Camera Selection

R

razerfish

Member
Hey Guys,

Looking for a little input. I'm going to take the proceeds from the sale of my house and buy some equipment.

I'm wondering which camera I should buy. I like the Canon, DVX100A, and the new Sony High Def Pro Consumer, but I want to find one best suited to my application.

I plan on filming comedy sketch type films to put on the internet. No film outs or anything, but I want a good camera that lets me do very good work.

Can someone give me the merits of 24P for applications like this? And as far as HD, does compressing it to streaming size hurt the image to the point where it's not worth going high def in the first place? And how to edit in HD? Will Avid or Premiere work?

Anybody got some good advice for me?

Thanks.
 
Re: Camera Selection

Shooting 24P when compressing for the web because (as is self evident) you only have 24 frames per second rather than 30. Because of this, you can have either smaller file sizes, or equally sized files with less compression.

If you're staying in standard def or smaller (as you would with the web) - I'd definitely suggest the DVX as being the most convenient for you.
 
Re: Camera Selection

Any more detailed feedback?  I'm wondering what the benefits of high def are if I have to compress it to be able to stream over the internet.  And editing.

Does anybody have any real experience?  Not looking for "just get the DVX" comments.  Looking for something a little more insightful and knowledgeable.  

Thanks.
 
Re: Camera Selection

you should read over the XL2 and sony hi def sections here , most of what you are asking and what you need to mnake an informed decision is covered in those sections. .. as well as you can find info on the DVX anywher on this site.
 
Re: Camera Selection

I did, but I'm not the most technical person. I'm mostly a writer. That's why I'm asking people familiar with cameras. I like the DVX, but I'm not sure if it's the right one for me. I also like high def but haven't seen anything other than that one thread about the new Sony.

Any other good forums to point me in the right direction? Especially about editing and compressing?
 
Re: Camera Selection

The DVX is of coarse the FAV here but a lot of people here know a lot about a lot of different equipment.

It will take a little patience and time but if you search through the forum you can find a ton of info on various cameras. Grab a coffee, you will be reading for awhile. ;)

The decision will of course be yours and based on what sounds groovy to you.

IMO, I see no reason to use Hi-def for streaming video, but others may tell you differently.

Now that said, IMO, if you are compressing and streaming the video the DVX will give you fantastic images and the 24p is sweet. If you haven’t yet, download and watch the massive amounts of compressed footage here and you can see exactly how nice it can look streaming. Plus, if you compare $$ for DVX, XL2 and the Sony, the DVX is the best deal. (You won’t need anemographic lens for web streaming)

Hope this helps a little :-/

Good luck
 
Re: Camera Selection

Yes, that does help. I like the widescreen and 24P, but I also like high definition, but if high def. gets ruined when compressed, I don't see the point. Nor have I heard anything about editing it. Can Avid or Premeire do it? I wonder how big of an AVI file it would be for an hour's worth of footage? Probably gigantic.

But I haven't really seen any high def compressed to streaming video yet. I have seen the DVX and really like it. But I'm not doing a film out. I'm going straight for over the net stuff.
 
Re: Camera Selection

Unless someone here with more experience can say otherwise, take the Hi-def off the list. Makes no sense to buy a camera with extra resolution to compress it down anyway. You will find much more support and help with the MiniDV from sites like this and www.dvinfo.net then you will find for hi-def.

The DVX was not designed primarily as a film-out camera so just ignore that as a reference.

When you compress any video, it will only look as good as it did when you started. Camera used will not change that… If you like the footage you’ve seen from the DVX I would suspect you already have the answer you are looking for. And that’s not being biased. It’s going to be your footage and you are going to want to like how it looks.
 
Re: Camera Selection

i would almost say scratch the sony too, but it doesnt sound like he really needs 24p. the sony does seem to have a nice filmlook fron what ive seen , and at its given pricepoint, id almost say "why not" you can output regular DV if you want, and you always have high def to use in the future if you expnd your horizons. but at the current time it sounds like the DVX would suit you fine, and im sure you would be more than happy with it.
 
Re: Camera Selection

Personally, I'd be nervous to embrace HDV until all the big players have cameras on the shelves. As it is, there's just one...I don't count the JVC models because they are not striclty HDV as per the spec.
 
Re: Camera Selection

True - But as a beginner, I would think maybe a good idea staying away from hi-def being that it's kind of new to the consumer level and 24p compresses nice and, well it looks nice.  ;D

EDIT: Dis beat me 8)
 
Re: Camera Selection

Good points. I actually have access -- well, someone who does wants to DP for us on a few shoots -- has the Sony HDW-F900, but I have no interest in using that for our little comedy sketches that are to go out over the internet. That's overkill.

Sounds like the DVX might the ticket.

As for 24P, what do you like about it versus the 30fps? I realize it's what true film runs at, but what about the average person? Can they even tell?
 
Re: Camera Selection

..not only that but the JVC is as about as good of a hi def camera as my sweat is a fruit drink.  :)
 
Re: Camera Selection

24 fps Just "looks" better - We have, over the last 100 years grown to like the look.

Not very scientific, sorry :-/
 
Re: Camera Selection

..doesnt have to be scientific. its easily agreed with. i think its just furthur from reality which makes it easie to dream, and enjoy and melt into the experience as the story unfolds.
 
Re: Camera Selection

[quote author=iamloser link=board=Events;num=1100483547;start=15#15 date=11/15/04 at 12:21:27]..not only that but the JVC is as about as good of a hi def camera as my sweat is a fruit drink.  :)[/quote]

I'll just have to take your word on that, Neil :D
 
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