UPDATED! Adam Wilt's Reviews of DVX100 & DVX100A at DVinfo.net

Stephen van Vuuren · August 10th, 2003, 09:56 AM

DV Magazine

DVX100
http://www.dv.com/features/features_.../2003/wilt0203

DVX100A
The pre-press version of Adam's DVX100A article is flawed by various typographical errors (not of his doing -- blame his editors); however it is available at dv.com.

Frame Grabs from DVX100A at:

http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/

Frank Granovski · August 10th, 2003, 01:33 PM

4.5 stars from dv.com. That's pretty high. The JVC Streamcorder only got 3.5, and the PDX10, 4, from what I recall. Lot a beef in that DVX. :)

Humby Valdes · September 11th, 2003, 01:02 PM

Wow! I'm really starting to question my plans on gettin the xl1s.

Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s.

A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list.

Any insight would be great.

John Hudson · September 11th, 2003, 01:23 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Humby Valdes : Wow! I'm really starting to question my plans on gettin the xl1s.

Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s.

A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list.

Any insight would be great. -->>>

I am not an expert. I have researched and scrutinized every angle on getting the XL!s to the DVX100. I have decided I will be purchasing the DVX100.

Go to www.ladyxfilms.com

There you will see a bunch of 'episodes'. In the production details of each one you will see 'what camera' was used. I looked at the DVX100 to the XL1's and I have to say, the DVX100 footage was above and beyond in terms of filmlook goes.

Also, check out www.highart.com (i think thats it) that feature was shot with the DVX100 and it looks very impressive.

Also check out www.zerobudgetfilms.com

The footage shot is excellent.

28 days later was shot with the Canon, but attached to it they had the killer prime lenses, etc. I wish they had the DVX100 that looked like the canon, but, look only matters in the finished product i guess.

Anyway, that's my insight.

Stephen van Vuuren · September 11th, 2003, 03:01 PM

I just got the Century .6 wide (the .7 is probably more like the Canon 3X) but as the DVX100 is wide to begin with, with the century adaptor you get a nice wide angle.

John Hudson · September 11th, 2003, 03:05 PM

Image available?

I wil ldef be looking to get a wide screen adtp

Barry Green · September 11th, 2003, 04:09 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Humby Valdes :

Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s.
-->>>

The Canon 3X is 3.4mm at its widest. The DVX is 4.5mm at its widest. You can get add-on wide-angle lenses that will make the DVX much wider. I use the Century .6x, which means the wide-angle is 2.7mm, much much wider than the Canon 3X.

You can see sample pictures of the Century .6X, .7X, and Fisheye adapters at www.icexpo.com/dvx100/century.html. You can see the Panasonic .8x at www.icexpo.com/dvx100/index.html

<<<--
A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list.
-->>>

Sounds like you're exactly the customer Panasonic had in mind. The DVX has an incredible cinema look and the widest stock lens of any DV-format camera.

Aaron Koolen · September 11th, 2003, 07:40 PM

Out of interest, I was looking at the DVX specs and couldn't see anywhere where it had a manual focus ring, or more specifically a focus ring that you could mark for focus points and rack (repeatedly from take to take) accurately. Does it have this? I have an Xm2 and I noticed when our camera op tried to do this, it was a disaster.

This alone has made me think about getting an Xl1s with manual lens.

Cheers
Aaron

Jake McMurray · September 13th, 2003, 04:23 AM

Does anyone know how fast Adam Wilt's Mac is. In my current project we may be required to print 24pa footage back to tape.

Ken Tanaka · September 20th, 2003, 01:47 AM

Aaron,
No, unfortunately the DVX100's focus ring does not feature any calibrated markings. It operates the same as the XM2/GL2. The XL1s' 16x Manual Servo or the 14x Full Manual are the only lenses with such a feature in this range of cameras.

Frank Granovski · September 20th, 2003, 01:51 AM

Jake, you can always e-mail Adam Wilt and ask him. He does reply to his e-mails.

Aaron Koolen · September 20th, 2003, 06:53 AM

Ken, that's really interesting. Obviously it's not a major issues cause lots of people will be using DVX100's for movies, but filming my LadyX episode with my Xm2, we just couldn't get any good focus pulls happening in one scene where we wanted them. After that I was like, next camera I get is going to be able to do that. As it's a technique that I like in movies and would like to use on occasion.

Aaron

Stephen van Vuuren · September 20th, 2003, 08:54 AM

Century Optics makes a focus ring for the DVX100.

Ken Tanaka · September 20th, 2003, 10:36 AM

Aha, well there you go! Indeed they do.

Thank you, Stephen!

Barry Green · September 20th, 2003, 12:06 PM

A clarification on the DVX's focus ring: it is NOT a "servo" ring, like the VX2000/PD150's. A servo ring is (per my understanding) basically a motor switch: turn it one way and it engages the autofocus motor to move the lens elements, turn it the other way and it triggers the motors to move the other way.

Near as I can tell the DVX's focus ring is a true mechanical manual focus ring, with the difference being that it doesn't stop at infinity or at minimum. But you can do precise focus moves with it, and the focus marks are repeatable. Century's ring, near as I can tell, just adds hard stops at each end, and industry-standard-pitch gear teeth to make it compatible with follow focus and jib arm focus motors. If you added Century's ring, you should theoretically be able to add your own distance marks on it and have a full, pure, true manual focus ring.

August 10th, 2003, 09:56 AM	#1
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Adam Wilt's Reviews of DVX100 & DVX100A DV Magazine DVX100 http://www.dv.com/features/features_.../2003/wilt0203 DVX100A The pre-press version of Adam's DVX100A article is flawed by various typographical errors (not of his doing -- blame his editors); however it is available at dv.com. Frame Grabs from DVX100A at: http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/ __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

September 11th, 2003, 03:01 PM	#5
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	I just got the Century .6 wide (the .7 is probably more like the Canon 3X) but as the DVX100 is wide to begin with, with the century adaptor you get a nice wide angle. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

September 11th, 2003, 07:40 PM	#8
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Out of interest, I was looking at the DVX specs and couldn't see anywhere where it had a manual focus ring, or more specifically a focus ring that you could mark for focus points and rack (repeatedly from take to take) accurately. Does it have this? I have an Xm2 and I noticed when our camera op tried to do this, it was a disaster. This alone has made me think about getting an Xl1s with manual lens. Cheers Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

September 20th, 2003, 01:47 AM	#10
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Aaron, No, unfortunately the DVX100's focus ring does not feature any calibrated markings. It operates the same as the XM2/GL2. The XL1s' 16x Manual Servo or the 14x Full Manual are the only lenses with such a feature in this range of cameras. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 20th, 2003, 06:53 AM	#12
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Ken, that's really interesting. Obviously it's not a major issues cause lots of people will be using DVX100's for movies, but filming my LadyX episode with my Xm2, we just couldn't get any good focus pulls happening in one scene where we wanted them. After that I was like, next camera I get is going to be able to do that. As it's a technique that I like in movies and would like to use on occasion. Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

August 10th, 2003, 01:33 PM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	4.5 stars from dv.com. That's pretty high. The JVC Streamcorder only got 3.5, and the PDX10, 4, from what I recall. Lot a beef in that DVX. :)

September 11th, 2003, 01:02 PM	#3
Humby Valdes New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 23	Wow! I'm really starting to question my plans on gettin the xl1s. Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s. A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list. Any insight would be great.

September 11th, 2003, 01:23 PM	#4
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	<<<-- Originally posted by Humby Valdes : Wow! I'm really starting to question my plans on gettin the xl1s. Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s. A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list. Any insight would be great. -->>> I am not an expert. I have researched and scrutinized every angle on getting the XL!s to the DVX100. I have decided I will be purchasing the DVX100. Go to www.ladyxfilms.com There you will see a bunch of 'episodes'. In the production details of each one you will see 'what camera' was used. I looked at the DVX100 to the XL1's and I have to say, the DVX100 footage was above and beyond in terms of filmlook goes. Also, check out www.highart.com (i think thats it) that feature was shot with the DVX100 and it looks very impressive. Also check out www.zerobudgetfilms.com The footage shot is excellent. 28 days later was shot with the Canon, but attached to it they had the killer prime lenses, etc. I wish they had the DVX100 that looked like the canon, but, look only matters in the finished product i guess. Anyway, that's my insight.

September 11th, 2003, 03:05 PM	#6
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Image available? I wil ldef be looking to get a wide screen adtp

September 11th, 2003, 04:09 PM	#7
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	<<<-- Originally posted by Humby Valdes : Has anyone had the chance to compare any wide angle add ons for the DVX to the 3x of the xl1s. -->>> The Canon 3X is 3.4mm at its widest. The DVX is 4.5mm at its widest. You can get add-on wide-angle lenses that will make the DVX much wider. I use the Century .6x, which means the wide-angle is 2.7mm, much much wider than the Canon 3X. You can see sample pictures of the Century .6X, .7X, and Fisheye adapters at www.icexpo.com/dvx100/century.html. You can see the Panasonic .8x at www.icexpo.com/dvx100/index.html <<<-- A wide angle shot and cinema look are on the top of my list. -->>> Sounds like you're exactly the customer Panasonic had in mind. The DVX has an incredible cinema look and the widest stock lens of any DV-format camera.

September 13th, 2003, 04:23 AM	#9
Jake McMurray Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bellingham Washington Posts: 102	Does anyone know how fast Adam Wilt's Mac is. In my current project we may be required to print 24pa footage back to tape.

September 20th, 2003, 01:51 AM	#11
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Jake, you can always e-mail Adam Wilt and ask him. He does reply to his e-mails.

September 20th, 2003, 08:54 AM	#13
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Century Optics makes a focus ring for the DVX100. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

September 20th, 2003, 10:36 AM	#14
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Aha, well there you go! Indeed they do. Thank you, Stephen! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 20th, 2003, 12:06 PM	#15
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	A clarification on the DVX's focus ring: it is NOT a "servo" ring, like the VX2000/PD150's. A servo ring is (per my understanding) basically a motor switch: turn it one way and it engages the autofocus motor to move the lens elements, turn it the other way and it triggers the motors to move the other way. Near as I can tell the DVX's focus ring is a true mechanical manual focus ring, with the difference being that it doesn't stop at infinity or at minimum. But you can do precise focus moves with it, and the focus marks are repeatable. Century's ring, near as I can tell, just adds hard stops at each end, and industry-standard-pitch gear teeth to make it compatible with follow focus and jib arm focus motors. If you added Century's ring, you should theoretically be able to add your own distance marks on it and have a full, pure, true manual focus ring.