Canon HF200 vs Canon HV20 and What on camera LIGHT/MIC to get?

A

abar20

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Hey, I'm looking to spend roughly 1400 dollars total on a run and gun, guerilla camera setup.

USES: Filming my friends and I skateboarding, filming random things (parties, street performers), and making the occasional short film for fun.

BUDGET: Close to 1400USD

PARTS WANTED: HD Camera, Flash storage, Simple screw on wide angle lens,
Steadycam, On camera shot gun mic with wind screen, Mic stand or boom pole (for taking the mic off the camera), Tripod and Fluid head, On camera LED or Tungsten Light.

Equipment I am considering:

Camera: Canon HV20 and Canon HF200 ( I like that they both have mic input and are HD, compact and affordable. However, I heard that the HF200 used a
hard-to-process file type. Is that true? and if so does the HV20 use the same file type? Do both camera sample audio at the same rate when using an external mic? In other words is the audio recording better on one or the other when using external mic )

Light: Comer CM-LBS1800 LED Light (can't find a lot of info on it but in videos it looks VERY powerful, or Light Panels Pro LED
I just want a lot of light and hopefully something dimmable.

Steadicam: Glidecam HD2000 (for the price, steady shots are worth it, right?)

Mic: Audio Technica ATR55.. I don't want to spend a lot, but I know nothing about mics so it's hard to find a good one. Should I get a stereo mic? I don't want to have to edit the audio to be stereo in post. I was wondering if anyone has tried duplicating the audio signal on a mono mic so that the left and right channel would be equal and the camera would record the same audio for both channels. At least I wouldn't have to adjust anything in post, and I could upload it straight to facebook/youtube. Also, the mic must be self powered because I don't want to by a mixer/xlr adapter.

Boom pole/Mic stand: Don't know anything

Tripod/Fluid Head: Don't know anything.

Wide angle lens: Don't know anything.

IM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MIC BEING STEREO AND THE CAMERA HAVING A MANAGEABLE FILE FORMAT AND RECORDING DECENT AUDIO. THANKS FOR LISTENING
 
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well for information on the canon HV20, go to www.hv20.com - they have information on anything you could possibly want to know in regards to the HV20/30/40, they also recommend accessories that'll fit the camera well, I own a HF S100 which is brilliant, I love the amazing image quality, the mt2s file format this uses is annoying but I have a very good converter, i'm not entirely sure what file format the HF200 records to though


if you're after a cheap mic that'll give you decent sound, definitely consider the rode videomic which has been very well recieved and is very good value for money, just remember when you're recording with it, never ever mount it on the camera, always use a boom pole, or it's wasted sound

you can get boom poles on ebay for quite cheap, or make your own using a telescopic pole, but the boom pole will always be better

look at Manfrotto and the Mathews M25 for tripods, they're quite expensive but a good tripod is essential and they are two of the best!

for the light, I found a brilliant one on ebay, I think it's the one you mentioned actually, the 126 pro LED 126

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pro-126-LED-Vid...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45eebe4774

hope this helps!
 
Really, have you tried Google before asking these questions? And by the way, the HV20 does not record video to flash, and they don't make it anymore. Which makes me wonder why you are choosing between a current flash model and a two year-old tape-based model.

The ATR55 is not very sensitive. It is an ok mono mic if you don't have anything else, but don't expect to get good sound if you farther than 3 feet from it.
 
I bought an HF200 and returned it.

The 2-year old tape-based HV20 stomps it.

I have a couple of HV20s and a Sony EX1. The HV20s are brilliant, but dated, cams.

I would wait a couple of weeks until the Panasonic DMC-TM700 arrives. Wider angle lens, records progressive frame rates (1080p 60p! and 24p) to SDHC cards. The camera will retail for around $1000.

If you are on a tight budget and can deal with tape, go for an HV20/30/40. They still deliver a LOT of camera for the money.
 
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