Panasonic AG-DVX100
Encyclopedia
The Panasonic
AG-DVX100 was the first affordable digital
progressive scan
camcorder
.
The camera is popular among television studio
s and is popular with independent film makers
because of its many film-emulating features and has a large following. Currently the latest and last revision is the DVX102B. The camera records to tape, but third party developers have modified DVX100 cameras to dump raw high definition
images to a tethered laptop. However, the company most known for doing this, Reel Stream, is no longer operational. The high definition successor to the AG-DVX100 is the AG-HMC150. The AG-HVX200 is considered to be the DVX100's "Big Brother".
, which is an analog of how film cameras record frames, for independent film production.
Progressive video is rare on cameras at this price point (MSRP 2,995 USD, though the camera can be had for around 2,600 USD street price) and is different from other consumer and prosumer
cameras, which typically
record in interlaced video. The DVX100 is rivalled in the range of standard definition video only by the Canon XL-2 which also records progressive video.
As HD video is becoming more popular among prosumers, Panasonic has meanwhile released the Panasonic AG-HVX200, a 24p camcorder that records 1080p HD video (1920x1080) or 720p (1280x720) on P2 cards
(not tape), making it one of the first professional solid-state memory-based camcorders on the prosumer market. Panasonic has also introduced two tapeless versions of mid-price range HD cameras, the AG-HPX170, which is similar to the HVX200a but lacks a tape drive, and the HMC 150, a camera that looks very similar to the DVX100b, but shoots HD onto SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards in the popular AVCHD
codec.
The DVX100 contains a 3-CCD
image sensor system, with 410,000 (380,000 effective) pixels each. The camera can record 24p
video in "telecined"
fashion (2-3 pulldown for 24P and 2-3-3-2 pulldown for 24PA), 30p video in PsF
fashion (25p in PAL version), and 60i standard (50i PAL) interlaced video onto MiniDV tape. The camera incorporates "CineGamma
" functionality to approximate the characteristic curve of film.
The DVX100 also features two XLR
audio inputs, another rare feature for cameras in its price range. It includes a 4-pin FireWire port, as well as S-Video
and RCA
in and out ports. It features manual and servo zoom, with a second zoom control and record button on top of the handle for recording from low angles.
Typical camera accessories are: spare batteries, lens adapters, matte boxes, optical filters, tripods, geared and fluid heads for smooth panning and tilting, follow focus systems, external microphone(s), and storage cases.
-winning feature November
and the recent Oscar nominated documentary Murderball. A Scanner Darkly
was also shot using the DVX100, but processed through Rotoshop
to give it a more "animated" feel. The documentary "Iraq in Fragments
" was also shot with this camera over a two year period in Iraq. The popular TV show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is also filmed with the DVX100.
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
AG-DVX100 was the first affordable digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
progressive scan
Progressive scan
Progressive scanning is a way of displaying, storing, or transmitting moving images in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence...
camcorder
Camcorder
A camcorder is an electronic device that combines a video camera and a video recorder into one unit. Equipment manufacturers do not seem to have strict guidelines for the term usage...
.
The camera is popular among television studio
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
s and is popular with independent film makers
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
because of its many film-emulating features and has a large following. Currently the latest and last revision is the DVX102B. The camera records to tape, but third party developers have modified DVX100 cameras to dump raw high definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
images to a tethered laptop. However, the company most known for doing this, Reel Stream, is no longer operational. The high definition successor to the AG-DVX100 is the AG-HMC150. The AG-HVX200 is considered to be the DVX100's "Big Brother".
Technical specs
Panasonic has created a complete line of cameras that support recording in 24p24p
In video technology, 24p refers to a video format that operates at 24 frames per second frame rate with progressive scanning . Originally, 24p was used in the non-linear editing of film-originated material...
, which is an analog of how film cameras record frames, for independent film production.
Progressive video is rare on cameras at this price point (MSRP 2,995 USD, though the camera can be had for around 2,600 USD street price) and is different from other consumer and prosumer
Prosumer
Prosumer is a portmanteau formed by contracting either the word professional or less often, producer with the word consumer. For example, a prosumer grade digital camera is a "cross" between consumer grade and professional grade...
cameras, which typically
record in interlaced video. The DVX100 is rivalled in the range of standard definition video only by the Canon XL-2 which also records progressive video.
As HD video is becoming more popular among prosumers, Panasonic has meanwhile released the Panasonic AG-HVX200, a 24p camcorder that records 1080p HD video (1920x1080) or 720p (1280x720) on P2 cards
P2 (storage media)
P2 is a professional digital recording solid-state memory storage media format introduced by Panasonic in 2004, and especially tailored to electronic news-gathering applications. It features tapeless recording of DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO-HD, or AVC-Intra streams on a solid-state...
(not tape), making it one of the first professional solid-state memory-based camcorders on the prosumer market. Panasonic has also introduced two tapeless versions of mid-price range HD cameras, the AG-HPX170, which is similar to the HVX200a but lacks a tape drive, and the HMC 150, a camera that looks very similar to the DVX100b, but shoots HD onto SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards in the popular AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
codec.
The DVX100 contains a 3-CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
image sensor system, with 410,000 (380,000 effective) pixels each. The camera can record 24p
24p
In video technology, 24p refers to a video format that operates at 24 frames per second frame rate with progressive scanning . Originally, 24p was used in the non-linear editing of film-originated material...
video in "telecined"
Telecine
Telecine is transferring motion picture film into video and is performed in a color suite. The term is also used to refer to the equipment used in the post-production process....
fashion (2-3 pulldown for 24P and 2-3-3-2 pulldown for 24PA), 30p video in PsF
Progressive segmented frame
Progressive segmented Frame is a scheme designed to acquire, store, modify, and distribute progressive-scan video using interlaced equipment and media....
fashion (25p in PAL version), and 60i standard (50i PAL) interlaced video onto MiniDV tape. The camera incorporates "CineGamma
Gamma correction
Gamma correction, gamma nonlinearity, gamma encoding, or often simply gamma, is the name of a nonlinear operation used to code and decode luminance or tristimulus values in video or still image systems...
" functionality to approximate the characteristic curve of film.
The DVX100 also features two XLR
XLR connector
The XLR connector is a style of electrical connector, primarily found on professional audio, video, and stage lighting equipment. The connectors are circular in design and have between 3 and 7 pins...
audio inputs, another rare feature for cameras in its price range. It includes a 4-pin FireWire port, as well as S-Video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
and RCA
RCA connector
An RCA connector, sometimes called a phono connector or cinch connector, is a type of electrical connector commonly used to carry audio and video signals...
in and out ports. It features manual and servo zoom, with a second zoom control and record button on top of the handle for recording from low angles.
Typical camera accessories are: spare batteries, lens adapters, matte boxes, optical filters, tripods, geared and fluid heads for smooth panning and tilting, follow focus systems, external microphone(s), and storage cases.
Films and Shows shot with Panasonic AG-DVX100
Many documentaries, independent shorts, and feature films have been shot with the Panasonic AG-DVX100, including the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
-winning feature November
November (film)
November is a 2004 psychological thriller film first screened at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. It stars Courteney Cox as Sophie, a photographer whose life begins to unravel following a traumatic incident on November 7 that involved her boyfriend, played by James LeGros...
and the recent Oscar nominated documentary Murderball. A Scanner Darkly
A Scanner Darkly (film)
A Scanner Darkly is a 2006 science fiction thriller directed by Richard Linklater based on the novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick. The film tells the story of identity and deception in a near-future dystopia constantly under intrusive high-technology police surveillance in the midst of a drug...
was also shot using the DVX100, but processed through Rotoshop
Rotoshop
Rotoshop is a proprietary graphics editing program created by Bob Sabiston.Rotoshop uses an animation technique called interpolated rotoscoping, which has been used in Richard Linklater's films Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly, as well as the Talk to Chuck advertising campaign for Charles Schwab....
to give it a more "animated" feel. The documentary "Iraq in Fragments
Iraq in Fragments
Iraq in Fragments is a documentary feature directed by James Longley. Longley shot the film in Digital Video on a Panasonic DVX100 miniDV camcorder. The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The film is also a part of the Iraq Media Action Project film collection. It was nominated for...
" was also shot with this camera over a two year period in Iraq. The popular TV show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is also filmed with the DVX100.
External links
- AdamWilt.com - List of differences between the AG-DVX100 and AG-DVX100a revision.
- Videos Made using the Panasonic AG-DVX100
- New York Times and C/Net Reviews of DVX100B - Article written by Aimee Baldridge
- DVX100 settings and information links
- [ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/manuals/OM_AG-DVX100.pdf DVX100 Manual] (PDF)
- [ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/manuals/OM_AG-DVX100A.pdf DVX100A Manual] (PDF)
- [ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/manuals/OM_AG-DVX100B.pdf DVX100B Manual] (PDF)
- DVX100B to HVX200 Technical Differences (PDF)