Backpacker camera suggestions.

marko5000

marko5000

Active member
Going backpacking for a year or so in 11 Months (Feb 08) and am considering a new camera to take with.

Need to edit on the road and the DVX is just going to be too big. Will be shooting an ongoing travel report for my own website (just for fun) and short films. Will not be making money with it. My next real camera will be a HVX (I hope).

This is a list of things I think are important to me (No particular order) can anyone either suggest a cam or know of one on the horizon that may be suitable.

Need to be able to edit footage in FCP 5.0 (can't be upgraded - educational copy) on a new macbook (What ever replaces the current 13 inch 2 gig macbook)

* Small/Lightweight
* Good onboard mic or small optional mic
* Good low light (I will not be carrying lights except maybe one LED panel.
* Reusable media (HDD or SD or ?)
* 16X9
* Good battery life
* Waterproof housing available
* Rugged
* I don't want to spend as much as £1000 (Probably $1200)
* HD isn't necessary but obviously 720p would be pretty sweet.

Camera suggestions and any other thoughts would be appreciated.
 
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I had read that post, it looks pretty good and we do need a new still camera (Was looking at a sony T10), but I mistrust anything that's 'best of both worlds'.

However if I can deal with the clips in FCP and end up with good quality quicktime movies it does look perfect for what I need.

I wonder what compromises we have to make.
 
Pdx10 is still pretty big for my needs. I want something I can slip into the pocket of my combats whilst walking and always have on hand just in case.

I used to have a JVC DVP7 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/35634/jvc-grdvp7.html Dodgy picture quality by todays standards but I loved the size and old school stylings. I like the idea of the TX 1 now I've read a little more, lack of a decent screen and any view finder is a little worrying but could be a fun toy.
 
The Panasonic PV-GS 300. Incredibly small, 3 CCD, 10 optical and records to Mini-DV. About $500-600 depending on where you buy. The PV-GS150 might be slight smaller, doubt it, but will be less expensive since it has less features. The Canon HV10 is a good choice if you need something now since its a vertical type like the JVC you posted, High Def and SD since is HDV. I think thats about $1100.
 
3CCD said:
The Canon HV10 is a good choice if you need something now since its a vertical type like the JVC you posted, High Def and SD since is HDV. I think thats about $1100.
Click to expand...

You can buy it for $900 from bhphotovideo.com
 
I'm in the UK so I'm not expecting a good price but thanks for the suggestions - I'm drawing up a comparison list and these will all be on it. I've looked at the canon a few times but 1080 is too big I won't even be able to view it on the road let alone cut it and I hate the idea of the little mic hidden at the back. I'm also a little dubious about HDV (I have no HD experience and most of my opinions are formed on DVXuser.com so...)

Maybe I should forget about the travelling and spend the money on a new mac pro, hvx and a few P2 cards.
 
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marko5000 said:
I'm in the UK so I'm not expecting a good price but thanks for the suggestions - I'm drawing up a comparison list and these will all be on it. I've looked at the canon a few times but 1080 is too big I won't even be able to view it on the road let alone cut it and I hate the idea of the little mic hidden at the back. I'm also a little dubious about HDV (I have no HD experience and most of my opinions are formed on DVXuser.com so...)

Maybe I should forget about the travelling and spend the money on a new mac pro, hvx and a few P2 cards.
Click to expand...

If you don't want an HD camcorder than you may consider canon MVX460 (Elura 100 in USA) which is selected as the best consumer camcorder of 2006 by various sources including camcorderinfo.com and videomaker magazine. It is very compact and easy to carry around.
 
Thanks guys. Certainly a varied selection to think about.

Whilst traveling I'll be looking for a place to settle down as we (me and gf) are sick of the UK. Once we stop roaming (my sights are on southern Spain) then I'm hoping for an HVX or what ever is the new thing at the time (mid late 08).

Because of this I keep coming back to the TX 1. It kind of looks like a piece of junk for anything serious but it's the only thing I'm likely to continue to use once I've got some serious kit. Have to see what it costs when (or if) we ever get it over here.

Thanks again for the ideas DVXUSER ROCKS!
 
I wish! Then I could have a young Squire to carry my HVX and kit (Also I could then afford an HVX and kit).
 
Of course everytime I come on these boards thinking about this I see screengrabs from the good old dvx and wonder why I'm even considering all these gimicky toys. If it were only a grand cheaper this would be so easy. Might have to get the Girlfriend a second pack to lug it around in though.
 
This thread is really funny 'coz i'm in the same position as you are. I am about to travel for a year as well, but i wanted some HD footage. I love the HVX and i would really like to buy one and maybe forget about travelling, and pay a filmmaking course and practice shooting films for a year instead. But the more i think about it, the more i am sure that i would learn a lot more from travelling for a year around the world than in any cinema school.

So, as much as i hate HDV (I'm working in pos), i think it would be the only pratical choice. If you wanna travel for a year, it would be better to use a classical tape camera than a HD/P2 workflow because you could send the tapes to a secure location and edit latter when you get back. It's cheap, easy to buy around and you would have unlimited storage. A laptop is a good idea, but it's something that would worry you more than be useful.

After reading Stu's book (best book in a long time), i am a lot more confident in HDV, the color compression sucks but you can at least minimize its effects using a 16 bit AE CC.

So i reduced my options to a Canon HV20, HV10 quality and 25p, or if i am crazy enough, a A1. This new pana pro AG-HSC1U looks great, but no 25p and SD cards would require pre-editing which is a no option in a backpacker's travel plan.

Anyway, it's always great to find someone with similar "problems". I would like to know your opinions on this as well. Cheers, and bon voyage.
 
Thanks for the link Sirocco Have to give that site a bit of time. Not exactly what I have in mind. My girlfriend and I are going to drift around the med (most likely Spain) until we wash up somewhere we want to stop.

Eduardo - Laptop is a must. Girlfriend is a photographer and I can't write without it (Screenplays). Besides we're not going anywhere the least bit adventurous.

The more I look this week the more I come to realise nothing is going to be relased in the next year that will answer all my needs. I''m seriously thinking now about just going for a DVX (No doubt the price will drop by 50% after NAB.). I like the footage I've seen taken in available light and HD is probably too much for working with on the road. Can't leave the editing and post until I get home because I hope I never get home!
 
TO everyone who commented in this thread (and any one who was following it) I opted for the HV20 in the end.

Our plans changed - we're just plain moving out Spain so I can carry something a little larger.

I really wanted an HVX and new Mac Pro. But it was either that or an extra six months without having to work. It wasn't a hard decision.

Anyway thanks for the suggestions. HV20 arrives in two weeks (from amazon)
 
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