Cheap camera advice

Sounds like a plan!

I don't know anything about FCS2, but I would think it would handle HD. I'm sure somebody here knows. If not, try posting in the Final Cut forum.

Good luck!
 
chapelgrovefilms said:
....something like, "Well, I don't think you need to record sound externally on your budget. My advice would be to..."
Click to expand...
This would have been more neutral, yes :beer:
Maybe I´m too much used to having to make my point clear in team meetings, looking for flaws in peoples argumentation, a lot here will know the type of producer who always talks about "high end" "premium brands""high production value" and later asks if we really need a sound tech and a seperate boom op and if the four locations really need two days shooting time...

Anyway, wasn´t ment as an insult, only as constructive crititism.
I still think, for low budget and beginners, in-camera audio should be good enough, granted that you use an external microfon via mini-jack to gather the sound...
Also don´t know how the H4 will perform with very high SPL, heyman will record hardcore shows that tend to be rather loud.
For shortfilms, which he also mentioned, I think the NTG2 on a DIY boom will do good service, too.
Nothing against recording sound seperately, nothing against Chapelgrovefims!
We´re all here to help each other out...:thumbsup:
 
Hey Spartacus, no worries here. Lack of sleep last night made me a bit testy. Sorry about that. As long as the OP got what he needed, we're all good.

You're totally right that in-camera audio used with an external mic would be more than good enough for a beginner. I'm afraid that Panny that he seemed interested in in his first post didn't have a mic input jack, which is why I thought recording externally would be the way to go. But yes, with the Canon he'd be just fine recording internally, especially using an external mic.

I've heard some great audio recorded with the NTG2. I've also heard (read) that the Okatava MK012 is great, and it's less expensive than the NTG2.

One thing I like about the idea of using a Zoom H2 or H4 is portability. Make your DIY boompole, attach your mic, and strap the H2 or H4 to the pole. (Or hang it from the boom guy's belt.) Plug in a set of headphones, and your boom guy is totally portable and independent of the camera -- no cable runs to worry about.

(BTW, I misquoted the price for the Zoom H4 -- it's $299, not $399 as I'd originally said. And the H2 is $199.)

At any rate, I think the OP is going to do very well with the Canon as suggested. Bravo!
 
About the high SPL -- in a situation like that with the H4, you'd want to use external mics rather than the built-ins. The H4 can handle both dynamic and condenser mics -- even mics that need phantom power. It accepts both XLR jacks and 1/4" jacks. The record levels are adjustable, and there's also a sensitivity switch (L/M/H). From what I've read on other boards, a lot of people use the H4 to secretly record live concerts, so I guess it works okay for that.
 
FWIW, I own and use the Panny 320. It's a great 3 CCD camera with excellent quality for going out on SD DVD. But I also have a SD 702T and several mics for my film camera. Audio is non-existent with the 320.

The HV20 doesn't have XLR, so you'll need a BeachTek anyway. I borrowed a HV20 before I got the 320. Part of what I was doing was shooting from outside a moving vehicle. With the CMOS chip and rolling shutter, the HV20 was impossible to use. It look terrible. Squished jello looking lines. There are scenes you just can't shoot with the HV20.

If you're going to DVD mpeg2 then why HD? If you plan to go direct to an HDTV or can distribute HD some way, then HD is the choice (but maybe not the rolling shutter HV20)

Otherwise the Panny footage looks excellent and is so easy to cut.

Think you need 24fps? Well, it's still video.....
 
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