View Full Version : Lowlight - DVC30 vs GS400


Peter Jefferson
July 22nd, 2004, 07:46 AM
hmm.. 1/4 vs 1/4.7

Crystal Engine vs 12BIT RGB PU

hmm..

what do u guys think???

Tom Hardwick
July 22nd, 2004, 08:17 AM
I've just written to Panasonic asking for all the technical details on the DVC30. They've sent me the 10 page glossy brochure on this camera. Now would you believe it - a technical brochure on a camera that runs to 10 pages yet does not once tell me what the maximum aperture of the lens is at full telephoto.

Are these people serious? Does no-one check to see if such an obvious (photographic) statistic is missing? Or is it a matter of discretly coughing and hope the punter won't mind or not notice? Could it be something dreadful like f3.5 and they'd rather not talk about it?

Not good Panasonic, not good.

tom.

Patricia Kim
July 22nd, 2004, 03:36 PM
Maybe Kaku Ito knows? See his posts in other threads. He owned the DVC30 and said he's trading it in for a gs400. I infer from one of his more recent posts that he is also a dealer, and in Japan that probably helps re getting more info. (Actually, probably helps anywhere, since otherwise the easiest thing to do is pop a brochure into an envelope and send it off.)

Kaku Ito
July 22nd, 2004, 05:28 PM
I still have DVC30 at my hand, but my distributor guy goofed off so I will receive my GS400 tomorrow. If any particular side by side checking you want me to do, please let me know.

Peter Jefferson
July 23rd, 2004, 03:12 AM
i would LOVE to see a side by side comparison of the same shot, using comparable gain variables, apertures etc etc.. not too fussed on the widescreen more interested in teh lowlight..

her ein oz, the price difference between the 2 is about $600

Guy Bruner
July 23rd, 2004, 05:48 AM
Kaku,
A side by side shot with the DVC30 in 30P and the GS400 in frame mode would be helpful.

Joe Amato
July 23rd, 2004, 09:28 AM
hi all im new here i am a proud owner of the dvc-30 my friend has the dvx-100 in comparison the resolution is the same but my zoomis longer and smoother in all speeds you can disable the 30p frame mode and use cine gamma in 60i

Kaku Ito
July 23rd, 2004, 09:54 AM
Joe, thank you for the input. I still guess that when you really streach the screen (projector size of 100 inch or 120 inch), I would think DVX100 in progressive mode would have finer image, but have you tried something similar to that?

And Guy, have you looked at these?
http://homepage.mac.com/kakuito/FujimiPanorama.htm

The one on the top is shot exclusively with GS100.
The second one is DVC30 (PC100 with the fixed cam) at the start point, PDX10 after the rider starts, GS100 when the rider fall into the single track (PC50 with the fixed angle), PDX10 at the big fast jump, DVC30 at coming down/up/down/jump and gone (PC100 with the fixed angle), GS100 on the rocky descend and PC50 at the rock jump and finally PDX10 at the goal.

Joe Amato
July 23rd, 2004, 10:53 AM
I dont think you could seriously compare gs-400 with dvc-30 the 30 has more proffesional features such as the dvx-100a i had the 953 and it was really bad with the shadows but on a bright gamma dayit was great i sold my 953 and 953 to purchase the 30

Joe Amato
July 23rd, 2004, 10:56 AM
hey tommy did you sell your gs-100 yet

Tommy Haupfear
July 23rd, 2004, 12:18 PM
hey tommy did you sell your gs-100 yet

Yep, the GS100 has already been sold.

Now if I only knew what to buy.

I dont think you could seriously compare gs-400 with dvc-30

They are two distinctly different cams each with their strengths and weaknesses. I would choose the DVC30 if I needed low light performance and shot predominantly 4:3. I would choose the GS400 for widescreen and compact size.

Seems we can never have true 16:9 and above average low light performance. At least not in my budget..

Guy Bruner
July 23rd, 2004, 06:37 PM
Thanks, Kaku. Can't really tell any difference in the cams from this video.

Peter Jefferson
July 23rd, 2004, 08:33 PM
<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Amato : I dont think you could seriously compare gs-400 with dvc-30 the 30 has more proffesional features such as the dvx-100a i had the 953 and it was really bad with the shadows but on a bright gamma dayit was great i sold my 953 and 953 to purchase the 30 -->>>


This is what im thining of doing.. especially with the colour, and matrix configs, as i predominantely want to use teh DVC30 as a secondary cam to my DVX.

Joe Amato
July 23rd, 2004, 10:10 PM
the dvc30 is a great back up to the dvx if you cant afford another dvx +the 6 optical extra range is cool

Peter Jefferson
July 24th, 2004, 01:11 AM
well it really wasnt the cost which is making me thing about this, its actualy the size of it..

I thought about another DVX.. and i am seriously considering it, but i like the idea of the 16x zoom, and compact size (i do alot of strange jobs)

there are many factors, but as i use these cams for professional work, it would save alot of Post Production time by calibrating the cams with colour, gamma and matrix, during filming then it is to do a colour correction and gain boost during edit..

On top of that the itself is wider, plus i dont have to buy new GS type batteries.. i can just keep all my batteries...

Peter Jefferson
July 24th, 2004, 08:01 AM
i jus tread on another post that the GS can only pump out 1/60 shutter.. (1/50 in PAL land) and apparently the DVCcan go lower.. now im thinkin if the DVC can handle 1/25 @ 25fps frame mode.. were looking as a closer mactch to teh DVX than i first thought.. that is of course if it can actually do 1/25.. which noone can attest to right now..

so.. a slower shutter, means more light gettin in..
with more light, heres hoping the performance isnt substandard..

Kaku Ito
July 24th, 2004, 08:26 AM
Peter,

No, DVC30 does not have 25fps. With GS100/400, only substitute to the slower shutter speed is the night mode.

Only other choice to do 25fps is Cannon XL2 and XL2 has advantage in hi-res wide (a.k.a anamorphic or 16:9) which you have to buy expensive anamorphic lens with DVX100a and you would loose some brightness.

My main cam would be XL2 when it is available.

<<<-- Originally posted by Peter Jefferson : i jus tread on another post that the GS can only pump out 1/60 shutter.. (1/50 in PAL land) and apparently the DVCcan go lower.. now im thinkin if the DVC can handle 1/25 @ 25fps frame mode.. were looking as a closer mactch to teh DVX than i first thought.. that is of course if it can actually do 1/25.. which noone can attest to right now..

so.. a slower shutter, means more light gettin in..
with more light, heres hoping the performance isnt substandard.. -->>>

Tommy Haupfear
July 24th, 2004, 12:40 PM
No, DVC30 does not have 25fps.

A PAL DVC30 would have a 25fps frame mode, correct?

The brochure below mentions slow shutter speeds all the way down to 1/4 on the NTSC DVC30. I'm not sure about PAL DVC30.

Click here for DVC30 brochure (http://whplatts.com/pdf/AGDVC30.pdf) PDF

Ron Evans
July 24th, 2004, 04:31 PM
Does the DVC30 have an external audio input for mic ( unbalanced ) and can this be switched to line in? I know that the xlr attachement has this capability. I would prefer to use my small mixer and feed just line to the DVC30. Since the manual isn't up on the Panasonic site yet I have not been able to get all the fine details!!!

Ron Evans

Kaku Ito
July 24th, 2004, 05:41 PM
oops, sorry Tommy, I was talking about NTSC. Not sure about PAL.

<<<-- Originally posted by Tommy Haupfear : A PAL DVC30 would have a 25fps frame mode, correct?

The brochure below mentions slow shutter speeds all the way down to 1/4 on the NTSC DVC30. I'm not sure about PAL DVC30.

Click here for DVC30 brochure (http://whplatts.com/pdf/AGDVC30.pdf) PDF -->>>

Peter Jefferson
July 24th, 2004, 10:30 PM
Pal is the same, the only difference is the resolution and frame rate.

one of the selling points of this cam is its frame mode

Joe Amato
July 25th, 2004, 09:10 AM
I was at b&h the other day and my friend in pro video compared the zoom on the dvc-30 to the dvx-100a andhe said its faster and alot smoother plus the low dispersion lens seems sharper that sows that all cams have strength snd eeknesses like tommy said