My first cam is on it's way! at DVinfo.net

Stephen van Vuuren · October 1st, 2002, 11:09 PM

They are here. Promax called me tonight and said it will be here in NC on Friday.

Any LA user already have one?

Chris Hurd · October 2nd, 2002, 12:33 AM

Can't wait to hear what you have to say about it, Stephen!

Stephen van Vuuren · October 5th, 2002, 10:46 AM

Okay, it's here and given it a quick test. Long review will have to wait until battery charges and I have more time with it but camera arrived in perfect shape (thank you ProMax). Overall impression of camera is pretty solid, build quality seems Canon/Sony high-prosumer or better on stuff I've tried so far.

(1) Picture quality is fantastic, certainly better than my XL1 with manual lens.

(2) Focus controls on lens are to my liking. Focus is light but extremely accurate. Not "loose" as some reported. As good, if not better, than the focus ring on my previous Canon 14X manual. Sure, there are no foot/meter markings, but the 1-100 scale range viewable on LCD is much more usable I quickly found.

I did a couple of tests, zoomed in, set focus, noted LCD number, zoomed out. Zoomed back in, both actual focus and LED stayed exact. Pull and rack focus moves will be easy for me to execute.

(3) Zoom, manual and motor, work well. I don't often do zooms in shots, but seemed to work as well as old XL1.

(4) LCD monitor sharpness exceeded my expectations. I see no need for lugging my 14" Sony to check focus. Color is LCD, not broadcast tube, but still seemed accurate to my eye.

(5) 1/24 and 1/48 shutter speeds available in 24p mode. Nice. Film motion blur, here we come :)

I've stopped my test and battery is charging. Have go to a clients, so full detailed report will have to wait, probably until Sunday pm. But hope to make some detailed clips available.

Let me know any specific questions and I will try to answer.

Maya Taylor · October 6th, 2002, 09:08 AM

I agree! The picture quality is fantastic!! The camera so far lives up to its hype! Goobye XL1-S! =)

Vinson Watson · October 6th, 2002, 01:12 PM

I can't wait. I really want to hear about this cam.
-Vinson

October 6th, 2002, 09:49 PM

Does the camera have the exposure metering system that was mentioned in another post? There it said that an early prototype had an exposure metering system which did not appear in later prototypes. Thanks.

Stephen van Vuuren · October 6th, 2002, 10:15 PM

It is in. It's called "Marker" and is found the Display Setup menu.

Jeff Chandler · October 7th, 2002, 09:13 AM

Is the wide angle noticeably wider than others? That is one of the things that attracted me to this camera - a 3 chip that has a built in wide angle. How soes it look, Stephen?

Stephen van Vuuren · October 7th, 2002, 11:01 AM

Yep, it is noticably wider. I used to have a XL1 with 3X wide and I always was reaching for the 3X lens as the other lenses never gave enough space.

I don't feel that with this cam. Very useful so far in tight space. It's not quite as wide as Canon 3X but plenty wide for most uses. And so far, I have not missed the telephoto as much, but I've only shot about 15 minutes or so.

Dan Honemann · October 7th, 2002, 01:07 PM

Stephen,

How's the low light performance of the Panny? How does it compare with the VX2000 or the GL-2?

Dan

Stephen van Vuuren · October 7th, 2002, 01:16 PM

It's better than the GL-1, XL-1 and VX1000 that I have more experience with. I have not shot with GL-2 or VX-2000. Will shoot some candlelight scenes in the next few days.

Jeff Chandler · October 7th, 2002, 01:19 PM

If it's as good as the VX2000, I may be sold. I tape a lot of performances in high school auditoriums so the wide angle and low light are two things that I want. My XL1 is lousy in low light. So, I'm anxious to hear about the low light capabilities, too.

Maya Taylor · October 7th, 2002, 05:23 PM

(low light performance)

It's as good as theVX2000/PD150 and actually slighltly better!

Rob Lohman · October 8th, 2002, 04:54 AM

Anyone know what the price (more or less) for this camera is?

Stephen Barrie · October 8th, 2002, 09:49 AM

Stephen,
Are you missing the availability of being able to switch lenses as on your XL1s?
I have a GL@ and need another camera and was considering the XL1s. Thoughts on whether I should buy the AG-DVX100?

October 1st, 2002, 11:09 PM	#1
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	My first cam is on it's way! They are here. Promax called me tonight and said it will be here in NC on Friday. Any LA user already have one? __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

October 2nd, 2002, 12:33 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Can't wait to hear what you have to say about it, Stephen! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 5th, 2002, 10:46 AM	#3
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Okay, it's here and given it a quick test. Long review will have to wait until battery charges and I have more time with it but camera arrived in perfect shape (thank you ProMax). Overall impression of camera is pretty solid, build quality seems Canon/Sony high-prosumer or better on stuff I've tried so far. (1) Picture quality is fantastic, certainly better than my XL1 with manual lens. (2) Focus controls on lens are to my liking. Focus is light but extremely accurate. Not "loose" as some reported. As good, if not better, than the focus ring on my previous Canon 14X manual. Sure, there are no foot/meter markings, but the 1-100 scale range viewable on LCD is much more usable I quickly found. I did a couple of tests, zoomed in, set focus, noted LCD number, zoomed out. Zoomed back in, both actual focus and LED stayed exact. Pull and rack focus moves will be easy for me to execute. (3) Zoom, manual and motor, work well. I don't often do zooms in shots, but seemed to work as well as old XL1. (4) LCD monitor sharpness exceeded my expectations. I see no need for lugging my 14" Sony to check focus. Color is LCD, not broadcast tube, but still seemed accurate to my eye. (5) 1/24 and 1/48 shutter speeds available in 24p mode. Nice. Film motion blur, here we come :) I've stopped my test and battery is charging. Have go to a clients, so full detailed report will have to wait, probably until Sunday pm. But hope to make some detailed clips available. Let me know any specific questions and I will try to answer. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

October 6th, 2002, 10:15 PM	#7
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	It is in. It's called "Marker" and is found the Display Setup menu. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

October 7th, 2002, 09:13 AM	#8
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	Is the wide angle noticeably wider than others? That is one of the things that attracted me to this camera - a 3 chip that has a built in wide angle. How soes it look, Stephen? __________________ Jeff Chandler

October 6th, 2002, 09:08 AM	#4
Maya Taylor New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 21	I agree! The picture quality is fantastic!! The camera so far lives up to its hype! Goobye XL1-S! =)

October 6th, 2002, 01:12 PM	#5
Vinson Watson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 79	I can't wait. I really want to hear about this cam. -Vinson

October 6th, 2002, 09:49 PM	#6
donking! Posts: n/a	Does the camera have the exposure metering system that was mentioned in another post? There it said that an early prototype had an exposure metering system which did not appear in later prototypes. Thanks.

October 7th, 2002, 11:01 AM	#9
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Yep, it is noticably wider. I used to have a XL1 with 3X wide and I always was reaching for the 3X lens as the other lenses never gave enough space. I don't feel that with this cam. Very useful so far in tight space. It's not quite as wide as Canon 3X but plenty wide for most uses. And so far, I have not missed the telephoto as much, but I've only shot about 15 minutes or so. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

October 7th, 2002, 01:07 PM	#10
Dan Honemann Tourist Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2	Stephen, How's the low light performance of the Panny? How does it compare with the VX2000 or the GL-2? Dan

October 7th, 2002, 01:16 PM	#11
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	It's better than the GL-1, XL-1 and VX1000 that I have more experience with. I have not shot with GL-2 or VX-2000. Will shoot some candlelight scenes in the next few days. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

October 7th, 2002, 01:19 PM	#12
Jeff Chandler Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mesa, Az. Posts: 167	If it's as good as the VX2000, I may be sold. I tape a lot of performances in high school auditoriums so the wide angle and low light are two things that I want. My XL1 is lousy in low light. So, I'm anxious to hear about the low light capabilities, too. __________________ Jeff Chandler

October 7th, 2002, 05:23 PM	#13
Maya Taylor New Boot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 21	(low light performance) It's as good as theVX2000/PD150 and actually slighltly better!

October 8th, 2002, 04:54 AM	#14
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Anyone know what the price (more or less) for this camera is? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 8th, 2002, 09:49 AM	#15
Stephen Barrie New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 9	Stephen, Are you missing the availability of being able to switch lenses as on your XL1s? I have a GL@ and need another camera and was considering the XL1s. Thoughts on whether I should buy the AG-DVX100?