Check out Panasonic's new DVC60. In a nutshell, it's a shoulder-mounted DVC30 with more on-board controls and built in XLR connectors. If you require XLR audio inputs, the DVC60 is a better actually less expensive than a DVC30 with the XLR option.

I heard on here that the lens isn't a Leica which kinda sucks.

That's an interesting point. The lens description reads like the Leica on the DVC30, but that brand name isn't included.

We'll have to see how it performs.

I dont know if I like the fact that it doenst have CineGamma..

other then missing cinegamma, what are its disadvantages/advantages?

IMO good thing is that this cam is shoulder mounted and have very attractive price for some videographers who like to impress their clients with "pro-stile" gear. This cam is in fact DVC15, which was on the market for very short time. Difference from DVC15 is carbon fiber body which looks very cool, but is also very resistable and durable. I think this one will be best low-cost buy for shoulder mounted cam.

It should be considerably more robust than the old 15 or even the newer 7. It truely is supposed to be the 30 in a 7 housing.

It wouldn't have the cinema gamma as it doesn't have 24p.

The 30 replace the 80 which was the non-24p version of the 100A. The 60 will no doubt be replacing the 30.

Anyone else ever notice how much the 30 resembles the Sony DSR-PDX10? I own a PDX10 and have used the 30. The profile is really the only thing similar. The 30 has some great advantages over the PDX10 but - the PDX10 has far superior 16:9 native imaging.

Sean McHenry

I'm pretty sure the camera does have cinegamma and frame mode. Its essentially a dvc30 in shoulder mount body with xlr's.

I have a hardcopy of the DVC60 brochure here in front of me and YES in fact it DOES have both cine-gamma and 30fps. Check out the DVC60 press release (http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/news/news04_025.asp) if you need confirmation. Guys, please research the facts before making assumptions about what which features are or are not included. Okay, I'm through ranting, heh.

Well, as a Panasonic dealer for Broadcast, you would think I would know that wouldn't you. Too many products to keep up with. Still, doesn't make any sense to me to put it on there if you don't have a cinema (24p) mode.

30P is nothing like 24p really. I guess it gives the "feel" so I suppose that counts.

By the way, decent job on the XL2 page.

Sean

The Panasonic US website says the DVC60 doesn't have Cinegamma, but I'm sure the brochure is more reliable. The Pana websites weren't right about most of the stuff they had up about the GS400 at first either.

I've been trying to download the DVC60 brochure from the Panasonic website for weeks and every time I try I get an error message. I've even updated to the latest version of Acrobat. Will someone who has it just email it to me?

Tony

Do you have a link to the brochure?

For some reason their link for the DVC60 brochure is broken.

I just copied the URL for the DVC30 brochure and changed the name to DVC60 and it works fine.

You can right on the link below and save a copy locally.

AG-DVC60 Brochure (ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/panasonic/drivers/pbts/brochures/B_AG-DVC60.pdf) - PDF format.

Nice work Tommy.

The price on the DVC60 has dropped at B&H to 2150... I'm actually temped to get one, since it seems like such a great deal. My only question about the camera is: Are there any "detail" or "sharpness" controls in the menu? I know it has cine-like gamma, but it would kinda suck if the camera still had that over-sharpened video look.

If anyone knows of any stills from the DVC60, please let me know.

It's really kind of infuriating that there's not a single website on the internet, including the Panasonic site, that says what's in the DVC60's menus. I know the DVC30 has "detail" controls, because it says "parameters that will be memorized include detail, chroma-level, chroma-phase, color temperature, master pedestal and skin-tone detail" at the B&H site, but there's no information about the DVC60. This is important to whether or not I want the camera.

I wonder why Canon and Panasonic are being so secretive lately... not posting product manuals for their new cameras.

Doesn't anyone on this forum own a DVC60? I'd just like to ask you a few questions?

I own a DVC30. Before I purchased the DVC30, I downloaded their 10 page brochures for both the 60 and the 30, as well as the manuals. The software and menus were the same for both models. I was checking that out because the price of the DVC60 -back then- was much more, and I wanted to know what the differences were.

I'm gonna try and find the links for the manuals (they came from elsewhere than Panasonic USA) and I'll post them if I find them.

Brian

here's the NTSC DVC60 Brochure

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=71697&catGroupId=14571&displayTab=S&surfModel=AG-DVC60&surfCategory=DV%20PROLINE%20Camcorders

click on "brochure"

here's the NTSC DVC30 Brochure

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=68840&catGroupId=14571&modelNo=AG-DVC30&surfModel=AG-DVC30

click on "brochure"

still looking for the links for the manuals I found a while back

OK, I found the manuals from the Panasonic Broadcast europe website

here's the link:

http://panasonic-broadcast.com/index.cfm?uuid=A130E452C09F11269B89B84D8643F16D&CatID=4287&ClassID=66&PID=11456

(sorry I don't know how to properly format the urls on this forum)

its called "operating instructions" right click to download the file, for some reason it wants to download as a .cfm file, so I just changed it to .pdf and it opened fine.

These are the Pal versions of the camera manuals, so the frame size and resolution frame rates, and shutter speeds might be different than NTSC, but It guides you through all the menus and adjustments and the like.

Brian

Rock on Brian! Thanks a lot, I'm downloading it now.

Here is a frame with the 30p effect... it is pretty impresive.. there is no filters.. just stock movie look scene

http://www.altoque.tv/jaguartest.jpg

<<<-- Originally posted by Sean McHenry : Well, as a Panasonic dealer for Broadcast, you would think I would know that wouldn't you. Too many products to keep up with. Still, doesn't make any sense to me to put it on there if you don't have a cinema (24p) mode.->>>

Why doesn't it make sense to have Cinegamma without 24P? One is for exposure lattitude looks, and the other is for a filmic motion look. Related, but certainly not dependent.

Most of the newer cameras in the higher pro-sumer bracket - XL2, etc, have enough color tools in the menus to play with to achieve this on your own. They may not have a "cinema" setting but they are getting better control over their color.

On the other hand a true cinema color setup would be more than dialing in a bit of extra red or blue. There are headroom factors as well as dynamic range, detail in the shadows (black stretch) etc. Some of the cameras do have a cinema like mode now. Without the motion of 24p, personally, it seems a bit odd to have a cinema color range without that stutter. Maybe at 30p it might look reasonable.

Sean

Hi to all, i'm new. My name is Michele, from italy.
I have a small camcorder (sony dcr-hc18e). I wont to buy a more powerful cam, but i can't wont to spend too much for something like an xl2 or an
ag-dvx100.
I have seen the Ag-dvc60, i like the shape, the fact that is a shoulder type and not hand-held. I know is not at the same level of the previously mentioned cameras. I have intention to do some short movies, and i need a camera that work good also for night and without light shots (don't mind about the infrared or nightshot plus-like thing), and probably i'll do some other things like documentaries, interview...

Can anyone help me and explain the good and bad thing about this camera?
(i have already read the promotional .pdf file, but i wont to see user's opinions), or maybe someone can post or send me pics or video of something filmed at night (and also in daylight).

Thanx, and sorry for the wrong language.

I own the DVC60 and I love many features about it.

The bad is if you add a microphone the microphone must have its own battery. The camera does not have phantom power for microphone, even though it has XLR connectors. This is strange, because the DVC30 does provide phantom power.

Another potential problem is the little documented problem of distorted audio in loud environments. You must insist that the DVC60 has a serial number that begins with a C, D, or E or greater. This first letter in the serial number represents the month of manufacture. Models manufactured prior, such as L (December of 2004) serial numbers, have bad audio. Panasonic will fix the problem, but what a hassle.

Overall, the DVC30 is a better camera, but it obviously doesn't have shoulder mount. The DVC 30 lens is superior, because it has a Lieca lens, the DVC60 does not. The DVC30 also has a 3.5 inch LCD Finder, the DVC60 has a 2.5 LCD. The DVC30 has a very desirable black and white viewfinder, the DVC60 does not.

If you buy the DVC30 you should consider buying the XLR adapter and an optional microphone, and you should be ready to go. A wide angle lens adapter is nice also, you would need one 43mm size. Tiffin makes the one you would want, because it is threaded on both ends, which allows you to add a polarizer to the wide angle. The Panasonic wide angle adapter is twice the price, and does not have threads. I would purchase the lens adapter for the DVC60 as well, because the DVC30 and DVC60 are not as good as I like when opened up to full wide.

The first step up from these two cameras in quality worth spending money is the VX2100 by Sony, which has superior low light imaging and is wider when fully open.

Problem with the Sony is the viewfinder is half the size of the Panasonic. I have worked with the sony, and it is an excellent camera, but it is harder to see what you are shooting. The Sony VX2100 also lacks XLR connectors, a well-know and perplexing omission. With XLR connectors, I would choose the Sony any day. Based purely on image quality, I would go with the Sony as well. It also handles extremely well. I shot a wedding with one yesterday, and was amazed at how well-balanced and easy to handle it was.

The DVC60 is a great camera for the money, but I am extremely disappointed the it lacks phantom power for microphone and has bad audio. I am sending mine back, and am likely getting the DVC30. However, if you must have the shoulder mount, the 60 is the highest quality camcorder in this price range that is shoulder mounted, so if this is necessary for you and you're on a budget, it is the best choice.

The picture quality is excellent in the DVC60, and it has many features of more expensive cameras, though some of these features are difficult to access.


Good Luck

And, about night settings? I ask beacuse i plan to realize a short cyberpunk movie, and is entirely filmed at night, some parts are on city streets, some in interiors.

There is a strange thing about the ag-dvc60 here in italy. The price range from 4500 to 3500 euro in some places (more than a sony Vx2100 and also a Fx1); from Golbalmediapro i can buy at nearly 2600 euro...

Michele,

The DVC30/60 does not compare in low light to the Sony VX2100 very well. The Sony has a much bigger lens, and 3 1/3" CCD's. While the DVC60 has the infrared capabilities, that is only effective in pitch dark. I work with the Panasonic and the Sony, and for the money the Sony is the best camera in low light conditions. I have seen finished work in both, and there is no comparison.

Videomaker magazine says:

"Bottom line: the VX2100 produces some of the best video of any sub-$5,000 camera... All we can say is that the VX2100 retains the truly excellent low-light performance of its predecessor, largely because of the light-gulping 58mm lens and the good CCDs.in both, and it is true."

This entire review is located at: http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/article.cfm?id=10189

If you do a search on Sony VX2100 vs Panasonic DVC60 you might find other reviews info to help you decide. Also, you can always by a shoulder mount kit if needed.

I'm a bit undecided. But since i've also to buy a full rig steadycam, and now i dont know the price, i'll have to wait.
And, it may sound stupid, but the ag-dvc60 has also the shape and the look that attract me more than any other cameras of this type. The main problem is the price, as i've said in italy they are more high than any other country.
I hope to buy the stradycam in one or two weeks; after that i'll see for the camera... anyway, tanks for the informations.

P.S. Most of the Ag-dvc60 reviews found on the net are not real reviews; they report the same things written in the brochure.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_AG_DVC60/4505-6500_7-30981376.html?subj=Panasonic+AG-DVC60&part=rss

http://videosystems.com/mag/video_panasonic_agdvc_2/

What you are referring to as reviews for the DVC60 that consist of text from the manufacturer are not reviews...they are simply blurbs.

The only two reviews I have found for the DVC60 are above...

If you like the looks of the DVC60, I must admit it is extremely nice to work with. The viewfinder is very large, and can be move side to side. With this camera on your shoulder it is extremely easy to shoot steady footage and it is extra easy to frame your shots because you are so comfortable with this camera. The Sony is better image wise, but I hate the handheld factor. As I said before, good luck.

Hi, new here. I do wedding and event videos. I want to upgrade to 3CCD equipment, and the Panasonics look like the best ones. Except for the phantom mike voltage, what makes the -100a better, like $1200 better?

Bigger chips. 24p. 30p. Cine-gamma. Scene file dial.

For starters. The list is pretty long.

Remember that the DVC60 is a repackaged DVC30. It's the same exact camera in a big box. Nothing in there but air. So, basically you're talking about DVC30 versus DVX100. The DVC30 is the little brother of the DVX, and it therefore doesn't have some of the cool features, but it is great for getting into small little places, and it's magnesium alloy body is awesome.

The DVC60 does away with those two things though. Personally I'd just go with the 30 and a shoulder brace and XLR adaptor. More than a few people on DVXUser have said that the DVC30 has incredible image quality, on par with the DVX, and that it's 30p mode is spectacular. It also has the Cine-Gamma.

The DVC30 doesn't resolve detail in shadowy areas as well (at the same pedestal setting), probably owing to the smaller CCDs, and the cine mode is slightly -- not much, but slightly, enough to notice if you compare side-by-side -- lower-resolution compared to the DVX's progressive modes. Remember, it's not really 30p on the DVC; it's a "frame" mode, an interpolated interlaced image, so a little resolution will be lost.

I've found it also saturates colors more highly than the DVX at identical scene file settings, which can be good or bad, depending the situation and your intent.

Overall, though, it's a sweet little camera. Not the DVX, but a sweet camera nonetheless.

I also feel that if you're seriously getting into the photographic business Dick, then you really need to go for the best you can afford. As you've got the 100A on your shortlist, then its low-light supremacy alone should lead you to it. Bigger chips with bigger pixels really do help in this regard, and if you've done any weddings you'll know why people always want the best low-light capabilities. Which is why they choose the VX2100 and PD170, but that's letting our eye off the ball.

The big problem with the DVC30 was its lack of exposure info. Again - if you're serious about shooting professionally you'll want to set shutter speeds, gain and aopertures manually, and be told what settings you're shooting at. The auto ND filters built into most cams leave you in the dark about what's going on. Fine for family picnics, but not fine when you're charging real money.

tom.

Another potential problem is the little documented problem of distorted audio in loud environments. You must insist that the DVC60 has a serial number that begins with a C, D, or E or greater. This first letter in the serial number represents the month of manufacture. Models manufactured prior, such as L (December of 2004) serial numbers, have bad audio. Panasonic will fix the problem, but what a hassle.

Hello, Jeff!

It is very important information about mic on DVC60, thank you.
Could you describe it in detail? Our local serviceman claimed DVC60 hasn’t automatic microphone level control at all, so only manual microphone level adjustment available. Is it true? What do think about it?

Regards,
Mikhail

I need a quick replacement for my XL1, until I can afford the HVX200. In the meantime I need an extra DV camcorder that doesn't reach the $3,000 mark. Will the 1/4 CCDs of the DVC60 beat the 1/3 CCDs of the old 1998 Canon XL1 in terms of image quality, sharpness, resolution, gamma curve, frame look, and low light capabilities?

I need something now for shooting weddings.

-EDWIN

I have a DVC62 (I don't know how they are different to the 60) and have used it for 6 months. I am in some ways very happy with the camera but in others very dissapointed.

One thing for sure is that it really good in low light and the XL1 is a dog. Here are my thoughts.

The good are:

1. Very fastand slow zooming like pro camera
2. Fairly light for a shoulder mount
3. XLR inputs are great
4. Low light performance is very good - beautiful soft image
5. Shoulder mount camera makes you look good to clients but I find them cumbersome and really only better when on a tripod.

The bad are:

1. Picture in normal sunlight is flat. Previously I used a Sony TRV900 and there is no question that it had a more sharper "alive" image. The VX2100 is much sharper again.

1. My model of the DVC62 has an inheritant audio problem and I get distorted audio in loud situtations. Camera is about to be fixed hopefully it will be OK when it returns. This is a very common problem with the 62 but is fixable by panasonic.

2. LCD screen is only 2.5 inch and is rather poor quality

3. Batteries just don't last as long as the Sony's

As you do wedding I would go for a VX2100 or DC30 but again the VX2100 has a sharper more alive picture. Just my opinion though.

Keep in touch.

After nearly a year of studying different models, trying them out, and comparing prices I decided on purchasing a DVC60 about a week ago. Hoping that my experience would get me through basic use, I filmed an airshow this past weekend. And I would like to state for the record that this camcorder is positively amazing. Of course I'm stepping up from a GS35 but the color and sound quality is sparkling. I have not experienced any problems with the audio hissing or clicking that some have wrote about, but I was conservative and kept the levels down low (since being 15 feet from running aircraft tends to spike the meters in a heartbeat). Getting the automatic white balance to work took a little work and I'm still not completely up to speed on how to accomplish it manually but thats a matter of rereading the instructions. The only "problem" was noticing vignetting with a 2x teleconverter even though had what I thought was plenty of zoom on the lens. It turns out that the OIS was moving the camera lens around and picking up the edges of the tele. No problem now, just leave the OIS off. Other than that, the camera is a joy to operate. Heavy and stable, it does take a toll on the shoulders after 8hrs of filming at awkward angles, and I do wish it came in white to help reflect some of the harsh sunlight. Those two things aside (which are pretty much peculiar to my subject matter) I would reccomend this to anyone looking for a low cost 3chip step-up procam.

but did you choose to go so long (8 hrs +/-) actually using your shoulder, or can it not be mounted to a tripod at all?

I'm considering this camera as a primary for legal work, but only if I can mount it on a tripod. I can't see myself using my HVX for depositions and wills.

It can be mounted on a tripod, monopod, stabilizer, virtually anything with a standard thread. In fact for some shots and projects unrelated to aviation I do use a tripod. The frame mode is probably as good as you can get for the price and the controls make sense once you set them up for yourself. One pain is having the audio controls behind the viewscreen though.

I purchase my Panasonic AG-DVC60 in Feb 2006 and have been very pleased with the results. I am a professional sound engineer and the xlr's are a plus for quality and convenience. Also you can record in Stereo with multiple inputs from a professional mixing board (I have 32 channels with 4 grouping sends and 2 stereo sends) The cable length is not a problem also the length of cord I have used is from 25' to 100' without sound loss. I also use boom mics with lightweight and older style - Shure mic 16a which usese one AA battery (unidirectional) so phantom power is not always necessary off the board. Panasonic AG-DVC60 also has a switch for either installed mic l or r seperately and input 1/8" outside source along with the XLR. The lightweight of the Panasonic AG-DVC60 is another plus. Also downloading DV is also convenient with the firewire connection. You wont be unhappy with the Panasonic AG-DVC60, as I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.
Jaii Hein is online now Edit/Delete Message

Greetings All! What an excellent Forum! Kudos to all involved! This is the best managed forum on DV I have found. So may of the others are full of SPAM/Porn/nonsense.

I hope you folks don't mind, but I have a few basic questions. I will try to be concise, while providing basic tech specs.

After about 18 years as a still photographer I recently became interested in DV. So, to get my feet wet, I purchased a used, "Mint Condition" Panasonic DVC60 w/ less than 70 hours on the heads. It seems to be working fine. So far. I've only shot about an hour of footage, putting it through all the basic tasks in the manual. Now I need to transfer that footage to my computer.

Question: can anyone advise me on what type of Firewire (IEEE1394) cable to purchase and where? I tried Panasonic's web site, but they don't offer one in the Accessories section for the DVC60. They have not responded to my emails. I've found thousands of cables on ebay, but have no idea which would apply, except that I need 4pin to 4pin connectors. My computer features a Firewire port. Thank God.

I plan to edit my footage on my Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop -after I upgrade it. I've read that laptops are not ideal for DV editing, but mine is a very robust "Desktop replacement". It has a Pentium M 740 Processor (1.73GHz/533MHz FSB). I will upgrade the current 80 GB 5400 RPM HD to a new 100 GB 7200 RPM HD and install *only* XP SP2 and Adobe Premier Elements 3.0. I will also upgrade from 1 GB of DDR2 533 MHz RAM to 2 GB RAM. I have a 256 MB NVIDIA 6800 video card and a 17" True Life Widescreen UXGA display. I will not install any other software on this system; it will be used only for DV editing. Of course, I will add an External HD for storage.

Question: does this sound like an adequate system for DV editing? Any other suggestions? If possibe, I want to learn the basics before I invest in a more sophisticated camera and computer system.

TIA! Any and all input/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Happy filming to all!

Regards,

Merton Gaudette

any firewire will do.4pin to 4pin or 4 to 6pin. It depends on your laptop and camera's port. Not too long, or less you might lose data, I can't remember the exact length before the camera has problem in transfer data.( but the shorter the better.)

Thanks for the info David. I thought any 4 pin to 4 pin cable would work, but I wasn't certain. And your tip on the cable length was most helpful. Are any particular brands favored for quality?
Thanks again!

Any big name should be good quality. Sony i.Link would probably be the best. I haven't found any problems using normal generic brands, though.

We've got four DVC60 cameras that we can't capture from into Final Cut Studio 2 without audio synch problems.

The audio is out of synch on all four cameras, but to differing degrees (not related to clip length.) It's driving us nuts. It doesn't seem to be a setup problem. (Cameras and software both set to 48khz.)

Nothing wrong with the tapes -- we can use a different deck and it's in synch.

Just a problem with the capture from the camera. (And the tapes play back in camera in synch, when monitored from the headphone jack.)

Anyone having problems with any other NLE?

I stumbled upon this gem of info whilst researching audio mixers. It's on the Sign Video web site. I'm not familiar with the cameras you've mentioned but could this be a possible cure?
"

MINI-DV UNLOCKED AUDIO PROBLEMS- Are they real and how can they be fixed?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Problems Are Rare
In the DVCAM and DVPRO video formats, the audio signal is locked to the video signal, insuring that audio and video will always stay in sync. Technically, in the less expensive DV format, i.e. mini-DV format, the DV audio signal is not locked to the video signal, and could stray somewhat out of sync. In practice, this is rarely a noticeable problem. Audio and video usually stay in sync, even though there is no "lock" to guarantee that they will stay in sync. This sometimes drives DV camcorder dealers nuts, since the manufacturer feels obligated to tell the public that the audio is unlocked. Meanwhile, the dealer has not had so much as a single customer complaint about unlocked audio.
If your budget limits you to a DV camcorder, or you just like the smaller, lighter camcorder, don't worry about locked and unlocked audio. It is unlikely that you will have significant problems, and in fact, you may never have a problem.

Audio Can Be Relocked
In the rare event that you do have a problem, you can take your tape to a professional video house and have it dubbed between two DVCAM decks to relock the audio. Again, the problem is rare, so the video house may not be familiar with the process. Tell them to do the following:

Dub from a DSR 60 or 80 to a DSR 80 or 85 in QSDI mode.
This will relock the audio. "


May be a complete red herring, but hey, it's something.


CS

You ever sort this problem?


Chuck?


CS

No, we solved it by buying some sony decks. Still haven't figured out if it was a Panasonic issue or a Mac issue.