Lets get to the bottom of this XL2 or DVX100a

[cba]

Mitch_Ives

how u make that money i need dough.. i have a pany gs200 can u let a beginner like me know? make dough?

[liquidigital]

Unless you intend on going into production NOW, meaning a project in preproduction, do not spend your money on any camera. The exception being, you haven't had a lot of experience shooting and you want to learn to be a working DP. If your goal is to direct, hire a DP that can make you look good, that knows his art. Don't spend your hard earned money on something that will be far surpassed a year or even six months later. Rent for your production. Now if you want to learn HOW to shoot, borrow a friend's camera. Rent for a weekend. How many film shooters own their cameras? Not many, unless they are a rental house as well. When the Kinetta comes out, rent it. Best-Mike

[PaulK]

[quote author=liquidigital link=board=XL2;num=1089936707;start=0#11 date=07/17/04 at 14:39:34]How many film shooters own their cameras? Not many, unless they are a rental house as well. [/quote]
Yes, that argument is made all the time, popularized by Scott Billups' advice in his book Digital Moviemaking. But there's a huge price difference between pro film cameras and prosumer camcorders.

BTW, I think a lot of folks missed Scott's point. He was talking about renting versus owning top of the line DV equipment. Later in his book he advises to purchase a camcorder to practice the craft of filmmaking.

Without owning you won't shoot nearly as much, therefore you won't become as good as quickly.

[liquidigital]

Big Willy's post stated that he was looking for a camera for "indie filmmaking." If he intends on making a film, a better investment would be to rent a better camera that will also give the project a higher production value, than pimp up a DVX100A or an XL2. Save $5,000 if you want to learn to shoot and buy a used camera on ebay.

[Ranger]

[quote author=Mitch_Ives link=board=XL2;num=1089936707;start=0#9 date=07/16/04 at 14:32:15]

Or he could buy something now and start making money! Jeez, if I had a nickel for everytime someone waited for the next thing I could retire. By the time the XL2 arrives I will have paid for both of my 100A's many times over...[/quote]
Mitch,

I stand 100% behind my original statement. In principle, you are correct, but that doesn’t mean one has to be reckless or irresponsible in the decision making process either. No one is advocating that BigWilly sit on the fence for a year before he finally makes a decision. Only that he simply waits until the Canon arrives before taking the final plunge. BigWilly doesn't have a clue what he wants. He's been waffling back and forth all this week into whether he should get the DVX or the XL2. Let’s not push him into something that he may regret eight weeks down the road from now.

[PaulK]

[quote author=liquidigital link=board=XL2;num=1089936707;start=0#13 date=07/18/04 at 09:33:34]Big Willy's post stated that he was looking for a camera for "indie filmmaking."
[/quote]
Yes, but his subject is "Lets get to the bottom of this XL2 or DVX100a". It sounds like he's already made a choice on format and wants to know which is better.

If he intends on making a film, a better investment would be to rent a better camera that will also give the project a higher production value, than pimp up a DVX100A or an XL2. Save $5,000 if you want to learn to shoot and buy a used camera on ebay.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion. You do know that November, shot on a DVX100, won the best cinematography award at the last Sundance festival, right?

I think the argument to rent a film camera (or, I guess now you're saying to buy on Ebay) instead of getting a camera like the DVX is a specious one, especially in this day and age when there are so many great indie films being shot on miniDV. And the format is so cheap compared to film, a miniDV camera owner is more likely to experiment and overshoot more -- two things that will increase the likelihood of good results.

Either way, a good story is still the number one criterion and takes precedence over all other factors.

[PaulK]

[quote author=liquidigital link=board=XL2;num=1089936707;start=15#16 date=07/18/04 at 15:02:59]Paul, you're entitled to your opinion as well. You have some vaild points. But, I bet the majority of films that have won best cinematography have been filmed on film
;).
[/quote]

???
There's no question, and I would never try to imply the contrary.

$ 5,000.00 is a lot of cash. For that matter, so is $3400.00.

Again, I would never try to imply the contrary.

Your argument is that miniDV has produced a lot of great films. This may or may not be true,

Well, specifically, I said "there are so many great indie films being shot on miniDV," and that is without a doubt true. I've seen a lot at film festivals, on the Sundance channel, even at the monthly gathering of film geeks here in Santa Cruz.

Of course your definition of "great" might be different. But let's not go there, K? ;)

but you can learn on any camera. Even a used DVX100.

Yes, well, at the risk of being redundant, I would never try to imply the contrary. ;D

Look, you've either misread what I wrote, or I wasn't as clear as I thought I was. Either way, my original point was it is better to own than to rent and I gave my reasons. But no worries. I'm not angry or anything. But a lot of mistaken assumptions were made in your post, so I felt obligated to respond. 8)

[liquidigital]

I'm glad you agree with me. ;) ;D

[PaulK]

;D