What camcorder would you purchase with a 20-25k limit? And why?
- Thread starter Ruff_faka
- Start date
Kevin Vega
Carbonite Member
Seems like Canon C300, Red Scarlet, or Sony F3 territory. All three of them come in around $14k, and would leave you with $6k-$11k to get accessories (lenses, matte box, follow focus, shoulder mount, tripod).
Thanks. Someone told me the Red, but then another person says to get a Scarlet that will be ready to shoot will cost at least 20k, plus it doesn't have xlr inputs and the person I'm getting it for is planning to use a lot of hand held shooting.
HorseFilms
Look ma no hands
I'd buy a used DVX100 or HMC150, then spend the rest on lighting, audio and support gear. :beer:
well wouldnt be the "perfect balance" (there is no such thing, but hey I belive in unicorns!) be something like a fs700? With a recorder that can record 4k, you'll be able to "later" some point record 4k and be futureproof. And if you say " handheld shooting" i would guess staying away from anything red might be a good idea? Thats sonys territory, especially if you are looking for XLR in. So you got 8k for the cam, 5-6k for the recorder (some got XLR in as well) and rest is for some nice lenses 
3k for tripod might be a good idea and maybe a tilta 3 rig that comes at 1700$ with case shipped to you (was about to buy one last week, but probably will invest in a tripod first). Got a mattbox,followfocus, grips etc a full set. Should also go for the battery plate (around 130$ i think)
so this leaves 7-8k for lenses, should give ya a nice basic set ?
Oh, you might wanna look into a nice monitor? 1500$ should give ya something "good" (smallhd, ikan and the likes)
3k for tripod might be a good idea and maybe a tilta 3 rig that comes at 1700$ with case shipped to you (was about to buy one last week, but probably will invest in a tripod first). Got a mattbox,followfocus, grips etc a full set. Should also go for the battery plate (around 130$ i think)
so this leaves 7-8k for lenses, should give ya a nice basic set ?
Oh, you might wanna look into a nice monitor? 1500$ should give ya something "good" (smallhd, ikan and the likes)
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
To shoot what, exactly?
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
after making two features, a few shorts, I'd say that if I was going to buy a camera, I'd want to buy two as I've learned the value of a multi-camera film shoot. And a pair of fully kitted Black Magic cams and a suite of lenses looks pretty appealing to me at the moment.
Shooting what?
mentatDUKE
Veteran
Zak, what wide lens would be usable w/ the Black Magic cam? It just seems so limited to me, although I like the idea of RAW to a degree.
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
Is the person getting the camera planning a career as a DP?
So many times people want to be 'filmmakers' -- but what they truly want is to produce or direct. If this person aspires to be a producer or director, then he doesn't need a camera -- he needs a DP who has his own gear and already knows how to use it.
My question would be -- doesn't this person already know what kind of camera they want? If not, then it sounds like they're new to this whole thing. In which case, don't blow $25K on buying a camera. Rent some cameras, let him use them, let him learn the craft -- and then think about buying.
My 2 cents.
So many times people want to be 'filmmakers' -- but what they truly want is to produce or direct. If this person aspires to be a producer or director, then he doesn't need a camera -- he needs a DP who has his own gear and already knows how to use it.
My question would be -- doesn't this person already know what kind of camera they want? If not, then it sounds like they're new to this whole thing. In which case, don't blow $25K on buying a camera. Rent some cameras, let him use them, let him learn the craft -- and then think about buying.
My 2 cents.
prexdealer
Well-known member
Hey random question, but could you really get a set of good rentable lenses for 17k? Because, in the past, when I have looked at lenses for fun (just goofing around) they sure don't seem cheap. Would love to hear what I could get for 17k (if I had it). Because it does seem lots of people might have cameras but not as many people have glass (aside from dslr discussion).
Thanks!
refocusedmedia
Veteran
Sony FS700 kitted out looks pretty damn great in this price range. 4K, super slow-mo, S35 sensor, 4:2:2 otuput, etc.
William_Robinette
Shallow Member
If you have to ask what kind of camera to get in the $20-25k price range you don't need a camera in the $20-25k price range.
But I'll echo, what are you shooting?
But I'll echo, what are you shooting?
I'd have a camera custom made.
It would consist of a Camera head with modular lens ring and back focus, so no adapters would be needed, and using either the Vita 25k image sensor or the CMOSIS CMV12000. It would send raw output over Thunderbolt to the recording box running a custom linux distro and some custom software similar to ElphelVision from Apertus.
This would let me record in any format I wanted, and use any lens I wanted without adapters. In fact, what I described it pretty dang close to what Apertus hopes to offer with their Axiom camera, although it is still on the drawing boards. Not including the lens ring/back focus that is.
It would consist of a Camera head with modular lens ring and back focus, so no adapters would be needed, and using either the Vita 25k image sensor or the CMOSIS CMV12000. It would send raw output over Thunderbolt to the recording box running a custom linux distro and some custom software similar to ElphelVision from Apertus.
This would let me record in any format I wanted, and use any lens I wanted without adapters. In fact, what I described it pretty dang close to what Apertus hopes to offer with their Axiom camera, although it is still on the drawing boards. Not including the lens ring/back focus that is.
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I'd spend no more than 25% of that money on the body. FS700 body would be the most money I'd spend. Maybe an Ikonoskop a-cam dii. CCD for under 10 grand the rest on 16mm cine lenses, audio gear, etc. Still, if there's something out for less than that I'd go for it. BMC sounds right for a 20k budget.
I think about more having an image for 20k. A body doesn't do me much, if I had 20k I'd go BMC, laptop, thunderbolt I/O, Audio recorder, Glass, I'd say the body would make up 25% tops. So yeah, scratch the a cam and the fs700 from before. I'd stick to a bmc and get the whole system needed to have an image exported.
I think about more having an image for 20k. A body doesn't do me much, if I had 20k I'd go BMC, laptop, thunderbolt I/O, Audio recorder, Glass, I'd say the body would make up 25% tops. So yeah, scratch the a cam and the fs700 from before. I'd stick to a bmc and get the whole system needed to have an image exported.
And yeah this is cause I like to shoot narrative that doesn't need to be turned over in a few days. So RAW, lots of time between shoot and render. For me projects, definitely not for client projects. Client projects, more sony, C300 drag and drop efficient codec fast fast fast style.
Fluoro
Well-known member
Best option is probably the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. 11mm on the BMC is roughly equivalent to 18 on s35 (FS100, 7D etc) or 26 on full frame (5D, D800 etc)
That's plenty wide for most people. If you have to go wider there is the Sigma 8-16 but it's a bit slow at 4.5-5.6.
So unless you need "super wide" the BMC get's plenty wide.