The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread!

Joseph Jaggers · June 29th, 2005, 02:53 PM

what about royal camera?

Bob Costa · June 30th, 2005, 12:05 AM

You can't buy a new dvx100a in the United states for less than about $3000. Period.

Stephanie Wilson · June 30th, 2005, 01:36 AM

As you are discovering, it requires a huge investment in time to figure out what you actually need and where to get the best price for what you finally decide you want. Whew.... Glad I'm finally done with that process.

Max is right. Check out every internet site on resellers.com before you purchase from them. They have customer ratings and reviews. Very helpful although a tiny bit confusing to navigate.

I have included a link to the New York Better Business Bureau which describes "Gray Goods". Those resellers that are selling at abnormally low prices are more than likely selling grays which, if you read the article, aren't such a wise investment. http://www.newyork.bbb.org/library/p.../subrep45.html

Not to knock the Big Apple, but most of the gray market dealers are located in New York. But so are every legitimate reseller that I purchased from.

Just be careful out there and do the research.

Stephanie

Glenn Chan · June 30th, 2005, 06:54 AM

Try B&H, one of this site's sponsors as well as Zotz Digital.
B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.zotzdigital.com/

B&H prices should be very close to the lowest price you can actually get.

Joseph Jaggers · June 30th, 2005, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the help with that. The grey goods article cleared up alot of questions.

To get back to the original topic.

How the the picture on the GL2. I can get a new one from B&W for $2000, or I know I guy here that will sell me one for $1000 that he has had for 3 years, but has hardly been used.

Any coments on the GL2 are greatly appreciated. Also if there are any video clips online of footage shot with the GL2, that would be nice. Thanks

Joe

Joseph Jaggers · June 30th, 2005, 11:01 AM

How would the Canon GL2 compair to the Panasonic pv-gs400?

They are falling into a similar price range.

Thanks

Kris Holodak · June 30th, 2005, 11:56 AM

I can't make a comparison because I'm not familiar with the Panasonic pv-gs400. I can say that I've shot several hundred hours of tape with my GL2 and been very happy with the results. About half of it has been interviews in controlled environments and the other half has been performances on stage shooting from the back row of the audience. My only complaint - which is unfortunately not rare among GL2 users - is that I get the Eject the Cassette errors from time to time. (Look in the GL2 area for more on that.) I didn't get it at all for the first year though and can often predict when I'm likely to get it now so I avoid those situations when I can and grab a different camera when I can't. In spite of that I don't regret the purchase. The optics are good, the control over the image quality is good, it's light weight, and not intimidating to my subjects.

Joseph Jaggers · June 30th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Thanks for the opinion on the GL2

I have comprised a list on camera's that interest my and I am willing to splurge on from B&W's. I have read the reviews of the cameras on camcorderinfo.com

Any opinions compairing and contrasting these camera's would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help in advance.

panasonic pv-gs400
Panasonic AG-DVC30
jvc GR-HD1
jvc-DV300U
canon GL-2

Please keep in mind that the camera will be used almost entirely outside in a well light enviornment on a fast moving subject. For people not familiar with wakeboarding, here is a trailer to a video.

http://www.wakeworld.com/galleries/g...300&imageid=31

Joe

Nathan Petersen · July 1st, 2005, 02:59 PM

I would recommend the optura xi, I'm not sure what your budget is but you can get one for around 800.

Richard Tamayo · July 7th, 2005, 05:09 AM

I forgot what a pain it is to find a camcorder on a certain buget, reading reviews sucks, researching blah blah blah. Can you guys help me out here. I just basically need it for capture. Pass through option would be cool, 16bit audio. $350 buget.

Mathieu Ghekiere · July 7th, 2005, 07:18 AM

Don't you always get 16bit Audio if you record in 16bit?

Michael McGlynn · July 9th, 2005, 06:50 AM

Hi

I have a VX2000 and am very happy with the results of my effost with it, but I'm looking for a small camera, 3CCD or single chip, that will give me real 16:9 and footage that could be interpolated with the Sony VX in widescreen mode. Being very inexperienced can anyone suggest what the smallest camera I could get would be?

thanks

Michael McGlynn

Spike Spiegel · July 10th, 2005, 01:12 AM

perhaps you can get a true 16:9 adapter thats made for the vx2k? That way theres no need for a new camera, especially if the only new feature you're looking for is true 16:9 ...

Jacques Star · July 10th, 2005, 08:18 PM

Try getting a Sony PDX10, it's a great little 16:9 camera.

Tony Truong · July 13th, 2005, 10:59 AM

Hi

I've been looking for a camera to buy and well I have no idea what all the specs mean. I found this forum yesterday and hopefully someone can clarify some questions.

The reason I'm looking for a camcorder is to shot tennis player strokes like the serve, forehand, backhand, etc and be able to go slow motion without much skipping. The resolution should be pretty nice. I used my dad's camera before and it looked great on TV, but when I transfered it to the computer it was horribile.

Anyway is shutter speed the thing I need to look for to see more frames per second so that I can see slow motion better?

Also, what is the spec to look for when I want high resolution? Seems like none of the sites list video resolution.. which of these cameras would be the best, 2nd best? And how can I tell which one has the best resolution of these three.. any other recommendations without 800-1200 price range?

Sony DCR-PC1000
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ycamCamcorders

Sony DCR-HC90
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ycamCamcorders

Canon Optura 500
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/con...&modelid=10222

June 30th, 2005, 12:05 AM	#812
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	You can't buy a new dvx100a in the United states for less than about $3000. Period. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

June 30th, 2005, 01:36 AM	#813
Stephanie Wilson Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks CA Posts: 255	New Camera As you are discovering, it requires a huge investment in time to figure out what you actually need and where to get the best price for what you finally decide you want. Whew.... Glad I'm finally done with that process. Max is right. Check out every internet site on resellers.com before you purchase from them. They have customer ratings and reviews. Very helpful although a tiny bit confusing to navigate. I have included a link to the New York Better Business Bureau which describes "Gray Goods". Those resellers that are selling at abnormally low prices are more than likely selling grays which, if you read the article, aren't such a wise investment. http://www.newyork.bbb.org/library/p.../subrep45.html Not to knock the Big Apple, but most of the gray market dealers are located in New York. But so are every legitimate reseller that I purchased from. Just be careful out there and do the research. Stephanie

July 1st, 2005, 02:59 PM	#819
Nathan Petersen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 95	optura xi I would recommend the optura xi, I'm not sure what your budget is but you can get one for around 800.

July 7th, 2005, 05:09 AM	#820
Richard Tamayo Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Davenport,IA. Posts: 111	second camcorder suggestions I forgot what a pain it is to find a camcorder on a certain buget, reading reviews sucks, researching blah blah blah. Can you guys help me out here. I just basically need it for capture. Pass through option would be cool, 16bit audio. $350 buget. __________________ richard tamayo

July 9th, 2005, 06:50 AM	#822
Michael McGlynn Tourist Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ireland Posts: 2	What Camera should I choose Hi I have a VX2000 and am very happy with the results of my effost with it, but I'm looking for a small camera, 3CCD or single chip, that will give me real 16:9 and footage that could be interpolated with the Sony VX in widescreen mode. Being very inexperienced can anyone suggest what the smallest camera I could get would be? thanks Michael McGlynn __________________ MMG

June 29th, 2005, 02:53 PM	#811
Joseph Jaggers New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7	what about royal camera?

June 30th, 2005, 06:54 AM	#814
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Try B&H, one of this site's sponsors as well as Zotz Digital. B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com http://www.zotzdigital.com/ B&H prices should be very close to the lowest price you can actually get.

June 30th, 2005, 10:54 AM	#815
Joseph Jaggers New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7	Thanks for the help with that. The grey goods article cleared up alot of questions. To get back to the original topic. How the the picture on the GL2. I can get a new one from B&W for $2000, or I know I guy here that will sell me one for $1000 that he has had for 3 years, but has hardly been used. Any coments on the GL2 are greatly appreciated. Also if there are any video clips online of footage shot with the GL2, that would be nice. Thanks Joe

June 30th, 2005, 11:01 AM	#816
Joseph Jaggers New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7	How would the Canon GL2 compair to the Panasonic pv-gs400? They are falling into a similar price range. Thanks

June 30th, 2005, 11:56 AM	#817
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	I can't make a comparison because I'm not familiar with the Panasonic pv-gs400. I can say that I've shot several hundred hours of tape with my GL2 and been very happy with the results. About half of it has been interviews in controlled environments and the other half has been performances on stage shooting from the back row of the audience. My only complaint - which is unfortunately not rare among GL2 users - is that I get the Eject the Cassette errors from time to time. (Look in the GL2 area for more on that.) I didn't get it at all for the first year though and can often predict when I'm likely to get it now so I avoid those situations when I can and grab a different camera when I can't. In spite of that I don't regret the purchase. The optics are good, the control over the image quality is good, it's light weight, and not intimidating to my subjects.

June 30th, 2005, 12:25 PM	#818
Joseph Jaggers New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7	Thanks for the opinion on the GL2 I have comprised a list on camera's that interest my and I am willing to splurge on from B&W's. I have read the reviews of the cameras on camcorderinfo.com Any opinions compairing and contrasting these camera's would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help in advance. panasonic pv-gs400 Panasonic AG-DVC30 jvc GR-HD1 jvc-DV300U canon GL-2 Please keep in mind that the camera will be used almost entirely outside in a well light enviornment on a fast moving subject. For people not familiar with wakeboarding, here is a trailer to a video. http://www.wakeworld.com/galleries/g...300&imageid=31 Joe

July 7th, 2005, 07:18 AM	#821
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Don't you always get 16bit Audio if you record in 16bit?

July 10th, 2005, 01:12 AM	#823
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	perhaps you can get a true 16:9 adapter thats made for the vx2k? That way theres no need for a new camera, especially if the only new feature you're looking for is true 16:9 ...

July 10th, 2005, 08:18 PM	#824
Jacques Star Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 68	camera Try getting a Sony PDX10, it's a great little 16:9 camera.

July 13th, 2005, 10:59 AM	#825
Tony Truong New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	Mini-DV camcorder question Hi I've been looking for a camera to buy and well I have no idea what all the specs mean. I found this forum yesterday and hopefully someone can clarify some questions. The reason I'm looking for a camcorder is to shot tennis player strokes like the serve, forehand, backhand, etc and be able to go slow motion without much skipping. The resolution should be pretty nice. I used my dad's camera before and it looked great on TV, but when I transfered it to the computer it was horribile. Anyway is shutter speed the thing I need to look for to see more frames per second so that I can see slow motion better? Also, what is the spec to look for when I want high resolution? Seems like none of the sites list video resolution.. which of these cameras would be the best, 2nd best? And how can I tell which one has the best resolution of these three.. any other recommendations without 800-1200 price range? Sony DCR-PC1000 http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ycamCamcorders Sony DCR-HC90 http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...ycamCamcorders Canon Optura 500 http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/con...&modelid=10222