2003 CamcorderInfo.com B&H Camcorder Shoot-Off: $2,000 and Up Price Group

by Robin Liss

Published on Feb 12, 2004 12:00 AM


The $2,000 and above price group includes three three chip camcorders which we tested. The first is the Sony DCR-VX2000, the second camcorder is the Canon XL1S, and the third camcorder is the Panasonic AG-DVX100. All the camcorders in this price group did an outstanding job, however, you can certainly distinguish between their peroformances.

The first camcorder in the group is the Sony DCR-VX2000:

The DCR-VX2000 does a good job in normal lighting, however in auto mode the camcorder does seem to tend towards red - this is a trend found in all Sony camcorders. Shop for the DCR-VX2000 @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the DCR-VX2000 @ PriceGrabber - Read a review of the Sony DCR-VX2000

The Canon XL1S is the second camcorder in the price group:

The Canon XL1S is the biggest camcorder of the bunch and the most expensive, however that extra investment is reflected in the video quality. In automatic modes the XL1S is superior to the VX2000 and the AG-DVX100. Shop for the XL1S @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the XL1S @ PriceGrabber - Read a review of the Canon XL1S

The Panasonic AG-DVX100 is the third camcorder in the price group:

The AG-DVX100 has the most disapointing image. The colors look drab when compared to both the VX2000 and the XL1S. Shop for the AG-DVX100 @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the AG-DVX100 @ PriceGrabber

Here is the composite of all three camcorders:

In the $1,999-$2,000 price group the XL1S is the clear winner under normal lighting conditions with the VX2000 in second and the AG-DVX100 in third.

Here were the results under low lighting, when the light was brought down to 15 LUX.

The Sony DCR-VX2000 does a very impressive job under low light with bright and well represented colors. Shop for the DCR-VX2000 @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the DCR-VX2000 @ PriceGrabber - Read a review of the Sony DCR-VX2000

The second camcorder is the XL1S:

The Canon XL1S does a truly outstanding job in low light, showing you what a professional camocrder is capable of. The colors are very vibrant and no color is over or under compensated. Shop for the XL1S @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the XL1S @ PriceGrabber - Read a review of the Canon XL1S

The third camcorder is the AG-DVX100:

The AG-DVX100's low light performance is disappointing when compared to the other three chip camcorders and considering it's price. Shop for the AG-DVX100 @ B & H Photo Video - Compare Prices for the AG-DVX100 @ PriceGrabber

Here is the composite of all three camcorders:

Taking both low light and normal light performance into account, the ranking for the $2,000 and up price category in the 2003 B & H CamcorderInfo.com Shoot-Off is 1. Canon XL1S, 2. Sony DCR-VX2000, 3. Panasonic AG-DVX100. The XL1S is the clear winner with an outstanding image under normal and low light conditions, with the DCR-VX2000 is second place. The AG-DVX100's performance in low light was disappoiting - however most people who buy the AG-DVX100 are going to purchase it for it's 24 frames progressive mode, that's the highlight of the model.


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waynemm

Well I know what I can say about Panasonics official lux rating for this camera compared to the other two, it should be pulling a picture at least as bright as the XLS1. Definitely need a VX2100. Most reveiws claim clear wins for the Pana, how do you feel about those claims Robin. It would be interesting to see if the VX2100 has more sensitivity/range (like the PANA) compared to the VX2000.

I've been waiting through the series for the reveiw of two cameras the Pana DVC-7 Proline and the HD1/HD-10, because one is affordable and the other is the only HD with woeful low light claims, is this the last reveiw. Actually with the price of the GY-DV500, 5000, Pana DVC 215 (?) being so low and low light quality that walks over the Sony, it would be good to see a PRO reveiw of these models.

Thanks Robin


Wayne.

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Nov-17-2003
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HD1

Without even reading the article, I suspected the Panasonic last. Why? Because it is not from Sony or Canon. Remember the humorous article that claimed Sony was right not adding 24p. hahaha
Sony can do no wrong on this site.

As for the HD1 or HD10, it would have been last because this site does not like JVC at all.

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Nov-17-2003
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sarx

Just to be fair minded

[HD1]

I have a little trouble understanding why you, or anyone for that matter, would say "Without even reading the article, I suspected the Panasonic last" given the fact that this site voted the Pana PV-DV953 camcorder of the year for 2003. In addition to that this site voted the Pana 953 camcorder winner in the 1000 to 1299 $us comparison. And that was aginist two other Sony camcorders. My own opinion is that these series of comparisons have been fair as far as they have been taken. Sure it is always possable to be more exhaustive in comparisons, but I am sure there are limits as to time,money,personel available for these comparisons. BTW I am a Pana camcorder owner (PV-DV953) and my personal choice in this comparison would be the DVX-100.

D

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Nov-17-2003
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manny woods

pretty musch useless

testing full manual cams the same way you test auto cams is like comparing an automatic film cams the same way you would compare slr cameras

sorry to say this but you have wasted your time...

a test that would be worth while would show what the shutter, fstop, and gain were at any time also distance to shoot

...by the looks of it you had the dvx on full auto with the gain shut off or a combo of the iris on manual...i have all three cameras right here and your test in no way represents them at all...that is wrong, you are doing a dis-service to your readers...

i have been shooting on the xl1 since 1999 and have used the s version many times, it my weapon of choice but no way is it able to out shoot a dvx at 15lux, anyone who uses one will tell you

it makes more sense to redo this test or take it down, it makes bh look like they don't know what they are talking about with there name all over the place... again i know you don't get paid and do this out of the goodness of your heart but this is misinformation

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Nov-17-2003
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RandomOck

to me it looks the like the vx clearly beat the xl1s in low light what doesn everyone think?

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Nov-17-2003
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F_ox

I would have to agree with manny woods! This doesn't look like fair and professional review at all - more like something done by the person who has no idea of the nature of the cams involved... Pity, cause it does nothing in the way of helping anyone reading it and seriously making or influencing his/her decision. I would particularly say about colour representation of Panasonic AG-DVX100 in normal light: something must be wrong!!! In all units which I have handled (quite few) colours were perfectly saturated and very very accurate, far more accurate that those on Sony VX2000. But then again if it is possible to claim leadership (in this review with pictures attached) to the camera that has such a STRONG colour bias (just look at the colour of the card that suppose to be GREY!!!! it is ridiculous!!!) then what else could be said!? I guess it is pretty much like religion... some people just believe and nothing could be done about it...
Low light performance is fishy too. I admit SONY is better at it then Panasonic, but that much??? Not really!
Problem is that after that kind of "review" the whole credibility issue arise. How should one take the claims dome in regular reviews of the cameras on this site where NO prove or any kind of illustration is provided when claims are made about cameras performance... Why couldn't it be done like on those japanese sites6 where plenty of pictures are normally support any review?

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Nov-18-2003
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waynemm

I could agree with you guys, but this is a pretty good effort for a english website. Many of the sites out there are pretty pathetic (there is one site that posts footage under three indoor lighting conditionions though) so we have to appreciate this effort. Still it is only two pictures per camera, and all put together there is enough content for two articles. What did need to be done is low and bright light pictures for best auto and best manua. That would have really help some cameras but takes an extra half an hour on some cameras to work out how to do it best (the DV3000 for instance has a few obscue low light features). From my experience with camera store staff is that there are people on these groups that can answer questions that they should know.

I was thinking of doing some custom charts myself and volunteering to do a reveiw of the best cameras, I think I emailed Robin instead and suggested she do this (can't remember properly as I don't think I received a response). The charts would have been designed to test resolution and range of color and luma response/exposure, accurately to the pixel where it becomes under or over exposed and where it is wrong in the range, one chart, one test could test virtually everything. I appreciate that these are "professional" charts but they seem to be limited to testing a few values. So while what haru has done in Japan may look good, nobody but Robin, has been willing to do anything like this for us in the English market.

What people say about more example pictures in camera reviews is 100%, test for highest and lowest light for man and auto is the minimun with xample footage/stills of excellence or errors would make it as good as virtually any consumer video mag out there. I think, apart from not wanting to offend the suppliers of cameras for reveiws, that magazines don't like to publish these sorts of pictures and charts because they are not terribly accurate when printed in their magazines using the cheap ink colour processs used, but this is a computer based media and we can (for instance, I have a certified colour accuracy on this monitor).

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Nov-18-2003
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booggerg

This is the most laughable piece of review on anything I've ever seen. I'm surprised and disappointed that such an established vendor, B&H would stoop to this level of low. This review is obviously done by a novice whose only notion of camera operation is "point n' shoot". I especialy like the small thumbnails of the 3 images.. buwhahaaha like that shows us anything!

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Nov-19-2003
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RandomOck

am i right about the vx beating the xl1s in low light it is clear as day, any one can tell that the vx won right?? WHat does everyone think. Also why isnt the gl2 in this test last time i check the gl2 was 2,230.00. I think the gl2 would be nice to see compared to these cameras rather then the trv950

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Nov-19-2003
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