AG-DVC30 various topics

Young Lee · July 29th, 2005, 01:06 PM

http://www.dvuser.co.kr/zboard/data/...nic/MiniDV.jpg
(MX5000: 30P, 16:9)

Douglas Clark · August 1st, 2005, 10:09 AM

Can anyone explain how and when the "automatic" ND filter in the DVC30 is activated, and what the density is?

The Operating Instructions book only mentions it under specifications as: "ND filter - Interlocked with iris, ON/OFF switched automatically."

Is anyone using a screw-on ND filter on their DVC30? What density?

Douglas

Boyd Ostroff · August 1st, 2005, 11:37 AM

I don't know for sure, but suspect it's like the internal ND filters on many (if not most) newer design small chip cameras. My PDX-10 has the same sort of thing, although Sony doesn't even admit its existence.

The idea is to force you to shoot in the lens' "sweet spot" around the neighborhood of f4. As you decrease the iris opening in manual control you rather quickly reach a point where the iris stops closing and the camera automatically drops in progressively darker internal ND filters. The camera probably "lies" about this also (at least the PDX-10 does). It will say you're shooting at f11 for example, but in reality you're at (maybe) F5.6 plus an ND filter.

Tom Hardwick may have a few words on this topic, it's one of his favorite features ;-)

Mark Williams · August 1st, 2005, 05:27 PM

Douglas,

Having an automatic ND filter on the DVC30 is about the only thing I don't like about this cam. I shoot a lot around water and snow where manual ND is a must. My solution was a set of ND screw on filters at various strengths. The DVC 30 uses 43mm filters so cost is reasonable. I use Hoya filters strength x2 and x4 and am a happy with this solution.

Regards,

Mark

Alex Burge · August 26th, 2005, 08:52 AM

If I power on my AG-DVC30 when it has previously been set into the psuedo-film mode (Scene Mode 4) it nearly always starts up with the LCD and viewfinder flickering and recording also comes out flickering.
If you change it back out of this scene mode and then back in everything is OK again.
Anyone experienced this or know why it happens or how to avoid it?

Stephen Finton · August 26th, 2005, 09:01 AM

See if hitting the reset button cures the trouble. It will reset your camera to defaults but then set it up in film mode again and turn it off and on. It might not flicker then.

Alex Burge · August 26th, 2005, 09:29 AM

I'll try that.
If I power on when it is set in any other Scene File it is fine.
It just seems to be Scene File 4 that is has problems with, as if it is taken by surprise that it is in Frame mode.
If I swap into scene file 4 from another when already powered on it never does this flickering it is purely when I power on when it is already selected.

Ian Slessor · August 27th, 2005, 09:33 AM

Hi Gang,

Longtime reader, first time poster (to this particular forum portion).

I have the opportunity to produce four 15 minute training videos for a co-worker/friend of mine.

He is a police officer and does training for private security firms. The videos would cover such elements as use of force training, arrest powers of private security personnel, private security and the criminal code, etc.

I had intended to use a DVX 100a but wonder if the DVC30 would be suitable for such a venture.

I ask because the DVC30 would put more money in my pocket for other equipment like better quality shotgun & wireless mics, a production monitor for my editing station, etc.

So what's the opinion?

Would the DVC30 give me solid footage? I can always get a DVX100a down the road.

FYI. I've been "filming" (yeah, I know. Indulge me ;-) ) local dance recitals and have quite a bit of time on rental GL2s and editing and the DVC30 paired with another would save me travelling to Toronto to rent my equipment.

This would be my first "corporate" gig and hopefully an in to similar work in the future.

Please note that I have a full-time job and that I do the video work as an outlet for my creative side. Simply put. I love creating, shooting & editing and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Thanks for listening.

sincerely,

ian

Robert Loncaric · August 29th, 2005, 05:31 PM

I just got my brand new DVC-30 and I've noticed a hot pixel right in the middle of the screen when I gain up. I am a little bummed.

How common does this seem on the DVC-30? B&H said they will exchange it with no problem, but I'm afraid of getting another bad one.

Has anyone else had experience with this problem?

Preston Herrick · August 29th, 2005, 05:55 PM

Luck of the draw. Take B&H up on their offer. The alternative is to take it to an authorized service center to remap/program out the hot pixel or replace the CCD - under warranty.

Guy Bruner · August 29th, 2005, 08:38 PM

Hi Ian,
I see no one has responded to your question. Yes, the DVC30 would be an excellent choice for training videos. Actually, you could use the Panasonic GS400 and get high quality video if you wanted to save a few more bucks.

Ian Slessor · August 29th, 2005, 09:04 PM

Hi Guy,

Thanks for the info. This is good news.

I don't think I'll go with the GS400 though as I'll also be doing dance recitals and I need the added control and features that the DVC30 provide.

Thanks again.

sincerely,

ian

Alex Burge · August 30th, 2005, 03:20 AM

I tested this over the weekend and annoyingly it is very erratic. Sometimes when powering on the camera it is fine but more than 50% of the time it will start up flickering. I have found the quickest way to stop it is to change the File Scene back to File Scene 1 then back to 4.
Very annoying though as it means you can't start filming in Psuedo-Film mode quickly.

Robert Loncaric · August 30th, 2005, 04:57 PM

I just sent mine back for a hot pixel, but while I had it I tested this out for you and mine definitely did not do that. I could start up in film mode all the time.

Robert Loncaric · September 2nd, 2005, 06:20 PM

First of all, I have to say that B&H is one of the classiest, best customer-focused on-line stores around. They exchanged my bad DVC-30 even though they could have sent me to Panasonic since it was a manufacturer's defect. I sent in mine overnight on a Wednesday morning; Friday morning my new camera arived.

I am so impressed with the video. I thought my PV-GS200 looked good, but this video I shot today looked so nice!

I struggled with the DVC/GL2 choice. I'm glad I stuck with the DVC!

August 1st, 2005, 10:09 AM	#137
Douglas Clark New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jyllinge, Denmark Posts: 22	DVC30 ND filter Can anyone explain how and when the "automatic" ND filter in the DVC30 is activated, and what the density is? The Operating Instructions book only mentions it under specifications as: "ND filter - Interlocked with iris, ON/OFF switched automatically." Is anyone using a screw-on ND filter on their DVC30? What density? Douglas

August 26th, 2005, 08:52 AM	#140
Alex Burge Tourist Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3	Turning on DVC30 when in Film Mode If I power on my AG-DVC30 when it has previously been set into the psuedo-film mode (Scene Mode 4) it nearly always starts up with the LCD and viewfinder flickering and recording also comes out flickering. If you change it back out of this scene mode and then back in everything is OK again. Anyone experienced this or know why it happens or how to avoid it?

August 27th, 2005, 09:33 AM	#143
Ian Slessor Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South-Central Ontario, Canada Posts: 216	DVC30 suitability for training videos. Hi Gang, Longtime reader, first time poster (to this particular forum portion). I have the opportunity to produce four 15 minute training videos for a co-worker/friend of mine. He is a police officer and does training for private security firms. The videos would cover such elements as use of force training, arrest powers of private security personnel, private security and the criminal code, etc. I had intended to use a DVX 100a but wonder if the DVC30 would be suitable for such a venture. I ask because the DVC30 would put more money in my pocket for other equipment like better quality shotgun & wireless mics, a production monitor for my editing station, etc. So what's the opinion? Would the DVC30 give me solid footage? I can always get a DVX100a down the road. FYI. I've been "filming" (yeah, I know. Indulge me ;-) ) local dance recitals and have quite a bit of time on rental GL2s and editing and the DVC30 paired with another would save me travelling to Toronto to rent my equipment. This would be my first "corporate" gig and hopefully an in to similar work in the future. Please note that I have a full-time job and that I do the video work as an outlet for my creative side. Simply put. I love creating, shooting & editing and the satisfaction of a job well done. Thanks for listening. sincerely, ian

August 29th, 2005, 05:31 PM	#144
Robert Loncaric New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 16	Brand New DVC-30 with Hot Pixel I just got my brand new DVC-30 and I've noticed a hot pixel right in the middle of the screen when I gain up. I am a little bummed. How common does this seem on the DVC-30? B&H said they will exchange it with no problem, but I'm afraid of getting another bad one. Has anyone else had experience with this problem?

August 30th, 2005, 03:20 AM	#148
Alex Burge Tourist Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3	Still not fixed. I tested this over the weekend and annoyingly it is very erratic. Sometimes when powering on the camera it is fine but more than 50% of the time it will start up flickering. I have found the quickest way to stop it is to change the File Scene back to File Scene 1 then back to 4. Very annoying though as it means you can't start filming in Psuedo-Film mode quickly.

July 29th, 2005, 01:06 PM	#136
Young Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 268	http://www.dvuser.co.kr/zboard/data/...nic/MiniDV.jpg (MX5000: 30P, 16:9)

August 1st, 2005, 11:37 AM	#138
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I don't know for sure, but suspect it's like the internal ND filters on many (if not most) newer design small chip cameras. My PDX-10 has the same sort of thing, although Sony doesn't even admit its existence. The idea is to force you to shoot in the lens' "sweet spot" around the neighborhood of f4. As you decrease the iris opening in manual control you rather quickly reach a point where the iris stops closing and the camera automatically drops in progressively darker internal ND filters. The camera probably "lies" about this also (at least the PDX-10 does). It will say you're shooting at f11 for example, but in reality you're at (maybe) F5.6 plus an ND filter. Tom Hardwick may have a few words on this topic, it's one of his favorite features ;-)

August 1st, 2005, 05:27 PM	#139
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Douglas, Having an automatic ND filter on the DVC30 is about the only thing I don't like about this cam. I shoot a lot around water and snow where manual ND is a must. My solution was a set of ND screw on filters at various strengths. The DVC 30 uses 43mm filters so cost is reasonable. I use Hoya filters strength x2 and x4 and am a happy with this solution. Regards, Mark

August 26th, 2005, 09:01 AM	#141
Stephen Finton Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 344	See if hitting the reset button cures the trouble. It will reset your camera to defaults but then set it up in film mode again and turn it off and on. It might not flicker then.

August 26th, 2005, 09:29 AM	#142
Alex Burge Tourist Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3	I'll try that. If I power on when it is set in any other Scene File it is fine. It just seems to be Scene File 4 that is has problems with, as if it is taken by surprise that it is in Frame mode. If I swap into scene file 4 from another when already powered on it never does this flickering it is purely when I power on when it is already selected.

August 29th, 2005, 05:55 PM	#145
Preston Herrick Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 44	Luck of the draw. Take B&H up on their offer. The alternative is to take it to an authorized service center to remap/program out the hot pixel or replace the CCD - under warranty.

August 29th, 2005, 08:38 PM	#146
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Hi Ian, I see no one has responded to your question. Yes, the DVC30 would be an excellent choice for training videos. Actually, you could use the Panasonic GS400 and get high quality video if you wanted to save a few more bucks.

August 29th, 2005, 09:04 PM	#147
Ian Slessor Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South-Central Ontario, Canada Posts: 216	Hi Guy, Thanks for the info. This is good news. I don't think I'll go with the GS400 though as I'll also be doing dance recitals and I need the added control and features that the DVC30 provide. Thanks again. sincerely, ian

August 30th, 2005, 04:57 PM	#149
Robert Loncaric New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 16	I just sent mine back for a hot pixel, but while I had it I tested this out for you and mine definitely did not do that. I could start up in film mode all the time.

September 2nd, 2005, 06:20 PM	#150
Robert Loncaric New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 16	Replacement DVC-30 is here! LOVE IT! First of all, I have to say that B&H is one of the classiest, best customer-focused on-line stores around. They exchanged my bad DVC-30 even though they could have sent me to Panasonic since it was a manufacturer's defect. I sent in mine overnight on a Wednesday morning; Friday morning my new camera arived. I am so impressed with the video. I thought my PV-GS200 looked good, but this video I shot today looked so nice! I struggled with the DVC/GL2 choice. I'm glad I stuck with the DVC!