Good Cameras for under $1000

B

boarderjosh10

Active member
I am looking for a decent video camera that runs for around $1000 or less. I guess most consumer cameras fall into that category and I was hoping for a 3CCD camera or HD camera. I have a ton of miniDV tapes so if it can use MiniDV tapes versus HD or flash memory that is a plus. Also I use Final Cut software to edit footage so it needs to be Mac compatible.

thanks!!
 
VX1000's, 2000's, and 2100's are going for under $1000 now. They are all mini dv.

... you skate, you should know this!
 
Tapeless can be friendly, of course. My point aside any other we can find, there is a sensor 18% smaller than the tape model. It does seem HV20/30 is the most interesting deal for a while yet. Even though, I'd like to know a comprehensive comparative test between both options, or more AVCHD footage.
 
Emanuel said:
Tapeless can be friendly, of course. My point aside any other we can find, there is a sensor 18% smaller than the tape model. It does seem HV20/30 is the most interesting deal for a while yet. Even though, I'd like to know a comprehensive comparative test between both options, or more AVCHD footage.
Click to expand...

the comparison has already been done on camcorderinfo:

"Ultimately, the HF11 (shooting in 1080/60i) produced an approximate horizontal resolution of 675 lw/ph. The vertical resolution measured approximately 600 lw/ph."

"The resolution of the Canon HV30... We recorded in 1080/60i. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a horizontal resolution of 625 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 575 lw/ph."

the hf11 has the latest DIGIC DV II processor(same as in the canon xl h1), while the hv30 is using the old Digic DV... the hf11 has a 12x zoom vs the hv30 10x zoom, and camcorderinfo gave the hf11 a significantly better compression rating.

the hf11 has 13 manual shutter speed steps(minimum lux .20), vs 9 shutter speed steps(minimum lux 3.0) for the hv30.

you might think that you want an hdv camcorder because your computer is too slow to edit avchd, but even that can be overcome by using an intermediate codec, and you'll have better picture quality to boot.
 
Personally, I actually prefer tape over tapeless. I like the fact that I can archive all my footage on tape for very little expenditure. Memory cards are too expensive to use for archiving and hard drives do fail, you know. Just my two cents.
 
tape is not reliable.

i started editing video in the early '90's, i've spent over $12k on tape decks, some of which are nothing more than broken boat anchors... when hi-8 and svhs went obsolete, i was faced with maintaining the tape decks in order to access the footage... tape hardware is a giant sinkhole, akin to owning a boat :-)

hard drives are dirt cheap, just keep your stuff backed up on a couple of 'em... you can easily clone any hdd with free software, and put it in the closet for future use.
 
Man. I used to be such a camera whore. I spent MONTHS and MONTHS researching my DVX before I bought it and fell in love with it and still do (though I had to sell one of 'em recently) but have let non-film-camera-gear life get in the way and have been away from it far FAR too long. I just happened to catch this thread and WOW. I had NO idea how many great sub-1K HD options their are. Unbelievable.

I still have my one DVX100A but man it is so tempting to pick up one of these HD cameras just to play with it....
 
Well..you got nothing to lose but chump change. :)

Edit: I take that back. I can't even afford lunch money.
 
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sheeep said:
VX1000's, 2000's, and 2100's are going for under $1000 now. They are all mini dv.

... you skate, you should know this!
Click to expand...

Well, you can find vx1000's and 2000's for under a grand, but you'll be lucky to find a vx2100 that is in good condish for under that price.
Check Skateperception...or have you already?
 
Canons tepeless cams may in theory have a FRACTION more resolution than the hve 30/40 but getting an edited all in film with titles transitions music with full resolution is another thing, i went from tape but have now gone back i think the hv30 is great, also no dv tape has failed on me since 1996 when i started using them[touch wood]

Also forgot to say i also put everything on BD and hard drive, dvd is poo i cant see self burnt ones lasting the distance.
 
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