Best camera for documentary work in India?

Outcaste

Outcaste

Member
Hi Gang,

I'll be living/ working in India for the next 2 years. Leaving late fall/ winter. Shooting a feature doc for theatrical/ tv. Editing in India on a new Macbook Pro. 1 man band. Decent budget.

I need:
HD
24P

The blueray burner does not seems an effective means to keep things full res for the XD Cam EX... and it's $3k plus $30/ disc! I'm thinking tape but tape seems on the way out. I'd like a camera that can hold it's own for a few years but is not a workflow pain.

Please... Is there anyone in the same boat who has a decent suggestion???

Pany HVX200
JVC 110U
Sony XD Cam EX
Canon HV20

6 years in India/ Asia with Pd100/ Pd150/ Powerbook doing docs.
 
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hi, been living and working in mumbai for the last 10 years, panasonic has no support in India so if something should go wrong, you have to to leave the country to get it fixed.sony is big here and there is support for soy products, having said that everything in india works at 48fps...i'm sure if you have worked here before you know the deal.after years of shooting on film i have gone HD.
I own a HVX200 with a redrock 35mm setup and follow focus and in my opinion it is the best camera for the filmic look.email/PM me if you want any help...
www.wildkumar.com
 
The Sony V1u? It is HD, plus 24p, plus a reasonable size to carry, and will not attract too much attention like a JVC might - That's if you're looking at blending into crowds, and, you know, slipping over the border into Myanmar for that Pulitzer winning footage...

As far as tapeless, you could try the Vu1 with the HVR-DR60?

Wait...compatibility issues with FCP not resolved just yet with the HVR...
 
hey snowleopard,

i hear you on the jvc size thing... and the burma footage.
just spent the night with a little sony palm camera... how refreshing and unbelievably easy to put such a small camera into places. i haven't spent any time with the canon hv20 but you hear/ see great things... mostly with a lens attachment. the hang up seems to be the broadcasters and the asumption that you can't possibly get quality out of such a cheap one chip camera... i always go back to story though.

i wonder how the sony xdcam ex is going to play out... and how long it's going to take until those cards are 5 bucks.
 
Outcaste said:
how long it's going to take until those cards are 5 bucks.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid your trip will be over by then.

I was half-serious on the Myanmar/Burma footage. I personally wouldn't go there, because of all the land mines and gunfire, but someone with a lot of guts could likely get in on a boat through a river, and take a small camera and get some extremely unique footage and make a small doc that would very likely sell.
 
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