Hey guys. I want to buy a new camera,cost range from 1,000 to 2,000 USD. I'm not planning on making Hollywood movies with it..just a couple of short movies. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot.
There are three things that are VERY important when getting a
camera:
Three CCD?s or CMOS
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.
The JVC GZ-HD7, the first of the JVC HDD cameras is now a little
over a year old and discontinued, but I?ve seen these on line for
as little as $800. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a huge
difference and full manual controls is important. Three 1/5? 16:9
progressive scan CCD?s are pretty impressive for a camera in this
price range. It has manual controls, a mic input and an excellent
focus ring which is surprisingly rare on small cameras. It
records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive. The issue here is
the MPEG-2 compression (TOD). It?s not compatible with many NLE?s
so you?ll need to convert the TOD to QuickTime or AVI.
The GZ-HD6 can record 1080/60p through HDMI - pretty impressive.
The GZ-HD40 is a bit of a disappointment. I like that it records
using AVCHD compression which makes it compatible with most NLE?s
but it loses the important focus ring. And it?s so small.
The Panasonic HDC-SD100 uses a 3-CMOS array and records 1920 x
1080 video in the AVCHD format to SD and SDHC memory cards. I
like the ring on the lens that controls zoom, focus, white
balance, shutter speed, and iris and it actually has a viewfinder
in addition to the LCD screen. Very important it has both a mic
and headphone jack. I found it difficult to handle with all the
cables attached (mic, headphones and monitor) but it?s a camera
with all the basics.
The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is a fine camera. I got to use it in
January for a little test run shooting some behind the scenes
footage for a model shoot in Las Vegas. I likes the focus ring -
a great improvement over similar cameras. But I didn?t like the
touch screen controls. On the plus side it has the essentials -
headphone and mic jacks and manual control over all the basics. I
like that it uses the AVCHD format. There is a nice toggle switch
at the front of the lens for switching between the zoom and the
focus. It took just a few tries for me to master it.
Close is the Canon HV20. It?s an excellent camera. It records in
HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input and manual controls of
white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7? CMOS sensor rather
than 3 CCD?s. My only reservation is it?s so small the handling
is difficult.
The HV30 adds a 30f (Canon?s ?frame mode?) in addition to 24p.
The Sony HDR-SR12 has a mic input and a good sized 120GB HDD. It
uses a 1/3? CMOS chip and like the Canon is really small. Because
of the input placement, the mic cable kept getting in my way. The
HR9 (which records to tape) is also a nice, very small, camera
with the essentials. Again the mic input is just below the lens
which is rather poor placement, in my opinion.
Check out the Sony HD1000U. It has all the essentials. The touch
screen is too unusual for me - I?m old school - but it works quite well.
I like that it?s a shoulder mount camera. It only uses one CMOS Sensor
, but the image was very nice.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Nice! I'll check them out! Thanks a lot! If anybody else has more suggestions, please don't be shy hehe.
quote:
Originally posted by certified instigator
There are three things that are VERY important when getting a
camera:Three CCD?s or CMOS
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.The JVC GZ-HD7, the first of the JVC HDD cameras is now a little
over a year old and discontinued, but I?ve seen these on line for
as little as $800. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a huge
difference and full manual controls is important. Three 1/5? 16:9
progressive scan CCD?s are pretty impressive for a camera in this
price range. It has manual controls, a mic input and an excellent
focus ring which is surprisingly rare on small cameras. It
records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive. The issue here is
the MPEG-2 compression (TOD). It?s not compatible with many NLE?s
so you?ll need to convert the TOD to QuickTime or AVI.The GZ-HD6 can record 1080/60p through HDMI - pretty impressive.
The GZ-HD40 is a bit of a disappointment. I like that it records
using AVCHD compression which makes it compatible with most NLE?s
but it loses the important focus ring. And it?s so small.The Panasonic HDC-SD100 uses a 3-CMOS array and records 1920 x
1080 video in the AVCHD format to SD and SDHC memory cards. I
like the ring on the lens that controls zoom, focus, white
balance, shutter speed, and iris and it actually has a viewfinder
in addition to the LCD screen. Very important it has both a mic
and headphone jack. I found it difficult to handle with all the
cables attached (mic, headphones and monitor) but it?s a camera
with all the basics.The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is a fine camera. I got to use it in
January for a little test run shooting some behind the scenes
footage for a model shoot in Las Vegas. I likes the focus ring -
a great improvement over similar cameras. But I didn?t like the
touch screen controls. On the plus side it has the essentials -
headphone and mic jacks and manual control over all the basics. I
like that it uses the AVCHD format. There is a nice toggle switch
at the front of the lens for switching between the zoom and the
focus. It took just a few tries for me to master it.Close is the Canon HV20. It?s an excellent camera. It records in
HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input and manual controls of
white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7? CMOS sensor rather
than 3 CCD?s. My only reservation is it?s so small the handling
is difficult.The HV30 adds a 30f (Canon?s ?frame mode?) in addition to 24p.
The Sony HDR-SR12 has a mic input and a good sized 120GB HDD. It
uses a 1/3? CMOS chip and like the Canon is really small. Because
of the input placement, the mic cable kept getting in my way. The
HR9 (which records to tape) is also a nice, very small, camera
with the essentials. Again the mic input is just below the lens
which is rather poor placement, in my opinion.Check out the Sony HD1000U. It has all the essentials. The touch
screen is too unusual for me - I?m old school - but it works quite well.
I like that it?s a shoulder mount camera. It only uses one CMOS Sensor
, but the image was very nice.=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
quote:
Originally posted by Marco
Hey guys. I want to buy a new camera,cost range from 1,000 to 2,000 USD. I'm not planning on making Hollywood movies with it..just a couple of short movies. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot.
I think the question that needs to be answered before going into anything technical is what do you intend to do with your short movies? Are these just for you? Will they go on the internet? Do you want to project them somewhere? Do you intend on ever entering them in a festival?
If you choose to purchase a piece of equipment based on your budget that isn't adequate to achieve your end goal, then what have you really bought yourself?
So, if these movies aren't for anyone except yourself or to post on the internet, you really don't need... and shouldn't... drop so much money on any piece of gear. It'd be overkill. You could buy something much less expensive and invest the extra cash into other things you could use, like editing software or lighting.
If you DO intend to shoot a project with the intention of screening it someplace, I assume you would like to have it look as professional as possible. With that in mind, again, you shouldn't spend your entire budget only on the camera. You NEED a GREAT tripod. Not one of those liteweight pieces of junk they usually sell with prosumer cameras. The smaller the camera, the BETTER your fluid head and stiffer your tripod legs need to be. That's just for starters.
Point is, instead of limiting your projects by thinking about which camera to buy first, you should think FIRST about your end product and what you intend to do with it...THEN figure out which resources you really need to invest in. Sometimes buying is a good investment and sometimes renting is better. Each project is different. Let the needs of your project guide your investment choices, not the amount of money you want to spend.
Good luck!
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
BJ you definitely make a good point and I thought about it. I'd like to get a camera I can use for basic short movies, send them to a couple of festivals, just have fun with it at the end you know? I don't want to keep my videos online ONLY, I'd like to send it out to festivals as well.
I was interested in the HV20/HV40 but apparently it's not 3CCD?
So yeah BJ, I'd like to get something simple, enough for a couple of film festivals and great for online exposure. Nothing out of this world.
quote:
Originally posted by bjdzyak
quote:
Originally posted by Marco
Hey guys. I want to buy a new camera,cost range from 1,000 to 2,000 USD. I'm not planning on making Hollywood movies with it..just a couple of short movies. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot.I think the question that needs to be answered before going into anything technical is what do you intend to do with your short movies? Are these just for you? Will they go on the internet? Do you want to project them somewhere? Do you intend on ever entering them in a festival?
If you choose to purchase a piece of equipment based on your budget that isn't adequate to achieve your end goal, then what have you really bought yourself?
So, if these movies aren't for anyone except yourself or to post on the internet, you really don't need... and shouldn't... drop so much money on any piece of gear. It'd be overkill. You could buy something much less expensive and invest the extra cash into other things you could use, like editing software or lighting.
If you DO intend to shoot a project with the intention of screening it someplace, I assume you would like to have it look as professional as possible. With that in mind, again, you shouldn't spend your entire budget only on the camera. You NEED a GREAT tripod. Not one of those liteweight pieces of junk they usually sell with prosumer cameras. The smaller the camera, the BETTER your fluid head and stiffer your tripod legs need to be. That's just for starters.
Point is, instead of limiting your projects by thinking about which camera to buy first, you should think FIRST about your end product and what you intend to do with it...THEN figure out which resources you really need to invest in. Sometimes buying is a good investment and sometimes renting is better. Each project is different. Let the needs of your project guide your investment choices, not the amount of money you want to spend.
Good luck!
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
quote:
Originally posted by Marco
BJ you definitely make a good point and I thought about it. I'd like to get a camera I can use for basic short movies, send them to a couple of festivals, just have fun with it at the end you know? I don't want to keep my videos online ONLY, I'd like to send it out to festivals as well.I was interested in the HV20/HV40 but apparently it's not 3CCD?
So yeah BJ, I'd like to get something simple, enough for a couple of film festivals and great for online exposure. Nothing out of this world.
Okay, so go through the extensive list of festivals that are out there and think about which ones you're most interested. Find out what their entry requirements/technical requirements are. Also review (if possible) past projects that have been shown at those specific festivals so you know what they like to see there (competition to get a project shown can be stiff).
Making the movie should be fun! But that would wear off quickly if you put a lot of work into something only to have it rejected by the festivals you hope to enter because of technical "limitations" driven by acquiring your images with an inferior format.
Having said that, what tends to matter more than image quality is the STORY you're telling. Well, that and sound. Yes, sound. People tend to forgive an "inferior" image, but if they can't hear dialogue well, they'll give up. And of course, if the story is boring/bad/irritating/not-funny/etc, it won't matter if you shot your movie with IMAX or a Playskool "my first camera" camera or anything in between. Concentrate on STORY and hopefully nothing else (except sound) will matter that much.
Getting caught up in such questions like "which camera should I buy?" and "what's the best filmschool?" misses what aspiring "filmmakers" SHOULD be thinking about. Owning a camera of any kind won't get you a career. Neither will attending the greatest filmschool in the world. What matters is what you can do, the stories you can tell, the people you meet, how great of a person you are to spend 14 hours a day with....
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
