VG-20.....new to me at DVinfo.net

Gabe Strong · February 8th, 2013, 03:51 PM

I own an FS100, but more and more have been needing to get a B-camera for it. I've been looking all over and trying to figure out what to get. For awhile, I was thinking of the EX-1. But then I happened across the VG20. The upside, is that all my existing lenses, adapters and so on will work with the VG20. Plus,
it will be good in low light, much like the FS100, so no worries about trying to match a 'dark' EX-1 shot
with a 'bright' FS100 shot. And finally, it seems like they should at least have a 'similar' look. Plus, if I could afford EX-1 prices......well I'd probably just buy another FS100. But I saw a VG20 from a well known
LA camera store which had been used as a demo version in store, on sale for $1000. So I grabbed it.
So I may be visiting to ask questions, as I am used to more pro cameras where you can set everything
with switches and dials. I'm not much of a touchscreen fan, as I like to set iris, shutter speed, gain, and white balance physically instead of using a touchscreen, but for the price and the similarities to my
FS100, I'm going to try and learn how to make do with the VG20.

John Vincent · February 8th, 2013, 05:17 PM

Other then the fidily buttons, I think you'll find them very close. Of course, other then being able to change the color temp, gain, iris, and a few other things, the VG20 "look" is pretty baked in. Touchscreen isn't bad, but you will miss those buttons.

You'll be able to push it around a wee bit in post, but you may end up wanting to match the fs100 to the 20. Certainly I'll try to help you out...

But I have a question for you first - do they take the same batteries?

Gabe Strong · February 8th, 2013, 10:28 PM

Thanks. It won't be perfect, but short of another fs100 my guess was this was as good a
match as I could get. And lots of stuff I shoot could use 2 cams. Even on a simple interview,
it's nice to have a tighter shot or different angle to cut to, or even one of them on a slider.

As for batteries, they don't use the same ones. I got an extra big battery for the VG20
when I noticed that. But I've got a Metabones with some canon lenses, a Sony A to E
adapter with some A mount lenses, some fast canon FD primes adapted to E mount,
and getting a speed booster. And I've even got ND sorted with the Xume magnetic snap
on solution for all my lenses. All that will transfer right over to the VG20. We'll see soon,
the camera should be here tomorrow and I've been hired for a two camera shoot Monday
and Tuesday.

John Vincent · February 9th, 2013, 03:45 PM

Good luck Gabe! Maybe post some comparison footage?

James Manford · February 9th, 2013, 04:08 PM

My issue is having to set the profile to MATCH my VG20, rather than matching my VG20 footage to my EA50.

The VG20 is a solid camera, but lacks in many departments. And picture profiles is one of them.

I believe the VG30 has picture profiles so may have been a better purchase.

I plan to sell my VG20 soon and just stick to my EA50 as I have no need for a B cam to be honest.

Noa Put · February 10th, 2013, 02:04 AM

James, good to see you have both the vg20 and ea50, in another thread there is a discussion going on about the low light performance on both camera's where it appears the vg20 is much better then the ea50. If that would be the case I would consider selling one of my t2i's and getting a vg30 instead.

How is your opinion on low light performance, is the vg20 that much better then your ea50 at comparable high gains?

February 8th, 2013, 03:51 PM	#1
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	VG-20.....new to me I own an FS100, but more and more have been needing to get a B-camera for it. I've been looking all over and trying to figure out what to get. For awhile, I was thinking of the EX-1. But then I happened across the VG20. The upside, is that all my existing lenses, adapters and so on will work with the VG20. Plus, it will be good in low light, much like the FS100, so no worries about trying to match a 'dark' EX-1 shot with a 'bright' FS100 shot. And finally, it seems like they should at least have a 'similar' look. Plus, if I could afford EX-1 prices......well I'd probably just buy another FS100. But I saw a VG20 from a well known LA camera store which had been used as a demo version in store, on sale for $1000. So I grabbed it. So I may be visiting to ask questions, as I am used to more pro cameras where you can set everything with switches and dials. I'm not much of a touchscreen fan, as I like to set iris, shutter speed, gain, and white balance physically instead of using a touchscreen, but for the price and the similarities to my FS100, I'm going to try and learn how to make do with the VG20.

February 8th, 2013, 05:17 PM	#2
John Vincent Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,065	Re: VG-20.....new to me Other then the fidily buttons, I think you'll find them very close. Of course, other then being able to change the color temp, gain, iris, and a few other things, the VG20 "look" is pretty baked in. Touchscreen isn't bad, but you will miss those buttons. You'll be able to push it around a wee bit in post, but you may end up wanting to match the fs100 to the 20. Certainly I'll try to help you out... But I have a question for you first - do they take the same batteries?

February 8th, 2013, 10:28 PM	#3
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: VG-20.....new to me Thanks. It won't be perfect, but short of another fs100 my guess was this was as good a match as I could get. And lots of stuff I shoot could use 2 cams. Even on a simple interview, it's nice to have a tighter shot or different angle to cut to, or even one of them on a slider. As for batteries, they don't use the same ones. I got an extra big battery for the VG20 when I noticed that. But I've got a Metabones with some canon lenses, a Sony A to E adapter with some A mount lenses, some fast canon FD primes adapted to E mount, and getting a speed booster. And I've even got ND sorted with the Xume magnetic snap on solution for all my lenses. All that will transfer right over to the VG20. We'll see soon, the camera should be here tomorrow and I've been hired for a two camera shoot Monday and Tuesday.

February 9th, 2013, 03:45 PM	#4
John Vincent Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,065	Re: VG-20.....new to me Good luck Gabe! Maybe post some comparison footage?

February 9th, 2013, 04:08 PM	#5
James Manford Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,393	Re: VG-20.....new to me My issue is having to set the profile to MATCH my VG20, rather than matching my VG20 footage to my EA50. The VG20 is a solid camera, but lacks in many departments. And picture profiles is one of them. I believe the VG30 has picture profiles so may have been a better purchase. I plan to sell my VG20 soon and just stick to my EA50 as I have no need for a B cam to be honest.

February 10th, 2013, 02:04 AM	#6
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: VG-20.....new to me James, good to see you have both the vg20 and ea50, in another thread there is a discussion going on about the low light performance on both camera's where it appears the vg20 is much better then the ea50. If that would be the case I would consider selling one of my t2i's and getting a vg30 instead. How is your opinion on low light performance, is the vg20 that much better then your ea50 at comparable high gains?