jvc-gy-dv5000

nightteamnews

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does any one have any idea if this is a good camera? Looking at buying one used at a really good price for stringer use on overnight shift.
 
I'd say that as long as it is F11 for sensitivity, it should work fine for nite stringer use. I've never heard anything bad about them other than the general anti-JVC flak.
 
The line of full sized JVC cameras were good for their purpose, and relatively cheap compared to most similar cameras. I had a DV500 for a while and still have and use a DV5100 for my standard def work which includes overnight news. It's got the same feel and controls as any other full sized ENG camera and balances nicely with a brick on the back. No problems getting clean shots at night either. Like Necktie says though, the stock Fujinon 14x lens could be better... I dumped it from both of my JVCs and got upgrades. The 1/2" Fujinon 17x lens is nice, that's what I used on the DV5100. Another thing to look out for on the DV5000 is the lack of dual XLRs on the back. It's got one in the front for the on-board mic and one on the back, which could be a pain if you plan on frequently using two external audio sources as you'd have the hook one up in the front port, which isn't made for easy access.
 
Corey said everything I would have said...

We still have 5000s and 5100s...Both solid cameras, but like they said the 5000 is only 4:3...The 1/2" chips leave something to be desired, and the gain on them is pretty noisy...
 
ok just got a call from a local dealer, he has a jvc Gy-DV700WU model that is 2/3" 3ccd and he has a fujinon at a15x8 bevm-28 lens with 2x extender. which would be the better jvc cam. He tells me its the most advanced version of the JVC GY-DV series. Can shoot 16:9 or 4:3. and has 11 drum hours on it.
 
I would get the 700!

I have the 500 and it's a great little camera for Mini DV. It's the first camera I ever bought. I got it to learn how to shoot with a full size broadcast camera like (at that time) a Betacam.

The later models can use the larger DV tapes which is really handy for clients who want to shoot a long event,etc.

Being able to shoot 16X9 is crucial these days. It gives you more options for clients. They can to a progressive pull down in post if they want. Tell them it will work better (actually, I'm told it does). ;)

The one thing I'm concerned about is that when you're shooting 4X3, that's going to be a very tight lens. A wide angle adapter might be a good idea in the future.

The problem I had with my JVC is that the producers who called me didn't know what it was. I would tell them it's a great camera, has 1/2" chips rather than the 1/3" chips on palmcorders, a real lens, that it's set up like a broadcast camera, that it's basically a Sony DSR300... They'd um and ah. Then I'd say, "Well, I also have a Panasonic DVX100A" and they'd say, "Oh! That's a great camera! I've worked with that! Let's use that!" :rolleyes:

11 hours? WOW!

Have you considered a Sony EX1R? You can shoot DVCAM when you're stringing, and HD for everyone else.
 
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My concern with the DV700 would be how old it is... while similarly aged Sonys and Panasonics may still have some life left in them, the JVCs, from my experience, don't seem to have such an endless lifespan even with proper care. My DV500, which worked great till the end, died out without warning one day with around 400 hours on the heads. After months of bouncing around and finally ending up at the JVC factory, I was told it was too outdated, they don't make the parts to service it anymore. I know another guy with a 500 that is starting to have some serious problems affecting the reliability of the camera. These are both instances where the cameras were properly maintained and cared for. Who knows what you get when buying it used, but that goes for any camera. Of course this is just my experience... you may get lucky and have no problems and get a camera with years of life left in it. From what I can gather, the DV700 seems to be pretty similar to the DV500 (although beefed up) so it may share the same reputation, that's why I bring up my experiences with the 500.

If the price is good enough, it may be worth it to go ahead and buy it to set aside just for stringing. Then maybe you can invest in a "nicer" camera down the road to use for HD projects and others where you won't have the subject the camera to the bumps and bruises world that spot news can be.
 
At the age of those cameras, 11 drum hours... it may have been a studio camera. There was a series of hidden menus in those cameras but I don't remember how to get into it anymore. The hidden menus show the power-on hours as well. The drumhour meter was reset in the same menu, so caveat emptor.

I owned a DV500. Great camera for its day.
 
?

Not sure as i am not a JVC man.

The Cam i am looking at is listed as JVC GY-DV5000 and not the GY-DV500

and the other one is the JVC GY-DV700WU

From what i could find on the JVC sites the 500 and 5000 are different models.
 
Yes they are!

They came out with the 500, then the 5000, then the 5100. The 700 is the more professional version with 2/3" chips and the 16X9 option. If I was going to buy one of the three you mentioned, all things being equal, I'd definitely get the 700.

I'd get it checked out by an engineer before I buy it.

What about an HD or HDV camera? SD is so last century. :)
 
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yes I would second the concern about the age, I almost bought a 5100 when they came out in 05 I believe. If it has been treated very well it might be fine but it is an older camera and shoots standard def which is quickly going the way of the dinosaur in this world.
 
I will add that the JVC 5000 and 5100 have pixel dropping issues...There is a way in the menu for the camera to heal itself, but it is deep and you have to call JVC to find out about it...We have 5 each of these cameras (since relegated to lower level classes) and I'm pretty sure that every camera has had to have cloned pixels...

It could just be the fact that you can make gear stupid-proof, but you can't make it student-proof...
 
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