Camcorder Recommendations please

HaroonGhauree said:
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.
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Haroon,

HDV does not take up anymore space than regular DV and single CMOS is comparable to 3 CCD (at least to some people). I'm not a huge CMOS fan though.
 
From what I have seen of the XL2, it is an AWESOME camera, especialy if you want true widescreen and interchangeable lenses. But, does he need "true" widescreen? Is he realy ever going to get more lenses? They cost an ass load... Also, I could easily tell that the fotty from the XL2 was digital, while the DVX (when setup right), I could hardly tell the diferance between a 16mm comparison of the exact same thing with the exact same lighting. I would just go with getting him a DVX100B from B&H Photo. They are a boautiful thing, and a bonous is their size.

Good luck,
Dory
 
So what he needs then ...is this 24p thing. In SD the dvx 100b is the camera to get and I see I can get it under the $2500. But if I were to say heck... he deserves better (BTW, no 17 yr old does) I probably should get him the XH-A1 and if he were super good, I should get him the DXV 200 (not going to happen).

Knew I came to the right group. My apologies for requesting an off topic subject in the DVX100 forum. It just happened to have the most posts.

What is an 1/3 CCD if I may ask?

ZSO
 
The size of the CCD, wich is the part of the camera that actually captures the light and turns the light into the image. sorry I can give you a more in-depth description.
 
smpproductions- Haroon, HDV does not take up anymore space than regular DV
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Bump! Isn't it so logical; the same space taken by HDV on miniDV-tape just like DV, suddenly turns out to be space eater on Computer... :D. By the way it must have been my evil-part who made this mess. Sorry.

smpproductions- Single CMOS is comparable to 3 CCD (at least to some people)
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It is debateable. For me its CCD doing better than CMOS to-date. But who knows Sony was coming out with their greatest CMOS enhancement in HDR and HVD series. Lets see what comes out again from the electronic-jungle.
 
ZSO said:
So what he needs then ...is this 24p thing. In SD the dvx 100b is the camera to get and I see I can get it under the $2500. But if I were to say heck... he deserves better (BTW, no 17 yr old does) I probably should get him the XH-A1 and if he were super good, I should get him the DXV 200 (not going to happen).

Knew I came to the right group. My apologies for requesting an off topic subject in the DVX100 forum. It just happened to have the most posts.

What is an 1/3 CCD if I may ask?

ZSO
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ZSO make up your mind for a ceiling-price. If you can't go above 2500US$ then DVX100B is the best of all otherwise around 3000-3500 US$ you can get a Canon-XL2 which would be the best choice for your son.
 
ZSO said:
But if I were to say heck... he deserves better (BTW, no 17 yr old does) I probably should get him the XH-A1 and if he were super good, I should get him the DXV 200 (not going to happen).
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I think he's amazingly lucky to be getting anything.

It's HVX200, by the way.

ZSO said:
What is an 1/3 CCD if I may ask?
ZSO
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A one-third inch Charge Coupled Device. The lens forms an image on the CCD, which the CCD translates into an electrical signal. Larger CCDs are better.

You may also see a term like 3CCD, or 3 chip. That means that the camera optically splits the light into three images focused on 3 separate CCDs. There's one CCD for each primary color (red, green, and blue).

So far as I know, all the cameras we're talking about here are 3 chip cameras. Some may use CMOS sensors rather than CCD sensors. There's a good article on this site about the difference between CMOS and CCD:

http://dvxuser.com/jason/CMOS-CCD/

That being said, you probably don't need to worry about that level of detail.
 
HaroonGhauree said:
ZSO make up your mind for a ceiling-price. If you can't go above 2500US$ then DVX100B is the best of all otherwise around 3000-3500 US$ you can get a Canon-XL2 which would be the best choice for your son.
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What I am thinking was ... I should just get him an HD camera. Since the XH-A! is listed the same cost as the XL2.

ZSO
 
Do you guys compare the Sony HDR-FX1 with these two cameras? Bang for the buck wise and quality wise? I just noticed they go for around the same price between 2-3..

My buddy has a XL2.. I love that thing.
 
FX1 did a fine job of shooting 1080i high-def video in a lot of circumstances. But it's not aimed at filmmakers, it was the wrong tool for that job, and that was the job we were evaluating those cameras as.

Nowadays the FX1's been totally manhandled by the XHA1. If someone wanted the HDV format, the XHA1 is a much more suitable, better camera than the FX1 in just about every way.
 
Here is some advice from your son's perspective. When I was a student, nearly 20 years ago now, my parents were very supportive in terms of loans for equipment but I would never trust them to make buying decisions, they just had no clue. If you want a cool christmas present with the appropriate wow factor I would only recommend the canon HV-20. At under a $1000 it is reasonable to be considered a gift. IT has 24p for the film look and your son will know what to do with it. I would not be concerned about lack of professional controls at the stage. Directing is lighting and composition, and if he continues to study film in school he will be exposed to enough gear to know how to use the pro stuff.

If you feel he is ready for pro level equipment and is capable of making some income from it, perhaps just enough to pay for the gear at this point, help him write a business plan and loan him the money to get started.
 
Hi,

Dop16mm has the right idea. I have had a house full of kids pass through school. I think nurturing is a great idea, but an HV20 can nurture just as much as a A1 or HVX200 for that matter.

The kid can have just as much fun, make just as many videos (even more since he'll have more in his budget for plug ins for FCP), and he can carry his camera more places.

I'd opt for it.
 
I think 16mm option must also be considered. It would be the finest gift of all time for any Independent Filmmaker. I think 'Super 16mm'. I can't say about the lowest price though.
 
HaroonGhauree brings up an interesting idea. I would be speechless if my parents bought me an Arri SR3 or even a S/B for Christmas. But I would also want to kill them, UNLESS they gave me the money that I would need for film stock. It is SO expensive, and for a high school student, probably out of the question. Thats the thing about the DVX. You can make it look like 16mm (not JUST like it but close enough that the general masses wouldn't know the difference). I'd say steer clear of the HV20 and any other consumer level cameras. Something else you might do is give him a gift certificate to B&H Photo for the amount of the DVX plus shipping.
 
If your son uses an XL2 at school and says he'd like an XL2, he probably wants an XL2. The only thing I would even consider getting him, other than the XL2, is the DVX100b. The DVX100b has a better looking picture than the XL2, but your son is more familiar with the XL2. Personally, I think that if you try to surprise your son, he will probably be disappointed. Just ask him "XL2 or DVX100b?" and get him whichever he chooses (if you can afford the XL2, if not, it's the 100b hands down). Just be sure to let him know what he's getting before you get it.
 
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