Which camera (budget $ 2500) at DVinfo.net

Gerdy Vandermeersch · February 10th, 2010, 02:55 PM

Hellow guys.

A friend of me wants to buy a camera (avchd), and the budget is around the $ 2500. He's not very rich huh... ! :) Offcourse I can recommend some camera's above that budget. But the only camera I would suggest is the Canon 7d... Any other propositions?

Thanks a lot folks...

Gerdy

Sander Vreuls · February 10th, 2010, 03:11 PM

The most important thing when buying a camera is knowing exactly what you want it for... What is he going to do with the camera? Just vacation shots? Will he be shooting for local news, documentaries, business promotion video's or what?

Based on that information you can pick out a camera..

Jeff Wisener · February 10th, 2010, 03:26 PM

Much depends on what your friend intends to do with the camera. Is it mainly going to be used for video or video/stills?

If video only, the new Rebel T2i might be a good option & less money.

I happen to own both a T1i & a 7D. The 7D is better for still photography for sports shooting 8fps vs the T1i that shoots less, in fact the specs are misleading on the Rebels on fps. The fact is after 2 shots, it has a delay (regardless of the memory chip you use) because it cannot load the info fast enough this I would not suggest a Rebel for continuous shooting of still shots.

If your friend has no reason to spend 2X more on the 7D because he does not need the added functions then he can spend more on lens etc. Again, more specifics about the use of the camera would make it easier to give an accurate answer.

Jeffrey Lovell · February 10th, 2010, 03:41 PM

Personally I am of the mind that if you want to do video you buy a video specific device, ie a camcorder. With that budget and thinking you want to do HD, I would look at the Panasonic HMC40, or the 150 although I think it is more than $2500 even with the best deal. I have read a number of reviews on this unit and it seems like a great little cam.

Jeff

Robert M Wright · February 10th, 2010, 04:09 PM

You can shoot HD video with a DSLR nowadays, but an HMC40 was actually designed for it from the get-go.

D.J. Ammons · February 10th, 2010, 05:12 PM

I own a couple of Sony V1U's that now sell for around $2700 but they are HDV and not ACVD. I agree that probably the Panny HMC40 is probably your best bet.

Graham Hickling · February 10th, 2010, 07:07 PM

Another important question to ask your friend is whether portability is a factor. The HMC40 scores way high on that, also.

John Wiley · February 12th, 2010, 01:31 AM

HMC40 is definitely the #1 contender in that price range. The HDSLR's are a whole different beast and while some people are using them exclusively, they are really only suitable as secondary cameras for most applications.

The HMC40 plus the Panasonic XLR box and a shotgun mic should come in just under $2500. With the change he might just be able to get a usable tripod (eg Libec TH-650) and a few memory cards.

If he doesn't need XLR audio, then I would recommend the Canon HFS10 or the just announced Panasonic TM700.

Paul Digges · February 14th, 2010, 06:37 PM

I agree with everything John said. Although as I am currently pricing one out, I can't see much room for a tripod in addition to the XLR Adapter if he isn't getting a cheap mic. If he goes cheap mic, he may as well get a VideoMic and skip the XLR adapter for now and then pick up some sticks and a couple 16gb cards.

Gerdy Vandermeersch · February 15th, 2010, 06:14 AM

Great advice you all gave us. Seems he's gonna buy the panasonic hmc40. Never heard of this camera. Didn't thought avchd existed at this price range.

Kind regards and many thanks
Gerdy

February 10th, 2010, 03:41 PM	#4
Jeffrey Lovell Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 61	Personally I am of the mind that if you want to do video you buy a video specific device, ie a camcorder. With that budget and thinking you want to do HD, I would look at the Panasonic HMC40, or the 150 although I think it is more than $2500 even with the best deal. I have read a number of reviews on this unit and it seems like a great little cam. Jeff __________________ Created Design Video Video production for the common man

February 10th, 2010, 02:55 PM	#1
Gerdy Vandermeersch Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ieper, Belgium Posts: 75	Which camera (budget $ 2500) Hellow guys. A friend of me wants to buy a camera (avchd), and the budget is around the $ 2500. He's not very rich huh... ! :) Offcourse I can recommend some camera's above that budget. But the only camera I would suggest is the Canon 7d... Any other propositions? Thanks a lot folks... Gerdy

February 10th, 2010, 03:11 PM	#2
Sander Vreuls Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hilversum, The Netherlands Posts: 184	The most important thing when buying a camera is knowing exactly what you want it for... What is he going to do with the camera? Just vacation shots? Will he be shooting for local news, documentaries, business promotion video's or what? Based on that information you can pick out a camera..

February 10th, 2010, 03:26 PM	#3
Jeff Wisener Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oceanside Ca & Bali Indonesia Posts: 158	Much depends on what your friend intends to do with the camera. Is it mainly going to be used for video or video/stills? If video only, the new Rebel T2i might be a good option & less money. I happen to own both a T1i & a 7D. The 7D is better for still photography for sports shooting 8fps vs the T1i that shoots less, in fact the specs are misleading on the Rebels on fps. The fact is after 2 shots, it has a delay (regardless of the memory chip you use) because it cannot load the info fast enough this I would not suggest a Rebel for continuous shooting of still shots. If your friend has no reason to spend 2X more on the 7D because he does not need the added functions then he can spend more on lens etc. Again, more specifics about the use of the camera would make it easier to give an accurate answer.

February 10th, 2010, 04:09 PM	#5
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	You can shoot HD video with a DSLR nowadays, but an HMC40 was actually designed for it from the get-go.

February 10th, 2010, 05:12 PM	#6
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	I own a couple of Sony V1U's that now sell for around $2700 but they are HDV and not ACVD. I agree that probably the Panny HMC40 is probably your best bet.

February 10th, 2010, 07:07 PM	#7
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Another important question to ask your friend is whether portability is a factor. The HMC40 scores way high on that, also.

February 12th, 2010, 01:31 AM	#8
John Wiley Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Byron Bay, Australia Posts: 1,155	HMC40 is definitely the #1 contender in that price range. The HDSLR's are a whole different beast and while some people are using them exclusively, they are really only suitable as secondary cameras for most applications. The HMC40 plus the Panasonic XLR box and a shotgun mic should come in just under $2500. With the change he might just be able to get a usable tripod (eg Libec TH-650) and a few memory cards. If he doesn't need XLR audio, then I would recommend the Canon HFS10 or the just announced Panasonic TM700.

February 14th, 2010, 06:37 PM	#9
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	I agree with everything John said. Although as I am currently pricing one out, I can't see much room for a tripod in addition to the XLR Adapter if he isn't getting a cheap mic. If he goes cheap mic, he may as well get a VideoMic and skip the XLR adapter for now and then pick up some sticks and a couple 16gb cards.

February 15th, 2010, 06:14 AM	#10
Gerdy Vandermeersch Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ieper, Belgium Posts: 75	Great advice you all gave us. Seems he's gonna buy the panasonic hmc40. Never heard of this camera. Didn't thought avchd existed at this price range. Kind regards and many thanks Gerdy