The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread!

[Evan Strobel]

I'd have to say Optura Xi.
Mostly for pricing factor, I hear it's a pretty good camera.
Although I know nothing about how it performs with a green screen

[Nathan Petersen]

Yeah I have read up on the XI and instead of having 3ccd's its got a color filter system, which isn't bad but still not quite the same as a 3ccd. Thanks for your opinion though. Have you heard anything on the TRV900 or 950? There are a few on ebay.

[Bryan Mitchell]

Hey Glenn, there is one thing a $400 camcorder can do that a $1000+ camera can't do on a $1000 budget... that is to leave Evan with $600+ leftover to buy (build) a light kit, microphone, tripod, boom, extra batteries, etc...

LOL. That's true!

[Nathan Petersen]

I'm thinking of the PV-DV953 (used), however I realize its ccd's are 1/6 in size and isn't good at low light (doest bother me). I currently have a trv58 sony (1 ccd which is 1/6 and 270k) , not that good of a camera. So I have considered a 3ccd camera for some projects that I will be doing, which I will be using some green screen etc. I have been looking at the gl2 at an Ultimate Electronic's store I have here and the camera is awesome, however I just do not have the money. So its between the trv900, trv950, pvdv953. I have also looked at the Canon GL1 but I cant find a decent deal on that either. Any other opinions or other camcorder options..thanks guys....

[Boyd Ostroff]

Try browsing back through our TRV-950 forum. You'll find a number of threads about the 900 and 950 there. Or do a search and limit the results to that forum.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=43

[Tommy James]

If you want something that looks like film and it looks sharp and clean get yourself a JVC GR-HD1 camcorder. This camcorder is about 3 times sharper than the regular camcorders and at 30 frames per secound it really has the film look. It can be had for about 2000 dollars at B&H video but it is well worth it.

[James Connors]

Straight out of the box "film like" is probably best achieved with a Panny DVX100. Price is higher than your budget tho from memory, and IMO you can recreate progressive shooting and colour curves by learning your NLE properly.

http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/ is a nice page about it tho.

In your shoes, I'd buy what I shoot already.. a PD150/170. Audio is excellent (via twin XLRs) its the most renowned camera in its class for low lighting, and its professional enough for the BBC to take favour with it (altho they're now being replaced with the HDV cams.) Its small, but looks pro.. but if it doesn't look pro enough just bolt on a big mattebox, a nice big shotgun mic and stick it on a pro tripod and nobody will argue with you.

I'm a big fan of making big upgrades.. I never saw the point of jumping from a $400 cam to a $600, so I went from consumer, to prosumer to pro (JVC DVL model > Sony TRV950 > Sony PD150. I have the 950 still.) and each jump up has left me grinning for a long long time.

[Nathan Petersen]

I'm thinking of just getting the Optura XI, I know its not a 3ccd camcorder however its got a whomping 1/3.4 ccd with a RGB color filter. How does the XI stack up with some three ccd models such as the pvdv953 or pvgs400 etc? Thanks for the reply.

[Jordanne Dervaes]

Hello ...

I'm new to this forum and also to the world of filmmaking. I made a few edited shorts on my Sony Handycam DV but nothing of great promise.

Anyhow, I'm looking for advice.

I'm just about to upgrade from my pathetic handycam to a prosumer camera and I'm looking at purchasing the Canon Gl2.

I intend to make documentary films - reality films based on an environmental perspective. My first documentary would be of gardens and gardening and permaculture so there will be a lot of outdoor shots, landscape shots, a few interviews and close ups of flowers, bees, tiny baby praying mantis.

Is the Gl2 recommended for this kind of filmmaking?

I once was interested in the Xl2 but the lack of funds kind of kept that one out of my reach. In addition, the size and shape is a bit overwhelming ... especially if I want to do "guerilla" environmental films. It's kind of hard to sneak around with that kind of equipment and I also don't want to stick out in a crowd. :-)

So, what kind of camera would you all recommend for me?

Thanks!

Jordanne
(from the Los Angeles area)

[Boyd Ostroff]

Couple other options to consider. Both of these cameras are physically smaller than the GL-2, and both would offer some specific advantages:

1. Panasonic DVC-30, $1,650 at B&H after rebate. Has the option to add pro audio with an XLR adaptor and mike. Can add an IR light for shooting in the dark. 1/4" chips like the GL-2. I haven't used one, but they have gotten very good reviews and user feedback.

2. Sony PDX-10, $1,600 at B&H after rebate. Includes XLR inputs and short shotgun mike, shoots in DVCAM mode. The big advantage to this camera is its high resolution 16:9 mode which neither the GL-2, PD-170 or DVC-30 have. Downside: a little worse in very dark situations, it has 1/4.7" chips.

Other possibilities are the Sony PD-170 which probably sets the standard for documentaries. It's larger and more expensive however. The VX-2100 would give you the same chips and processing, but a little less manual control and no XLR inputs.

You might also consider the Sony FX-1, although larger still and priced like the PD-170. It can shoot native 16:9 in DV mode, or HDV if you want to get into hi-def down the road.

[Duane Smith]

If you're planning on doing Docs, I'd think you'd want better audio than just the typical built-in audio of most cams. If that's the case, then you'll either need an external shotgun mike and a cam with XLR inputs (or a separate 3rd-party XLR adaptor), or you'll need off-camera sound recording equipment. Recording the audio to the DV tape is probably the easier, especially for "guerilla" filming.

Also, as Boyd pointed out, those smaller cams (DVC30 and PDX10) will probably better suit your needs for "guerilla" filming. Personally, I've bought a PDX10 because I wanted the true 16:9 function.

And of course, it wouldn't be fair to mention those small cams and NOT mention the new Sony HC1 and A1 1080i HD cams. They might be out of your budget, and even beyond your needs, but at least they should be mentioned for you to consider.

[Drew Meinecke]

I have completed two movies (that were basically building blocks and for fun) and used a regular $280 MiniDV Camera, but now I am in pre-production of my last movie during highschool and I hope to attract colleges with it. I would like a camera with the ability to perform well with low light, good picture, and a low price. I'm not looking for an XL2 but I'm also not going to be using the same camera as before. Please help.

[Boyd Ostroff]

Hey Drew. I moved your thread to the Open DV forum because I think you'll get more responses here. There are a couple similar threads in progress which might be worth a look:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=46013
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=45894

[Duane Smith]

Have you considered rental? You'll be able to get a shoot with a much better camera than you could probably afford otherwise. You'd be surprised how cheap a good quality DV cam can be to rent for a week.

[Drew Meinecke]

Originally Posted by Duane Smith

Have you considered rental? You'll be able to get a shoot with a much better camera than you could probably afford otherwise. You'd be surprised how cheap a good quality DV cam can be to rent for a week.

I'm in highschool and I have actors that are in college and live in different cities and highschoolers with very busy schedules, so rental probably wouldn't work out because I plan on filming throughout all of 2006 with the bulk of the filming in the summer. Are there any links to rental sites you could give me?