Videography - backup camera

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dstevens

Well-known member
Hi-
I was looking at a notice on craigslist by some videography company looking for freelance videographers. They specify must have backup camera.

I can see the usefulness of having a backup camera. At the risk of being obvious, is having a backup camera considered an absolute necessity? I did some research on starting up a videography biz, but a lot of them say 'make big $ with just a camcorder and a pc!'.

If you're an experienced videographer, try not to groan too much if this question gets asked too often....
 
A back up of the same platform is fairly rare. Except perhaps in Mini DV. I make sure I have a good relationship with a rental house. If you do, they will usually help you when one reaches the scenario where you would need a backup. The costs of having one camera sitting on the shelf just do not make economic sense. And if you have some down time, two sitting idle will not prolong your career.
 
I've thought about getting an fx1 so I can offer hdv as well as the 24p of my dvx100a.

Does that sound more reasonable? Though I'd be in the same situation you describe, I can only film with one camera at a time.
 
Videography differs from other video. You are taping a one-time event like a wedding, and having a camera on the shelf does no good. You have to have it in your bag, where you can adapt to some kind of failure quickly. They set one on a tripod while they man the second one. You might even have a second shooter for some jobs (wife, girlfriend, friend?) Most event videographers do indeed have multiple matching cams, so that cutting between them is easy to match. Conferences, speeches, wedding vows, having two shots give you the ability to cut between them. And if one dies, you can't cut as well but at least you got the shot.

If your cams do not match, you need two sets of batteries, chargers, filters, some other accessories, etc. Not a huge deal, just something to consider. The biggest deal with non-matching cams is they do not match in the two-cam shot scenario. OTOH, if this is only part of your video business, having two different cam capabilities is possibly a good idea.
 
To me a backup camera refers to one that could be used if the first goes down. Otherwise they would just ask for two camera. Or am I mistaken.
Having different format choices for clients is quite common. If you can make it make financial sense, go for it, it just increases your value. That is the beauty of what the HVX offers up.
 
Prairieboy said:
To me a backup camera refers to one that could be used if the first goes down. Otherwise they would just ask for two camera. Or am I mistaken.
Having different format choices for clients is quite common. If you can make it make financial sense, go for it, it just increases your value. That is the beauty of what the HVX offers up.
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I believe you are correct, they want you to have another if your regular camera breaks.

The ad says they get the clients, you show up and film. You hand the minidv tape to someone else, no editing, nothing but shooting. The ad says you can keep whatever your own videography business going, and be supplemented by them.

I wonder if anyone has worked in this fashion? Good or bad experience?
 
I haven't worked in this fashion, and I am by no means a "veteran" in this field, but I can apply some common sense to some things.

When I shoot, I always have at least 2 (if not 3 cameras) I handle 1, my wife handles the other. The third would be backup, or a static camera, allowing myself and my wife to get more dynamic shots.

With that being said, I am amazed at how many weddings I have shown up to, and the "videographer" is using a 1 CCD camera, in one static spot, and it doesn't seem like they have any sort of backup plan.

When it comes to wedding videography...I say have at least TWO cameras. #1. to cover more of the event in a more dramatic/dynamic way, and #2. God forbid if one goes down, you don't lose everything.

Even though I am still learning techniques and things, I know this much: You will never get the same type of quality from a $300 camcorder from wally world that you will with a DVX100 or similar type camera.

Just my 2 cents.
 
x-angel said:
Even though I am still learning techniques and things, I know this much: You will never get the same type of quality from a $300 camcorder from wally world that you will with a DVX100 or similar type camera.

Just my 2 cents.
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Wise words. So some of the other folks mention it's a lot of money to have another DVX around if you're not using it a lot. But it sounds like for you it's worth it, if it saves on a paying gig?

I've looked at the JVC 300U (I think that's the model) 3 1/3 CCD, xlr inputs.... I forget the rest of the specs, but pretty good for around 2K. Just no 24P. If I'm using the DVX in video mode, the JVC should provide a reasonable backup, 2nd cam where the footage will work reasonably well with the DVX stuff, wouldn't you think?
 
dstevens said:
. If I'm using the DVX in video mode, the JVC should provide a reasonable backup, 2nd cam where the footage will work reasonably well with the DVX stuff, wouldn't you think?
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I would think so. Reasonably being the operative term. There would have to be a hell of a lot of post correction.

Like I said, I am no expert, I just apply common sense to things.
 
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