Let’s say I have 2000 - 5000$ to burn (which I don’t, but it’s fun to dream). What would be a good video camera to purchase in that category. Let’s also say I’ve rarely used video cameras before but am very interested in trying out filming. What are the important features? I’ve done a little research but am still confused on all the details.
Depends on what you want to film, but here are some ideas:
[ul]
[li]ability to connect in high-quality external sound (including mikes)[/li][li]HD (1080)[/li][li]miniDV tape: a controversial choice, but IMHO the CD/DVD and hard disk cameras are just not ready for prime time yet.[/li][li]external input control for zoom, start/stop, etc.[/li][li]from company that has a good rep for making video equipment[/li][li]don’t spend more than $3K on the camera, be ready to spend money for tripod, editing software, etc. Everything is expensive[/li][/ul]
Here’s my recommendation:
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-broadcastcameras/cat-hdv/product-HVRA1U/
which I think is the latest version of a Sony HD video camera I’ve been using at work for some time with good success. What I like about it:
[ul]
[li]Hot shoe for connecting a mike mixer. You can mount a boom mike on it, and still have an input for a wireless mike.[/li][li]all controls through the LCD screen. On small cameras, using buttons etc is a b*tch.[/li][li]Good quality video[/li][li]Sony reputation for video cameras[/li][/ul]
I have two Canon camcorders of my own, one miniDV SD and one AVCHD (hard drive) HD. The first one is nice but obsolete. The second one I regret, a bit. AVCHD sounds like it’s nice, but it has some issues. Sony, AFAIK, is not yet making a hard drive HD camera.
I don’t have anything really constructive to add except: Whatever you do, DON’T BUT A JVC PRODUCT. Their customer service is almost as bad as Sony!
Edited to correct misspelling
I’m happy with my Panasonic AG-DVX100A. They have the -B now, but the -A is just fine. Good images, XLR connectors, 24 frame Progressive mode, Leica lens. Not HD though.
Any recommendations for video cameras that record to flash memory cards? I saw quite a number of them at the photo show. And with 16-gigabyte cards widely-available, and 32-gig cards on the horizon, you can record quite a bit of video without changing cards or dumping to your computer…
What are you trying to achieve? What do you want to do with the camera? $2000-5000 is a lot of money to spend when you can get a 3-CCD HD camcorder these days for around a thousand bucks.
If you’re videotaping weddings or doing other commercial work, it makes sense. But for home consumer use, I’m having a hard time seeing the justification for such an expensive camera anymore. Furthermore, a camera in that price range is going to be bulky and not something you’re likely to have with you unless you are going out to do some serious video work.
If I wanted to spend money like that on video gear, I wouldn’t blow it all on a camera. I’d get a couple of cameras - I have a Canon TX-1, which shoots HD video at 720P onto flash memory and fits in the palm of your hand. it has optical image stabilization, can take 7.1 MP stills, and in general is just awesome for its intended purpose which is to have a device you can carry with you for impromptu videos and still photos. It has its limits - you can only fit about half an hour of HD video on an 8GB card (but they’re cheap, so who cares?), it’s not great in low light, it doesn’t have a very powerful flash, and it has no microphone jack for an external mic (it does have an external flash hot shoe, though).
Then I’d spend another $1000-$1500 on a decent 3 CCD HD camcorder - maybe a hybrid with a hard drive and flash memory. But mostly, I’d spend the money on accessories. Get a small steadycam rig, some movie lights, wireless microphones for people to wear, that sort of stuff.
Right now it’s all merely wishful thinking. But I’ve been interested in film for a long time…I’ve just never explored it before. I would love to try to get into serious video work…of course though I know nothing about it. I’m going to get together with a friend over the summer who is into it to get an idea of what it is like. I got the bug to do this when I scored a friend’s amatuer film last summer. It was really exciting!
I’d love to make a short film / documentary…again just wishful thinking though!
Sure. I have the same impulses, but never the wherewithal to follow through with it.
I suggest you start with a simple flash-based camcorder, and invest some money in a good movie editing package like Adobe Premier. Before you can make a decent short movie or documentary, you have a lot of techniques to learn which you can easily learn with a cheap camera. Things like how to keep the thing steady, how to properly do tracking shots and panning, how to edit film, how to compose the frames, how to record sound properly and get good lighting. For this stuff, a small cheap flash-based camcorder is ideal. With a small camcorder, you can take it with you wherever you go and capture scenes that strike your fancy. you can practice taking various different typs of shots in different kinds of light. And with a flash based camcorder, it’s trivially easy to move the output to your computer for editing, and to throw away video that didn’t work out.
This is the Canon TX-1 that I bought. You can get it now for under $300 (It was twice the price a year ago). Add in $40 for an extra battery, $80 for a couple of 8 GB flash cards, and you’re in business. The 720p movie output in daylight is stunning. And it makes a good 7 mp pocket still camera as well - it’s basically a Canon digital Elph camera with a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens and better movie capability.
If nothing else, it will tell you what you really want in a camcorder, and let you practice editing movies. And if you buy a better camcorder later, it makes an excellent backup or travel camcorder/camera.
You can see samples of the still output from the Canon Tx-1 Flickr group: Canon Tx1 flickr group.
Samples of video can be found here: Japanese TX1 site. If you scroll down about halfway, you’ll see some video links. The top left one is in HD mode.
Not to sound cocky…but I have a pretty good track record with doing what I want to do despite a lack of knowledge. I have lots of self initiative 
I bought a good trumpet…1800$…and I couldn’t play better then a 14 year old…
Now I think I could audition for a music college on it…
Same with running shoes…I bought a 250$ pair…and ran a half marathon and two 10Ks, despite being obese when I began.
My personal motto seems to be “If you invest in it, you better damn well use it!”
Thanks for all the advice though, I forgot to factor in all the costs for video software, tripods, mikes, etc
I’ve always said that if you want to make a film, use what you have. Your first efforts are unlikely to be seen by anyone, so it doesn’t matter. Use a HandiCam if that’s all you have. Or super-8 film. Or an old wind-up Bolex. A friend won a Silver Award at the Houston Film Festival for a short he shot on Hi8 video. (Admittedly, Hi8 was pretty hi-tech at the time.) Start with the storytelling, and get the best images you can with what you have. But if you want something to sell, you’re going to want ‘professional’ images. You don’t want people to say, ‘Hey, he shot that on a cheap camcorder!’ (Although Thomas Vinterberg did well with a single-chip Sony in The Celebration.)
As Sam Stone mentioned, you’ll want a more expensive camera if you want to do weddings or commercial work. First, the images are better. But there’s also the ‘selling point’. I used to shoot weddings and instructional videos at a local studio. We used two JVC GY-500U broadcast cameras, professional tripods, and a jib. When the brides came in after visiting the other places (who tended to use consumer-level digital video cameras) they were blown away by our set-up. We shot most of our (aborted) film on my ‘pro-sumer’ Panasonic. Using 24P mode the raw footage looked very similar to 16mm film. It looked even better after post. Anyway, people (customers) take you more seriously (and pay their money) when you have better equipment than they can get at Circuit City and have Uncle Fred use.
You’ll need lights, as has been mentioned. a Lowel DP kit could set you back $2,000 or more. (Hint: No one pays MSRP.) A smaller kit consisting of two Pro-Lights and a V-Light comes in about half of that and is good for small areas. Bogen makes good tripods at a reasonable price. Don’t rely on the camera’s microphones. Get a camera with XLR plugs and at least one good (e.g., Sennheiser) mic. If you really want to go into production the sky is the limit. Clothespins (‘C-47s’), C-stands, gels, scrims, ‘cookies’, dollies… The list goes on.
Of course filmmaking is a collaborative art. You get a camera, and someone else will have the lights. Someone will know someone who has audio recording equipment. Someone else will be good at making things.
If you’re going to ‘make a film’, I’d suggest a pro-sumer camera rather than a consumer model. Your images will be better, and you’ll be taken more seriously. But if you’re going to make things for your own use (or to enter into festivals perhaps) it’s more about how you use the equipment than the equipment itself.