Camera Recommendations

G

graziemile

Member
Hi,

Which MiniDV camera would you recommend for around $2,000? (do i have another option other than MiniDV?)

What about Panasonic AG DVC30, DVC60, Canon GL2?

Thank you so much.
-graziemile
 
Depends on what purpose you want it for. If (like everyone else on the board) you want it for short/feature films, I'd say look at getting a used DVX. Should be around that price range.
 
DVX is probably not an option because we need 2 "easier to use" cameras for student use who are beginners to video.
Any recommendations?
thanks.
 
The DVX probably won't be any harder to use than say the DVC-30 since alot of the functions are the same. The DVC30 is probably more complicated than say, the sony VX-2100, so if you're looking for an "easier to use" digital 3ccd camera, I would say just go with a VX-2100 or PD-170. Again, it depends on what you want to do. At my high school, we bought a whole bunch of little handycams. It was a bad idea. Those cameras crap out really quick around students. Whatever you do, don't go super cheap because you will want these cameras to last....
 
graziemile said:
DVX is probably not an option because we need 2 "easier to use" cameras for student use who are beginners to video.
Any recommendations?
thanks.
Click to expand...
I think you should break them in with somthing nice like the dvx i learned on a XL1 which is a easy camara but its no handicam i was doing this at the tender age of 13 so i bet that your students will be able to handle it
 
The nice thing about the DVX, is that when you learn on it, you are learning real world technology that is used on many higher end cameras and even on some broadcast cameras. Yes, the DVX might have a little steeper learning curve than a handycam, but it is not so technical that someone who doesn't have a professional video background could learn it. I went from using Sony cameras (pd-150, pd-100, handycams) that have some manual control, to using the DVX which has an immense amount of control. In both cases, the majority if my learning was done on my own through trial and error. I believe this is really beneficial because it teaches you to be a problem solver, and to work with your technology, which I am guessing is a very good trait in the real world of professional video. Don't forget also, that on this forum you are amongst an amazing amount of very talented people who know the DVX inside and out, and an answer to pretty much any question you have is only a few minutes away in most cases. Also, the DVX is a harder camera to "out grow" and it's capabilities will be tested and used for a long time to come. I don't forsee it becoming outdated technology anytime soon, but rather, a piece of technology at the beginning of a new era in video production.
 
I don't want to highjack someone's thread but I have a very similiar question as graziemile so will try it here rather than duplicate a like question with a new thread.

I currently use a DVC80 and love the camera. Would like to get a second one but they no longer produce this unit. Although I'm leary of buying used you can find them with low hours in good condition for under $2000. I have no need for 24p so my question is are there advantages of the DVX100a over the DVC80 other than new vs used and 24p that would warrent the big difference in price?
 
Buy the 400 dollar cannon single chip camera. I use them with students and they turn out great images for a low cost camera. You don't need to spend 2 Gs on beginner students. These basic camcorders are miniDV and have tons of functions (more than they will use) and you can teach them the basics on it, and if they break it you're not out 2 grand.
 
10s and All,

thanks for your suggestions.

10s, which Canon are you referring to? An instructor in our of our departments had purchased a Canon Optura 50 a week ago and we discovered that you cannot monitor audio with headphones when videotaping (you get a loud hiss on one earphone and nothing in the other). I called Canon and B&H and they both confirmed that you can't monitor audio on Canons and Sonys (lower priced models). Panasonic allows it though.

Is there a way to go around this on the lower priced Canon that you refer to?

Thanks.
-graziemile
 
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