What camera is best for filming bands?

[tonyztours]

Hey,
I am wanting to buy two cameras for making dvd's for rock bands and am stuck with either the DVX102A or the Sony's DSR-PD170/DSR-PDX10 or the new HDV HVR-Z1.
Can I please have feed back on which camera is going to give the best picture in little or lots of light on stage, for the money spent. Thanks.

[LloydC]

you want a film look?

[machardi]

I am in a band and use my DVX from time to time. I have to be honest with you, I have had very little luck with getting good low-light shots with this camera. Admittedly I haven't screwed with the settings as much as others here (namely Master PED), so there's maybe some room for improvement but I'm just starting to accept that I might have to develop a long term relationship with the GAIN button.

That said, if the club is REALLY nice and REALLY well lit, 24p works fine (24p is considerably 'darker' than 30i, in my experience), and depending on the nature of your shooting, you can go ahead and GAIN up, and then make it black and white, and then scratchy, and have that just be the 'look' of that particular clip. Then it becomes a 'style' and not a bad picture.

If you want to check a couple of clips that I've taken of -another- band, to see, by all means. http://www.diaryofaband.com/ then click on the 03.02 entry. it's entitled "some friends". The pics have been downsized (their poor families) but the lighting quality is still consistent, if that makes sense.

Phil

[Final Design Studios]

I ran into the same thing. Concerts are generally hard to shoot because of the low light. I had to turn the gain all the way up. which introduced alot of grain.

Don't get me wrong, I love the camera and use it for commercials all the time, but in low light, its a hard sell. If your going to use it for production where you have control over the lighting (music videos, commercials, promos) then go for it be cause it can give a ton of different looks.

But if its JUST for concerts, you might need something else.

[waycooljr]

I personally use a DVX for the same purpose you do. I have learned that most clubs don't have the proper lighting and or gels to make awesome videos. When working with national acts which I do from time to time, that is a different story.

Any how your decission should first be based on 30 fps or 24 fps. If your looking for that VH-1 video look when you have the proper lighting then I would go with the DVX in 24 Pa.

If your looking for good detailed video in lesser lighting I would go with the PD-170 only because you can run and gun from club to club better with that camera. Just my thoughts.

Ray

[tonyztours]

No, not a film. It is all going to be for DVD's.

[quote author=LloydC link=board=Events;num=1109921517;start=0#1 date=03/04/05 at 10:23:34]you want a film look?[/quote]

[ulisses]

[quote author=tonyztours link=board=Events;num=1109921517;start=0#5 date=03/04/05 at 20:30:36]No, not a film. It is all going to be for DVD's.

[/quote]

Ok, but you want the DVD with film look ?

Ulisses

[PanasonicNZ]

Don't mess him up too much, he's in New Zealand (we had a chat the other day!), which is a PAL country. No 24 or 30p, only 25...

[matthewd5]

i have shot a few different bands and the one with crappy hotel ballroom lighting came out pretty damn dark but a friends band with really good lighting came out spectacular!

i just got my second dvx 100 and i can't wait to get a chance a "real" concert shoot because i'm tired of doing the one camera thing and am happily looking forward to having one camera locked down and the other for close up's etc.

i always get people who say they just want some shots of the show, close up and some crowd shots, but later they want a complete dvd of the show and it just doesn't have any continuity that way!

matthew

[tonyztours]

Ok, but you want the DVD with film look ?

Ulisses

No, I don't want a film look. What I'm really wanting to know is what camera is going to perform the best under low lighting?