to buy Cineform if 24p is important to you). And since it uses 3 CCDs, the DVX doesn't suffer the CMOS "rolling shutter" artifacts in motion/panning.

So, to directly answer your question -- I don't think the DVX is "obsolete" just yet, because there's still demand for quality SD content.

So why am I using an HV20 instead? The image quality is fantastic. Once you see the HD image quality of an HV20, you may be willing to sacrifice manual controls, etc. And the HV20 offers a decent set of controls for a consumer cam. I like its smaller form factor -- it's easier to carry and attracts less attention in public.

If I was shooting in SD I'd have that nagging regret in the back of my mind. Once you've tasted HD, it's hard to go back.

If you want the best of both worlds, consider a Canon XHA1. This is the HDV camera that has picked up the mantle of the DVX.

[ixlor8]

Sean,

I have been using the HV20 for about 6-7 months. I video tape automotive race events and car shows.

The car show events with the HV20 look fantastic with bright light and slow moving or stopped cars.

I have a real problem with taping fast action autocross events with the HV20. The image falls apart. The white bleacher shots are nasty with fact movement.

Would the DVX100a be a better choice for fast action shots like race events?

I am considering going back to a Prosumer SD Camcorder.

[Sean Michael]

Sean,
Would the DVX100a be a better choice for fast action shots like race events?

Are you shooting 24p? 24p is not a good choice for fast action events like auto racing because of the motion judder. The DVX will give you similar issues if you shoot action events in 24p.

The HV20 should do fine with action in 60i mode. That said, its CMOS image sensor will occasionally produce "rolling shutter" artifacts in your footage when panning. It hasn't been a big problem for me, but more of an occasional annoyance. The DVX has 3 CCDs that suffer no such artifacts.

If you are an aspiring narrative filmmaker, or if you work with clients, I can certainly understand the appeal of a prosumer SD cam. The DVX delivers a fantastic (and easily tweakable) SD image that has been sufficient for theatrical release films. I just wish it was HD, or at least widescreen.

[ixlor8]

I have been shooting in 60i for autocross events. Lots of fast movement of the camcorder to keep the car in the frame.

Does the DVX100 have a 16x9 mode without black bars in the video?

What camcorder would you suggest to solve my problem? The HV20 just is not doing the job for my race events.

[Sean Michael]

The DVX does not have a true 16:9 mode. It has 4:3 chips, although you can do a letterbox mode (the black bars) or a "squeeze" mode (ummm...you don't want to do this mode).

If you are doing fast pans with the HV20 and your image is falling apart, it may be due to its CMOS chip. You may want to consider a CCD-based cam.

The next prosumer cam I'm considering is the Canon XHA1. HDV, 16:9, CCDs...it seems to have inherited the DVX audience. Also Sony just released the Z7, an interchangeable lens CMOS HDV cam that records to both tape and compact flash cards. I will probably wait until NAB in April to pull the trigger on my next cam though. I'd like to see if anything new is coming this spring.

On the consumer side, I've heard some people say that electronic image stabilization is actually better than optical image stabilization for car mount shots -- I have NO idea if this is true, but if it is, you might try a Sony HC3 or HC5 consumer cam. (Both of these use CMOS though.) If you want a mic input, the aging prosumer 1080i / 60i Sony A1 is worth a look.

For more info on the CMOS vs. CCD issue, check out this article:

http://dvxuser.com/jason/CMOS-CCD/

[Ian-T]

Outside of rolling shutter wobble the image falling apart does not necessarily have anything to do with the CMOS...but it is more likely the codec used ...HDV.