Any ideas to maximize on this budget?

[Jared Meyer]

Hello everyone-

I am trying to put together an ultra-low budget 'video production package' potentially (ideally) centered around the dvx100a.

A few friends and I have been making shorts for several years - almost solely for our own entertainment. HOWEVER, we are totally hung up on making our shorts look better. Whatever it takes to get that home movie look banished, we're there. I won't even mention the camera/editing setup we use now, but let me say it is rough. Recently I have been researching 'prosumer' equipment, at this site and others.

I know a lot of posts like this are really hated, but I hope you can bear with me. I have done a ton of research and have come up with at least a 50 different setups- but I would really appreciate getting some advice from a pro. Which, when coming from my level, is almost anyone

The budget is roughly $6500.

I know the dvx is ~$2900 until Oct. 31, but we may not be able to make purchase equipment until early November.

I would love to get a dvx, but if there is no room in the budget for a 2900 camera, or if we are not able to buy it until it goes back up in price to $3400, I have considered a couple other options. So, I need advice on the following:

1. Does it make sense to buy a PAL version of the GL2 or the DVC30 for the easy convert to 25p? What are the extra expenses/burdens I will automatically incur by shooting PAL?

2. Between the DVC30 and the GL2 (NTSC now) does anyone know which progressive scan/movie look mode is better, or are they the same? Is the GL@ real progressive while the DVC30 uses field interpolation (not sure if that's the correct terminology)

3. How do either of these two cameras, whether PAL, NTSC, 50i, 25p, 60i, 30p, frame mode, movie mode, deinterlaced, rendered in magic bullet, whatever, in any of their capacities, or at their very best, compare to the dvx100a?

ALSO, we are looking to replace our current very under-powered Mac with a 'real' editing computer and software package (FCP) - and eventually maybe magic bullet, and a basic shotgun kit.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to spend $6500 (I know, I know - mere pennies in the video world) for an entry-level video production package - at the least, camera, computer, software - (or if anyone thinks I can stretch 6500 further to buy more, please let me know!) that would in the hands of semi-skilled (or at least intelligent and perseverant) individuals yield a professional result?

I know that's a lot of really horribly strung together questions but I really appreciate ANY help at all.

Thanks guys

jaustere

 

[robotx21]

Personally the DVX-100 is a perfect choice for what you are doing. But I would look for a B-Stock camera somewhere and possibly of the original camera. This will give you the cheapest price. A few months after the original DVX-100 was released, I got a DVX100 B-Stock Camera (meaning it was used in a show demo or something) and only had 13 hours on it. I got it for $2600, when it then retailed for $3800. Other than that it was brand new. I would look for something like that. Then, the next thing I would invest in is audio. Make sure you have a quaility boom/shotgun microphone and possibly lavaliers. I'm in film school right now and Audio is INCREADIBLY important in film. That is where most student/independent films fail is the poor audio quality, next to story of course. I'm also asuming you have your own editing system. If not, a good low budget choice would be a mac mini. Their plenty fast enough to edit video, and imovie is great and comes bundled with it. Then you can upgrade to FCP later. So let's see:

DVX100: $2600
Audio Equip: give or take $1500 (this is for a generous amount of audio equipment)
Editing: $1000
Total: $5100

Of course this is just complete estimates. The next thing you would want to consider is lighting, and POSSIBLY lens adapters/filters. This could help your film, but a lot of the manipulation of the look can be done in post, and lighting you can use stuff from the hardware store. Hope this helps!

 

[Jared Meyer]

Thanks for that - I had not thought of looking for a used dvx100 and didn't know they could be that cheap. $2600 will be a great deal if I am lucky enough to find it.

jaustere

 

[twahidin]

Hi,
In Singapore, the DVX102AE brand would have cost $2600 brand new inclusive of an extra battery. You can pm me for a company that export the company to US. Take care

Joe