Call VariZoom toll free at (888) 826 - 3399, ask for Tom Smith and find out!

Thanks Chris! I'll post what I find out.

The panny vz-dvc30 is a rebadged version of the VZ-Rock for the dvx......essentially the same product. The VZ badged version is cheaper and operates exactly the same.

Does the dvc-30 have the crystal engine like the gs-400 and which has better video quality in 4to3 aspect ratio since i own the the dvc-30 thinking of getting gs-400 for back up

Sorry if this is something that was already posted last year but as a new owner of a DVC30 I found this article intriguing. I know the a lot of the cable networks are using dv cams these days to shoot these "no budget" shows but this is the first one I've heard of that was using all DVC30's.

http://www.editopia.com/news/2173?

Four of them, to be exact! Thanks for the link,

hey guys!! i got a dvc 30 recently and here is my quick review.

When I opened the box I was stunned at how small it was. I mean when I was looking at the pictures on BH I thought this camera was going to be pretty big. Anyways I am satisfied with it size.

Now I got this camera for taping this show in a theater that I am asked to every year and I was also pondering about taping weddings here and there. So about a week later after I bought the camera , I had to go and tape that show... Boy was I mess , I sat on the balcony while reading the manual.... Anyways thats a different story. The camera performed beautifully. The camera has a spotlight mode that lets you see inside a spotlight on stage but not at the stuff around it. So what I would do was first film in manual and then switch to spotlight, it worked admirably. Since the show was about 3 hours I had to go through about 3 tapes and I have to say that this camera ejects the tapes quickly. The white balance must be set up manually in order to achieve real whites and not a yellowish tint however. I love the zoom rocker and there are also three settings for speed of the zoom. The only thing that bothered me about this camera was that the jog wheel around the lens (or whatever its called) has too many uses (iris,zoom, focus). All in all I think this is a great camera , I just have to figure out how to use it.

Congratulations on the DVC30 and welcome to DVinfo!

I didn't know the DVC30's focus ring was multi-function like on the GS400. Thats good to know.

I can't recall if the DVC30 has the crystal engine. Wouldn't the DVC30 be a tad better in lower light than the GS400? (If that's important for you.) Also, do you use an external XLR'd mic? That would be another concern unless you're will to go with GS400's after-market external mic; which isn't too bad from what I was told.

I've been playing around with different file settings on my DVC30 lately and I noticed that even if the settings between two different modes are exactly the same, the resulting picture's are not.

I've got my "scene 2" setting as follows:

DETAIL LEVEL: -3
CHROMA LEVEL: +4
CHROMA PHASE: 0
COLOR TEMP: 0
MASTER PED: -11
AE SHIFT: -3
SKIN TONE DTL: ON
REC MODE: FRAME

Now my "movie-like" settings are exactly the same, but the picture is darker and almost feels fuller.

Is this because the "movie-like" setting has the Cine-like D gamma curve like the DVX, and the "scene 2" setting does not have the same gamma curve?

I don't have the camera, Bo (but I want one pretty bad), but I do believe that you are seeing the differences in the gamma curves there.

Hi people,

I'm moving out of DJing this year and into Videography for weddings, events, etc.

I was originally going to get a GL2 and an Optura Xi and considered the PD170 but then twigged to Panasonic.

I've been doing a ton of research and I've narrowed down my choices to, well, the DVC30. However I have a bit of a quandry (sp?)

My budget will be about $4000 CDN for cameras. I'd like to get two. I'm already set for audio, lighting and a computer.

I like the DVC30 and the price as well. My second camera was going to be a GS200 to keep the 3 CCD quality. Now I'm reading that the GS400 has better 16x9 than the 30 albeit without the XLR but that's what Beachtek is for. ;-)

Should I consider 2 GS400's instead of the 30 and 200? Will I obtain solid footage or is the camera overpriced. I ask because so many know so much on this board.

Note: In Canada the retail on the GS400 is about $1800 USD and that's a good price. The DVC30 though comes out to about $2376 USD and again, that's a good price w' the XLR attachment.

Thanks,

ian

I don't know the DVC30 but my nephew had the Panasonic GS400 and I think for it's money it's very good cam.
Just wanted to let you know this.
(PS: Although I think the mic on the cam is unlucky placed, you can hear a lot of tape noise, but you'll have that with many cams I think)

Good luck.

Hey can anyone tell me what the best settings are for my short film. I mean in the way of constrast, gamma, sharpness, and whatever else you pro guys change about your picture to get the best results. I only recently got my dvc30 and have yet to figure out what settings, frame speed etc. are best to create a short film and I'm short on time. If someone could give me a heads up that'd be great.

if were to use a stepdown ring to go from 43mm-37mm and then use the Century Precision Optics DS-1609-37 16:9 Widescreen Adapter Lens - 37mm seen here ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242460&is=REG )would i get true widescreen without the image looking screwed up because i went down to 37 from 43? i ask this because i want good widescreen on my dvc30 and the 37mm centry 16:9 adapter is a little less than half the price of its 58mm version, if someone could educated me that'd be great.

I'll bet you would get vignetting (cutting off the corners of the image) by stepping down to 37mm; usually not a good idea to step down. However maybe someone else has actually tried and can give you a definitive answer.

I'm at the point where I can purchase the Firestore FS4 to connect to my DVC30. In the pany manual page 79 it states that in camera setup you can set DV control to External and the backup unit (FS4) is controlled by the pany's start/stop button. So far so good.

But it then goes on to say that the images shot using the camcorder are recorded using the backup unit and the camercorder does not perform the recording operation.

So here is the $million question.... Does this mean you can record to the FS4 without having a tape in the camcorder?

Any thoughts?

Regards,

Mark

Evan-
Try looking at the posts on dvxuser.com, I found a few suggestions for the custom settings on the dvc30 and am in the process of trying them out. Good luck!

Depends on what look you are trying to achieve. I have found the following looks the most natural and pleasing to me for outdoor, daylight scenes.

Detail +1
Chroma +1
Phase +1
Temp +0
Pedestal 0

Regards,

Mark

no the DVC/DVX both require a tape as the recording mechanism will not trigger without a tape.

In the menu, u must set the camera to trigger BOTH

i dont have an FS4 yet (theyre not available), and by the time ill really have a use for it, DVCProHD will be available so the P2 cards will make the Firestore obsolete.

While people on other camera boards love their cameras and openly converse about them, it seems like there is no love for dvc30, which is an excellent reliable cam that deserves just as much paise. After owning mine for a bit of bit and getting used to it i think i'm ready to begin tricking it out to get the most of out my cam, but because of the lack of convorsation about the dvc30 compared to other cams i have no idea what people do to theirs. So in an effort to unify dvc30 owners everywhere post pics and write descriptions of your dvc30 setup in this tread so we can find out how our fellow dvc30 owners are living. I'm talking mics, lenses, filters, stabilizers, tripods, the whole shibang! Show and tell it all here.

Hello

I am confused as to what matte box / filter holder to get for my Pana AG DVC-30.

I am new to video but have started to use it as I travel extensivelly doing nature/art stills photography in my country.

It's a waste not to acumulate footage of the places I go.

Any sugestions as to the matte box...?
Anyone else using this camera for nature documentaries..?


Thanks to all

Leo
www.leosalazar.com

Welcome aboard DVInfo.net Leo!

Is there anyone who can help Leo out?

Hi Evan,

I agree with you on that it's very cold on the threads and conversations front regarding this camera...

I wonder why.

I am a newby in moving pictures and so the DVC-30, along with some friends and you people in this forum, are my tutor and teachers.

Being an active nature/art photographer, I extensivelly travel the Dominican Republic (where I currently reside) growing my stock photo portfolio for my showings, direct sales or other of my ongoing projects.

I am now taking footage of the locations I work.

As expected, my travels take me off the beaten path and I am fairly happy with having added video to my photography endeavour.

My DVC-30 sits on a Cartoni ActionProDV tripod and is usually fitted with the Panasonic AGLW4307 Wide Angle Attachment, which I find of very good quality due to the low image distortion.

As I am just a newby, my opinions regarding the camera are not of much more value, at this pont at least, so I will point out my impressions.

The camera is light, easy to use and uderstand, image quality is very acceptable and is making my learning experience a very nice experience.

I think of my camera as a she so I think she is very forgiving with the focus and exposure as it's very easy to see when you are off.

The buttons with the dual functions are very intuitive and easy, but I would like to see even more explicitly if one is in camera or vcr mode.

I have nearly erased portions of a tape not figuring out fast enough that no image is being shown on the monitor due to the camera being in "camera mode".

I don't like that the ND filter is automatic and so use a .06 on the lens sometimes to reduce DoF.

Coming from photography, I really miss an optical viewfinder...

I also have tried to elicit more conversation regarding this camera by asking about matte boxes for it's 43mm lens or the wide attachment and have gotten no answer so far.

Maybe -and hopefully- your thread will prosper !

How does one post screenshots..?

Many thanks,

Leo

I'd love to see some video or at least screenshots of the IR recording mode.

I have one of the earliest production models of the DVC30 (ser no B4TC00045 is February 2004 mfg, seq no 45). It took me a few weeks to adapt to it, and a few more to understand the manual controls, but since then I have been in heaven. Better picture quality than I could reasonably expect.

I use a Cokin A filter holder on the 43mm lens and I have a wide angle adapter with a 72mm thread. For that I use the Cokin P system. By using various adapters i get to use the same filters on my photo cameras.

I agree that the unmanaged ND filter is a terrible idea and one of my frequently used filters in each set is ND, as well as the circular polarizer to handle reflections.

I have a flare-buster (www.flarebuster.com) with some additional attachment hardware from the same firm to help control lens/filter flare.

My favorite (i.e. latest) toy is a copy of DVRack (www.seriousmagic.com) and an external hard drive for my laptop. Using this I can record direct to disk while also perfecting the camera settings (really, look up the calibration and Sure-Shot functions of DVRack) and monitoring dynamic range and color matching in real time. Awe inspiring! Then I move the external 2.5" hard drive from my laptop to my edit system and go. Very nice.

My cam batteries are from DVXuser.com - excellent quality (i.e. holds charge well and lasts as long as it is supposed to) and very very cheap.

Love the cam. Love the thread. Keep it up.

Cokin makes a "Bellows hood" very similar to a matte box, but cheaper and designed to use their filters. It is available in both A system and P system formates. The 43mm DVC30 lens would use the A system. One source is

http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/cokina.html

I do not have one, so cannot tell you strengths and weaknesses.

Chris,

That is a very early model. Mine is a C4TC00510. I would echo your statement about not having a managed ND filter as a weak point. But a screw on filter solves that. I use my DVC30 on Manfrotto 3221 legs and a 501 head.

If you have used other cams it takes a little while to get aclimated to the DVC30 but when once you get the hang of it, it is very intuitive. I hope to have mine mated to a firestore FS-4 soon. I am working on acquiring an attachment that should be more functional and cheaper than the $129.00 that Focus wants. As soon as I get it all together I will post a pic.

Regards,

Mark

ok ok,
here the shots, very 1s day work, cinegamma everything(except 1 IR shot and a couple closet grabs hehe) manual WB, i think i also reduced the chroma, not sure bout detail - most likely its 0 (or deafult -2).

www.angelfire.com/indie/tomapete


I have a question thou for the xperienced users: in scene file 4, does changing Master Pedestal do anything?

Not sure if i wanna keep the camera. I hoped it would do better in low lite ((

Leo

<< I agree with you on that it's very cold on the threads and conversations front regarding this camera... >>

We're working on getting the heat turned up around here.

The more you guys post, the warmer it gets!

my dvc30 is pretty standard right now all i've got for it is the AG-MYA30G - XLR Microphone Adapter and Mount and the AGMC100G XLR Microphone. However, I just order a 43-58mm step up ring from B&H and some filters as well as the WD-58H 58mm 0.7x wide angle lens. i wanted to up the filter and lens size so i don't get any vignetting when i stack filters, and also the canon wide angle was cheaper than the panny, also i had resale value in mind. But if when I get i find there is no need to go up to 58mm I'll just send it all right back. After I get everything I'll post some pics.

Hey all, this is my first post to this forum. I will be visiting the DVX/DVC assistant quite a bit though. I just ordered the DVC 30 from B&H. I use highend cameras for school, but this is the first 3 chip camera that I bought. I've heard good things about it too.

Congrats,

I hope you like it. I've had mine for 10 months and love it. Even if I got a higher end cam I would keep my DVC-30.

Regards,

Mark

Hello to all interested,

Since I shoot in the field 99% of the time, I have a special hard time with dust and spots on my lenses. Most times it will show back in the studio and the only solution will be to go back to re-shoot, this is not practical most times...

Didn't seem anybody else was after a matte box for their DVC-30 anyway (my camera) but, just in case, here's my solution:

-This is for the Leica lens-
Cavision 3 x 3 matte box with French Flag
58mm conical adapter -Cavision-
43mm to 52mm step up - " -
52mm to 58mm step up - " -

It has two 3 x 3 filter holders and one rotating.

Not too heavy and FF serves as lens cover if you put your camera away with it.

It's great !

I have made a routine of blowing compressed air over the lenses every time I shoot, just before shooting and wipe clean lenses very softlly once a day during shoots.

Obviouslly more cleaning is done if needed...

For those as green/newbys as me and taking footage in nature, I do recomend matte boxes and high resolution monitors, they save lots of trouble later....

I would post a photo of the rig but don't know how yet.

Regards, and hope this is of some use to somebody.

Leo

Joel -
I've had my DVC30 for about a week. It will be interesting to watch your reaction/progress and compare it to mine.

At this juncture, I am delighted with the camera. The initial learning curve was easy. The "Operating Instructions" were wordy but clear. Some sentences are a little convoluted but they are understandable.

What I am enjoying most is the ability to adjust picture quality. Camcorders for me have always been point-and-shoot; what the CAMERA wanted to do was what I got. So far, I LOVE the results I am getting with my DVC30!

Leo:

How have you attached the matte box? Are you using one of the rod systems made by Cavision?

Sounds like you are happy with it; I'd love to see how it looks.

The DVC30 is new to me but already I have had need of a polarizer filter and a graduated ND. As you know, none of the wide-angle lens accept screw-on filters. So where I could have gotten a very good shot I had to settle for poor to bad!

All of my round filters (for still cameras) are much larger than 43mm so it seems foolish to purchase rings just to attach them to the normal lens and still not be able to shoot wide angle.

Hello Dan

The following link will open with a photo of my camera with the Cavision.

The rods system with the 3x3 only supports the hand grips, you actually attach the box to the lens with a conical adapter that screws to the lens thread and then held by the Matte Box itself.

The Panasonic wide angle attachment is 69mm in dia and attaches to the Cavision with a 70mm to 80mm adapter.

I actually wanted a camera that could be somewhat discrete, but after my problems with dust and specks and Matte boxes...I dont think even this little camera can be concealed well enough.

http://www.leosalazar.com/dvc30.htm

I already have a B&W polarixer, a graduated neutral .6 and a gold and black film look filter.

I like them all... but it's getting to be pretty expensive.

Regards

Leo

Hi Evan

Follow the link :

www.leosalazar.com/dvc30.htm

This is how mine looks these days

Looking forward to seeing your camera.

Leo

Leo:

Thank you for the link. After I looked at the camera I took the liberty of looking around your site; very impressive! Your son has done an excellent job of presenting your work. Buen hecho!

I too was looking for an inconspicuous camera that would produce nearly broadcast quality video. However, people have noticed something different about the camera, even when I use it without anything attached to it. But you are correct Leo, there is NOTHING discreet or unobtrusive about your set-up. WOW!

Did you exchange e-mails with Cavision in order to get a matte box and all the hardware that would fit the DVC30? I don't see the camera (or specific products for it) listed anywhere on their web site. Last question, I promiss, did you order everything directly throught them?

Thanks for all your help Leo ... Muchas gracias - muy amable

Dan

Hi Dan

Thank you very much for the compliments to the web designer, he will appreciate it and so do I.

Glad you liked my work.

I e-mailed Cavision with my camera model and questioned as to matte box fit...

Jason Connors of Cavision answered all my questions with quite a lot of patience and knowledge and yes, I bought all I needed from them directly.

Jason is very polite and helpfull both via e-mail as on the phone.

For contact:
Jason Connors
Cavision Enterprises Ltd.
Tel: 604 298 9053
e-mail: jason@cavision.com

I got all my stuff well packed and pretty fast coming from Canada.

Hope it helps,

Regards

Leo

Dan,

The Raynox Wide angle lens adaptors have a front filter thread.

This one is supposed to be a very good one.

http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/video/hd7000pro/index.htm



Adam

Recently I did a lot a lot of travel shooting for small amounts of time so I was removing the lens cap and then putting it back on a lot over the course of a day.

I noticed that the lens cap seems to not stay on the lens hood too well. If the camera was on a car seat and then got nudged or picked up in my hands, a lot of time the lens cap would fall off the lens hood (not stay secure).

Is it just me or does anybody else notice this problem ? Is there a trick to getting the lens caop to stay on securely ?

Thanks.

Same here. Mine doesn't stay on well either. I suggest you attach it with a small cord to your cam. I lost my cap about a month ago and had to replace it for a cost of $19.95.

Regards,

Mark

That's awesome I'd get the same setup as you Leo but it looks like I gotta sell my dvc30 I got another camera for free and won't need two. Anyone interested can check my listing in the classifieds, it has a lot of accessories.

joel if you can still return your dvc30 you might want to. i bought a dvc30 at the beginning of feburary from B&H and after using it for only 1 hour I've gotta sell it. i also bought some accessories you may be interested in, check my thread in the classifieds

On the DVC30 lens hood, there are threads.

Does anybody know what you could and would want to attach to those threads ?

Just wondering.........

Evan

I'm puzzled...

Why do you have to sell it?

What problems did you encounter?

What is wrong with the camera?

What did you expect it to do that it doesn't do?

oh i'm sorry if i was wasn't clear. the camera is great there's nothing wrong with it. but a month after i bought it someone donated a canon gl2 to our production. i'm already completely firmiliar with the camera which is convient because our schedule doesn't allow me the time to get the knowledge of the dvc30 that i have for the gl2. so i'm selling my dvc30 kit.

Yup! I put the cap on very, very carefully. Even then, it is none to snug! It's irritating!

Are you asking about the 4 or 5 beveled lines between the Leica Dicomar lettering and the square lens opening? If so, I don't think they are threads.

My lens is threaded for filters etc. but there is nothing inside or outside of the hood itself other than those beveled surfaces.

Dan,

What you said about the 4 or 5 lines is what I am talking about.

I wonder if they have any function.

I found that after I squeeze the outside of the cap to put it on, if I turn the cap slightly, sometimes it will stay attached better.