I'm sure he got his info off the "other boards" as I checked them as well but because they allow anon posting and are poorly moderated, unlike the great boards here, info is far less reliable.

Right now, I have not heard from back from Panasonic and have seen no clear info on US availability, price or rebate for existing DVX100 owners.

Stephen is right, I did venture, however momentarily, to "the badlands." But rest assured where my allegiance lies. OK, I'm sounding way too D&D here. Anyway, I'm so pumped about this cam that I'll take any info (though it's probably not too reliable.) But still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Peter

What I don't understand is why won't Panasonic just post a message here or something saying these rumors are true? What's the big deal? People are gonna buy the thing anyways.

This is my dream cam:

In short:

- 12-bit A/D
- New RGB color gamma corrector
- New Cine gamma modes
- Max +12 dB for Progressive mode
- Auto focus in Progressive mode
- Dual zebra + light/exposure meter display
- B/W viewfinder with Peak
- LCD with Peak

http://panasonic.biz/sav/camera/ag-dvx100a/ag-dvx100a.html

Announced. Please look at the new thread I started:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17295

I saw on another board $3,800 street. Basically $500 more than the old model. And the 100A was listed on expandore.com (before they pulled the page) for $3,600, which is $500 more than what they were selling the 100 for. Their site also said availability end of January '04.

"why won't Panasonic just post a message here or something saying these rumors are true?"

Now that they've posted actual specs and product sheets for it on the web, I don't think there's any question whether the rumors are true or not.

http://www.biz-max.net/bizmax/ag-dvX100A.htm

It is anticipated to cost more than the current camera. The current camera has a list price of $3795, with a street price around $3100. The new camera may have a list price of $4995 with a street price of around $4200 or so. The original rumor/announcement that started all this, turned out to be basically spot-on, and that rumor listed a price of US$5000.

But hey, we'll all know soon, the camera may be shown at DV Expo in L.A., and if so, they should have US pricing sorted out by then.

what are cine-like D and V going to do. IS the Image quality on this new cam going to be noticably better or is it just going to be easier to use?

Cine D : emphasizes on Dynamic range
Cine V : more on luminance

I just came back from Panasonic booth at InterBEE 2003.
There were three DVX100A as on-hands demo rigs.
One DVX100A equiped Chrosziel mattbox and focus puller.
I asked Panasonic rep and confirmed these things.

- DVX100A will be available Nov. 20 (yes, it's tommorow!) for Japanese market. The rep guy doesn't know about other countries.
- DVX100 is not upgradable (circuit board nor mechanical part).
- DVX100 is already discontinued.
- Accessories which designed for DVX100 may fits on DVX100A since they has same outer dimensions.

Wow, thats rather soon. I wonder how that translates to American markets. The GS100 isn't avaliable here yet, correct?

What do you guys think? when the DVX100A comes out, sell the DVX100 and upgrade to the A model? Or wait 6 months or so and see if any new stuff comes out of NAB and then sell the DVX? But buy then if something does come out, the value of the DVX might drop. As cool as the A model looks, it just doesn't add enough for an immediate upgrade.

I just bought my dvx like a month ago. GEeZZ. Is there any real large differences in the 100 and the 100a.????

I plan to get one (DVX100) next month, but now, I'll just wait for the "A" model.

However, I need more info on the PAL version, should be DVX100AE. Do you guys know when will Pana ship this model?

Ahh, I just found the English version of the webpage, please ignore :) Thanks all

I was about to buy my DVX100 a couple of weeks ago when I heard the rumors of a possible second gen DVX100A at https://www.dvxuser.com. I'm glad I waited, and I'm glad to hear Masahiro Kikuchi's Interbee brief report that it indeed exists, and that it will be available soon. For once in my life I'm actually going to get the latest and greatest without fear of obsolescence in the next 6 months.

I hope to hear more Interbee reports about the DVX100A in the next couple of days.

If they're discontinuing the DVX100, does that mean that the price of the DVX100A will be the same as the previous model was? It'd be a shame to raise the price of their current model...

YES!!! DVX100A is the ONE! so big different from DVX100. I must buy this camera...

If you look at the pdf diagrams, the new squeeze mode appears to do nothing more than interpolate the usual 16:9 image *before* it is written to tape. It doesn't appear that any resolution advantage is offered by this process, but not much info to run on.

I'd consider the squeeze mode more a poorman's anamorphic adapter.

I may have heard wrong, but from what I've been told, the stretch done on camera is better then when it's done in post. But in no way yeilds the results of a real anamorphic lens.

depends if it samples the image from a 800+ horizontal pixel range then squeezes it. Obviously if it is just samples the 720 pixels and squeezes it then its pretty lame.

But, remember that the CCD has a whole whack of pixels.

geez im amazed how many of you are ready to give up your DVX's. Next DVX upgrade im going to make is when it turns HD and does true 16:9...

yes... indeed. Alot of the new features are really for very very experienced operators and D.P's that have alot of lights and alot of equipment to work with and an equal amount of setup time.

The only think of interest to me is the anamorphic mode.. but when the Century optics ana comes out I am 99% confident it will do a much better job.

Oh.. that little rib around the scene dial is pretty damn cool as well.

Some frame grabs:

http://64.87.34.91/dvx100a/

This is from Saru, the original person who started all the buzz on this new camcorder here in the states and on various DV forums. I believe he's registered here as well under his real name - is that you Masahiro?? Thanks for the great information, good to have someone close to the "source".

In any case, these frame grabs were taken while at Interbee, and I believe he's looking for someone to host more pictures...

Jarred, I agree, I'm really looking forward to Century Optics' 16:9 lens for the AG-DVX100. According to Ken Robings, the lens has a focus ring of its own, which makes it more challenging for focus pulls I imagine - or at least for myself, as inexperienced as I am with high end lenses of this sort - but I think this lens should be a good reason to keep the first gen AG-DVX100.

Then again, if you have all the money in the world, this lens and an AG-DVX100A would be extremely nice.

yes,, remember there are still people out there making great movies with the XL-1...

<<<-- Originally posted by Dan Lahav : geez im amazed how many of you are ready to give up your DVX's. Next DVX upgrade im going to make is when it turns HD and does true 16:9... -->>>

Im with you bro, im willing to stick to the DVX stocky and go for the new DVC30 as a second cam and ditch my MX, THEN upgrade the main cam to some shoulder mounted beast...

for weddings this wont do all that much apart from offer an autofocus in progressive, which is a good thing.... but for what i need, i cant afford to NOT have a camera in the transitional period pbetween selling the DVX, and getting the DVXa....

Can someone list the major changes. And is there goign to be a HUGE differenece.??

Just some added features in progressive mode. HOwever, the most interesting addition is the 12-bit DSP and the new gamma curves. The PDF promises better image, I'm looking forward to what that means. However I think they've taken out the 60i mode? If that's the case, I would like to hang on to the DVX just because for the flexibility.

It's too late, Ebay is already flooded with used DVXs!!

what is 12bit DSP? When does this thing come out.?? I call it because i'm p*ssed that i just bought the dvx 3 weeks ago and now there is a new one.

Depending on where you bought it, you have 30 days to return it. Maybe return it and wait for the new one?

do you know when the new one is coming out?

I got my dvx at Tristate camera, and I dont think they would let me return it.-

Above this thread it says that the Japanese version is already out. A rumor also says that the American version should be available January 2004.

they are moving much quicker than anyone expected.. from rumour to release in less than a week :)

cool, how much do you think i could get for a Mint condition dvx. I would like to sell mine when that one comes out.

12bit A/D can produce higher dynamic range than a 8bit A/D

<<<-- Originally posted by Ho Chee Woe : 12bit A/D can produce higher dynamic range than a 8bit A/D -->>>

i still dont understand

http://www.national.com/appinfo/adc/files/definition_of_terms.pdf

for an explaination of bit A/D

I'm currently using a Streamcorder, which has the same 12-bit A/D.

This indeed helps in maintaining better dynamic range because according to JVC, 12-bit signals are pre-processed before down sampling them to 8-bit DV.

All other prosumer cams work with 8-bit signals all the way.

The 12-bit A/D, and the knee control and probably color matirx things it allowed to be added are the real story with the new camaera. The other changes are nice to haves, but prettu much all have work arounds with he old camera.

But the 12-bit A/D is big. If Canon comes out with a 12-bit or higher A/D, 24p/30p and a native 16:9 CCD, the DVX will be trumped.

But then, if a FVC-200 form factor DVX-200 comes out....

I agree wholeheartedly with David... in my not-so-humble opinion, the single biggest and most significant feature is the 12-bit A/D. This is a huge deal, and it makes an already superb camcorder that much better. If this was the only change, I'd still be all over it... a very smart move for Panasonic.

explain 12 bit A/d. Does it make the picture look any different????????????

Actually, if the new 100a is going to go for over $5000 as someone previously mentioned, and if it won't be able to shoot 60i, AND if they really are discontinuing the 100, I'd say hang on to the 100! It may well INCREASE in value. There are currently no other cameras in the sub $4000 price range that will touch it in features, and if Panasonic is stupid enough to discontinue the 100 thinking people will gladly fork over another $1500-2000 for the 100a, we may all be sitting on a little goldmine. Anyone willing to pay $3750 for a slightly used 100? Call me in six months!

If you've got gain in 30p, you don't need 60i. How could it get better than that?

It has 60i.

http://panasonic.co.jp/bsd/sales_o/02products/products/ag-dvx100a/dvx100a_spec.html

And the anticipated LIST price is $5,000, with a street price supposedly around $4,000.

<<<-- Originally posted by Mike Zorger : explain 12 bit A/d. Does it make the picture look any different???????????? -->>>

Haha yeah, im starting to think people just like bigger numbers but dont know what it specifically does :)