Sony PD150 vs Panasonic AG-DVX100 at DVinfo.net

Sharon Dennis · March 7th, 2003, 09:27 PM

I currently own a Sony TRV900. I'm a broadcast journalist and what to broaden my "reach" by having the ability to shoot and edit broadcast quality stories. I have a non-linear system on my powerbook and now want to "upgrade" my video camera. I love Sony products but I've heard some very good things about the Panasonic DVX100. Can anyone give me pros and cons?

Adrian Douglas · March 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM

Sharon,

If you can hold out a little longer Sony will most likely announce their version of the DVX1000 at NAB.

Bruce A. Christenson · March 7th, 2003, 10:04 PM

When is the next NAB?

Sharon Dennis · March 7th, 2003, 10:05 PM

Any early word on the upgrades with Sony's version?

Sharon Dennis · March 7th, 2003, 10:11 PM

NAB is the first week of April in Las Vegas

Jeff Donald · March 7th, 2003, 10:20 PM

Adrian is absolutely correct. I wouldn't buy any camera until the dust settles on NAB 2003 (April 7 through 10, in Las Vegas).

Tom Hardwick · March 12th, 2003, 03:30 AM

Even so Sharon, having a 900 means that if you go for the VX2000 (or PD150) you'll be able to use all your TRV900 batteries, Lanc controllers, whatever. You'll also feel immediately at home with the menu system and the colour balance and so on.

But the Panasonic has a much better side -screen and no bumps in the manual aperture control, so it's a goodie.

tom.

Don Berube · March 12th, 2003, 04:38 AM

Hi Sharon,

LAFCPUG has a very informative comparison of the two cameras at
http://www.lafcpug.org/review_dvx_pd150.html

Noah Kadner did a side-by-side comparison between the Panny AG-DVX100 and the Sony PD-150. One observation made was how much more detail could be seen throughout the highlights and shadows with the DXX100 over the PD-150 due to the "Cine Gamma" feature. There is actually a free DVD of this article which features the test shoot in its entirety, which can be had for free by simply contacting Charles McConathy or Dan Hatch at ProMax at http://www.promax.com/contacts.html.

- don

Glenn Gipson · March 12th, 2003, 07:53 AM

The DVX 100 clearly looks better to me, but the poor focus controls in 24p mode really make me think twice about it.

Stephen van Vuuren · March 12th, 2003, 08:59 AM

I think the focus on the Panny is the best of any miniDV I tried (I previously owned a XL-1 with all lenses) and have used Sony VX models.

Sure, no "autofocus" in 24P mode, but I rarely used autofocus on any cam. Autofocus really only works well on high-end still cams.

Push autofocus might have been nice in 24p for doc/sports shooters, but I find the focus guage to work almost as well. It also works better than any thing short of focus puller for rack moves and rehearsed scenes.

Sharon Dennis · March 12th, 2003, 11:58 AM

Thanks for all the input. I have another question for PD150 users....how does the camera perform in low light?

March 7th, 2003, 09:27 PM	#1
Sharon Dennis New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 20	Sony PD150 vs Panasonic AG-DVX100 I currently own a Sony TRV900. I'm a broadcast journalist and what to broaden my "reach" by having the ability to shoot and edit broadcast quality stories. I have a non-linear system on my powerbook and now want to "upgrade" my video camera. I love Sony products but I've heard some very good things about the Panasonic DVX100. Can anyone give me pros and cons?

March 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM	#2
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Sharon, If you can hold out a little longer Sony will most likely announce their version of the DVX1000 at NAB. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

March 7th, 2003, 10:20 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Adrian is absolutely correct. I wouldn't buy any camera until the dust settles on NAB 2003 (April 7 through 10, in Las Vegas). __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 12th, 2003, 04:38 AM	#8
Don Berube Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Boston, MA (travel frequently) Posts: 837	LAFCPUG DVX100/ PD-150 comparison Hi Sharon, LAFCPUG has a very informative comparison of the two cameras at http://www.lafcpug.org/review_dvx_pd150.html Noah Kadner did a side-by-side comparison between the Panny AG-DVX100 and the Sony PD-150. One observation made was how much more detail could be seen throughout the highlights and shadows with the DXX100 over the PD-150 due to the "Cine Gamma" feature. There is actually a free DVD of this article which features the test shoot in its entirety, which can be had for free by simply contacting Charles McConathy or Dan Hatch at ProMax at http://www.promax.com/contacts.html. - don __________________ DONALD BERUBE - noisybrain. Productions, LLC Director Of Photography/ Producer/ Consultant http://noisybrain.com/donbio.html CREATE and NETWORK with http://www.bosfcpug.org and also http://fcpugnetwork.org

March 12th, 2003, 08:59 AM	#10
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	I think the focus on the Panny is the best of any miniDV I tried (I previously owned a XL-1 with all lenses) and have used Sony VX models. Sure, no "autofocus" in 24P mode, but I rarely used autofocus on any cam. Autofocus really only works well on high-end still cams. Push autofocus might have been nice in 24p for doc/sports shooters, but I find the focus guage to work almost as well. It also works better than any thing short of focus puller for rack moves and rehearsed scenes. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

March 7th, 2003, 10:04 PM	#3
Bruce A. Christenson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Forest Grove, OR Posts: 122	When is the next NAB?

March 7th, 2003, 10:05 PM	#4
Sharon Dennis New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 20	Any early word on the upgrades with Sony's version?

March 7th, 2003, 10:11 PM	#5
Sharon Dennis New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 20	NAB is the first week of April in Las Vegas

March 12th, 2003, 03:30 AM	#7
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Even so Sharon, having a 900 means that if you go for the VX2000 (or PD150) you'll be able to use all your TRV900 batteries, Lanc controllers, whatever. You'll also feel immediately at home with the menu system and the colour balance and so on. But the Panasonic has a much better side -screen and no bumps in the manual aperture control, so it's a goodie. tom.

March 12th, 2003, 07:53 AM	#9
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	The DVX 100 clearly looks better to me, but the poor focus controls in 24p mode really make me think twice about it.

March 12th, 2003, 11:58 AM	#11
Sharon Dennis New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 20	PD150 vs VX100 Thanks for all the input. I have another question for PD150 users....how does the camera perform in low light?