Which camera???

S

starvingstudent

Member
I have a budget of 8500.

What would you do?

I need a Mac on which I can learn FCP with. Was considering investing in a Mac Pro desktop. But am open to less expensive ideas.

But as for the camera..which would you choose?

A DVX100b with a Redrock Encore 35mm adapter,
an HVX200,
or a HPX170?

With a small budget of 8500,
which of these cameras would you get, and what kind of computer?

My goal, in my last year of film school(screenwriting major unfortunately), is to learn as much as possible on my own in my final year of school, as far as making video. I want to get a camera on which I can learn, and also learn FCP.

I would like to do short narratives, music videos, but also documentaries and events(car shows, weddings). I aim to eventually make a reel after I have gained some experience and shot a lot of footage.

I guess I'm leaning more towards creative filming, hoping for the possibility of some commercial work as well.

What do you think?
 
How comes the hmc150 isnt in this ? i duno how much a mac runs for but can u afford p2 media? ur name says starving student...so if i was to take that literally :) i'd say go with the hmc150...shoot to SD cards...and have $ left for mac (im assuming thats no more than $3000) and you still have $ for lights ($1500-$2000) or good mics or a good tripod ($900)
 
Starving,

Computer + Cam + FCP = 8500, no problem.

What about lights, audio and all the other stuff you need to do much of anything.

How bout this:
$1500 used DVX
$2500 large IMac W/ FCP
$2000 Lights
$500 Misc grip
$500 Tripod
$1500 Audio

Although this isn't as flashy as a 170, P2 cards and a MBPro, it is a whole bunch more functional. Cameras come and go, the lights and audio stuff, if you buy good, will last you for a very long time

Grant
 
jambredz said:
How comes the hmc150 isnt in this ? i duno how much a mac runs for but can u afford p2 media? ur name says starving student...so if i was to take that literally :) i'd say go with the hmc150...shoot to SD cards...and have $ left for mac (im assuming thats no more than $3000) and you still have $ for lights ($1500-$2000) or good mics or a good tripod ($900)
Click to expand...
ahhh, the hmc150. I forgot to include that, as you mentioned in my other thread. You're right...the HVX's P2 cards are very unattractive to me.

I need to research that camera more after you suggested it. Its looking interesting...

I'm thinking of going with an iMac. I think with a school discount, I can get one for under 2000.

So with a $2000 iMac
and an hmc150 for $4000,
that's $6000. That leaves me 2500.

I see that the HMC150 doesn't come with a SD card. Can you explain those cards to me a little bit in layman's terms?
How much are they, and how much footage can they hold?

How difficult would the footage from this camera be to edit on an iMac? Does the iMac have the necessary port to upload footage from the SD card?

Also, I see that neither of you guys addressed the redrock adapter. I realize it's an advanced thing to jump into, but I don't see a better way to learn how to use it other than actually having it and jumping into it. I figure, I'm taking a loan out to get this, I might as well get what I can get my hands on while I have the money. The adapter is really influencing how I spend this money, as I'm pretty fixated on it.

Thanks a lot for your help!:smile:
 
ggrantly said:
Starving,

Computer + Cam + FCP = 8500, no problem.

What about lights, audio and all the other stuff you need to do much of anything.

How bout this:
$1500 used DVX
$2500 large IMac W/ FCP
$2000 Lights
$500 Misc grip
$500 Tripod
$1500 Audio

Although this isn't as flashy as a 170, P2 cards and a MBPro, it is a whole bunch more functional. Cameras come and go, the lights and audio stuff, if you buy good, will last you for a very long time

Grant
Click to expand...

Well, I have a roommate who is a pro photographer, as well as a few videographer friends. I also intern/PA at a commercial /music video production company, so being able to borrow lights and audio equipment for specific projects isn't completely out of reach.

My aim right now is just to get my hands on a computer and a camera so I can have a chance to learn how to edit and figure out camera controls freely, whenever I want. Shooting events, making small videos, etc.

For arranged shoots, I can always borrow lighting/audio, and accumulate those things after school.

The used DVX is definitely an option of mine. It would save me a lot of money for other goods like a tripod, and maybe, hopefully a redrock adapter?

Thank you for your response!
 
Lol...yeh ur pretty fixated on the adapter. However with proper technique and a few tricks u can achive shallow DOP with the dvx/ hmc stock lens. I don't think an adapter is as important as learning proper photography and lighting techniques.

The SDcards are about $30-50 depending on the brand u get and the size u get. A 16gb card can hold about 3 hrs of footage in the highest quality mode I believe. Shooting time increases if u bump down quality. Even though I wud want to shoot high all the time. You would have to do a process called transcoding in order to edit the footage easily. Avchd format which the camera shoots doesn't edit easy with some programs and isn't such a good format to do editing. Howver it allows for extremely compressed files which is why u are able to shoot to sdhc cards. (Same cards u use in digital cameras) so transcoding is the process of changing that avchd file into a format easy to edit. FCP transcodes to prores and then u can edit the files easily. Its quite an easy process I believe and depending on the speed of ur pc/mac it may or may not transcode in real time. that's the extent of my knowledge about FCP cuz I don't use it. Ask the hmc guys over in their forum for more info if u need. However what u will need is storage space as transcoding the files expands those files alot. U will need to get class 4 and above (class 6 or the newer class 10) cards in order for recording to be possible.

The dvx option is still a good route howver...but I don't see the hpx or hvx as being an option because of p2 costs.

I say forget the adapter for now.
I'm letting go of my adapter dreams (I wanted a sgblade..kinda still do) but I need a still camera also...so I have decided to get a gh1. Can't afford a 7d and the gh1 rocks anyway...so I'm planning on gettin a gh1 for the adapter type things I need ( more artistc things I want to shoot) and an hmc150 for the more professional things. The $ I wud spend on the blade and all the assecories (rails, Lens mount, rotar razor ect) i can get me a dslr rig. $1500 for gh1 with stock lens and 250 for shoulder mount and $50 for a 35mm lens to start with and $70 for a lens mount. So I get 2 lenses, a still camera and an hd camera for about $1870.
 
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jambredz said:
Lol...yeh ur pretty fixated on the adapter. However with proper technique and a few tricks u can achive shallow DOP with the dvx/ hmc stock lens. I don't think an adapter is as important as learning proper photography and lighting techniques.

The SDcards are about $30-50 depending on the brand u get and the size u get. A 16gb card can hold about 3 hrs of footage in the highest quality mode I believe. Shooting time increases if u bump down quality. Even though I wud want to shoot high all the time. You would have to do a process called transcoding in order to edit the footage easily. Avchd format which the camera shoots doesn't edit easy with some programs and isn't such a good format to do editing. Howver it allows for extremely compressed files which is why u are able to shoot to sdhc cards. (Same cards u use in digital cameras) so transcoding is the process of changing that avchd file into a format easy to edit. FCP transcodes to prores and then u can edit the files easily. Its quite an easy process I believe and depending on the speed of ur pc/mac it may or may not transcode in real time. that's the extent of my knowledge about FCP cuz I don't use it. Ask the hmc guys over in their forum for more info if u need. However what u will need is storage space as transcoding the files expands those files alot. U will need to get class 4 and above (class 6 or the newer class 10) cards in order for recording to be possible.

The dvx option is still a good route howver...but I don't see the hpx or hvx as being an option because of p2 costs.

I say forget the adapter for now.
I'm letting go of my adapter dreams (I wanted a sgblade..kinda still do) but I need a still camera also...so I have decided to get a gh1. Can't afford a 7d and the gh1 rocks anyway...so I'm planning on gettin a gh1 for the adapter type things I need ( more artistc things I want to shoot) and an hmc150 for the more professional things. The $ I wud spend on the blade and all the assecories (rails, Lens mount, rotar razor ect) i can get me a dslr rig. $1500 for gh1 with stock lens and 250 for shoulder mount and $50 for a 35mm lens to start with and $70 for a lens mount. So I get 2 lenses, a still camera and an hd camera for about $1870.
Click to expand...


Thank you again, Jambredz. You have been incredibly helpful. I really mulled over it last night, and I'm almost positive I want to go with the hmc150. There's a great package deal on B&H for it. I'm really excited to get it!

I'm going to stop by the Apple Store late on today, and see an iMac can be expected to handle, and what costs any upgrades will be.

I'm really excited about the hmc150. It seems like a great choice! And I know you're right about really learning every thing about the camera before jumping into an adapter.

As far as the adapter, I'll get the important things first, and then see where that leaves me on whether or not I want to/(can) go for it. If I do, there are many less expensive rigs than the redrock.

Well, thanks, and expect to see me on the HMC150 section, lol.
Is it true that the hmc150 can invert the image on the lcd screen? That would be very helpful if I ever went that route.
 
how can a budget of 8500 dollars consitute the handle starvingstudent. im a film major and just spent my last 1500 on a dvx100b. now im at zero. i would say that is a small budget. as for you. you should definalty go with the hvx with a 35mm adapter and lenses, light kit and good sound equipment. as for a computer, a decent Imac with final cut would run around 2500, which all should fit in your budget.
 
well he said its a loan . why shud he get an hvx when p2 is so much and he's "starving". the meida is expensive and recording times short...when the hmc is basically the same camera (same lens ect) peforms better in low light, cheap media, long recording times, but minus minor things like interval recording and a couple other stuff (better colour space ect). adapter isnt important. its funny cuz if and when he does get it, he may end up hating the thing cuz of the weight,focus issuses, additional lighting required and setup times. it maybe a rude awakening. Dont get me wrong...im not against them...just saying its not a nessecity.
 
Jambredz has a valid point. I use a stock DVX lens and with proper technique your depth of field can be quite shallow. As far as the loan goes...the borrower is slave to the lender.
 
Yeah, the handle is an exaggeration, I should've just made it "brokestudent". But I went with the cliche, haha.
It's definitely a loan that will hopefully be going through in the next few weeks.

Don't I know it, Brickhouse Media. But the way I see it, it's worth biting the bullet and taking the loan. School will end up worthless if I don't actually have my hands on some equipment. I'm in a very convenient position as far as contacts right now, so if I want any future in this industry, I better get working, and to learn and improve, I need my own stuff. We all end up paying somebody in this life. Might as well be for something useful!

The whole point with the adapter is that it is something I eventually want to get into. I figure I might as well get it now while I have the money. I can always start working at it once I get the controls of the camera down. But it's up in the air. I more than likely might just get a cheaper one (jag35?) to mess around with.

I'm really excited about the HMC150. Like Jambredz said, the HVX200 just isn't practical for me right now. The HMC150 is a really impressive package to me, and since I have some experience with the DVX100b, it seems like a perfect camera to get for myself. Plus its HD.

I did decide I'm going with the iMac. And since I'm more than likely not getting an adapter any time soon, I think I'm going to splurge on the 27in screen. It's going to be a nice little setup for me.

Thank all you guys for your responses so far.

Now I'm just waiting for that loan money...
 
an imac some hard drives an additional 19" monitor and a canon 70d would leave you with some additional money to actually go out and do some projects. That's what I might do.
 
Skip the redrock adapter. or any adapter for that matter. I just sold mine yestereday, and I'm soo glad to have gotten rid of it. The footage looks beautiful, but it's just a pain in the ass to shoot with. I'm going to wait for a large sensor vid cam to come out like the scarlet, or the rumored Canon camera. Shallow DOF is overrated.
 
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