Need camera advice from HVX lovers

[rgcote]

I've decided to buy a camera and try my hand at making some films. I would like some advice from you all.

I already have a good career and I'm not looking to be a filmaker or videographer full time. Instead, I'd like to make films as a creative outlet and see where it goes. I expect to make mostly dramatic or comedic films, nothing too fancy in terms of special effects.

After spending lots of time over the last two years reading postings on this board, I am pretty sure I want to get the HVX but wanted to give you all a chance to offer advice before making such an expensive purchase.

Here are my thoughts:

1) I am pretty new to video cameras. Though I've read a lot, I don't have a lot of hands on experience. Am I buying more camera than I can handle as a beginner? Would something like the DVX be better?

2) Buying the HVX would use up my budget for this year. So I wouldn't be able to buy a good microphone, a 35mm lens adapter or better lights (I have some Home Depot halogens that seem to do a good job). Would I be better off getting something cheaper so that I have money for those other things in the short term or can the HXV do well enough to get me started?

3) I know that Panasonic is coming out with new cameras in the fall that will be tapeless and may make the HVX obsolete. However, I don't have money in my budget for a laptop and additional P2 cards, so I like the fact that the HVX will allow me to record to tape to get started. If things work out well, I can graduate to P2 recording and buy a laptop down the road.

Lastly, I have Vegas and associated programs from Sony. I know I will need to get RayLight in order to digitize the HVX footage for use in Vegas.

I welcome any input.

[ProfessorU]

I think most narrative independent filmmakers end up with (or should end up with) a camera that costs 25-50% of all of their gear. That's a rough number that will vary depending on the types of projects you make and the way you work.

Even if you just buy the HVX200, at a minimum you'll want:
Case $ 150
P2 cards $1200
Tripod&Head $ 500
Cheap Shotgun $100
Batteries $120

If you can't afford that, you're better off going with a different camera.
If you can afford that, and you're going to make films and not do traditional video work, wait for the HPX-170. You'd kick yourself if you didn't.

I have about $1,500 in lighting and grip equipment, $300 in sound equipment, $4,000 in camera accessories, and an HVX200, and every day I shoot I wish I had more grip equipment.

You'll never be shooting and think to yourself "I wish this camera had a 1/2 stop more latitude," but I can't count the number of times I've thought "I wish I had another c-stand," or an apple box, or a specialty gel, or whatever else I should have bought.

Five years from now, a used $5,000 camera will be worth maybe $1,000 or $2,000. But your c-stands will still be worth almost what you paid for them new.

Panasonic's 1/3" P2 cameras are awesome, but if you've only got $6,000 in your budget, I'd either rent or start looking in the $1,000-$2,000 range.