I wrote this to a friend the other day- thought it might be helpful for others:::::
Here is a quick suggestions. Depending
on your price range and quality you want there are
three levels.
1. Prosummer- $2000.00 and up
2.mid line $600-$1,500
3. cheaper but works. $220
You should stick with the “Mini DV” format for tape.
This is the digital standard and is much better than
Hi 8 or Digtial hi8. You transfer the info to the mac
via firewire on mini dv cameras. The software on the
computer will control the camera to tell it to play,
pause, etc.
I would recommend Canon on the top of the list. I have
been extremly pleased with them and the amount of
craftmenship that goes into their camera’s.
Sony, Panisonic and JVC are also great brands.
Each camera will have its own “look”. They use Charged
Couple Devies (CDD’s) to convert light into Red,
Green, Blue. The better the chip and more chips you
have the more expensive the camera is.
Most mid and lower cameras have 1 CCD. That means one
chip converting Red, Green, Blue. Prosummer’s have 3
chips dedicated to each color. Hence the color and
contrast will be much richer on 3ccd’s cameras.
As for Canon, I prefer their camera, it has an
overall “warmer” tone to the images. Its hard to
discribe- but the images are soft, rich but also very
detailed.
1. Hi end for you- would be the Canon GL2. I bought
this camera in 2002 and its is very trusty. Also
images, prosumer- great quality, took it all around
europe- i film weddings with it etc. 785mm (20x
optical) zoom, 3ccd, light and small. It has gone
down some – probably find it for around $2,000- 2,200.
with maybe some rebates.
ps. any digtal zoom sucks. don’t use it. look only for
optical.
2. There are several choices with them. The Optura XI
or the new Optura 600 look really great. Both have
great zoom’s (10x optical) and are small and compact.
the Optura 600 is brand spanken new and it has a lot
of cool features. it is a hybrid, so it can also take
4.0 megapixel still images. (thats cool). It also has
true “widescreen” mode. so that it shoots in 16:9 (the
shape of the screen like movies theater and HD) and
that footage will play letterboxed on a regular TV
(4:3). So that is kinda the new cool feature to shoot
like that. Also most upper end canon’s come with Image
Stabilzer- which takes the shakyness. It really works
too! Crap just read this camera is available in
september. so i don’t what you think about waiting. If
not,the Optura Xi looks like a great one too. So
really look into that one too.
What you want to look at is this.
1. How many CCd’s?
2. What is the effective pixel’s on the one or 3
ccd’s? like 350,000 blah blah. the higher the better.
3. What is the Optical Zoom.
4. the size- what to you want to carry around?
5. What is the cost? What are you going to use the
camera for? You always pay for what you get.
Canon’s DV site
http://consumer.usa.canon.com
be sure to copy/paste entire link
Other costs involved with buying a camera.
1. You want to get a UV filter for the lense. This
helps protect glare, uv rays, but most importantly
protects the camera lense from scratches etc. Its the
biggest life saver. around $15-$20 bucks.
2. Tripod- pick a good one up that is light and
compact for about $40.
3. Extra batteries. (they can die so quick and you
will probably want a back up) $50-$100 depending on
the size.
4. Camera Case-gotta have it to hold all your goodies.
around $20-80.
5. Mini DV tapes. buying online you can get it for
about $3bucks a pop (i think.)
6. Once you get rolling, probably want to look into an
external harddrive for all your video clips. Video can
get pretty big. “Lacie” is a good brand. Either USB2
or firewire. ($100-$250) depending on size.
7. Possibly upgrading your software to Final Cut
Express. check out apple’s website on that. I movie is
great – this just gets more advanced.
Where to buy?
Go to your local stores to check it out see if you
like it. But don’t buy it there. Go to B&H Photo
Video’s website. Company based out of New York- Best
deals in states. I buy all of my equipment from them
and its great. No hassle- either order online or by
phone. I spent a lot here an never had a problem. No
tax and that will save you a lot- and usually lower
than other places.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
If you want local place to get all gear go to Showcase
Video and Photo
on the corner of Cheisbrige and La Vista (right down
the street from my place.)
http://www.showcaseinc.com/site/