Panasonic and Canon at DVinfo.net

Spike Spiegel · February 27th, 2005, 06:16 PM

Given these two options: GL2 or Panasonic AGDVC30
which would you prefer to buy, assuming that you have the money for either one, and your intended audience is general broadcast, ie network television. I've talked to a producer who says it really doesn't matter as a lot of things can be done in post. What are your opinions, pls limit to these 2 cameras, thanks.!

James Connors · February 28th, 2005, 04:13 AM

Whichever one you prefer! The producer is right, when you get to a certain grade, the cameras at the same price point aren't generally going to be much different so its really down to the user and what they want. If its a broadcast quality camera, its broadcast quality.. so whilst you're gonna get differences in tone and features, you need to find out what you prefer out of the two. Test drive em both and see which you're happiest with..

Glenn Chan · February 28th, 2005, 09:45 AM

If you don't have that much time in post production or if they don't know how to process the footage right, then a camera like the DVX100 will shoot better looking footage in-camera. The DVX100 has the adjustable gamma controls that mimic film gamma and generally makes things look better (more control, filmier saturation).

In post you can adjust the gamma curve on most but not all NLEs... although your post production people would have to know what to do.

Film-like gamma in-camera makes correcting white balance harder though. If you know extensive tweaking will be done in post and white balance may not always be accurate, then shoot don't shoot with the film-like gamma.

The DVC30 might have a film-like gamma mode. Looking at the brochure for it, it has 2 modes whereas the DVX100 has a bunch more.

2- The DVX100 also shoots 30p, which you may prefer over the 60i look. On static shots the difference is incredibly subtle, but look at handheld work where the cameraperson is moving and you should easily be able to tell the difference.

You can do this in post with loss of resolution. Cameras like the GL2 can shoot frame mode, which gives 75% of the resolution of shooting true progressive as far as I know. I think the DVC30 shoots frame mode too.

Spike Spiegel · February 28th, 2005, 10:03 AM

hi folks thanks for the responses, really helps. I'm opting for the agdvc30 because of its lower price mostly, but the GL2 is one hell of a contender. We'll see.

Dave Ferdinand · February 28th, 2005, 01:13 PM

Dunno if you bought the camera already or not but I had the same dilema some time ago and opted for the GL2. Here's my 2 cents...

GL2 has better zoom (20x), allows you to take high res photos (1488 x 1128), has manual audio controls, lightweight. However it is made of plastic and has a consumer camera look to it.

DVC30 has cinegamma modes (albeit not as good as the DVX100 ones they are still quite nice), it's very robust and has infra red mode. However it has a multifunciton ring (you have to switch to zoom OR focus), and features seem more consumer oriented than the gl2.

IMO they both are very similar (along with the VX2100) and it's all about the small differences that might be more or less convenient to you.

Spike Spiegel · February 28th, 2005, 05:38 PM

hey guys thanks for all the info, i haven't bought the cam yet, hopefully this month. I had to ask this though, if given the option, would any of you opt for a Sony PDX10? I just found out about this camera, the native xlr and true 16:9 are some big features on it! Any thoughts?

Bob Benkosky · March 7th, 2005, 08:30 AM

GL2 has 1/3 ccd's compared to the Panny's 1/4 I believe.

Dave Ferdinand · March 7th, 2005, 01:45 PM

GL2 has 1/4 ccds as well... :)

Spike Spiegel · March 7th, 2005, 05:06 PM

hey guys thanks for all the responses. I finally decided to go wi/ a vx2000 for now. I figure that a lot of shooting that I will do will be impromptu and at times, i might have no control of the lighting situations. So i went wi/ the larger CCD vx2k, to solve the xlr problem i'm getting a beachtek dxa-8. Hopefully this setup will serve me well, can't wait till i get my hands on it!

February 27th, 2005, 06:16 PM	#1
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	Panasonic and Canon Given these two options: GL2 or Panasonic AGDVC30 which would you prefer to buy, assuming that you have the money for either one, and your intended audience is general broadcast, ie network television. I've talked to a producer who says it really doesn't matter as a lot of things can be done in post. What are your opinions, pls limit to these 2 cameras, thanks.!

March 7th, 2005, 08:30 AM	#7
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	GL2 has 1/3 ccd's compared to the Panny's 1/4 I believe. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

February 28th, 2005, 04:13 AM	#2
James Connors Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 223	Whichever one you prefer! The producer is right, when you get to a certain grade, the cameras at the same price point aren't generally going to be much different so its really down to the user and what they want. If its a broadcast quality camera, its broadcast quality.. so whilst you're gonna get differences in tone and features, you need to find out what you prefer out of the two. Test drive em both and see which you're happiest with..

February 28th, 2005, 09:45 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	If you don't have that much time in post production or if they don't know how to process the footage right, then a camera like the DVX100 will shoot better looking footage in-camera. The DVX100 has the adjustable gamma controls that mimic film gamma and generally makes things look better (more control, filmier saturation). In post you can adjust the gamma curve on most but not all NLEs... although your post production people would have to know what to do. Film-like gamma in-camera makes correcting white balance harder though. If you know extensive tweaking will be done in post and white balance may not always be accurate, then shoot don't shoot with the film-like gamma. The DVC30 might have a film-like gamma mode. Looking at the brochure for it, it has 2 modes whereas the DVX100 has a bunch more. 2- The DVX100 also shoots 30p, which you may prefer over the 60i look. On static shots the difference is incredibly subtle, but look at handheld work where the cameraperson is moving and you should easily be able to tell the difference. You can do this in post with loss of resolution. Cameras like the GL2 can shoot frame mode, which gives 75% of the resolution of shooting true progressive as far as I know. I think the DVC30 shoots frame mode too.

February 28th, 2005, 10:03 AM	#4
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	hi folks thanks for the responses, really helps. I'm opting for the agdvc30 because of its lower price mostly, but the GL2 is one hell of a contender. We'll see.

February 28th, 2005, 01:13 PM	#5
Dave Ferdinand Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 359	Dunno if you bought the camera already or not but I had the same dilema some time ago and opted for the GL2. Here's my 2 cents... GL2 has better zoom (20x), allows you to take high res photos (1488 x 1128), has manual audio controls, lightweight. However it is made of plastic and has a consumer camera look to it. DVC30 has cinegamma modes (albeit not as good as the DVX100 ones they are still quite nice), it's very robust and has infra red mode. However it has a multifunciton ring (you have to switch to zoom OR focus), and features seem more consumer oriented than the gl2. IMO they both are very similar (along with the VX2100) and it's all about the small differences that might be more or less convenient to you.

February 28th, 2005, 05:38 PM	#6
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	hey guys thanks for all the info, i haven't bought the cam yet, hopefully this month. I had to ask this though, if given the option, would any of you opt for a Sony PDX10? I just found out about this camera, the native xlr and true 16:9 are some big features on it! Any thoughts?

March 7th, 2005, 01:45 PM	#8
Dave Ferdinand Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 359	GL2 has 1/4 ccds as well... :)

March 7th, 2005, 05:06 PM	#9
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	hey guys thanks for all the responses. I finally decided to go wi/ a vx2000 for now. I figure that a lot of shooting that I will do will be impromptu and at times, i might have no control of the lighting situations. So i went wi/ the larger CCD vx2k, to solve the xlr problem i'm getting a beachtek dxa-8. Hopefully this setup will serve me well, can't wait till i get my hands on it!