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- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 8 reviews Back to product review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Most bang for the buck!"
Pros: Pro feel and usage plus light weight, great features
Cons: zoom speed control could be better, VCR/Cam controls too close to REC button
Summary: Having been a professional videographer for 10+ years, using Broadcast Beta cameras, it is a pleasure to use a DV cam that is shoulder mounted, but weighs only 6 lb.
The broadcast quality bright viewfinder (that can be changed between color and B&W) is all you need. The LCD is only needed for viewing your shots from the side at a weird angle.
Naturally, the XLR IN's are fantastic to have and, lo and behold, they're mounted in the back where they belong, unlike models from Sony & JVC where the XLR is annoyingly side mounted (which may be fine for studio work but are a real pain for ENG).
I recently filmed a concert - as on stage camera - and, because of the camera being only 6 lb., was able to not only get different angles, but hold all angles longer without tiring. Tight close ups on (Bluesman) Taj Mahal flowing along the neck of his guitar and up to his face were smooth and steady, and nothing was missed from fatigue.
Also, the ability to change exposure seems amateurish (fly wheel) but, I found that I could smoothly make adjustments that would be un-noticable to the common eye, while filming the concert (as the stage lighting changed). The smooth operation of the wheel combined with the light weight of the camera made that possible!
As much as we hate to admit it, there are times when the professional "look" helps, when dealing with less-than-saavy clients and, especially, any time shooting in and aorund the general public. I had a much easier time getting people to move out of my way than my colleague with the hand held DV cameras (eg: Sony PD-170). It sounds laughable, but there ARE situations where that can help.
Having the USER buttons (which allow you to program some quick, one-button features, like the default of depressing USER 3 to get NTSC bars, then depress again to go back to CAMERA) is a great tool; it seems like a toy, but its really a tool!
Overall, I've been putting it through the paces since Feb. Low light, changing conditions, INT and EXT, Manual and Auto features and slow zooms (90 second steady full zoom, which was very impressive), and in all capacities the DVC-60 has performed marvelously.
The only draw back I have experienced is the close proximity of the VCR/CAM selection button to the RECORD and POWER buttons. Maybe its my sausage fingers, but there have been a couple of times when I have accidentally hit the VCR switch, when I did not mean to.
