Panasonic AG-DVX100A Camcorder Worth $850 In Excellent Condition?

by David
(New York)

Question: Is the Panasonic AG-DVX100A camcorder worth $850 in excellent condition? The AG-DVX100A is a great MiniDV camcorder but I'm worried whether I'd be paying too much for it.

Answer: The Panasonic AG-DVX100A is a broadcast level camcorder with 3 CCDs. From what I hear, it is one of the best low-budget filmmaking tool around.

I made a quick check with some friends who own this and they tell the camera costs about $700 in the second hand market right now.

If you check up the price of the Panasonic AG-DVX100A on Amazon.com, it is about $725 for a used version.

The price is not too bad for a camcorder with this feature set and quality. If you are a documentary filmmaker, or interested in shooting an Indie film, then this is an excellent choice.

The only downside I see to this camcorder is the need for MiniDV tapes. MiniDV tapes will probably start to be transitioned over to SD memory cards soon. Which is why Panasonic has released a HD camera with a similar form factor called the Panasonic AG-HVX200. The Panasonic AG-HVX200 costs about $2000 though.

By the way, if you're intending to buy the Panasonic AG-DVX100A, I'd advise you to also get 2 important accessories - the Panasonic AG-LA7200g 16x9 anamorphic adapter and Barry Green's book and DVD package.
a
The book and DVD give an excellent explanation of the camera's strengths and weaknesses, so you can get fantastic results from the DVX100A. Reading this material will also help you save a lot of money and re-work.

Hope this helps and do let me know if you have any questions.