Cameras Options

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Cedric Akins

Well-known member
I haven't been on the board for quite sometime. I am back for a little advice and hope some of you can help me out with a few suggestions. I waited for the Scarlet Fixed Lens to come out. But due to the earthquake and nuclear disaster to happen in Japan that camera was scrapped, and understandably so. I know the camera I want is out of my price range, for the moment. But I am planning a feature length project and the budget is a huge sticking point. I want to rent a good camera package, Alexia, Epic or Scarlet. I know that the project's budget does not warrant that type of expense. So I am in the market for a decent camera to purchase along with the accessories to go along with it. I am looking for a camera that has a few criteria that must be met.

1. It must have timecode in or out via bnc or rca.
2. It has to record to a flash media. (No P2 cards or excessively priced media like it) If I wanted that I would continue to save up for the Scarlet and postpone my project another year. Not gonna happen.
3. Must be hd.
4 XLR ports are not that important, because we will shoot double system, but would be a bonus.

OK, so here is the question. What is the lowest priced camera that meet these criteria? Can anyone give me any good suggestions?
 
What exactly is your budget for said camera and accessories?

When you say accessories do you mean everything, or do you have a suitable tripod, monitor and such?

Do you also need audio gear included in this budget, or do you already have mics/boom/mixer/recorder?

Why do you feel the need to purchase a camera which will be outdated in a 18 months rather than renting for a single project?
 
Are you looking for a camera with a fixed lens (like an XF300) or with removable lenses? Are you looking for a camera with a S35 sensor?

As mentioned above the AF100 matches what you are looking for, unless you want something with a fixed lens, or unless you want something with a S35 size sensor.

The FS100 has some sort of TC embedded in the HDMI signal (no BNC though). What do you need the TC out for (for synching to the audio device)?
 
Looking to stay around 2-3K. Extra batteries and extra media. I have sticks, lights and audio gear. I would rather buy the camera and use it for other projects after this one or resale it once I am finished. As for it being outdated, as long as it does 1080p it will be good for most corporate work for quite some time.
 
Thanks Simon that was the other criteria it has to be a fixed lens. I have looked at various cameras and I can only find some units that fit partial criteria but not all.
 
I am willing to stretch to 4500 at most. Because if I go beyond that I will be close to the price to rent a Scarlet for 3weeks.
 
If it were me I would rather rent a proper cinema camera than shoot my feature movie on a 1/3" fixed lens camcorder. But hey, to each their own.

Good luck with your project!

Dave
 
Cedric Akins said:
Well double system recording tends to lean towards syncing audio.
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I don't get why people make a big deal about this. In the process of doing the edit and the post audio this is a blip on the radar, one of the easiest most straightforward things you'll do. Literally takes 10 or 15 seconds per clip.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
I don't get why people make a big deal about this. In the process of doing the edit and the post audio this is a blip on the radar, one of the easiest most straightforward things you'll do. Literally takes 10 or 15 seconds per clip.
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Time-code isn't just for that. Say you are doing a multi-camera shoot you may want to sync them together. Well let's say you are using a 3D rig I think you may want to link them together. There is also the possibility that your audio recorder and your camera could be out of sync with one another. Regardless if it is a few frames or a few seconds out of sync, the need to have a common time-code is still important.

Plus you are saying 10-15 seconds per clip, and know you have added more time to the edit when you could have taken the time to get it right during production. You only have to set time code once or twice a day, that only takes about 15-30 seconds per device.
 
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Also I would like to thank you guys for your suggestions. I believe my criteria have now changed due to the fact the Blackmagic Cinema Camera almost meets the promise Red made a few years back, 3K for 3K. They are 2.5K for 3K with 13 stops of dynamic range. I really am glad I came back to the forum before I made my purchase. I was prepared to settle for just 1080p as opposed to camera that can deliver 2K raw CinemaDNG files.
 
Multi camera, yes. Single camera, sure, it's a luxury that would be nice. Is it worth adding thousands to the cost of production, not even remotely. You know they synced sound for about 40 years before timecode was even invented and it really only came into widespread use on Hollywood films in the past couple of decades right? It's a "bells and whistles" kind of thing. Among all the nano, micro, low budget filmmakers I know I don't know a single person who uses it.

Absolutely do what you want. My point is it's just not that useful a feature, not something I'd pay for at the expense of spending that money somewhere else.
 
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gonzo_entertainment said:
Multi camera, yes. Single camera, sure, it's a luxury that would be nice. Is it worth adding thousands to the cost of production, not even remotely. You know they synced sound for about 40 years before timecode was even invented and it really only came into widespread use on Hollywood films in the past couple of decades right? It's a "bells and whistles" kind of thing. Among all the nano, micro, low budget filmmakers I know I don't know a single person who uses it.

Absolutely do what you want. My point is it's just not that useful a feature, not something I'd pay for at the expense of spending that money somewhere else.
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That does not add thousands to a camera, maybe a couple hundred at best. Plus I was looking for camera suggestions which I got, and I stumbled upon BM Cinema Camera. So again thanks anyway. The criteria for my camera needs were for my wants and needs. I felt that was important to me and still do.
 
Absolutely. Your money your decision. I hope you aren't shooting soon if you didn't pre-order that Black magic a couple months ago. You may be lucky to get it this year. Something else to consider.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
Absolutely. Your money your decision. I hope you aren't shooting soon if you didn't pre-order that Black magic a couple months ago. You may be lucky to get it this year. Something else to consider.
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Thanks. But I just stumbled on the thread a couple of days ago. So I haven't ordered just yet. However I will make my decision in the next week or two.
 
Plus you are saying 10-15 seconds per clip, and know you have added more time to the edit when you could have taken the time to get it right during production. You only have to set time code once or twice a day, that only takes about 15-30 seconds per device.
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If you are using dual system audio record with timecode...you still have to sych the audio in the edit suite. ie align the video and audio via TCs. (You have a video stream and a separate audio stream)

BTW: you need high end external recorders to guarantee that they remain in synch with the camera...and you do not need to connect them if you use RT TC.
 
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