Need advice for someone "getting back into it" at DVinfo.net

J. Clayton Stansberry · February 14th, 2010, 01:05 PM

I am looking for a camcorder for home use. I use to do semi-pro jobs with the XL-1 but never owned one as I couldn't afford it and this was about 6 years ago. Here are the things I would like:

1. I have a 1080 plasma HD tv and would like the camera to have HD capabilities.
2. I want to record to SD cards
3. I would like the option to record in 24p and 30p
4. I would like the biggest cmos sensor possible
5. I would like to spend around $500
6. A 3 ccd sensor would be nice, but I don't know what advances have been made in 6 years in the sensors.

Please let me know if anyone has a recommendation for this. Thank you.

Paul Digges · February 14th, 2010, 06:25 PM

Your budget is going to be the biggest limiting factor here. The new camcorders from Sony and Canon make for great home/amateur/backup devices, but you'll have to look into spending closer to 800-900 for the feature set you want. Also, I believe most of these cams shoot onto CMOS sensors now.

EDIT: Actually, upon looking, I wasn't aware that the cheaper Canon's did both frame rates, but it seems that the Vixia HF R10 does it for only $550.

Dave Blackhurst · February 14th, 2010, 07:02 PM

Lots of good HD cameras out there...
Canon and Panasonic record to SD card, the latest announced Sonys are supposed to as well...
Canon and Panasonic again, except for the new top of the line Sonys, which shoot some alternative frame rates.
Most are going to be single CMOS, and around 1/3". Panasonic will be 3 smaller sensors.
$500 isn't going to buy a lot except on closeout or used, add add couple hundred (or better yet double) to the budget, and your choices become plentiful, and very interesting.
CMOS is going to be what you'll find out there, and they do a pretty good job, don't get thrown off by some of the people with bad camera technique that complain about CMOS.

Paul Digges · February 14th, 2010, 09:23 PM

Also, check out this thread as well. Good info here.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/open-dv-...amcorders.html

February 14th, 2010, 01:05 PM	#1
J. Clayton Stansberry Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 316	Need advice for someone "getting back into it" I am looking for a camcorder for home use. I use to do semi-pro jobs with the XL-1 but never owned one as I couldn't afford it and this was about 6 years ago. Here are the things I would like: 1. I have a 1080 plasma HD tv and would like the camera to have HD capabilities. 2. I want to record to SD cards 3. I would like the option to record in 24p and 30p 4. I would like the biggest cmos sensor possible 5. I would like to spend around $500 6. A 3 ccd sensor would be nice, but I don't know what advances have been made in 6 years in the sensors. Please let me know if anyone has a recommendation for this. Thank you. __________________ I understand everything about nothing.

February 14th, 2010, 06:25 PM	#2
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Your budget is going to be the biggest limiting factor here. The new camcorders from Sony and Canon make for great home/amateur/backup devices, but you'll have to look into spending closer to 800-900 for the feature set you want. Also, I believe most of these cams shoot onto CMOS sensors now. EDIT: Actually, upon looking, I wasn't aware that the cheaper Canon's did both frame rates, but it seems that the Vixia HF R10 does it for only $550.

February 14th, 2010, 07:02 PM	#3
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Lots of good HD cameras out there... Canon and Panasonic record to SD card, the latest announced Sonys are supposed to as well... Canon and Panasonic again, except for the new top of the line Sonys, which shoot some alternative frame rates. Most are going to be single CMOS, and around 1/3". Panasonic will be 3 smaller sensors. $500 isn't going to buy a lot except on closeout or used, add add couple hundred (or better yet double) to the budget, and your choices become plentiful, and very interesting. CMOS is going to be what you'll find out there, and they do a pretty good job, don't get thrown off by some of the people with bad camera technique that complain about CMOS.

February 14th, 2010, 09:23 PM	#4
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Also, check out this thread as well. Good info here. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/open-dv-...amcorders.html