Camera New

Need suggestions on buying a new camcorder? ?

Hey, I'm getting a camcorder for my birthday, and I'm finding it hard to chose one. I like the whole new HD thing, think it's great, but I am mostly looking for a camcorder that's not too expensive but has the 24p style included, so that I can add a more cinematic look to my home movies. The Canon HV30 seemed like the perfect camera, but it's a bit expensive. Any cheaper suggestions, open to anything really... Thanks!

Public Comments

1. HV30 is a fantastic HDV camcorder, arguably the best HDV consumer camcorder on the market. I have had bad experiences with tape based camcorders in the past, however, so I went with flash memory AVCHD camcorder with virtually zero moving parts (essentially just the lens motor). I got Canon HF100, which does not have as many manual features as HV30 and under low light, performs a smidgen worse than HV30. But at under $600, it costs significantly less. That said, 16 GB SDHC class 6 memory card, which can record over 1 hour highest quality 1080 PF24 footage, costs $40, which is more expensive than high quality MiniDV tapes (about $12). But SDHC memory card offers total random access, can record instantly, and footage can be transferred easily to Mac or PC with a memory card reader (many 16 GB SDHC memory cards come with free reader). In addition, only AVCHD-based HD camcorders can be used on new MacBook, which lacks FireWire connector. Other issues with AVCHD are (1) it's yet not as video editing friendly as HDV, although most new software can handle it fine now and (2) you will need to archive/backup the footage to more expensive hard disk or DV.
2. You don't need any certain camcorder to produce the 24p frame rate or the film look. You can use any camcorder to record your video in standard 60i/30p frame rate. Use your video editing software to apply the 24p change as well as the cinema tones and gamma. Most higher end editing software (such as Sony Vegas Platinum, Pinnacle Plus, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, and Final Cut Pro) has the appropriate filter and gamma built in and the ability to change frame rates.
3. Try this one.Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - Capture high-definition video to flash memory - 12x optical zoom; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer - 24p Cinema Mode; 30p Progressive Mode - 2.7-inch widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD - Simultaneous photo capture and cheaper than HV30 $100 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00114162K?ie=UTF8&tag=computer0bd-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00114162K
4. If you want the cinematic look, buy a camera with true 24p capabilities, and do NOT try and do it in post. It will always fall way short of a camera that actually shoots in 24p. The HV30 is the cheapest, most bang-for-your-buck true 24p camera out there in the consumer market. The price is worth what you get. However, HD has some serious drawbacks that you need to keep in mind, including the amount of hard drive space you are going to need to capture video. An hour of 24p SD footage requires about 14 GB of space on your hard drive, but an hour of 24p HD footage requires 50 GB+, depending on the capture settings. If you use Final Cut Pro, for example, at the best quality settings it uses almost 100 GB's of space for every hour of footage captured! Another thing to consider is rendering time, which with HD footage is VERY slow, even with a very fast computer. HD footage is super processor intensive, so be prepared for a serious lag if you try to run any other programs while editing or rendering. It might sound like I am against HD, but I am actually a huge fan. I use a Sony HVR-V1U which shoots in true 24p and 1080i HD to shoot all my footage, and I love the results, and could not imagine going back to SD again. That said, shooting in HD takes a lot more knowledge and care to get it to look as good as possible. If you think $700 for an HV30 is a lot, just wait. The costs just go up from there, and for everything. Consider if you will need any of the following: An extra battery A tripod A camera bag A mic Lens filters Tapes designed for HD footage Wide or Telephoto lenses A firewire cable A french flag or similar sunshade An external hard drive to hold your footage As you can see, just getting the camera might not be enough to begin with. And then, if you REALLY want the film look, you need to seriously consider investing in a 35mm adapter, like a Letus Extreme or RedRock Micro, which both have kits that run about $2000 once you add in shipping. Then you would also need 35mm lenses to use with the adapters, which will tack on at least a few hundred more. I am not trying to discourage you from getting into this profession, as it is a great one to be in. Rather, I am trying to help you be as informed as possible when deciding what you want to buy and why. My recommendation would be to save up any funds you don't quite have, be patient, and get the HV30 to start off. I would also highly recommend an extra battery, a bag, some filters and a tripod to start with (tapes, a firewire cable and an external HDD is a given). It will cost you around a grand or so to start with, but it will definitely be worth it. Also, if you don't have it already, I highly recommend picking up The DV Rebel's Guide book, which is crammed full of tons of useful stuff.