The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread!

[Bruce S. Yarock]

Sony FS100 with the sony 18-200 lens and the f2,8 wide angle sony lens with the super wide angle (11mm) adapter. Camera and both lenses should run around 6k.
That's what I shoot with.
Bruce
Yarock Productions

[Sara Jourhmane]

Thanks Bruce.

Initially, I was shying away from FS100 due to awkward form factor.

[Nate Haustein]

I'm not sure if the 18-200 would be quick enough aperture wise at F6.3/200mm for extensive indoor work. I mean, the camera can do it with gain and all, but I can't help but think that an EX1R would just be...easier? Not to mention the power zoom and faster lens. Just as long as you're fine with SxS cards.

I just got done doing some event work with AF100 and 70-200mm F2.8 and it is a CHALLENGE to keep speakers in focus with the large sensor. I take it these seminars don't necessarily need to be "pretty" but instead functional and more or less seamless. It will still look good! I'm also assuming that the person recording them doesn't necessary want to spend a ton of effort follow focusing, zooming, etc.

[Sara Jourhmane]

Thanks Nate.

I would suggest to them a couple of SD Card Adapters instead of SXS cards for EX1R.

Also I am looking into upcoming GY-HM650U.

JVC is touting F11 sensitivity at @2000 lux for 1/3' Sensors.

[Sara Jourhmane]

Not too many places have these cameras in stock.

Is samy's camera a reliable place?

[Kenneth Maultsby]

Looking to upgrade to a more professional camcorder. I am using a Sony HDR-CX 550V now but as do more projects thank to my mother in-law pass the word out to all her relatives and after completing some vacations and my Mother in-law 70th Birthday I see that I need a better camcorder. I do a lot of kids soccer and other sports Air shows special events etc. I would like to keep the price below $3600. But if I have to save some more so be it. Looking at the Panasonic AG-AC130 Sony HDR AX2000 and the Canon XF 105. Would love to here from others who may own these cameras what is the advantage and this advantage of the three. My editing system is Premier Pro CS6 But also have Avid Media Composer 6 on my system also.

[Doug Graham]

Sara...I rely on B&H for my camera purchases. Living in NYC, you can actually GO there, you lucky girl.

[Rob Cantwell]

i have a 'A' and 'B' cam, mostly for weddings and stuff, what i'm considering is a third camera locked off high up mostly.
I'm looking at the new GoPro3 but having some difficulty on deciding if it should be a 'Black Edition' or 'Silver Edition' anyone looking at these?

[Rob Cantwell]

ok
just answering my own 'which camera should I buy' question and i gotta say, in light of some talk of the cameras not working too well, i'm deferring any thoughts about GoPro for a few months at this stage, maybe might look at Sony's offering instead.
;-)

[Peter Barton]

Hi all,

I currently own a Sony Z1 which I use primarily to film dance concerts / events (wife is a dance teacher!), so basically stage lighting / indoor / low light, strobes, smoke, zoom, movement, etc. Often need to manually lock / set focus, adjust gain, exposure, etc (on the fly - usually don't know in advance what I will be presented with - sometimes just end up in full auto!), and also make reasonable use of the manual audio controls with various feeds from mic, line in, etc (again, can adjust a lot on the fly depending on backing track volumes, singing, etc). Overall happy with the Z1, just getting on a bit now (1100 drum hours), tapeless would be nice, and looking for something full HD and improved picture quality.

I've read through a lot of posts, brochures, etc, and I think the equivalent replacement I'm looking at is the HXR NX5P. Yes? Same / better picture quality? Sharper / better in low light? Does it have the same level of manual controls? I also saw the HDR AX2000, which appeared a similar model, but lacking the manual controls? Anything I should know about the AVCHD recording format - limitations? I often need to record up to 90 minutes with no break, and sometimes up to 2 hours. Is there any other camera I should look at? Mostly just want to be sure I'll have the same features / controls as the Z1 (or better), and that I'm not taking a backwards step anywhere.

Thanks in advance,

Peter.

[Adalberto Lopez]

The NX5 seems to be what you're looking for.

As far as other models to consider are Panasonic's AG-AC160 or JVC's GY-HM600. They are newer than the NX5 and I believe they offer a small low-light advantage over the NX5.

[Ervin Farkas]

Originally Posted by Peter Barton

I've read through a lot of posts, brochures, etc, and I think the equivalent replacement I'm looking at is the HXR NX5P. Yes? Same / better picture quality? Sharper / better in low light? Does it have the same level of manual controls? I also saw the HDR AX2000, which appeared a similar model, but lacking the manual controls?

Think of the NX5 as the tapeless Z1 and of the AX2000 as the tapeless FX1. The AX2000 has plenty of manual controls, the NX5 has a few more, plus the HXR-FMU128 flash memory recorder, which might just be you ticket to looong hours of non-stop recording.

AVCHD is more taxing on your editing system but if you have a fairly up to date, say Intel i7 based PC, you should be good to switch.

[Peter Barton]

Thanks guys for the quick responses.

I went and looked at an NX5 today, and like you say, it is basically a tapeless Z1 - so exactly what I am after! The flash unit looks nice, but expensive, I will think about that one. I'll just stock up on SD cards for now. All the other controls are very familiar, and it looks like the correct camera for me to move to next.

I'm hoping my PC will be good for editing, I just updated it all 6 months ago with an i7, 32GB ram, Quadro 2000 video card, etc - if I'm underpowered with that, I'm in trouble.

Thanks again,

Peter.

[Ron Evans]

You may want to look at the new FDR-AX1 that will come out next month. It looks to have better performance than the NX5U. XAVCS codec at 50Mbps for 1920x108 and will do 60P too. Bonus it will do 4K for you to crop from. XQD cards are more expensive than SD cards but a firmware upgrade next year will bring AVCHD to the FDR-AX1 too. I edit 4 track multicam native AVCHD with Edius no problem on a system not quite as powerful as yours.

Ron Evans

[Wayne Dear]

Hello All,

Looking at buying some cameras, I live in Australia, was looking at the Sony HXR-NX3, was using one a couple weeks ago and liked the unit, I am currently using a few HVR-Z7's, but am expanding more and would like this unit as my next model.

If anyone would suggest another model go for it, I have used Canon's, Panasonic's and Sony cams over the years, but prefer the Sony layout more so.

Another question also, I was looking at buying from from the USA, as some of those companies sell PAL units now. I can buy the unit in Australia for around $4.1k or buy from USA for around $3.2k, and that's with duty fees added.

Would Sony service it in Australia even if I bought it in the USA if it had an issue?

Thanks.