Some suggestions.

[KNIGHTBLAZE]

Hello,

We are starting our next film an action/drama. Low budget which I am working on now. We have decided it would be better to actually buy equipment, (small set up like 2 cameras, a couple of simple lights a shotgun mike, and some assorted materials and such. In the long run this would be better than actually renting equipment all of the time and having to deal with the hassles of putting a deposit down, time constraints, etc So I would like to know what would be the best DV/HD camera to purchase for the money (I'm talking like $3,000-4,000.) RED camera although attractive is OUT of our range for the time being.

Also we want to get a talent name (cameo or small part) so any ideas of whom we would approach with an offer of $5,000 for 4-5 days (maybe 6)
I know we can't get A-List talent.

Thanks.

 

[jls4]

You have a hard road ahead of you $5K for 4 to 5 days? It's be better to say $5K for 2-3 days, if that. As for cameras, there are too many to mention, Z1U, V1U, A1, HVX, plus buying a used EX1 (you might be able to get one for $4500) . Any decent HDV cam is fine. YOU are the deciding factor, not the camera. I'd do one camera though. Get 1 good camera is better than 2 okay ones. I shot my first feat with 2 cams and my last two with 1 cam. I find the 1 cam situation is much better.

 

[KNIGHTBLAZE]

Yeah I know just covering ourselves in case we might need that extra day or two. $5K-3 days does seem workable. I was looking at the Canon XH-A1. Basically the concern is finding a good camera that can work with greenscreen and light conditions and such I know each camera is different depends on what your looking for I guess. That's the reason I mentioned 2 cameras.