The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread!

[Bruce S. Yarock]

Sony NX5U
Bruce Yarock

[Michael LaHatte]

Thanks Bruce!

How does the NX5U compare to the panasonic AG-HMC150?

[Lee Mullen]

just get the JVC HM100 or 150.

[Les Wilson]

Originally Posted by Michael LaHatte

Thanks Bruce!

How does the NX5U compare to the panasonic AG-HMC150?

From a feature point of view, the NX5u is more expensive but it has several nice features for that money. How important they are is a decision for you to make. Those extra features are:
Longer lens (20x vs 13)
SDI output
Flash Memory Unit extendability built in
Higher AVCHD recording (FX mode)
Hi res LCD
GPS

I think the hi res LCD is important to understand. Having it gives you a much much better estimate of exposure and focus.

There's plenty that's been written up about these cameras. Use the search feature on DVinfo.

[Michael LaHatte]

Thanks for the replies!

I was talking to BH today and they recommended a camera that is 422? So they suggested the Canon XF100, Panasonic AG-HVX200A or the JVC GY-HM150U. What are you thoughts on these compared to what has been suggested? BH also said that these cameras create a better file to work with than AVCHD based cameras. They also suggested the Panasonic AG-HVX200A, said it was memory based using P2 cards and would be a perfect choice... Now I'm more confused! arggg!

I will be filming white screen, whiteboard presentations, interviews, green screen ... 100% indoor with LED lights and 99% of footage will be for web.... So the easiest process to go from shooting to sony vegas to web would be ideal! Awhile back, I also bought Sorenson Squeeze to make the videos small as possible, i don't know if that was a bad idea or not? I guess it's still needed to compress even after editing in vegas?

[Adam Gold]

For what you are doing, 4:2:2 is completely unnecessary and overkill. The bottom line is that all of these cams are great and you won't be sorry with any of them. While B&H is a great place -- the *only* place, as far as I am concerned -- to buy, they obviously want to sell you the most expensive cam possible.

Each of the cams mentioned has fans and detractors, and anyone here who uses a given model is likely to be a bit partisan, if only because we know and are familiar with the features of our models and their brethren. So take anything you hear here with a grain of salt. While some here do have different cams of different brands for comparison, many of us have stuck to a single brands so as to use the same accessories, because we like and/or are familiar with the ergonomics or feature set that certain brands emphasize, or just out of inertia.

Knowledge is the enemy of confusion. Spend some time looking at the specs of all your candidates at the B&H website. If you come a cross a term you don't understand, Google it and read until you are thoroughly comfortable with it. At that point you will know whether it is a feature you need or not (i.e. "422").

As has been said many times before (on this thread and elsewhere), there is no best cam, only what's best for you.

[But please don't do your "B" cam footage in B&W; it will only be annoying and distracting and will make your viewers want to gouge their eyes out with a spoon. It's a pretentious affectation done only by first-year film students in junior high.]

And don't forget: you're going to need a pretty beefy, up-to-date PC to edit all this stuff. See the post production forums for advice there.

[Michael LaHatte]

Thanks for your input!

I'm leaning toward the Sony NX5U or the Canon XF100 but I just discovered that the sony has 3 chip where canon has 1.. how big a deal is that?

I know lighting and audio are 90% of video, but if I'm gonna buy a nice camera, i want one that I will use for a long time and not have any regrets...

I'll take your advice Adam on b&w.... thanks for the input!

The computer I will be using for editing is a i7 with SSD hard drive for main, dual 1TBs in raid 0 for secondary, 12gb ram.... I was hoping it should do fine... I'd love to have a Xeon though!

[Les Wilson]

The way I see it, I don't think the XF100 offers much value for you. In fact I think for what you are talking about, it offers less value for you. Is there a reason you aren't looking at the Panasonic AC130? For what you describe and your budget, I would be looking at the Panny AC130, HMC150, Sony AX2000, Sony NX5U.

Keep reading and searching for answers to questions. Read reviews on the above cameras and hopefully you will get answers on what these features are for. They you'll be equipped to decide what's important for you and not be dependent on a sales person or, for that matter, anyone here telling you what to buy. You have gotten solid unbiased advice by some good people here.

[Michael LaHatte]

Thanks Les... I agree with you on the XF100... I think I'm much better off picking one of the other cameras mentioned.

After reading this: CMOS Rolling Shutter I'm leaning toward the Panasonic AG-HMC150 over the Sony NX5U... I was considering the Panasonic AG-HVX200A but I will be compressing the videos for web anyway and figured it would be a waste? I dont minde the expensive P2....

EDIT:
Actually, I just read that the Panasonic AG-AC130 is the "update" to the AG-HMC150... Do you think the AC130 is a smarter choice over the HMC150? But doesn't it have a CMOS instead of CCD though?

[Michael LaHatte]

Thanks for all your input!

I bought the AC130!

I am a little concerned about the auto focus issues the AC130 has been noted as having as well as the "card door open" error and the skewing issues that have been reported. I'm hoping these are isolated issues and not bugs since it is such a new camera! The HMC150 was very close 2nd but from what I gather, the AC130 is everything the HMC150 is, plus more... I'm hoping that's true!

BH gave me a great deal on it... They originally quoted me the camera at $3,500 if I bought the $350 extended warranty. I changed my mind on the warranty since it would only cover accidental stuff and not theft, etc. like insurance would. BH wanted to mark the camera back up when i decided not to get warranty, but after some squabbling back and forth on the phone BH finally kept their original quote of $3500 and I thank them for that!

Additionally I purchased the Pearston battery, is it as good as the Panasonic battery? I also bought two 32gb Sandisk SD cards and a Lexar USB 3 dual card reader...

[Les Wilson]

Thanks for the update. You can always get help climbing the learning curve here:
Panasonic AVCCAM Camcorders Forum at DVinfo.net

SInce the HMC130 is new, you may be able to help others that follow in your footsteps.

Long term, as you strive to shoot better and better stuff, you'll be turning off auto-focus and using manual more. At least that's how it was for me. YMMV

[Mark Goodsell]

B&H is a great place -- the *only* place, as far as I am concerned -- to buy, they obviously want to sell you the most expensive cam possible.

I've bought cams from B&H but also from Full Compass and recently from Markertek. Both Full Compass and Markertek were great to deal with and have solid reputations. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one from Amazone either. Not knocking B&H, just that there are other options too.

[Carla Koop]

I've read through the posts on this thread and am still in need of help. I'm totally new to video and am buying my first camcorder, with the main purpose of recording interviews in mostly indoor settings. The recorded interviews will be for clients so the image and sound quality need to be good. I've been considering the Canon XF100 or JVC 150 camcorder which are about what I want to spend (though I'd love to spend less). Does anyone have thoughts about these 2 cameras or others that might be more appropriate for my purposes? Thank you so much for any help you can provide. Trying to choose is a bit overwhelming to me since I know so little!

[Nate Haustein]

Why not get a used AF100 with a Tamron 17-50mm and/or a 50mm prime so you can blur the background on the interviews and really make the subjects pop. Not quite as versatile as a fixed lens camcorder, but if you're just going to be doing interviews, seems like a good choice. The bigger imaging chip will help with providing clean video indoors as well.

[Les Wilson]

Originally Posted by Carla Koop

...I'm totally new to video and am buying my first camcorder, with the main purpose of recording interviews in mostly indoor settings. The recorded interviews will be for clients so the image and sound quality need to be good....

Remember to budget a microphone that you can get close to the talent. A wired shotgun on a boom stand like an AT875 or Rode NTG1 or 2 or even a wired lavalier are inexpensive ways to get the audio required for corporate video.

There's also a tripod and some basic lighting gear required.