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I answered a post a few minutes ago with the following information and figured that some of it may be relevant to those looking to buy a new camcorder. I also threw in a little about how you can attempt to improve the look of your production from the level of screaming amateur to better amateur. And then at the very bottom, I threw in a little about myself so you can understand what my qualifications are.
Now first and foremost. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to manufacturers. My preference is Panasonic. But that's just me. In any case, I'll try to keep this as "brand-free" as I can.
The biggest item to contemplate when choosing a camera is what are you going to be shooting? General family outings? Your little tyke opening presents at their first birthday? Your kid at his championship football game? Wedding's for your friends whom which you will sell the edited version to? Each example can fall into a few different categories so we'll start with defining said categories.
1. Consumer - This will be most of you. You plan to take your camera with you to Disney World and capture the most expensive trip of your life. These will be the entry level cameras. Probably under $400. Every manufacturer makes these and they are available at most retail outlets that sell electronics. Some models would include the Panasonic PV-GS320, Sony DCR-HC38, Canon ZR-850, and JVC GR-D796.
2. Expensive Consumer - You fit into the category above as far as what you will be shooting but have a little more money to spend on your camera. Generally up to $1000. You may spring for one of those new fancy-pants HD camcorders. Such models include the Panasonic HDC-SD5, Sony HDR-HC7, Canon HV20, and JVC GZHD3US.
3. Prosumer - Ahh, the new category built specifically for those who have lots of money to spend but don't want to change career's (just a joke). You guys probably want the best there is (under $2000 that is) but you may plan to actually try and make money with your cam. Some models include Panasonic AG-HSC1U, Canon GL2, Sony VX2100 or PD-150.
4. Professional (under $5000) - Finally. The big boys. You may be looking to make a movie with your camera that you could show at film festivals and the such. You probably know all this but for those who don't, here's what you want. You definitely want something that can shoot in 24p (explained somewhere towards the bottom). You HAVE to have something 3-CCD. You also HAVE to be comfortable with setting and using MANUAL control's as these cam's perform much better that way as opposed to just "pointing and shooting" on auto mode. Some popular models include the Panasonic DVX100B and HVX200, Canon XL2 or XH-A1, Sony DSR-PD170 (non 24p) or HVR-V1U. Again, I'm only listing models here that provide the 24p filmlike ability (except the PD-170).
5. Professional (above $5000) - Well, at this point, you would be better off renting a camera. I'm not going to list any models as you already know what you're looking for. For those that are curious, go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com and go to their Pro Video section and then to Camcorders (ENG) and be amazed.
So those are the categories. Once you figure out where you belong, you then have MANY options to choose from. Here are some guidelines to follow:
1. Storage Media - MiniDV is still used by industry professionals to this day. It offers great quality and with tape, as long as you use a tape only once (possibly twice) you won't have to worry about it being corrupted. Hard Drive cams look appealing (because when you plug it in it shows up as an external hard drive and you just drag and drop your clips). But alot of these hard drive cams use a file format that iMovie/FCP won't recognize. If you use the cam companies conversion tool, it will probably encode in MPEG2 which won't go directly into iMovie/FCP. So that 20mins you saved by just dragging and dropping the movie file turns into 45mins of encoding and re-encoding. And every time you encode, you lose quality (unless you go uncompressed). Mini-DVD is absolute trash if you want to edit on ANY platform. Older mediums (Hi8, Digital8, SVHS, etc) are old and outdated. Stay away.
2. CCD's - CCD's are like memory, the more, the better. And like hard drives, the bigger the better. You're only really going to have two options when it comes to CCD amount; 1 or 3. If you can afford 3, get 3. If not, look for the single CCD cam that has the largest CCD size. Your usual options will be 1/3", 1/4", and 1/6". Price will vary among manufacturers.
3. Zoom - Here's where manufacturers will try to impress. They will offer a cam with 12x Optical Zoom and 38423847389x Digital Zoom. Digital Zoom is crap, ignore that number. Optical Zoom is where you're going to want to look. Going into zoom mode requires a steadier hand so for zoom, I'd recommend a tripod or a shoulder mount.
4. Additional Features - Yeah when you're in Best Buy and the clerk is showing you all the cool features like the sepia look and the negative filter, these may entice you (I used to work at Best Buy, I know how they work). But to be honest, you will NEVER use these features outside of the first 11 minutes you have the camera. They offer no real value in trying to make a decent video/movie. Using in-camera effects will cheapen the value. Additional features like these just clutter up the menu's. And as far as still picture abilities, forget it. Buy a cheap digital camera and it will produce better stills than any video camera ever would. Its called a video camera for a reason, it shoots video.
5. HD vs. SD - While the HD factor is very tempting, you have to keep in mind where your video is going. If it's for playback SOLELY on computer screens, then jump for it. Or if you plan to output to 35mm film (you would also want a camera with native 16:9 CCD's). But if you want to play it on your TV, it's still going to have to be SD. Unless of course, you hook up your computer to your fancy pants HDTV. But if you plan to burn these videos to DVD then they will have to be SD (unless of course you have a Blu-Ray burner or HD-DVD burner). Plus, most of the general population is still using SDTV's. When Blu-Ray/HD-DVD burners/players come down in price and most of the general population is using HDTV's, then make the switch.
6. LCD Size, accessories, etc... - Sure that 4" LCD screen looks great but you have to consider what it takes to run that LCD. More power needed = more batteries needed. You're not going to be watching the video on the camera, so who cares? A 2.7" screen is fine. Accessories to look out for are bags/cases, storage media (if you go Mini-DV), tripods, lens filters/protectors, batteries, etc... I would personally go with as much as you can afford. Don't skimp on the bag as this is your protection. A lens filter/protectors is a great investment because $40-$60<$300 (assuming you paid $300 for you cam). A tripod will set you free and allow for much better video than handheld.
General Tips for Camera's.
1. If you go MiniDV (and I recommend you do), only use a tape once (possibly twice). Once you pick a brand of tape, STAY WITH THAT BRAND! Every brand uses different lubes on their tapes and multiple lubes can cause cross contamination. You don't want that. Also, once you're done with a tape, put it back in its case and keep it in a cool, dry, protected place. Your tapes should last for years. And one other thing, be sure to run a head cleaner through your cam if you decide to change tape brands and run it once for about 10seconds every 50 hours or so.
2. Go for the biggest CCD you can afford. If you can afford a 3CCD cam, go with that.
3. If you can afford a cam with a manual focus ring, go for it. Manual focus rings will allow you to do rack focus shots (fore subject in perfect focus, back subject out of focus, you move the focus ring, fore subject out of focus, back subject in focus). Just like on the news! Of course, you will also need a cam that has some manual control of fstop. But this may not suite what you need.
4. Sony camera's use batteries that have AMAZING life. You can get 5-6 hours out of Sony batteries. Plus, Sony are very tough, durable cameras.
5. Stay away from Canon. (Lol, just a joke.)
6. Look for a cam that will allow you to turn off that stupid Date/Time stamp. Again, another "feature" that yells amateur.
7. 24p - Ahh, the Indie filmmaker's holy grail. For those that haven't heard, 24p is a shooting mode that was developed to allow video camera's to shoot at 24 frames per second (FPS). This is the frame rate that those big budget Hollywood movies are filmed on. The "p" stands for progressive. You can wikipedia "Progressive Scan" for a full explanation of progressive scan. All you need to remember is Progressive scan equals better picture quality. Normal video cameras shoot in 60i mode. That stands for 60 frames per second interlaced. The interlaced frames are combined together to make one full frame. It takes two interlaced "frames" to make one full frame. So, 60 divided by 2 equals 30. So, after all the math is done, you end up with 30 (full) frames per second. For a good comparison so you can see the difference, watch a portion of a big budget Hollywood feature. Notice how the characters move on screen. Now, watch a portion of a TV soap opera. Notice the difference in character movement? 24p is the Hollywood movie and 60i is the soap opera. But there are alot of things that impact the total look of the film. See below.
Now first and foremost. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to manufacturers. My preference is Panasonic. But that's just me. In any case, I'll try to keep this as "brand-free" as I can.
The biggest item to contemplate when choosing a camera is what are you going to be shooting? General family outings? Your little tyke opening presents at their first birthday? Your kid at his championship football game? Wedding's for your friends whom which you will sell the edited version to? Each example can fall into a few different categories so we'll start with defining said categories.
1. Consumer - This will be most of you. You plan to take your camera with you to Disney World and capture the most expensive trip of your life. These will be the entry level cameras. Probably under $400. Every manufacturer makes these and they are available at most retail outlets that sell electronics. Some models would include the Panasonic PV-GS320, Sony DCR-HC38, Canon ZR-850, and JVC GR-D796.
2. Expensive Consumer - You fit into the category above as far as what you will be shooting but have a little more money to spend on your camera. Generally up to $1000. You may spring for one of those new fancy-pants HD camcorders. Such models include the Panasonic HDC-SD5, Sony HDR-HC7, Canon HV20, and JVC GZHD3US.
3. Prosumer - Ahh, the new category built specifically for those who have lots of money to spend but don't want to change career's (just a joke). You guys probably want the best there is (under $2000 that is) but you may plan to actually try and make money with your cam. Some models include Panasonic AG-HSC1U, Canon GL2, Sony VX2100 or PD-150.
4. Professional (under $5000) - Finally. The big boys. You may be looking to make a movie with your camera that you could show at film festivals and the such. You probably know all this but for those who don't, here's what you want. You definitely want something that can shoot in 24p (explained somewhere towards the bottom). You HAVE to have something 3-CCD. You also HAVE to be comfortable with setting and using MANUAL control's as these cam's perform much better that way as opposed to just "pointing and shooting" on auto mode. Some popular models include the Panasonic DVX100B and HVX200, Canon XL2 or XH-A1, Sony DSR-PD170 (non 24p) or HVR-V1U. Again, I'm only listing models here that provide the 24p filmlike ability (except the PD-170).
5. Professional (above $5000) - Well, at this point, you would be better off renting a camera. I'm not going to list any models as you already know what you're looking for. For those that are curious, go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com and go to their Pro Video section and then to Camcorders (ENG) and be amazed.
So those are the categories. Once you figure out where you belong, you then have MANY options to choose from. Here are some guidelines to follow:
1. Storage Media - MiniDV is still used by industry professionals to this day. It offers great quality and with tape, as long as you use a tape only once (possibly twice) you won't have to worry about it being corrupted. Hard Drive cams look appealing (because when you plug it in it shows up as an external hard drive and you just drag and drop your clips). But alot of these hard drive cams use a file format that iMovie/FCP won't recognize. If you use the cam companies conversion tool, it will probably encode in MPEG2 which won't go directly into iMovie/FCP. So that 20mins you saved by just dragging and dropping the movie file turns into 45mins of encoding and re-encoding. And every time you encode, you lose quality (unless you go uncompressed). Mini-DVD is absolute trash if you want to edit on ANY platform. Older mediums (Hi8, Digital8, SVHS, etc) are old and outdated. Stay away.
2. CCD's - CCD's are like memory, the more, the better. And like hard drives, the bigger the better. You're only really going to have two options when it comes to CCD amount; 1 or 3. If you can afford 3, get 3. If not, look for the single CCD cam that has the largest CCD size. Your usual options will be 1/3", 1/4", and 1/6". Price will vary among manufacturers.
3. Zoom - Here's where manufacturers will try to impress. They will offer a cam with 12x Optical Zoom and 38423847389x Digital Zoom. Digital Zoom is crap, ignore that number. Optical Zoom is where you're going to want to look. Going into zoom mode requires a steadier hand so for zoom, I'd recommend a tripod or a shoulder mount.
4. Additional Features - Yeah when you're in Best Buy and the clerk is showing you all the cool features like the sepia look and the negative filter, these may entice you (I used to work at Best Buy, I know how they work). But to be honest, you will NEVER use these features outside of the first 11 minutes you have the camera. They offer no real value in trying to make a decent video/movie. Using in-camera effects will cheapen the value. Additional features like these just clutter up the menu's. And as far as still picture abilities, forget it. Buy a cheap digital camera and it will produce better stills than any video camera ever would. Its called a video camera for a reason, it shoots video.
5. HD vs. SD - While the HD factor is very tempting, you have to keep in mind where your video is going. If it's for playback SOLELY on computer screens, then jump for it. Or if you plan to output to 35mm film (you would also want a camera with native 16:9 CCD's). But if you want to play it on your TV, it's still going to have to be SD. Unless of course, you hook up your computer to your fancy pants HDTV. But if you plan to burn these videos to DVD then they will have to be SD (unless of course you have a Blu-Ray burner or HD-DVD burner). Plus, most of the general population is still using SDTV's. When Blu-Ray/HD-DVD burners/players come down in price and most of the general population is using HDTV's, then make the switch.
6. LCD Size, accessories, etc... - Sure that 4" LCD screen looks great but you have to consider what it takes to run that LCD. More power needed = more batteries needed. You're not going to be watching the video on the camera, so who cares? A 2.7" screen is fine. Accessories to look out for are bags/cases, storage media (if you go Mini-DV), tripods, lens filters/protectors, batteries, etc... I would personally go with as much as you can afford. Don't skimp on the bag as this is your protection. A lens filter/protectors is a great investment because $40-$60<$300 (assuming you paid $300 for you cam). A tripod will set you free and allow for much better video than handheld.
General Tips for Camera's.
1. If you go MiniDV (and I recommend you do), only use a tape once (possibly twice). Once you pick a brand of tape, STAY WITH THAT BRAND! Every brand uses different lubes on their tapes and multiple lubes can cause cross contamination. You don't want that. Also, once you're done with a tape, put it back in its case and keep it in a cool, dry, protected place. Your tapes should last for years. And one other thing, be sure to run a head cleaner through your cam if you decide to change tape brands and run it once for about 10seconds every 50 hours or so.
2. Go for the biggest CCD you can afford. If you can afford a 3CCD cam, go with that.
3. If you can afford a cam with a manual focus ring, go for it. Manual focus rings will allow you to do rack focus shots (fore subject in perfect focus, back subject out of focus, you move the focus ring, fore subject out of focus, back subject in focus). Just like on the news! Of course, you will also need a cam that has some manual control of fstop. But this may not suite what you need.
4. Sony camera's use batteries that have AMAZING life. You can get 5-6 hours out of Sony batteries. Plus, Sony are very tough, durable cameras.
5. Stay away from Canon. (Lol, just a joke.)
6. Look for a cam that will allow you to turn off that stupid Date/Time stamp. Again, another "feature" that yells amateur.
7. 24p - Ahh, the Indie filmmaker's holy grail. For those that haven't heard, 24p is a shooting mode that was developed to allow video camera's to shoot at 24 frames per second (FPS). This is the frame rate that those big budget Hollywood movies are filmed on. The "p" stands for progressive. You can wikipedia "Progressive Scan" for a full explanation of progressive scan. All you need to remember is Progressive scan equals better picture quality. Normal video cameras shoot in 60i mode. That stands for 60 frames per second interlaced. The interlaced frames are combined together to make one full frame. It takes two interlaced "frames" to make one full frame. So, 60 divided by 2 equals 30. So, after all the math is done, you end up with 30 (full) frames per second. For a good comparison so you can see the difference, watch a portion of a big budget Hollywood feature. Notice how the characters move on screen. Now, watch a portion of a TV soap opera. Notice the difference in character movement? 24p is the Hollywood movie and 60i is the soap opera. But there are alot of things that impact the total look of the film. See below.