HMC150 v. Canon HF11 for a very specific use...

[ccroo]

Dear Folks:

I just read some posts about cheaper HD camcorders, specifically 3 chip v. 1 CMOS chip AVCHD camcorders. Someone made the following comment in that thread:

"We tried three single CMOS AVCHD cams, and two 3-CCD AVCHD cams. All went back to the store. We bought a HMC150 to compliment our 170 and it is world's apart from the consumer stuff."

I guess he was using the $650 Canon HF10 or something similar.

You know those Quicktime "documentaries" on the Apple site that tell you about their products? Close-ups of talking heads against a white background? See an example here, about the new 17" Macbook Pro battery:

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

I want to re-create this style. I plan to shoot with two cameras and cut between them, just like Apple does.

I was planning on using two Canon HF10's or HFS100's. Then it occurred to me that using cheap consumer cams could result in an amateurish image. So I started reading here.

I'm not asking very much of the camera. I'll be working with controlled lighting in a studio setting. The lighting style is even and diffuse, the shots are tight, there is little motion by the subject and none by the camera -- it will be lock on a tripod. There will be little or no image processing in post. I will be shooting easy stuff under the most favorable of circumstances.

Would a $3000 HD camcorder be overkill here or would I be denying myself a significantly superior image by opting for a $600 camcorder?

I am aiming for a very clean, professional look. Am I fooling myself to think I can get that without spending the money for a more expensive cam?

Any advice would be great!

Yours,
Raoul

 

[David Saraceno]

Among others, we used the Panasonic SD9, and the Canon HF11. Both were about $1000 or more when we tested.

As to your second question, that footage was probably shot with very carefully diffused lighting with the talent positioned in front and some distance from an evenly illuminated white background. I don't see any shadows on the face of the subjects.

Some people use a background painted cyclorama white.

 

[Green Hornet]

I think the Canon HF100 can do what you need it to do.
It is full raster, and offer more resolution if you need it.
I have shot a lot of stuff with that since selling my HVX200.

I am not saying it is a HPX170, but unless you need mic inputs,
I would say it will do what you want it to in a controlled setting.

The image is very good.

The more expensive cameras offer, more control, and the ability to record better sound easily.

The HF100 allows you to cheaply record HD.

 

[ccroo]

Thanks for the replies!
The best points I think:

- if you can really control the lights you may manage with less in camera controls
- better sound with the more expensive camera
- the raw image may be comparable (more or less)

Very useful. Thank you.