Need some camera advice

H

hustlafodo

New member
Alright, so im trying to really get into filiming, ive had a few cameras in the past and have been into photoraphy for a while. Im now looking for a camera, hd, and i'll be doing alot of footage with skiing. I've been interested in the fx-1. I wanna know if this is an ideal camera for shooting skiing and documentary footage. Also how hard it would be to figure out the manual settings. Im very self sufficient in teaching myself these type of things. Im looking for some recomendations on cameras and what would be a good camera for my situation. Im not sure if this was the right forum to post this. but id really like some advice. thanks
 
Welcome to the site.

First things first. There is no such thing as "ideal" when it comes to shooting. You simply buy the best you can afford and work within the limitations.

Now, let's examine your request. You've identified two VASTLY different types of things. Documentary filmmaking generally means you won't have time or resources to set up lighting and stage your actors. So it demands a camera that can work reasonably well with low light, and is small enough to carry around easily.

Skiing on the other hand is high action with lots of light, and dynamic range that will test even the best of cameras.

The FX1 is certainly small enough and light enough to use for documentary filmmaking, but it shoots in a format called HDV. This is a highly compressed HD format and it has some drawbacks. The FX1 also uses an early generation of that format unlike some of the newer models. The FX1 isn't known for it's good low light handling either.

So in a nutshell, here is your problem. To capture skiing footage, you will need a camera that has a very wide exposure latitude. Because the range between the brilliant white snow, the trees, and your subject matter will cover a lot. But to shoot documentaries (unless you are only going to shoot in wide open outdoor spaces during the day) will demand a camera capable of shooting in low light. The problem is that these two things are among the most demanding things there are to shoot, and are usually in the domain of very expensive video cameras or often left to using real film and not video.

So, I'll ask the question. What's your budget, and what are you willing to give up? If you had to choose between having nicely exposed footage, but with blocky looking action, or smooth action but blown out whites and crushed blacks, which would you choose? Because in the price range of the FX1, you're not going to get both most likely.

Actually, you might want to take a look at the new Panasonic HMC150 that's coming out soon. That camera might get you closer than anything else, but it is going to demand that you have a very modern (and fast) computer to edit the footage in an efficient manner.
 
Thanks for taking the time to write all that. Thinking about it, where im at right now, id probably prefer a camera with smoother footage rather than being better in lowlight situations. Im definatley gonna be doing more shooting with skiing. The most id like to spend would probably be 2500. I know the fx-1 is a little bit more expensive, but i was trying to find used cameras. Where could i find a good used fx-1 is another question i had.
 
If you are planning on getting into filming, I have a good bit of advice. DONT get an FX1. I did, and I regret it every time I use it.

Im not saying its a bad camera, far from it - the image is incredible, its never had a single problem, its menu sytem is good, it has all the right buttons in all the right places but it lacks one very, very important feature and that is proper professional XLR audio inputs.

All you get with the Fx1 is a stereo minijack audio input, which limits you mainly to the Rode Videomic. If you want to use any XLR mics, radio mics, proper shotguns or anything you are abit stuck. You may not need to use these audio options now, but when you get more into it it you will be kicking yourself for not buying a Z1.

Beachtek do make an audio adapter which is specially designed for the FX1, which goes for about £300, which is defiantly an acceptable solution, and I am buying one so I can use proper audio tools. Its not as good as just buying a Z1 in the first place.

The z1 is the camera you should get if you want something FX1 like, however they are phasing it out and slowly replacing it with the EX1 and the new Z7. I have used a Z7 and it is fantastic. Given the choice, I would rather have the Z7 over the EX1. Its still HDV which is a drawback, but it uses tape or CF card, records in HDV i/p, DV or DVCAM. it has the proper audio onputs, it has removable lenses and you can film at 200fps onto the cf card which will be great for snowboarding.

I personaly would get a Z7 in your position but its up to you, just dont get an FX1 or anything without proper XLR audio adapters.
 
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I second, er third, the XH-A1 recommendation! It handles very nicely and the image blows away the FX1 in any light conditions. XLR audio inputs too.

$2500 _might_ buy a decent used one......
 
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