What would you buy as a second HD camera if....?

C

Coloartist

Active member
What would you buy as a second HD camera if you wanted a budget HD/HDV camera to go as second angle with my HVX200. By budget I mean around $2000.

It doesn't have to be HVX quality but I need something to splice into my HVX footage when I'm shooting Live Music. Lowlight performance is a plus, but I know HD takes more light.

My second camera now is a Panasonic DVC30, but now that I have shot some nice HD footage I can't deal with the low res.

The only other thing that is important to me is that I can drop it into my Vegas timelines, and the letterbox pretty much matches the HVX.

Last week I figured out I needed the on camera mount for my Firestore. I had to move my tripod out of the sun a few times and I was losing 10-15 minute segments in the middle of clips, because of my firewire connection. OUCH!! . It was a joy to figure out where the cuts even were, in the clips. Anyway I patched in my DVC30 footage which I hadn't been paying to much attention to. Live and learn. Here is the HD clip:

Last week's clip: http://www.vimeo.com/390665

Thanks for your time. :smile:
 
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WOW second cam is hugely noticable. TBH theres probably not much in the $2k range thats going to be of use to you. Theres the Canon HV20, it shoots HD, it also can be a pain to set up and its not a cam I would take to a paying job. The next best thing I can tell you is the Canon A1. Shoots HD and has a great little lens on it (this isnt a this vs that point just my preference - I use HPX and A1) . Theres some presets in the Canon forum that can get you to a start point that both cams have a similar look. But it is going to cost you about $3300 (may need to check that)
 
447098.jpg




That one definately looks nice B and H has it for $3250 after rebate.

So that camera records HDV to DV tapes, correct?

That is what I think I would want, because I have been dealing with a Firestore right now.

Can it record to a harddrive?

How is it in lowlight compared to the HVX?

What format does the camera output it's video. Will I need another patch for Vegas, like my Raylight for the HVX?

Sorry for so many questions.

Bennett
 
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Most of these questions can be readily answered in the forum, a few already answered from the site you pulled the picture from (just look at the spec's tab on B&H)
It records HDV or DV to DV tapes,
It can record to a harddrive, though you're not going to be able to use your HVX (FS100) firestore, but rather a firestore that works with the cannon (FS-C?, I forget the model number at the moment)
It is a bit slower than the HVX (I want to say 1 stop, but again this has been covered in these forums)
1080i HDV. Not sure if you're going to need a patch to work the 24f
 
VenezuelanD said:
Most of these questions can be readily answered in the forum, a few already answered from the site you pulled the picture from (just look at the spec's tab on B&H)
It records HDV or DV to DV tapes,
It can record to a harddrive, though you're not going to be able to use your HVX (FS100) firestore, but rather a firestore that works with the cannon (FS-C?, I forget the model number at the moment)
It is a bit slower than the HVX (I want to say 1 stop, but again this has been covered in these forums)
1080i HDV. Not sure if you're going to need a patch to work the 24f
Click to expand...

Thank you for covering that info. I didn't even see the Canon forum until now. :dankk2:
 
VenezuelanD said:
It is a bit slower than the HVX (I want to say 1 stop, but again this has been covered in these forums)
Click to expand...

Hi mate but I think you will find thats not actually true in the field. I know, I use it. When you can use it properly it has much less noise than the HVX in lowlight.
 
ncje said:
Hi mate but I think you will find thats not actually true in the field. I know, I use it. When you can use it properly it has much less noise than the HVX in lowlight.
Click to expand...

That is what I really wanted to here. Thanks. Sorry for clogging up the HVX200 section of DVXUSER. :happy:
 
You might consider looking for a used HVX. Might be able to find one for around the same price as a new A1. Or maybe I'm being too optimistic...
 
ncie,
thanks for the correction, only going from what i had heard (and I was tired from a shoot, so I didnt bother to double check my facts) I believe i was reffering to the HV20 and somehow jumbled it up with the XHA1.
Thanks for the catch ncje
 
I'd tighten the belt, sell some plasma, hair, ???, and get a used HVX package with a couple 4 GB P2HD cards.

Easy to say, I know.

Best of luck!
 
since you seem to be one guy filming all by yourself, with the second cam on a tripod, i think you should get an hdv sony or canon, cause you´ll never have the time to change p2 cards and things you know!
so the A1 is perfect for that i think, for the price of course. putting in the tape, and you´ll be free with your hvx.
 
Gabriel Hyden said:
since you seem to be one guy filming all by yourself, with the second cam on a tripod, i think you should get an hdv sony or canon, cause you´ll never have the time to change p2 cards and things you know!
so the A1 is perfect for that i think, for the price of course. putting in the tape, and you´ll be free with your hvx.
Click to expand...


Thanks again for the input everybody. I think Gabriel has my situation figured out. I go to Live Shows, and 1 out of 10 shows I will find somebody to run my 2nd camera. So it is definately a static shot most of the time. The bands I shoot usually aren't the most financially sound acts, so alot of money doesn't usually go my way. I do get better after every shoot, so I am hoping eventually some of these bands will get big, and eventually I will get further compensated.

I also have all HD TV's at home, so the DV footage almost makes me cringe now. I can't believe what has happened in a year or two.

Thanks again,
Bennett
 
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