elcort0
03-01-2006, 06:49 AM
Hello all,
If this post is in the wrong place, I appologize. I couldn't find a better heading to put it under.
I'm looking for some help in determining which camera to pick up. I've been doing my homework and, as it stands, the DVX100B is topping the list. However, the pricetag involved in a prosumer cam requires me to be catious and completely certain before making my decision.
First off, I am an extreme novice. I have some still photography background, and love manual options. As for video, I have never owned anything close to "prosumer". However, I want to start producing indie films and am not put off by a steep learning curve. It is also of the utmost importance that whichever camera I choose is able to grow with me as my skills progress. I figure if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right. For my needs, the "Bee" seems to fall short of pure perfection in only two respects:
No true 16:9
No HD
From what I can tell, the widescreen ratio isn't really that much of an issue as the "squeeze" mode seems to be quite effective for quality widescreen production. However, this opinion is based soley on the various submitted clips I have had a chance to watch. If I'm not seeing this issue clearly please let me know.
Now, I really have no idea if the lack of HD is even an issue here. Obviously the technology for writable media and monitoring/editing needs some time before this even plays a factor. The conversion from 1080i down to 24p also seems like quite a chore. This wasn't even an issue to me until I noticed that I could buy a Sony HDR-FX1 for just a few hundred clams over the Bee.
So, my question is what other cameras should I seriously consider in the same ($3000-$4000) price range? So far I've come up with the following:
AG-DXV100B
HDR-FX1 (HD, but lacks 24p!)
Canon XL2 (Seems overpriced)
DSR-PD170 (once again, no 24p)
If I've overlooked some prize-winning underdog please let me know. Now, it may seem silly asking for this advise on a DVX forum, but from the posts I've been reading here for the last few days there seems to be a good number of unbiased and objective folks hanging around this place.
Okay, this post is already longer than I intended, but I've really got to ask one more question. It's in reference to making the actual purchase (when I inevitablly decide to go with the DVX). I have read the stickies about buying, and the warnings about grey market cams, and so forth. I have also extensively searched for the best value... okay okay, yes I mean the cheapest deal. Although I can afford what I need to spend on this, I'd still like to get the best deal possible. The thing is, I found a package deal from one vendor that no one else on the web even matches. I hate to admit it, but I suppose it is probably too good to be true.
It may be a shot in the dark, but I just wanted to know if anyone has had any dealings with the offering company, as this package deal for the Bee includes everthing from; a case, tripod, filters, lenses, bells, and whistles, to a third party 4 year warranty. Oh, and get this, the kit also inludes an additional 10 hour (???) battery. Is there even such a thing for the DVX? So anyways, the kit price is the same amount as EVSOnline's price for just the camera, $3600.
The company's name is ZoomMania. If anyone knows anything about them, first-hand or otherwise, please drop a line.
Well, I guess that about wraps up my first post to this forum. Thanks in advance for any assisntance you can offer. Toodles.
If this post is in the wrong place, I appologize. I couldn't find a better heading to put it under.
I'm looking for some help in determining which camera to pick up. I've been doing my homework and, as it stands, the DVX100B is topping the list. However, the pricetag involved in a prosumer cam requires me to be catious and completely certain before making my decision.
First off, I am an extreme novice. I have some still photography background, and love manual options. As for video, I have never owned anything close to "prosumer". However, I want to start producing indie films and am not put off by a steep learning curve. It is also of the utmost importance that whichever camera I choose is able to grow with me as my skills progress. I figure if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right. For my needs, the "Bee" seems to fall short of pure perfection in only two respects:
No true 16:9
No HD
From what I can tell, the widescreen ratio isn't really that much of an issue as the "squeeze" mode seems to be quite effective for quality widescreen production. However, this opinion is based soley on the various submitted clips I have had a chance to watch. If I'm not seeing this issue clearly please let me know.
Now, I really have no idea if the lack of HD is even an issue here. Obviously the technology for writable media and monitoring/editing needs some time before this even plays a factor. The conversion from 1080i down to 24p also seems like quite a chore. This wasn't even an issue to me until I noticed that I could buy a Sony HDR-FX1 for just a few hundred clams over the Bee.
So, my question is what other cameras should I seriously consider in the same ($3000-$4000) price range? So far I've come up with the following:
AG-DXV100B
HDR-FX1 (HD, but lacks 24p!)
Canon XL2 (Seems overpriced)
DSR-PD170 (once again, no 24p)
If I've overlooked some prize-winning underdog please let me know. Now, it may seem silly asking for this advise on a DVX forum, but from the posts I've been reading here for the last few days there seems to be a good number of unbiased and objective folks hanging around this place.
Okay, this post is already longer than I intended, but I've really got to ask one more question. It's in reference to making the actual purchase (when I inevitablly decide to go with the DVX). I have read the stickies about buying, and the warnings about grey market cams, and so forth. I have also extensively searched for the best value... okay okay, yes I mean the cheapest deal. Although I can afford what I need to spend on this, I'd still like to get the best deal possible. The thing is, I found a package deal from one vendor that no one else on the web even matches. I hate to admit it, but I suppose it is probably too good to be true.
It may be a shot in the dark, but I just wanted to know if anyone has had any dealings with the offering company, as this package deal for the Bee includes everthing from; a case, tripod, filters, lenses, bells, and whistles, to a third party 4 year warranty. Oh, and get this, the kit also inludes an additional 10 hour (???) battery. Is there even such a thing for the DVX? So anyways, the kit price is the same amount as EVSOnline's price for just the camera, $3600.
The company's name is ZoomMania. If anyone knows anything about them, first-hand or otherwise, please drop a line.
Well, I guess that about wraps up my first post to this forum. Thanks in advance for any assisntance you can offer. Toodles.