DVX100 vs. DVC80

[Stephen van Vuuren]

With the recent price drop on DVX100, there has been some debate about what are the actual differences between these cams?

Panasonic is really marketing rugged construction, but if my memory is correct, the DVX100 has the same magnesium body and tape transport the DVC80 does.

The DVC80 appears to be just painted black, no silver like the DVX100, but no firm confirmation.

My belief is that the DVX100 lacks nothing that the DVC80 has. The DVX100 just adds the progressive modes and cine-gamma. Anyone have better information?

[Chris Hurd]

As far as I know, you're correct on all points. As someone who has no need for 24p, the DVC80 looks *very* attractive to me. Think of the 80 as a DVX100 minus the 24p and 30p modes. Other than that... no difference. Both are excellent camcorders.

[Stephen van Vuuren]

Chris:

You're a old XL-1 frame mode guy. I can understand 24p, but what about 30p (the DVX100's most neglected feature)?

[Jarred Land]

its so funny the rumours going around to what the camera actually is, I think only one person on this forum has actually seen one., the bodies are both magnesium .... blah blah.... the DV transport is remarkably different... bla blah blah....

they are two completly different cameras that look the same and use the bulk of the same exterior hardware. ...

I suggest anyone actually considering buying this camera contact Panasonic Broadcast Directly to let them explain to you what the differences are.... for example the DVC80 has no Cinne-gamma mode....

why? because its not for filmakers.

[Yang Wen]

Not so different, same audio circuitry, same lense, mostly same electronics.

[Chris Hurd]

Stephen,

As you know I've always liked XL1 30p Frame Movie mode, but for the market the DVC80 is targeted for, I don't think it's a big deal. I can live without it.

Yang,

You're quite correct, same audio circuitry, same lens, mostly same electronics, pretty much *the same camera.* Jan Crittenden of Panasonic Broadcast Systems has described it to me as a simply DVX100 minus progressive scan.

Jarred Land:

Outside the progressive scan modes, the DVX100 and DVC80 have far more things in common (including body construction) than they do any real differences. Filmmaking is a very small slice of videography. The DVC80 is a smart move by Panasonic as it's less expensive and without certain DVX100 features which a lot of videographers just don't need.

I have seen the DVC80 before and I'll be around it all week here at InfoComm. This is not a rumor board; when it comes to hardware we only discuss facts here. Contact Panasonic if you want, but here are the datasheets. If you like, I'll have PBS come in here and post about it. Hope this helps.

Panasonic's DVX100 page: http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/subcat...ag-dvx100.html

Panasonic's DVC80 page: http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/subcat..._ag-dvc80.html

[Carl Slawinski]

I didn't want to say this for certain (and still don't want to be quoted), but I believe the DVX-100 does NOT have the Magnesium Alloy body. It is in fact some type of high impact plastic. I did have my hands on one on at a trade show and it did not strike me as being anything but plastic.

However, as someone here has already mentioned, Panasonic Broadcast would be the authority on this.

I did call them before buying the DVC-80, but only to insure that the new model was indeed metal. If you notice the 2 PDFs they have on the web for each specific model, they make a big deal about it on the DVC-80. However, there is no mention of any materials on the DVX-100 brochure.

As someone else pointed out, the listed weight on the brochures is exactly the same. This could mean that the 24P removal might only be software or a piece of silicon. Or, they may have just used the same weight as the previous brochure.

BTW, thanks for the new thread. 8-)

Also, someone mentioned a recent price drop, but I didn't see that at any of the places I would buy it from.

Anyone want to make some phone calls......

[Chris Hurd]

Carl

They tend to be meticulous with their datasheets. Identical weight between the two models would be the first indicator that they're both using the same chassis and other physical components.

DV Info Net sponsors who are authorized Panasonic dealers carrying the DVX100 and DVC80 are Pro-Tape and Zotz Digital.

Hope this helps,

[Jarred Land]

the dvx100 and the dvc 80 is all metal.. you can tell as soon as you hold it in your hands. Pany realized this was a concern for broadcast users that's why they made this camera being metal a big deal about it in the DVC-80 brocure.


as for the weight... Magnesium Alloy has the same mass as polymer... so you couldn't tell anyways :)

[Boyd Ostroff]

Thanks for the links Chris. Fascinating the way they target their marketing for those two cameras. The DVX-80 brochure is 6 pages, the DVX-100 is 12. Do they use the extra 6 pages to describe all the additional features of the 100? Nope, they show "sexy" photos of it; with backgrounds at a rock concert, at a Euro-looking train station, a night-time city skyline, a couple close-ups in somebody's hand.

The DVC-80 brochure is more austere and shows the camera on a slab out in the desert with a paragraph about the magnesium chassis and professional tape mechanism. Maybe it really is the same, but they don't mention this in the brochure for the 100.

Slick marketing stuff. Makes me want to go buy one of each, they both look like nice cameras in their own right. The DVC-80 does look a little odd with the additional mike grafted onto the handle though.

And in the end, you've really got to hand it to Sony. Everybody still wants to copy the look of the PD-150, including the JVC HD camera.

[Chris Hurd]

Re: body construction: Again, for a definitive answer, I'll stop by PBS tomorrow and ask Steve Golub or some other folks I know there.

These days it's highly uncommon for a higher-end prosumer 3-chip like the DVX100 *not* to have an MA chassis. It would not surprise me however if they tell me the 80 is sturdier because it is after all marketed for rougher field use instead of the filmmaker crowd.

Regarding the $500 price difference between the 100 and 80, for the difference in cost, you could buy the 80 and a fairly good tripod, or at least get most of the way into a decent tripod, for the same money as the 100. If you want progressive scan and Cine gamma, the 100 is the way to go. If not, the 80 is all you need.

Boyd, I agree, the marketing strategy is a very interesting topic all by itself, they really make you want one of everything!

[Carl Slawinski]

The day I bought it, there was a $550 price difference between the 2. I have noticed that some of the merchants (that I wouldn't buy from) are advertising for $3000 now, but the mainstays seem to still have it at about $3300. (which is still $550)

As you mentioned, that enough to pay for a Bogen setup, EW-100, or ME66 rig.

[Stephen van Vuuren]

I emailed Stuart English at Panasonic to hopefully have him post the straight dope.

[Chris Hurd]

Talked face to face with Stuart English today, he clarified what I already knew, hopefully this will clear up any confusion:

There is NO DIFFERENCE in body construction between the 100 and the 80. They share the exact same mag alloy chassis. Also, there is NO DIFFERENCE whatsoever in the tape transport mechanism between the two models.

He said he'd try to post here about this when it's convenient for him. Hope this helps,

[Jarred Land]

thanks for the update Chris.. its funny I get two different answers from Panasonic Canada and Panasonic USA.... hopefully your buddy can come here and post.

if there is no difference in DV transport I guess even the DVC-80 brochure is full of crap, and they should change it.

This sort of stuff usually happens when a camera first comes out and only a few people have it, look what is happening to the JVC HD camera.


Hope you are having fun at infocomm!