I am interested in getting started with amateur filmmaking, and I would like to keep the costs to a minimum (by that, I mean I want to start off with a camera I can learn with and keep using, rather than spend ?200 every time I decide I can take it up to the next level).
What kind of features should I look for in a video camera for high-quality amateur film-making? Manual Depth of Field is one that I would assume, as well as external mic support (as handhelds seem to like to pickup noise of the camera as well) - but I'm not sure what else I should be looking for.
Any advice/suggestions would be lovely.
I have a budget of around ?1100.
Thanks!
Check out these threads:
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9693
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9634
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8313
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8213
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7034
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6195
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6316
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4527
If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Hi, Thank you for replying.
I was aware it would be best to check other topics before posting - but considering every user's circumstances are different (EG, what they're looking for; and price range, and so on) I figured it'd be wiser to create my own topic.
I didn't check a few of those threads listed though, so I'll get straight to it.
Right now, I am looking at the Canon XM2, and the Sony HD1000U. I'm not sure if either of them have what I need though; as I said in my first post, I am looking for a camera for short-film making that can be used for the foreseeable future, so the more features it has that will become useful to me after I've learnt the basics of operating an non-compact camera the better. (manual Depth of field, focus, white balance, and an external mic input are most definitely required, while ideally I want it to be HD, and have filter/lense support)
Thanks for your post, though; I'll keep doing some research, but if you have any input, please do so! 🙂