DVC30 durability? at DVinfo.net

Clifford Thompson · February 3rd, 2005, 10:02 AM

Hi,
first time post. I am a GL1 user and strongly leaning towards getting DVC30. I know the 30 has everything in its' favor. The one thing I wonder about is its' day to day toghness. My GL1 is outdated and seriously lacking in features but it has been a trouble free work horse for 5yrs and still works good each time out of the case. Can I trust the DVC30 on that level.

thanks
Cliff

Mark Williams · February 3rd, 2005, 10:08 AM

The DVC30 is solid. Do a search. There are several comments on this. I have had mine for 6 months and used in harsh conditions and it has held up very well.

Mark Phillips · February 11th, 2005, 10:39 AM

Same here, got mine last summer and it's very rugged. As for bwayphoto...check their ratings before you buy. Good luck!

Donald Pittelli · February 11th, 2005, 01:43 PM

one thing though buy exsternal mic .dp

Brian Carrell · February 11th, 2005, 01:46 PM

I also had a GL1 from 1999 to 2004, and I loved it, took it everywhere and never had a problem. When it was stolen I got a GL2 and didn't warm up to it as much as the GL1. I took it back for a DVC30. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it as much as I thought I would, but, I shot a lot of footage and tested out different parameters for each of the scene files, and was really pleased with what I was able to get out of this cam. I like it much more than I though I could. I could get the image I loved so much from the GL1, plus a lot of different looks, some of which I like even better, so I have been really happy with the image from this cam. Also I have been really happy with actually using the cam, it has a nice feel and hold. As far as sturdy or dependable, I put this cam in my fanny pack as I ride a motorcycle, it's been on the plane numerous times, at the beach several times, and skiing a couple times, The cam now has about 100 hours on it. no problem.

But please check out resellerratings.com or other such sites and read feedback on b'way photo and the other "brooklyn" stores before deciding to go with them.

Brian

Mark Williams · February 11th, 2005, 02:48 PM

Brian,

I am always experimenting with the scene file settings. Have you got one you would like to share.

Regards,

Mark

Joe Amato · February 14th, 2005, 02:54 AM

i sold my dvc-30 i liked very much but im going for sony hd fx-1 this cam makes me quiver

Brian Carrell · February 14th, 2005, 02:45 PM

Mark,

For what types of shooting, indoor or outdoor? Video mode or for the Movie mode? I have a few I could share along with some observations as well if you want.

Brian

Mark Williams · February 14th, 2005, 04:37 PM

Brian,

Outdoor and video mode. Nature w/o people.

Thanks,

Mark

Brian Carrell · February 14th, 2005, 06:56 PM

Mark,

Just some rambling observations of my own tests and what I am using outside in video mode.

The one setting that I have found to interact with the other settings the most seems to be Pedestal. When shooting outside, I really like saturated vibrant images. I found that I could accomplish this to greater extent with Pedestal than Chroma. Negative Pedestal reduces the tonal range and produces a more contrasty image with more intense colors (if that’s what you are after) So pedestal seems to interact with Chroma level. Also a more contrasty image appears to be sharper, so Pedestal interacts with Detail setting as well. If you want a sharper image, this will assist, if not, you will have to turn down detail more than before you decreasing pedestal. I have also noticed that when I increase Pedestal (positive numbers) that black and greys are less neutral (or at least appear so) and when the pedestal is negative, the neutrals look more neutral. Once I started noticing how pedestal influences the other settings, I ran a whole bunch of tests based on different pedestal settings. I noticed that with a negative pedestal of –2 or there abouts, the footage looked more like the footage from the PDX-10 and DSR-570 I sometimes use at work.

Of course decreasing pedestal reduces detail in shadows, so if the light outside is contrasty to begin with, you may want to not decrease pedestal as much, but if it’s drab or more dreary outside, than this might help.

I notice to my own tastes that the DVC30 seems to tend toward green-ish sometimes, but I think I have noticed this more in movie mode with the different gamma curve more than video mode, and also more when it was overcast outside more so than in direct sun. But I shoot people in nature more than nature itself, so this might be different for you.

I also sometimes have had a hard time getting a good white-balance outside when its really really bright (maybe the iris and nd filters close in too much affecting color when the cam is pointing at something else and is more open, I don’t know) but I just generally white-balance off a Kodak Gray card. (on the gray side)

Here’s the two settings I have been using outside (the first one mainly) the second one seemed to remind me of my old GL1 footage, but I can’t remember why now.

Primary
Detail +1
Chroma +2 or +3
Phase +1
Temp +0
Pedestal –2 or –3

Secondary
Detail +2 or +3
Chroma +2 or +3
Phase +3
Temp +1
Pedestal –1 or -2

Let me know what you think or what you have been using
Brian

Mark Williams · February 14th, 2005, 09:49 PM

Thanks Brian,

I will try your setting tomorrow and see how they look.

Thanks,

Mark

Adam Folickman · February 15th, 2005, 04:31 AM

Brian,

What is the difference in white balancing from a grey card versus a white card ? I am curious because I have been always using a white card.

Thanks.

Brian Carrell · February 15th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Adam,

No difference, try both one after the other and you'll see you get the same result. I just have an easier time with gray when it's really bright because I usually shoot outside in manual mode but with auto exposure, so when using the gray card, the camera is at the same exposure it would be for the subject anyway.

Under low light, I find it easier to use the white card.

February 3rd, 2005, 10:02 AM	#1
Clifford Thompson Tourist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1	DVC30 durability? Hi, first time post. I am a GL1 user and strongly leaning towards getting DVC30. I know the 30 has everything in its' favor. The one thing I wonder about is its' day to day toghness. My GL1 is outdated and seriously lacking in features but it has been a trouble free work horse for 5yrs and still works good each time out of the case. Can I trust the DVC30 on that level. thanks Cliff __________________ c

February 11th, 2005, 01:43 PM	#4
Donald Pittelli Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: babylon ny Posts: 53	great cam one thing though buy exsternal mic .dp __________________ dp

February 11th, 2005, 01:46 PM	#5
Brian Carrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, Seattle, WA, and abroad.... Posts: 65	DVC30 a good choice I also had a GL1 from 1999 to 2004, and I loved it, took it everywhere and never had a problem. When it was stolen I got a GL2 and didn't warm up to it as much as the GL1. I took it back for a DVC30. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it as much as I thought I would, but, I shot a lot of footage and tested out different parameters for each of the scene files, and was really pleased with what I was able to get out of this cam. I like it much more than I though I could. I could get the image I loved so much from the GL1, plus a lot of different looks, some of which I like even better, so I have been really happy with the image from this cam. Also I have been really happy with actually using the cam, it has a nice feel and hold. As far as sturdy or dependable, I put this cam in my fanny pack as I ride a motorcycle, it's been on the plane numerous times, at the beach several times, and skiing a couple times, The cam now has about 100 hours on it. no problem. But please check out resellerratings.com or other such sites and read feedback on b'way photo and the other "brooklyn" stores before deciding to go with them. Brian

February 14th, 2005, 02:45 PM	#8
Brian Carrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, Seattle, WA, and abroad.... Posts: 65	DVC30 Scene Files Mark, For what types of shooting, indoor or outdoor? Video mode or for the Movie mode? I have a few I could share along with some observations as well if you want. Brian

February 14th, 2005, 06:56 PM	#10
Brian Carrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, Seattle, WA, and abroad.... Posts: 65	DC30 Outdoors Mark, Just some rambling observations of my own tests and what I am using outside in video mode. The one setting that I have found to interact with the other settings the most seems to be Pedestal. When shooting outside, I really like saturated vibrant images. I found that I could accomplish this to greater extent with Pedestal than Chroma. Negative Pedestal reduces the tonal range and produces a more contrasty image with more intense colors (if that’s what you are after) So pedestal seems to interact with Chroma level. Also a more contrasty image appears to be sharper, so Pedestal interacts with Detail setting as well. If you want a sharper image, this will assist, if not, you will have to turn down detail more than before you decreasing pedestal. I have also noticed that when I increase Pedestal (positive numbers) that black and greys are less neutral (or at least appear so) and when the pedestal is negative, the neutrals look more neutral. Once I started noticing how pedestal influences the other settings, I ran a whole bunch of tests based on different pedestal settings. I noticed that with a negative pedestal of –2 or there abouts, the footage looked more like the footage from the PDX-10 and DSR-570 I sometimes use at work. Of course decreasing pedestal reduces detail in shadows, so if the light outside is contrasty to begin with, you may want to not decrease pedestal as much, but if it’s drab or more dreary outside, than this might help. I notice to my own tastes that the DVC30 seems to tend toward green-ish sometimes, but I think I have noticed this more in movie mode with the different gamma curve more than video mode, and also more when it was overcast outside more so than in direct sun. But I shoot people in nature more than nature itself, so this might be different for you. I also sometimes have had a hard time getting a good white-balance outside when its really really bright (maybe the iris and nd filters close in too much affecting color when the cam is pointing at something else and is more open, I don’t know) but I just generally white-balance off a Kodak Gray card. (on the gray side) Here’s the two settings I have been using outside (the first one mainly) the second one seemed to remind me of my old GL1 footage, but I can’t remember why now. Primary Detail +1 Chroma +2 or +3 Phase +1 Temp +0 Pedestal –2 or –3 Secondary Detail +2 or +3 Chroma +2 or +3 Phase +3 Temp +1 Pedestal –1 or -2 Let me know what you think or what you have been using Brian

February 3rd, 2005, 10:08 AM	#2
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	The DVC30 is solid. Do a search. There are several comments on this. I have had mine for 6 months and used in harsh conditions and it has held up very well.

February 11th, 2005, 10:39 AM	#3
Mark Phillips New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Medina, OH Posts: 18	Same here, got mine last summer and it's very rugged. As for bwayphoto...check their ratings before you buy. Good luck!

February 11th, 2005, 02:48 PM	#6
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Brian, I am always experimenting with the scene file settings. Have you got one you would like to share. Regards, Mark

February 14th, 2005, 02:54 AM	#7
Joe Amato New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: astoria new york usa Posts: 23	i sold my dvc-30 i liked very much but im going for sony hd fx-1 this cam makes me quiver

February 14th, 2005, 04:37 PM	#9
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Brian, Outdoor and video mode. Nature w/o people. Thanks, Mark

February 14th, 2005, 09:49 PM	#11
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Thanks Brian, I will try your setting tomorrow and see how they look. Thanks, Mark

February 15th, 2005, 04:31 AM	#12
Adam Folickman Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 125	Brian, What is the difference in white balancing from a grey card versus a white card ? I am curious because I have been always using a white card. Thanks.

February 15th, 2005, 12:35 PM	#13
Brian Carrell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA, Seattle, WA, and abroad.... Posts: 65	White Balance Adam, No difference, try both one after the other and you'll see you get the same result. I just have an easier time with gray when it's really bright because I usually shoot outside in manual mode but with auto exposure, so when using the gray card, the camera is at the same exposure it would be for the subject anyway. Under low light, I find it easier to use the white card.