quote:

---

Originally posted by forevermetal

I have a friend who is looking to start making his own horror film.

I am trying to help him find a suitable camera, and actually have one to sell him, but budget is an issue.

What kind of cameras(HD)have some of the users on here picked up to shoot with while on a tight budget?

Thanks

---

What does your friend intend to DO with the movie when it's done? If it is meant for projection, then that demands a higher quality camera. If it's just for the internet, he can get away with almost anything that can take a picture.

The decision on "what camera should I buy?" should begin with the final destination of the project, not with how much money one has to spend.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

Normally, when you shoot a film, you put together your crew. One of the people will be the cinematographer. He/she will be the person to decide which camera to rent depending on what is his/her expertise and experience with a particular model. It makes no sense to buy a camera for just one project, especially if the budget is an issue (renting one is obviously much less expensive). Same goes for the rest of the gear (tripod, lenses, lights, etc).

These are the cameras some of the users on here have picked up to shoot with
while on a tight budget.
Panasonic AG-DVC20
Sony HDR-CX550V
Sony HXR-MC50U
Canon HF G10
Canon HF S30
JVC GZ-HM400
JVC GZ-HM1

This one is pretty cheap and has lots of features! And it's WATERPROOF!!! Not many cameras can claim that. ?:p?

http://www.littletikes.com/toys/my-real-digital-video-camera.aspx

quote:

---

This fun, extremely durable, and easy-to-use video camera records videos, takes photos, and is water proof to 3 feet.

Editing features add graphics and sounds to videos and pictures.
Easily plugs into TV or PC for video picture playback.
64 MB of built-in memory.
1.7" LCD screen.
Built-in microphone, speaker, light/flash.
1.3 mega pixel resolution.
SD card expansion slot for additional memory storage capacity.
4X digital zoom.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish.
Battery Requirements: 2 x 1.5V AA batteries

---

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by bjdzyak
The decision on "what camera should I buy?" should begin with the final destination of the project, not with how much money one has to spend.

---

I have been a member of this forum for about a year and a half. And in that time, I think I have seen the "Which camera should I buy" question about 20 times.

In many situations, I believe the standard answer ("depends on the target audience/medium") or the other one ("depends on what the cinematographer knows how to use") may not be the best. Practically every time, this question comes from a beginning, or aspiring, amateur/independent filmmaker. And those always tend to be the 'Rodriguez'-type people, who will be doing many things by themselves. While you can shoot a movie without a microphone, or a fishpole, or a dolly, or lights, or even a tripod, you simply cannot shoot anything without a camera. From their angle, while everything else may or may not be necessary to shoot a movie, without a camera, none of that other stuff will make the movie happen.

While you COULD theoretically make a movie with just a hand-held camcorder and nothing else (and that has been done before), such a movie has almost 100% chance of being, for the lack of a better word, crap.

Beginners seem to have a bit lopsided idea about the significance of various components that go into filmmaking (such as sound, lights, grip, camera) and more often than not almost completely disregard everything else and focus on just one single thing -- the camera. Not to mention that buying the "CAMERA" often seems to be the first step for so many who hope to embark onto the filmmaking journey, as if owning a "Pro" (which is almost always "Pro"sumer at best) camcorder officially makes them cinéastes...

Anyone who has already had a chance to make their own first short will have a very good idea about the importance of all those OTHER components (sound, lights, etc) to the art of making films.

Vasic,

I'm a member of several forums. That question is asked all the time.
To me it's a very understandable question. I didn't have forums like
this when I was starting out, but if I had, I know it's the first question
I would have asked. I agree with you. I'm sure many people asking
haven't thought the entire process all the way through and a thinking
that, just maybe, one camera out there will be the "right" one to use.
And I very much suspect that just about every person who asks isn't
going to be hiring a full crew - even a crew of dedicated amateurs.

We all start somewhere and as the old proverb says, every journey
begins with a single step. As you point out, many buying an inexpensive
camera is that first step. I know it was for me.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Same here. In fact, after re-reading my post, I realised my point may have been obscured, and you helped clarify it. So, I'll throw my own suggestions:

Panasonic AG-HMC40
Panasonic HDC-TM700

Oftentimes, many of these first-time buyers propose to spend $2,500-3,000 on a camera, without any consideration for anything else. I have a feeling that the end result would likely be better if, instead of spending $2,800 on a better, but still only 'prosumer' camcorder (something like Panasonic HMC-150), the same money is split between a lower-end 'prosumer' model (like HMC-40), plus a lower-end decent tripod, plus some cheap microphones, lights and stands. The flexibility one gets with just a few lights on stands significantly overcomes any difference in quality of video between a less expensive and (moderately) more expensive camcorder. Not to mention the significant improvement in audio quality (assuming someone knows how to properly use those mics).