Camcorder Recommendations please

Z

ZSO

New member
Hi,

Found this forum just recently, I thought this maybe a good place to start.

My son is starting to get serious into video making. He is presently using a sony dv camcorder. Has Final cut pro. And takes additional classes for filmmaking at a local school. I want to get him a better camcorder for christmas and do not know were to start doing homework.

Can anyone recommend a good place to start looking for reviews?

Can anyone recommend a good camcorder between 1k and 2.5k


Anyhelp would be appreciated.

ZSO
 
ZSO,

well did a lot of research myself and finally bought the Panasonic AG-DVX100B. it really came down to price and bang for the buck. also SD vs HD.

i will give my thought process.

like your son, i shot with sony mini dv camcorder (TRV33) ok. learned to edit with some dazzle / pinnacle 9 product. not bad.

moved all my resources to new computer, duo core, Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 , Encore / After Effects and so on.

the only thing missing was good camera.

researched and found the DVX100B

wanted to stay with SD, because HD would cost way more in camera, editing equipment, and market.

i shoot sports for youth, pre highschool, so how many middle class people have an actual HD DVD player or will pay the extra for my footage in that format.

also, didn't want to invest about 3 - 5 K in computer with Raid array and massive ram / burner / dual layer disk, etc.... you get the point, everything gets expensive.

the DVX100B is awesome for the student or hobby guy/girl. its more than a consumer and give lots of options for the pro for manual settings.

i love the camera, but wish i was taking some classes like your son. this forum is probably the best and most knowledgeable around for this type camera.

so, if SD with cost and pro features , this DVX100B is the best out their.

i got mine on www.newegg.com

all the best

Tin Man
 
it all depends on how much money you want to spend really. but the DVX100B by Panasonic (the camera this forum is named after) is by far the best pro camera out there for under 3000.

i got mine from newegg.com when they were 2500 and it was totally legit. another incredible site to check out is bhphotovideo.com, i'd highly recommend going there for all of your filmmaking needs.
 
Thank You for the responces, looking at some web sites the camera list for around 1k, can I assume that items, like battery and lenses are not included?
Newegg listed as 2.6K

I also read some recommendations on the Canon xH-A1, any opinions on this camera?

Thanks again

ZSO
 
If you are not very familiar with the intracies of purchasing video equipment I would recommend that you do not look for a "deal" as you will end up with somthing less than you expected - like no manufacturer's warranty, or someone selling you a camera "cheap" with none of the normally bundled accessories which are required to make the camera actually usefull.

check this thread out:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=12269

there is no place you can buy a NEW DVX100B with a battery, battery charger, etc for less than US$2000.
 
Canon for alittle more

Canon for alittle more

ZSO said:
Can anyone recommend a good place to start looking for reviews?

Can anyone recommend a good camcorder between 1k and 2.5k


Anyhelp would be appreciated.

ZSO
Click to expand...

For alittle more of the cost for a DVX100B you can get him a Canon XHA1. To me its what DVX100B would be in HD. Beautiful pictures and color for a great price. I've seen them sell for as low as $2800.00. You willbe more likely to find on for around $3200.00 to $3400.00. HD is a where everything is going so to me the A1 will put him alittle ahead of the pack, or at least have him up to date.
 
ifownlee41nite@mac.com said:
For alittle more of the cost for a DVX100B you can get him a Canon XHA1. To me its what DVX100B would be in HD. Beautiful pictures and color for a great price. I've seen them sell for as low as $2800.00. You willbe more likely to find on for around $3200.00 to $3400.00. HD is a where everything is going so to me the A1 will put him alittle ahead of the pack, or at least have him up to date.
Click to expand...


again, yes everything is going HD, but remember do you want to go this route for your future. unless you are going to sell or justify the cost of the camera and double that for the editing package you are going to need. be careful. it gets expensive.

unless you have unlimited funds, then adopt me, LOL.

Tin Man
 
I wonder why some people here, beeing this forum a place dedicated to the DVX users (as its name implies), come here and 'recommending' other camcorder's brandname such as Canon, Sony, etc.,. In mi own case, like a DVX user, I used to visit this forum to read all about my panny AGDVX100 cam. :angry:

just my two cents..
 
ZSO, be careful shopping online for those deals that are so low u cant believe. I have dealt with these shops and found they offer this stuff online and then you get the body only and then they up sell you the things that are included in the manufacturing package. i.e. all manufacturers produce a package (meaning everything in it / battery / charger / camera / lens). These unscrupulous companies buy the packages wholesale and then rip the manufacturer box apart and try and sell the items ala cart. This is really illegal and would nullify their purchase agreement between them and the manufacturer . Unfortunately, they are online and law enforcement has no tools / laws to prevent this.

if this is suspected use this site and search for online shopping reliability:

www.resellerratings.com

Tin Man
 
All of the suggestions made are great - the Canon XHA-1 is the one I would go with, if your budget would allow.

But at trying to keep within your original budget, I'd throw out another suggestion as well -- the Canon HV20. Currently it can be had for less than 1K and you could use the rest for accessories (tripod, case, mics, etc ) Perhaps a B&H Photo gift certificate?

The HV20 doesn't have that "pro" look, but it is getting a lot of great reviews for it's capabilities and picture quality.
 
Tin Man said:
again, yes everything is going HD, but remember do you want to go this route for your future. unless you are going to sell or justify the cost of the camera and double that for the editing package you are going to need. be careful. it gets expensive.

unless you have unlimited funds, then adopt me, LOL.

Tin Man
Click to expand...

If I were buying a camera today for my kid I would definitely go with the A1 period. Your not spending that much more for non linear editing, and it stores to hdv tape. The A1 is a far cry from off the deep end. I went from the DVX100B to the XHA1 without a hitch. If I had it to do all over again and the A1 was available at the time I would have gone with it out the gate. Its a fact that kids take in and retain information faster at an early age. If it were my kid I would give him a jump start. You said it yourself. It is the future and so is his son. Perfect match I would say. With so much good footage, and reviews going around about the A1 i don't see how anyone wouldn't go with it. I'm speaking from experience, and not just because I'm stuck with a 100. Don't get me wrong. If you can't spend the additional $200.00 to $300.00 then by all means go with the 100B. Its a great camera in the since that it revolutionize the industry. But speaking from experience I would go with the A1.

IMHO.
 
Tell your kid to come on this site and become a member...After christmas so he doesn't know what your getting him;)

he'll learn alot
 
RokMartian said:
All of the suggestions made are great - the Canon XHA-1 is the one I would go with, if your budget would allow.

But at trying to keep within your original budget, I'd throw out another suggestion as well -- the Canon HV20. Currently it can be had for less than 1K and you could use the rest for accessories (tripod, case, mics, etc ) Perhaps a B&H Photo gift certificate?

The HV20 doesn't have that "pro" look, but it is getting a lot of great reviews for it's capabilities and picture quality.
Click to expand...

It might not be a great camera for learning on, though. The DVX (and XH-A1, if I understand correctly) have great manual controls. They're closer to the cameras one would use on a big budget film.
 
Start him out on a DVX100B or XHA1 if you have the budget. My choice would be the DVX though, as HD is still ahead of its time, and the DVX is more then adequate. On a side note, what kind of stuff does he like to shoot?

Good Luck!
 
Thank you all for the comments. There is so much to learn here...well above my head.

The kid is making music videos mostly, wants to direct some day... big dreams?? He stated that he uses a XL-2 at school. He wants that camera for xmas. 3.5 k is way too much for an xmax gift. The XH-A! is way too much too. Anything under 2.5 K?

ZSO
 
ZSO said:
Thank you all for the comments. There is so much to learn here...well above my head.

The kid is making music videos mostly, wants to direct some day... big dreams?? He stated that he uses a XL-2 at school. He wants that camera for xmas. 3.5 k is way too much for an xmax gift. The XH-A! is way too much too. Anything under 2.5 K?

ZSO
Click to expand...

if that's the case then just go ahead and get the dvc30 (dvx's little brother) but it's discontinued already, so you'll end up getting those used ones. it's a decent camera and below 2.5K for sure. but if you have exactly 2.5K why not get the dvx100b (no other accessories though)? check out newegg.com, i got my dvc30 and dvx100b from them. good luck!
 
There are two only two options for you, so don't go for or even think about anything lesser than:
1- [SD] Panasonic AG-DVX100B
2- [HD] Sony HVR-A1E

Panasonic AG-DVX100B has only con i.e. SD (Standard Definition), otherwise it has everything an Indie Filmmaker would die for.

Sony HVR-A1E has several disadvantages besides the biggest advantage of all i.e. HD (High Definition) like It has only a single CMOS-chip, Non-Progressive and HD requires more space in your computer.

My Recommendation: Panasonic AG-DVX100B

Note: Both the cameras come at or less 2.5K excluding other optional accessories.
 
Last edited:
ZSO...Definetely go with the Dvx100B, you could get it for around $2300 from ebay with an accessories package like a hard case, a light, tripod(not a very good one though) and maybe an extra battery all for $2300 brand new from one of ebay's stores like these ones:
http://stores.ebay.com/ShopSunshine or
http://stores.ebay.com/DigitalCorp


I bought a dvx100b about 5 months ago from an ebay store with a package and it works flawlessly.

Although the Dvx does shoot in standart definition, it shoots in 24p which means that it shoots in progressive frames making it look like film; it is the best camera for under $2500 and maybe one day your son can upgrade to an HVX.
 
for music videos he will really want 24p capability. He will not really need anything else besides a good tripod (don't really need an audio package for music videos). Search for a nice used DVX or XL2. I'm sure he will want to branch out and do ohter things besides music videos but for now, if that's what he's into then get him what he needs...a camera with 24p and a good tripod.
 
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