can XL-2 or pana DVX100-AE or sony HDR-FX1

[glenpinn]

hi there.

just a quick question re which of these 3 cams would u recommend, and why.

im tossing up between the XL-2 and the DVX100, but im leaning towards the pana DVX100-AE over the XL-2 as both have 24p capture, but the XL-2 has a tiny 2" lcd screen (cant see it from a distance) as opposed to the DVX100 which has a 3.5" lcd screen (much better to see) and is critical for my eyesight.
the 3rd option is the sony HDR-FX1 (1080i)
what is this 1080i all about, and does this cam also have 24p capture like the other 2 cams (i was told it doesnt as the above 2 cams are the only 2 sub $15,000 cams that have it.
most of this (1080i and 24p capture) im not familiar with, but from everything ive read, i like the DVX100-AE for my next venture into the videography world. and from testing out the XL-2, i dont see how i can work with the tiny lcd screen, so thats a let down for canon i think, cos otherwise its a great cam. i can also get the DVX100-AE for about au$1,000 less than the XL-2, so for me i can get some added extras for the $1,000 ill save, but cost is not a factor in my overall decision, i simply want the best value for money, and i have au$10,000 to spend on the cam + accessories.
i can get the XL-2 for au$6500, the DVX100-AE for au$5500 and the HDR-FX1 is about au$6,000 although its hard to get.

any thoughts appreciated and thanks.....GLEN

[glenpinn]

it dont matter now, ive had a go at all 3 cams now, and out of these 3 dv cams, the PANASONIC DVX100-AE beats the pants out of the XL-2 in all areas, and the 1080i capability in the HDR-FX1 isnt enough for me to concider it over the DVX100, which has the 24p capture option like the XL-2.
th biggest letdown for the XL-2 is the tiny lcd screen and its not very well balanced so im def getting the DVX100-AE.

thanks everyone for all your input, greatly appreciated (ha ha)...GLEN

[mattyboy]

My wife raves about her dvx 100, but I know nothing of a diff. between the three so...

[edDV]

Define your "venture into the videography world"

What do you intend to do? How will you make money?

Based on the above. I think you will be wasting your money on any of the three until you learn the basics.

Cameras drop rapidly in prices. Get a cheaper camera like the Panasonic GS-400 or GS-200 and learn the ropes. Then buy the $3,000 - $5000 cam when you have a business.

Where do you see a market for 24p in Australia except for independent film or maybe advertising?

[glenpinn]

hi there.

i found my answer in another thread on this forum, a guy posted a link to a review site comparing these very 3 cams and its very clear now that the panasonic DVX100-AE is by far the best of these 3 cams, and this brilliant review explains it all in detail, read the bottom section titled "CAMERA USAGE RECOMMENDATIONS" the answer is in there

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/shoot3/

now to the subject at hand.

edDV, im already in the business m8, and already been thru the panasonic MX500 stage (now the new GS400) and im ready to step up to a better cam.
i have the money to invest in a much better camera now, and am ready to take my venture from what i am doing now, up into the "real world" of filming major stuff like weddings, corporate video, advertising etc, and although i still have a lot to learn, i still want as good as i can afford even for just filming my own home vids, or filming simple vids for my clients.

at the moment, i have a very successful and thriving business making simple home videos for people and creating these videos onto dvd for my clients.
most of my work is taken up filming stuff like kids parties, baptisms, family events and projects for schools etc and although its probably not what u call big time videography, it keeps me going and its what ive been doing to learn the ropes, and i love doing this stuff, and i make a dam good living doing it because most of the big time pro videographers wont do this sort of "kid stuff" anyway, so there is a market there for me which suits me because im one of only 3 videographers in my town who do these types of events.
i also do lots of analogue video conversions to DVD for people, which is a very profitable sideline as well, it doesnt involve filming, but it keeps me going inbetween my filming projects

i have been using the MX500 and GS70 for 12 mths now, and im not bothered by the 24p capture so much, or the sony HDR 1080i capabilities, i simply mentioned these features to my thread because they are features that are not available on any other sub au$15000 cam (btw im in australia) and im not neccessarily concidering these features in my choice of camera, it simply adds weight to my choice and its pretty dam clear to me now that the AG-DVX100-AE is the camera of choice.

thats my say, thank u all and have a nice day.....GLEN

[edDV]

What is your problem? The choice of camera depends on how you intend to use it. There is no one "best". Each of these cameras has a market. Asking random strangers which is best will get you random answers. You get best results from a forum like this by asking specific questions that focus on your needs.

Given your budget and needs as stated in your most recent post, the DVX100 should be a great choice for you. How the hell was I to know what you wanted the camera for and what your general experience was?

The above post was informative and gave a hint as to who you are and what you are doing. I will view your progress without further comment. BTW you have lots to learn on many levels.

[glenpinn]

thx ed, i take your point that i should have made it clear what my intentions are to be for the camera, and i certainly will change the way i post my threads in the future.
i stated in my reply that i am now ready to go to the next level, and simply want the best camera i can get, and its irrelevant whether i succeed in that venture or not, ill still continue to do what i do now.
i started in this video profession 18 mths ago with absolutely no experience at all with a camera, and personally in 18 mths ive learned a lot, and now i want to go on to bigger and better things if im able to improve on what im already doing with the limited equipment that i have needed so far, and even if it doesnt pan out that way, i still want the best i can get simply as a home camera, to me the money is secondary.

thank u and i do appologise if i sound bitter and have given u the impression that im just a useless hobbiest, im not too good at expressing myself that well i guess and my level of experience probably doesnt reflect in what i say in here, but i still hold my strong opinion that 90% of all forum users simply dont reply to threads the way they have been asked, and most threads end up being twisted about and turned into totally off topics, and in some cases it baecome a slanging match, and im probably guilty of that by my previous reply, and for that i also appologise, im an angry person for 5 minutes and sometimes i do regret saying some of the things i say in here, or the way i say what im thinking.

anyway, im getting the DVX100-AE, and its on order as i speak.

thanks everyone and i think i might just retire from the forums for a while and wait for my new cam to arrive.....cheers.....GLEN

ed, ive edited my previous post, it did sound a bit vicious in places, and sorry about the exposure its already had

[That Bastid]

There are a lot of incredibly knowledgeable people on this forum, but one tends to get out of a thread what one puts in. If you actually read your original post you'll see that it's rambling and scattered, doesn't explain your context or needs at all, and in fact only asks two questions, "What's 1080i all about?" and if the HDR-FX1 can capture 24p.

The first question requires a huge investment of time to answer (much more than you put into writing your post), and the second one is just silly since you immediately announce that you already know the answer.

What did you expect?