Comments

MichaelS wrote on 1/29/2005, 9:58 PM
Got a couplke of them that we use for backup.

Pros:
1. Cheap
2. Looks "Pro" and lightweight
3. Decent quality for a one chipper.
4. Easy to operate
5. Cheap

Cons:
1. One Chipper, limited resolution
2. No XLR audio inputs
3. Severe staging in manual iris
4. Plastic
5. One Chipper

The 7 is not a pro level camera, but in talented hands, can produce reasonably good video. We us them as backups and occassionally as playback decks in the field. Don't get me wrong, they are better than most single CCD consumer cameras. For incidental and special uses, it'll be fine..but you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a pro camera.
mrfantastical wrote on 1/30/2005, 6:59 AM
MichaelS
THANKS FOR THE INFO!!!
One ? on the con side
#3 Severe staging in manual iris. What is this Iam very new to video
production. More of an audio guy. THANKS AGAIN!!!

mrfantastical.com
MichaelS wrote on 1/30/2005, 9:52 AM
When you set the controls for manual operation, the iris changes f-stops in stages. If you must increase or decrease the brightness of your image while recording, it will do so in stages (not smoothly). Usually, this is not a problem, since you should make these adjustments before you begin recording or you can edit them out. But, if you're planning on a lot of "live" action, events (such as weddings) or shots which require you to move from light to dark areas, this can be an issue. Most digital cameras exhibit this trait, especially when gain is applied (amplifying the existing light), but appears (to me) to be more pronounced with the "7".

Also, we had a problem with the tape door, but this may have been caused by abuse (the cameraman's not with us anymore).

You'll enjoy the feel and look of this camera. You can produce acceptable video without a lot of bells and whistles. IMHO, it's designed for schools, churches, light-duty industrial work. We use a lot of Panasonic equipment which was the main reason for going with this model when we were looking for a low-cost alternative.
DelCallo wrote on 3/13/2005, 10:59 PM
Michael:
I, too, thank you for the reply. I fall into a category that may make this cam perfect for me. I do a lot of multi-cam "semi"-pro work. I get paid for what I do, but, I certainly don't achieve broadcast quality, nor do my pieces need to be that good. More important to me than the video is the cam's audio ability. I read that it has "a" mic input - would that be a single mini-stereo plug, two mini's, 1/4" RCA's, or what?
Also, I notice that you can override the audio record level "manually." Does that mean that you can select to control the gain and bypass any auto-gain control circuitry? The cam I'm using now for audio (an old Sony CCD-V220) make excellent audio, but, overcoming that annoying auto gain control is always a problem - it wants to increase levels when there is no sound and will squash anything it perceives to be too loud.
Also, I see that you can have auto or manual focusing. I like those setups that allow you to invoke auto-focusing "manually" by pressing a button, then, with the release of the button, no autofocusing takes place.
Some cams allow you to switch to manual focus - but, then, except that you switch back to auto, any manual focusing is just that, achieved by manually turning the focus ring on the lens.
Real pros are good at this, I'm sure. This guy ain't so handy - would probably be distracted from the task if I had to really focus manually - besides, it would take me a lifetime to really develop a feel for which way to turn the @#$% focus ring. With push-button auto focus, generally, the adjustment always starts out in the right direction and goes where I want it to.

I've looked at the Canon GL2 - a nice cam, seems to have true manual audio gain control, but manual focus means manual focus - it's a beautiful piece, although I've not shot any video with it. Besides, it's more expensive than this Panasonic cam.

Would appreciate more comments from you or others.

Del
MichaelS wrote on 3/14/2005, 4:54 PM
DelCallo,

I'll try to answer your questions the best I can.

As for audio...you can expect a single, stereo mini plug. Within the setup menus, you can "turn off" the AGC to allow manual control of the audio. Also, you can pad the input levels...I think at -10 and -20 db. You should check to be sure. An external mixer with XLR inputs is a good idea...a small Beachtek type mixer may fit your budget. Wear headphones. Nothing takes the place of live monitoring.

As for focus, the autofocus (AF) is about average for this type of camera. It's usable, but for real creative work, manual control is usually the way to go. Yes, you can "autofocus" while in the manual mode, although the placement of the AF button is less than stategic...in my opinion. It's located on the front (lens) side of the camera, near the bottom. The trick to AF is to learn to put the point of focus in the right place, generally in the center. Low light plays havoc with AF, so a light is necessary in dim situations. Lighting is a primary key to making great video. The AG-DVC7 will require an external light.

Although "autofocus" is rarely used professionally, it is a tool that can useful under the right circumstance. Yours may be that circumstance.

Coming from a humble background, I'm a firm believer that good, creative work can be produced with a minimum of equipment. Of course, great cameras, NLE's, lighting and other accessories are wonderful to have...but not always necessary to produce the end product you imagine. The Panasonic AG-DVC7 is what it is...we have two and use them in appropriate situations.

Best wishes!
MichaelS wrote on 3/14/2005, 4:57 PM
DelCallo,

I'll try to answer your questions the best I can.

As for audio...you can expect a single, stereo mini plug. Within the setup menus, you can "turn off" the AGC to allow manual control of the audio. Also, you can pad the input levels...I think at -10 and -20 db. You should check to be sure. An external mixer with XLR inputs is a good idea...a small Beachtek type mixer may fit your budget. Wear headphones. Nothing takes the place of live monitoring.

As for focus, the autofocus (AF) is about average for this type of camera. It's usable, but for real creative work, manual control is usually the way to go. Yes, you can "autofocus" while in the manual mode, although the placement of the AF button is less than stategic...in my opinion. It's located on the front (lens) side of the camera, near the bottom. The trick to AF is learning to put the point of focus in the right place, usually in the center of the frame. Low light plays havoc with AF, so a light is necessary in dim situations. Lighting is a primary key to making great video. The AG-DVC7 will require an external light.

Although "autofocus" is rarely used professionally, it is a tool that can useful under the right circumstance. Yours may be that circumstance.

Coming from a humble background, I'm a firm believer that good, creative work can be produced with a minimum of equipment. Of course, great cameras, NLE's, lighting and other accessories are wonderful to have...but not always necessary to produce the end product you imagine. The Panasonic AG-DVC7 is what it is...we have two and use them in appropriate situations.

Best wishes!
DelCallo wrote on 3/14/2005, 11:24 PM
Thanks for the reply, Michael.
My old CCD-V220 is ancient, but still does pretty good sound. I'm looking to update it because the analog8 format simply doesn't yield a video pic that can be used in combination with the newer cams I use on my multi-cam shots of concert performances. I wind up just pluggin mics into it (two separated unbalanced mono mic inputs - one for left / one for right channel).

I suppose I could figure out how to split the stereo-mini and adapt it for use with two mono-mini plugs. Still don't know why they design stuff this way - seems to me anyone willing to spend more than 1k on a cam would want separate left/right mic inputs.

As for autofocus, I agree totally with what you're saying. I would not dream of using a cam in fully autofocus mode (unless I was shooting from a roller coaster, dangling from a parachute, or other similar impossible condition).

OTOH, I feel very clumsy (perhaps partly due to the less than handy manual focus setups of the cams I own) trying to maintain good, smooth focus in fully manual mode.

As you suggest, I tend to quickly center the my subject in the cams autofocus "spot", hit the manual "autofocus" button, then, recompose as discreetly as possible to get the shot. I do this as oft as necessary to keep what I'm shooting in focus.

I find this method helps me keep the camera's "eye" on the subject - more as we see things with our human eye. Full auto focus seems always to be fooled when the subject walks behind an object momentarily.

Anyhow, I'm sure this is all very boring to the more experienced on this board.

Still trying to make up my mind about this (or other) cams.

Shopping for cams these days is more challenging than when I bought my CCD-V220. Back then (late '80s), you could walk into most better retail outlets (are any left today?), pick-up the object of your dreams, hold it in your hand, take some test shots, etc.

Today, it seems, you're lucky to find a retail outlet, and most of those cater only to the mass, lower-end, currently in vogue market. Plenty of hand-held teeny weeny cams, almost no larger, more fully featured cams to be inspected, held, tested.

It's tough to make a decision between, say, a GL2 and this DVC7 without actually holding the cams. I know the GL2 is a better camera, but, if the only way to manually focus is to manage the focus ring, I'm not sure I'd want to live with that for the next three or four years.

Also, I'm not sure how that cam handles audio, either. Can its audio go fully manual (no auto-gain control)??

Anyhow, thanks again for your helpful, informative reply.

Del