New to the Site and have been reading for months.

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Xsnomad

Member
Well hello everyone! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

I'm not sure really where to start so I'll just dive right in.

DVX100B Cannon HV20 HVX200

I have about 10k that I would to make a film with for learning and future productions. I know it's crazy to think any fool with a camera can make a movie but I'm ready to dedicate the next year of my life with chasing a dream and need alot of help. Here is the skinny.

I've been reading day after day for the past few months on this or that setup and I'm still pretty lost when it comes to what will get a production level film ready for sale. So I've turned to the forums for honest answers about what is great, good and what will just work.

The Cannon HV20 is cheap, but very limited on locking to 24p. This option seems it will take the most time in post production to get a movie down on track but only cost 200$ for the hardware.

The DVX100B is where I started thinking about next however it seems that there is alot to recording to tape, later encoding to computer. I'm willing to learn! but the heads on these cameras I'm told are only good for so many hours and then they are dead. I looked into a Quickstream but they cost as much as a used DVX100 so bringing my price to about 2500$

The HVX200 on the otherhand is around 4k (almost half my budget) but seems to have everything you could ever dream of wanting for making a movie.

Now I understand that Tapes Cost X and P2 cards cost Y. But My real question is if you had 10k to spend and had to do it from scratch. What camera would you buy? Pros, Cons. Easy of use. What edition of what software would you use with each camera. Phase 2 I will get into Auido and a good steamcam, but right now I just need to figure out what camera will just get the job done so I can look to future projects.

My goal is to create a movie. non action, drama, comedy, chick flick, story drivin and very little CGI/FX.

Movies like:
hard candy
hang over
smiley face
thank you for smoking
anything by Michael more

Etc.

I know time is money and thank you for taking the time to help a newbie dreamer like me. :)
 
I'd have to say a DVX with a firestore is the cheapest way. You can then spend money on a lot more accessories. HVX's are awesome, and if you think that HD would benefit you more, go for that camera. You can get 2 16GB P2 cards for about $1200 I think, plus the camera ranging anywhere from $4000-$5500. You could also customize a Canon 7D rig! You also need a good, sturdy fluid head tripod, a good audio kit, some form of lighting whether it is DIY or a professional kit, and an editing system if you don't already have one. My ideal setup like this would be a DVX, firestore FS-4 Pro, good libec or manfrotto tripod, a good arri kit, a redrock 35mm package, and a final cut studio suite. You can get all this for probably under $10k.
 
Is 10k JUST your equipment budget alone? You have to consider that the cost of equipment, while it should be factored in does not help pay for travel expenses, catering, locations, actors, crew, etc.

Sure you might be able to pull some favours, but you don't want to sit there with a bunch of equipment and realize you can't do anything because of lack of funding for your project...no matter if its a narrative or a doc or whatever - costs all add up.

Kegan
 
HMC40 is new and with in your budget. Now with that said 10k isnt gonna get you very far add to that audio lighting editing system. You could probably get all that for 10k but thats not going to leave anything to pay your actors. Now a lot of people will act for free but you should definitely provide them with food / transportation if needed and lodging if needed as well as for your crew. concentrate the most on your script and casting. thats gonna be the biggest factor. if the story is good no one will care what it was shot or edited on. for get the steadicam for now as you will need many months to learn how to even operate it some what decently if not a couple of years :)
 
DVX with FS is about what I was looking at. Now a few more questions to add to that. A local school has a DVX with bad heads that they would be willing to give me, but I saw that with the FS you had to use tape along with it. Is that still the case? or can you setup the DVX to only record to firewire thus turning the FS on and off via the record button on the camera?
 
Hunter007 said:
Is 10k JUST your equipment budget alone? You have to consider that the cost of equipment, while it should be factored in does not help pay for travel expenses, catering, locations, actors, crew, etc.

Sure you might be able to pull some favours, but you don't want to sit there with a bunch of equipment and realize you can't do anything because of lack of funding for your project...no matter if its a narrative or a doc or whatever - costs all add up.

Kegan
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10k is for everything. All locations for the current script have been signed by the owners for release. The actors are getting paid in points, and the crew getting extra credit from professors.

Shooting Directing and editing will all be done by me with support of a friend who has been in editing for 20 years. The school has access to all of the software you could dream of, so for example FCP will not have to be factored into the 10k budget.
 
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andythefilmer said:
I'd have to say a DVX with a firestore is the cheapest way. You can then spend money on a lot more accessories. HVX's are awesome, and if you think that HD would benefit you more, go for that camera. You can get 2 16GB P2 cards for about $1200 I think, plus the camera ranging anywhere from $4000-$5500. You could also customize a Canon 7D rig! You also need a good, sturdy fluid head tripod, a good audio kit, some form of lighting whether it is DIY or a professional kit, and an editing system if you don't already have one. My ideal setup like this would be a DVX, firestore FS-4 Pro, good libec or manfrotto tripod, a good arri kit, a redrock 35mm package, and a final cut studio suite. You can get all this for probably under $10k.
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whats a firestore???
 
You guys mention you need a lighting kit etc which is I think is totally unnecessary.


The Pusher Trilogy is a great example. The First Pusher was shot without any lighting gear and became a cult hit.

Film during the day, soooooooorted!!! Lol.

All you need is a good enough camera, good editing system and away you go. Dont start spending all your money straight away, just buy the basics and see how you go from there. You DO NOT need to spend the whole 10 grand mate.
 
A firestore is a DTE (direct to edit) hard drive that connects to the camera via firewire. It completely replaces tape recording.
 
The gear doesn't make the film. Buy a used HV20 and start shooting, experimenting and working with natural light. Make some short films.
Buy a couple china balls and experiment with those too. Save the rest & work on your script.
Don't forget, you're going to need a good computer & software for editing too!

Some of the best films entered in the fests here are by Michael Anthony Horrigan and he shoot on a stock HV20. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=191215

All I'm saying is there's a LOT more to filmmaking than the equipment.
 
IMO, Firestores are not worth the cash. A little shake and the file is lost. Taping the connections helps but doubts linger. So, that requires using tape as back-up on anything important.
 
Jordan_Sopinsky said:
IMO, Firestores are not worth the cash. A little shake and the file is lost. Taping the connections helps but doubts linger. So, that requires using tape as back-up on anything important.
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I'd have to disagree. I just got one on ebay and I shot some skating which has lots of quick jerky movement. All of my files were there. I got my FS-4 Pro for$350 on ebay.
 
depends on what model you had and what camera, some are better for the FW connection and Focus has made leeps and bounds to correcting the dropped files.
 
Xsnomad said:
depends on what model you had and what camera, some are better for the FW connection and Focus has made leeps and bounds to correcting the dropped files.
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I use it on a DVX100b but the cam end is not where the problem lies. It's the loose connection to the unit which is the problem. When I sent them an email about the problem, their only response was, "Use tape." Why wasn't the unit designed with a cable path to reduce movement?

What have they done to correcting dropped files? When I run a repair, it always fails.

Incidentally, my package arrived lacking the shorter cable. An email resulted in them sending another longer cable. A second email had the desired effect.

I guess when you consider the tape fix and getting the right cable sent on the second attempt, you could say they get it right after a while. And, when it works (which is most of the time), it's a great time saver. But I would never shoot a wedding with no tape backup.
 
I agree with andy. find a used dvx100, I wouldnt spend alot on editing software.. they pretty much all do the same thing.. tripod, shotgun mic and your ready to go. I got my dvx last year and I woundn't trade it for anything, atleast not right now. but ZazaCast is right, the equipment dosnt make the film. Good script, and acting. its all about preference really.. I just prefer the handeling and control of the dvx, it just really gives the "Film" look over HD anyday in my opinion.
 
i agree that a lot can be done with little. I'd try to lay hands on anything you can borrow (like you are with the editing suite) . I love the DVX and need to grab a firestore myself, but any camera can tell a story. DVX is a great middle of the road between more expensive and bargain bin. Grab one and start shooting.
 
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