What is a good camera for film and cinema?

andrew

Ok, I want to start making my own films. I was thinking of getting the Canon Rebel T2i but I dont know if it is a good camera. Please give me some advice, thanks! Oh and i want the price to be under $800. Thanks!

Answer
Hello,

I myself am looking for the right film camera for me, but the camera you say that you are thinking of getting, is not really for filming. Yes, the cameras such as the Canon Rebel T2i, Canon 50d/7D/550D are great cameras, they are not for film. Although they shoot film, they are for picture quality, and mainly if you want to use these cameras for filming, the quality will be OKAY unless it is still footage. What you want, is a camcorder which are mainly for film.
For example, the Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD 24fps Camcorder (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-AG-HMC150-AVCHD-24fps Camcorder/dp/B001DKELYC/ref=pd_zg_rss_tr_e_172421_2) is slightly over the price of the Canon 7D. BUT, this camera is strictly for film, while the canon 7D, or the camera you are looking at, are basically for picture. So all in all, what you want is a camcorder and you can look at this site that gives you the "Top Rated Camcorders of 2010-2011", and it will display the price, features and reviews for many camcorders!

The Canon Rebl T2i shoots some pretty great video just as good as the Canon 7D, and I will post a link in the "sources" of some really helpful filming tips, where they are using the Rebel T2i to film the video.

But for the price under $800, I would look on that site for a handheld HD camcorder, or get the camera you want, but the Canon 7D is a very good option with proper lenses too, but the price is steep of $1500-$2000, plus $300-$400 for a good lens. :/
-Also you must remember that the camera is not what gives you good quality; it may help, but it is very minimal. You will need a good Lens for your camera to give it the best quality possible, and also look into lighting, and adjusting color contrasting and color grading when you are EDITING the film (look up some tutorials on youtube to adjust color to give it that cinematic look) so that way you have the best possible image. (I will give some links in the bottom that helped me with some film makig tips) Hope this helps :)

I have Mac OS X 10.5.8. Do I have to Purchase OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and OS X Lion to be able to run icloud?

babygirl49

Answer
Yes. The processor in a Mac that is running Leopard 10.5.8 is not compatible. It would be best to buy a Mac that has Lion installed unless your current one meets the requirements below to goto Snow Leopard 10.6 and Lion 10.7

http://www.apple.com/macosx/how-to-buy/

Step 1:
Make sure your Mac can run Lion.
Your Mac must have an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor to run Lion. Find out if your current Mac has one of these processors by clicking the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, then choosing About This Mac.


Step 2:
Make sure you have the latest version of Snow Leopard.
Get up to date with the latest version of OS X Snow Leopard to purchase OS X Lion from the Mac App Store. If you have Snow Leopard, click the Apple icon and choose Software Update to install Snow Leopard v10.6.8, the latest version.


Step 3:
Download OS X Lion from the Mac App Store.
Open the Mac App Store from your Dock to buy and download it. Then follow the onscreen instructions to install Lion. If you don't have broadband access, you can visit any Apple Retail Store to get help with downloading. Or you can order the OS X Lion USB Thumb Drive from the Apple Online Store.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

Technical Specifications

General requirements

Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
2GB of memory
OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
7GB of available space
Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
Feature-specific requirements

Time Machine
requires an additional hard drive or Time Capsule (sold separately).

Photo Booth
requires a FaceTime or iSight camera (built in or external), USB video class (UVC) camera, or FireWire DV camcorder. Backdrop effects when using a DV camcorder require fixed focus, exposure, and white balance.

FaceTime
Video calls require a built-in FaceTime camera, an iSight camera (built in or external), a USB video class (UVC) camera, or a FireWire DV camcorder; and a 128-Kbps upstream and downstream Internet connection. Making HD video calls requires a built-in FaceTime HD camera and a 1-Mbps upstream and downstream Internet connection. Receiving HD video calls requires a supported Intel-based Mac.

Screen sharing
in iChat and the Finder requires a 128-Kbps Internet connection (300 Kbps recommended).

iChat
Audio chats require a microphone and a 56-Kbps Internet connection. Video chats require a FaceTime or iSight camera (built in or external), USB video class (UVC) camera, or FireWire DV camcorder; and a 128-Kbps upstream and downstream Internet connection.

Backdrop effects when using a DV camcorder require fixed focus, exposure, and white balance. Some iChat features offer better performance and quality with higher system capabilities. More details

AirDrop
supports the following Mac models:

MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)
iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
Boot Camp
supports existing Boot Camp installations with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. New Boot Camp installations require Windows 7 (sold separately).

Exchange support
requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Update Rollup 4 or Exchange Server 2010. Auto-setup requires enabling the Autodiscovery feature of Microsoft Exchange Server.

QuickTime X movie capture
requires a FaceTime or iSight camera (built in or external), USB video class (UVC) camera, or FireWire DV camcorder.

OpenCL
requires one of the following graphics cards or graphics processors:

NVIDIA GeForce 320M, GeForce GT 330M, GeForce 9400M, GeForce 9600M GT, GeForce 8600M GT, GeForce GT 120, GeForce GT 130, GeForce GTX 285, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GS, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX5600
ATI Radeon HD 4670, ATI Radeon HD 4850, Radeon HD 4870, ATI Radeon HD 5670, ATI Radeon HD 5750, ATI Radeon HD 5770, ATI Radeon HD 5870
AMD Radeon HD 6630M, AMD Radeon HD 6750M, AMD Radeon HD 6770M, AMD Radeon HD 6970M
Gestures
requires a Multi-Touch trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse.

VoiceOver gestures
require a Multi-Touch trackpad or Magic Trackpad.

Mac App Store
is available only to persons age 13 or older in the U.S. and many other countries. Requires compatible hardware and software and Internet access; broadband recommended (fees may apply). Terms apply.

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need help on camcorder/ What to get?

eeekkk

I am very noob when it comes to camcorder but I really want to get one for a friend for christmas.. $200 max is my price range xD
Anyways, I want to get a nice camcorder that is HD and can pick up sounds very well and zoom .. If that's possible.. Lets just say if a UFO happens to be in the sky, he would want to zoom in as much as he can. Also, a camcorder that is easy to use and upload . I don't know if megapixels matter for camcorder? i dont even know anything about cameras -.- but if it takes still picture thats also great.

Anyways.. are there any camcorder that fits these needs? Answers are appreciated and links :D thanks guys
Oh oops.. forgot to add.. I want it to be able to record with low lights or at night hehehe

Answer
JVC GZ-MS230 Camcorder (Black) is good for you they have led light for low light record and the most important super lolux for improve image quality on low light record.
39x optical zoom, 800x digital zoom and 45x dynamic zoom
1 hour and 50 minutes of recording time with 8GB memory card
Uses SD/SDHC memory cards
Includes power supply, Everio Media Browser software, battery and camcorder strap

Is a JVC Everio GZM - G130U a good camcorder for recording in low light/at a distance?

me41987

I want to use it to record my sister's shows and such. I usually sit in a balcony seat.

Answer
Yeah it might do ok for that.

Sonys are the best for low light however. But they are $100 more.

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MY SONY HDR-TD10 CAMCORDER WONT IMPORT TO IMOVIE!!!?

I just filmed so stuff and now I need to import it in to iMovie 2011, but whenever I go into my files to import it says theres no video in this file, but I can still do playback on my camcorder. I filmed in Hd if helps...please answer quick..

Answer
You can create a new folder in your computer, copy those videos from your camcorder to that folder and then try importing them from that folder you created on your computer. If that doesn't work, maybe the extension (type) of your footage is not compatible with iMovie. As far as I know, it won't play extensions like .wmv, I don't them all, but if that seems to be the problem, you can download a video converter from Mac App Store. I use Miro Video Converter for that, it is free. Hope this helps.

I'm trying to find a high quality, affordable, camcorder (video camera). Recommendations?

Alice

I'm trying to get into video production, mainly editing. I use Sony Vegas, Final Cut Express, and I will learn how to use Adobe Premiere in a class I'm taking soon. What camcorder could I use that will give me high quality footage and be compatible with Mac and PC? I'm looking for something that's semi affordable too, but if I have to pay thousands then that's what I'll do! Please suggest away! :)

Answer
you don't give a price range.

http://dancurtis.ca/2011/08/24/the-top-3-prosumer-hd-camcorders-under-2500/

camcorderinfo.com

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Camcorder connected to laptop? Video Editing Software?

Kurt H

http://www.target.com/DC210-Canon-DVD-Camcorder/dp/B000M5022O/sr=1-2/qid=1195750912/ref=sr_1_2/602-1807729-5979811?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Advd%20camcorder&page=1


I'm thinking of asking for that for Christmas, but I want to know if you can connect that to a laptop. If so, would the cable be included with that camera (or any camcorder for that matter) or would I need to buy my own?

Also I love using photoshop for image editing, but is there an Adobe product for video editing?

Answer
This camcorder only comes with composite video output so it will only connect to a TV unless you have a video capture card on your laptop which most don't.

To edit the video, you'll need to take the finalized disc from this camcorder to your laptop, rip the files to your hard disk, then use which ever software you are using for video editing.

Safe video capture / recording software?

Logan

I'm looking for some software to record video game sessions. I need something that's free, safe and relatively easy to use. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Free? Don't waste your time as I did before. They just doesn't work properly with most games.
Finally, I am using Game Camcorder - http://gamecamcorder.com

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Looking for a HD camcorder with the same quality as a DSLR (T3i)?

Curiously

I really like the quality of detail in the Canon T3i video and its lack of jello motion and interlacing. I looked for an HD camcorder at the same relative price (about $600ish) and they either had interlacing or jello motion, even the ones shown on the top ten reviews website.

So can someone point me out to a good quality HD camcorder? I don't care if it is in 720p if it comes close to the T3i, I am really looking for this to be around $200 used but just tell me what you've got. Thanks! (PS I really want this to shoot music videos and short films, not videocasts or blogs)
I'm not too worried about the format because I use After Effects for editing and it can usually handle it well. (I didn't say sport films btw)

That information was very helpful but the quality of the T3i does look very professional and I know a filmmaker who shot the entire film with T2i cameras.

I am just looking for something comparable to even the T3i since the camcorders in the same price as the T3i I found are a huge step down, even the ones that were very expensive new.

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video.http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

top of the line camcorder ?? TEN POINTS!!!?

Daisy

Hey, im looking for a camcorder, I want the best, nothing professional, it has to be as small as possible, use a hard drive, or SD card... it has to be good quality and a nice looking,
if possible can you provide a link to a web site.

Thanks, im having a hard time finding something

Answer
What is your budget?

I strongly suggest staying away from hard drive camcorders. Same video quality can be had from flash memory; better video quality from miniDV tape.

Consumer grade "top of the line":
miniDV tape: Canon HV30; Sony HDR-HC9
Flash memory: Canon HF series; Sony HDR-CX series.

For standard definition only, Canon FS series.

check the canon or sony websites - or amazon, bhphotovideo or adorama.

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A best camcorder around $500?

BanzaiFTW

Pro or consumer camcorder.Please no dumb ass answer.thank you

Answer
Getting a good digital camcorder does not have to cost you tons of money. There are MiniDV, DVD, and even hard drive camcorder that can be purchased for less than $500, some considerably less. Here are some the top digital camcorders in the market under $500.

Panasonic SDR-H18 Hard Drive Camcorder
Canon DC230 DVD Camcorder
Sony DVD308 DVD Camcorder
Sanyo Xacti E1 Waterproof Flash Camcorder
Sony DCR-HC48 MiniDV Camcorder

which HD Camcorder should I buy?

zachleez

I am looking for the best quality HD camcorder, I would like it to use either DVDs or a hard drive or memory stick. I would like to spend under $1000 and I will be buying from eBay, or other good sites were I can find the deals, but first I need to no which brand/model I should buy? I just want an overall High quality camcorder, not top of the line independent film producer type but not a beginners one either somewhere in between what are some important features i should look for..... Image Sensor size?

Answer
I've been using a Sony HDR-HC1 for about 2 years.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Camcorders you should look at: Canon HV20 or HV30... or Sony HDR-HC7 or HC9.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Just so you understand the "range":
Standard definition Canon ZR800 is ~$250.
Standard definition Sony DCR-HC96 ~$500
The Canon HV20, HV30 and Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9 cameras listed above are the cheapest high definition cameras at ~$1000.
Then there is a big jump to the Sony HDR-FX1, FX7, HVR-A1U, V1U and Z1U... and the Canon GL2, XL2, and XHA1... and Panasonic DVX100 and HDX200

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Why are most of these camcorders miniDV tape? Because the compress the least DV for standard definition and HDV for high definition. The internal hard drive and flash camcorders use MPEG2 for standard def and AVCHD for hidef - and that is a LOT of compression - when you compress that much when capturing, you lose data - and video quality. You want the least compression at capture - what you do in the edit and post production environment is downstream and controlled - if you lose the data at the beginning there is no recovery.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

There are two exceptions to this - the Panasonic cameras use P2 cards. As well, Firestore makes external hard drive capture devices (which connect using firewire to miniDV tape cameras). These storage items store using DV ad HDV format, so are not subject to the compression video quality loss of the traditional internal hard drive and flash consumer devices.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Be careful of "best price" - there are a lot of scammers that are "gray market resellers", open the box and take out the battery and other included items - then sell the camera cheap, but force you to buy the accessories they just took out of the box.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

Best purchase method is to buy locally. You keep your neighbors employed and taxes pay for roads, and all that other stuff you take for granted. Next best is stay with the know on-line folks... Amazon, Adirama, B&H Photo. Beyond this, you are on your own - Buyer beware.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

DVD based camcorders compress even more (into MPEG and AVCCH formatted files) than hard drive or flash memory based camcorders do. The video they capture is poor quality compared to the other camcorders and painful to edit.

DO NOT BUY A DVD BASED CAMCORDER.

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Whats ab affordable camcorder to make a short film?

Morgan

I want to make a short film called what is love.. i want something that uploads easily to the computer.and cheap if possible... i was thinking the flip hd camcorder would be good but i dont know

Answer
The flip video camcorder is good but if your only using it for a short film, I recommend the Flip Video Mino HD as they are smaller and cheaper. These camcorders use lots of power so you will need Rechargeable batterys.

Hope it helped!x

Best Camcorder for Short Films?

Samantha

Getting a camcorder so i can make short films but i don't know which kind to get. I want a very quality camera that can capture running scenes very clearly. My price range is up to $700. Im going to be making short films that include alot of running and you need to hear the people talking very clearly

Answer
"Best" at a $700 budget do not go together. If you *really* need to "capture running scenes very clearly" then you need to understand how to capture them - generally, it is NOT with the camera being handheld by the person running. The camera can be mounted on a tripod in a wagon with air-filled wheels or in a car or pick-up truck... or if you *must* run with the camera, then you will need some sort of hand-held or body-vest-mounted "Steadycam" device. There is no camcorder made with any sort of stabilization that will provide a clear video image if the camcorder is hand-held while running.

As for the "need to hear the people talking very clearly" requirement, that usually means an external mic. I presume you want the mic hidden, so that means a wireless lavalier. If this is a different budget item, then let us know what that budget is - I use Sennheiser G3 series wireless gear with a portable (battery powered) base station. The mic connects to a battery powered body-pack; the body pack connects wirelessly to the battery powered base station which plugs into the camcorder's mic jack. If you want to use more than one lav system, then a small mixer is needed - like those from BeachTek or juicedLink. If you are depending on the camcorder's internal mics to pick up a conversation 5-10 feet away (or further) while running, expect the camcorder's built-in mics to pick up wind noise.

I would suggest limiting your camcorder to something in the Canon HF M series range. They have a mic jack and manual audio control. The will leave some $ for mics.

Do not expect excellent low light behavior with this camcorder (or those from any manufacturer in this price range or less). The lens diameter and single imaging chip are too small for good low light performance. For this we go to camcorders with a lens diameter of 70mm or larger and 3CCD or 3CMOS chip arrays that are 1/3" of larger. The entry point would be the Sony HDR-FX1000 or Canon XHA1...

In either case, we have no idea what you plan to edit with - your computer may need a hardware upgrade - or the video editor you plan to use may not be able to deal with the high definition video these camcorders capture.

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A video-camera/camcorder under 500 dollars with best video quality possible?

I recently made a short film with my friends just using a digital camera that had a video capablities. Now i realized how much fun filming is and I want to do more. Now i just don't know what kind of video camera to get. I have a budget of up to 500 dollars and i want something that has really good quality(I know I might be asking for too much), has a large storage, and can be used with a tripod. I want to be able to edit my videos, but they won't be professional just for personal self-satisfaction. Really appreciate it.

Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video. Not to mention, but the computer you upload your HD files to has to have at least a 1 GB video card and a separate Audio card that can support Direct X® 9 technology. Your normal every day computer has massive troubles with HD video. Consumer level HD camcorders interpolate the video. This means they take one frame, make up the next 4 or 5 frames, take a frame and repeat this, over and over, for the remainder of the video, every video it takes is like this. With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a MIC jack. You will need a Firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a Firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer. To say this is not HD, think about this. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $250 Canon MiniDV tape camcorder.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

Best camcorder under $500?

quiznosman

I'm a student filmmaker on a limited budget and I want to buy a mini dv camcorder. I need something with a microphone input so that I can add a beachtek xlr adapter to it. I already know about the canon zr930 but is there anything better than that in the price range? And hows the video quality of the zr930? Pros and Cons?
http://www.youtube.com/user/jeandfilms

Answer
The ZR900 and 930 both have a mic jack - but no manual audio control. Both are entry level consumer camcorders with small lenses and imaging chips. There is nothing better in this price range... Adding the XLR adapter is good - but I don't know if that actually bypasses the auto mic gain. And there is no headphone jack on the ZR series, so you need some method to know what the audio levels are that are being captured. BeachTeck and juicedLink bot make XLR adapters with LED audio level "meters", but they are more expensive than the basic XLR adapter models.

The least expensive miniDV camcorders - of which I am aware - that have both a mic jack and manual audio control are the Canon HV30 and Sony HDR-HC9. Their lenses and imaging chips are a little large than the ZR series, too. (Larger lenses and imaging chips - whether CMOS or CCD - means improved low-light video capture behavior).

The other option is to not worry about the camcorder's mic jack (or the XLR adapter) and get an external audio "field recorder" like those from Zoom (the H4 has decent built-in condenser mics AND XLR/1/4" combo mic jacks and manual audio control). When you edit, just replace the audio captured by the camcorder with that captured by the field recorder.

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which camcorder shall i get?(description is important).?

notbeingme

I'm looking for a camcorder but don't know what I really need to be asking for when I go to get one. Does anyone have any recommendations? This is roughly what I am looking for but I don't know if it's unrealistic or if there are other important features I need to be looking out for....?

In theory ....

- I want it to be HD, decent sound and picture quality.
- I don't want a shoulder mounted thing, but it can be bigger than a credit card!
- I would like it to film well in poorly lit/ darker places as well as bright, sunny places.
- Is it important to have a flash on a camcorder!? I don't want it for stills.
- I would also, if possible, like it to be waterproof.
- I would like reasonable image stabilisation as I wouldn't be using a tripod or anything like that and a zoom that doesn't go really grainy.
- I'd like to be able to add extra memory as well.
- I don't want to re-mortgage to get it either!!!

Any recommendations regarding a specific camcorder would be greatly appreciated, or any help with what I need to be looking/ asking for?

Answer
These are the brands I would trust and recommend: Canon, JVC, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo and Sony. There are many low end junky cameras on the market. If the specs look too good to be true, there's probably something wrong. For example, there is no such thing as an HD camcorder for less than $200 worth buying. In fact, even under $250 is going to be marginal at best.
The accessories you buy are just as important. Tripod, lighting, microphone, etc are something you don't want to overlook. You will be hard pressed to find a camcorder for less than $500 with the ability to take an external microphone. At some point, even if you are only a little serious, you will regret not having a microphone jack. Take this advice, I have a nice Samsung HMX-H200 camcorder that is now discontinued. I paid $250 for it. A month ago It was down to $220. When it first came to market in 2010, it was around $300. What you look at today will be cheaper tomorrow. In a short period, it will be replaced. The replacement will cost more. It may or may not do more or do it better.
By the way, I REALLY regret not having an external microphone for this camera, other than that, I'm OK with it.
Whatever brand/model you are interested in, chances are good somebody on YouTube has uploaded sample, review or test video from it.

What would be a nice SD camcorder to film a wedding with for under 400$ with?

Spencer

Answer
I recommend Canon VIXIA HF R100 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder - 2010 MODEL
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00322ON8S?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00322ON8S

Panasonic HDC-SD60K SD Based Hi-Def Camcorder with 35X Intelligent Zoom
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035LCZSG?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0035LCZSG

JVC GZ-HD620 120 GB High Definition HDD Camcorder http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032FPZ28?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0032FPZ28

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Help picking out a HD camcorder?

Gracie

I'm an independent filmmaker, and I'm in high school, so I'm on a very tight budget. I need help picking out a camcorder that is HD and under $1000 that would work without problems and have good audio and video. Any ideas, I really appreciate it! It wouldn't be a disadvantage if it could take a little wear and tear and be very well built!

Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 3 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes - all times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event i have aver been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 second or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a Mic jack. You need a firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer.

Looking for the best HD Camcorder under $500?

Joe Prosci

Ive been looking at many different camcorders but cant find one I want to get. I want HD video and a decent megapixel for pictures. Any additional features would be great. I dont want to spend a penny over $500. Let me know. Thanks.
Well I know I can look on craigslist/ebay. But I was wondering what brand and model of camera would fit my needs.

Answer
HD camcorder, a step backwards in picture quality. Camcorder takes on frame, skips a few frames then takes another. Leave camcorder or software to interpolate the missing frames. Terrible video if any fast action is in the video.

Want the best quality in your videos, forget HDD or DVD or any other kind of storage media, MiniDV tape is the way to go. I have long hair, have challenged a few people with HD camcorder to duplicate a hair toss or two, they reply they cannot do this video as their camcorders cannot shoot it at all. My MiniDV tape camcorder had no problems shooting this.

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Anyone no of a great professional camcorder?

ponechaisi

I am starting video production and am wondering what equiptment is the best to buy, at an affordable price. I guess I am wanting a professional camcorder at a budgeter's price.

Answer
Great question. Here are my top picks for the best professional camcorder. I have taken price into consideration. If you want HD:

1) Red Scarlet (coming soon, 2009) $3,000
2) Sony PMW-EX1 $6,000
3) JVC GY-HD200U $5,500
4) Panasonic AG-HVX200 $5,000
5) Canon XH-A1 $3,300

RED SCARLET: Many are skeptical about the Red Scarlet as it is a relatively unknown brand, but I believe it is the best professional camcorder under $10,000. No contest. With a traditional camcorder, like that made by Sony, Canon, etc, you'll be lucky if you get one that records in true HD. That is, most camcorders do NOT record in true 1920 x 1080 resolution, apart from the Sony PWM-EX1, as listed above. The Red Scarlet however, records footage in 3K, that is about 150% of the resolution of 1920 x 1080 HD. All that for $3,000. I don't know how well the Scarlet will perform when it is released in 2009 as far as color reproduction, cinematic look, audio capabilities, and manual controls, but I do know that it gives you better resolution than any camera I know of under $20,000. Therefore, the Red Scarlet is definately worth looking into. 3K footage for under $3K is a total steal!
______________
SONY PMW-EX1: It is a relatively new camcorder that records to tapeless media the SxS cards. The EX1 has better resolution that its Canon, Panasonic and JVC competitors, as the XDCAM cards do NOT compress nearly as much as HDV. Another huge advantage is that it has 3 CMOS chips that are 1/2" each, as opposed to 1/3" or smaller chips found on every other camera under $10,000. The larger image sensor gives your picture a much narrower depth of field, which is great for budding filmmakers, wanting that look of celluloid film. The only setback is that the EX1's media format, the SxS XDCAM media cards only record about 25 minutes of high quality footage on the supplied card, and purchasing additional cards is very expensive.
_______________
JVC HD200U
The HD200U is no Sony, Panasonic, or Canon, but it is an excellent camera nonetheless. Some pro reviews have said that the earlier model, the HD110U was the second best camera as far as picture quality in the prosumer level, next to the Canon XL-H1, which is $8,000. I really like the HD110 and HD200 as it is the only prosumer HD camera, apart from the XL-H1 with interchangeable lenses, rather than a built in lens. The only problem is that the HD200U does not record HD in 1080p or 1080i, but instead, it only has a lower-resolution 720p mode. To me, this isn't all that bad, as I prefer 720p at 60fps over 1080p at 30fps; it blurs much less, but you'll have to make the decision. Numerous independant films have been shot on the JVC HD110 and HD200, so its an excellent camera!

_______________
Panasonic HVX200: The HVX200 is a great inexpensive choice for the indie filmmaker. It has excellent picture quality and an excellent 24p mode. Another huge upside is that it records to both HDV OR P2 cards, so its really convenient. However, it does not have quite as good picture quality as the Sony EX1, nor does it have interchangeable lenses like the JVC HD200. It's an excellent, well-rounded HD camera nonetheless. I found it works excellent with the Redrock M2 35mm adapters though.
____________
Canon XH-A1: The XH-A1 is rated as one of the best cameras out there for its combination of quality and value for your money. I agree. It's a nice, well rounded camera; relatively easy to use (compared to the others at least) and is packed with loads of features, making it an excellent value. My only problem is that it does not have a 720p mode. It also lacks a real 24p mode, and instead has what Canon calls a 24f mode. According to Canon, the 2 are identical, but I really don't know.

For standard definition, which is still a great option, as HD is still new and expensive:
1) Panasonic AG-DVX100B $2,500
2) Canon XL2 $3,000
3) Sony DSR-PD170 $2,500

I really can't decide whether I like the DVX100B or the XL2 better. I'm leaning towads the DVX100B as a better overall camera (and its very user friendly), but then again, the XL2 has interchangeable lenses. Both can record in 24p, which is a great option. The PD170 is a total low-light wonder, is easy to use, but does not have a 24p mode.

If this is still not what you had in mind for a budget, here are some decent consumer HD cameras:
1) Sony HDR-HC3 and HDR-HC9
2) Canon HV20 and HV30

both are HDV. I highly recommend it. I can't stand mini DVD or flash media. HDV is also considerably better than Hard Disk camera; they don't compress your footage quite as much.


Hope that helps, and I apologize if that's still not what you had in mind. Well good luck, and have fun!!!

HD- Camcorder?

Patrick B

What are the three best HD- Camcorders out there

Answer
Here's a list of the top four budget HD cams in comparison.

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Does anyone know a good video program?

Kehinde

I'm making a video in class and was wondering if anyone knew a good video program that would make it look professional. I was looking for a video that had the same style as the Konya 2012 video. Please answer as fast as possible because our schedule is tight!

Answer
These Programs are as good as they get.

Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate & Sony Vegas Pro 10

Screen Shot, Top Picture - http://asimplelife.ca/nle.html Upgrade your computer to AVCHD specs below and you can run both programs seen on my Web Page on your computer. Just Rejig the search term below in the YouTube search, from the instructions below.

This is not a program that can run on any computer, see below -

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® 7, Windows Vista® (SP2), or Windows XP (SP3)
Intel® Pentium® or AMD Athlon⢠1.8 GHz (2.4 GHz or higher recommended)
-Intel Core⢠2 Duo 2.4 GHz required for AVCHD*
-Intel Core⢠2 Quad 2.66 GHz or Intel Core i7 required for
AVCHD* 1920
1 GB system memory recommended, 2 GB required for AVCHD*
DirectX® 9 or 10 compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB or higher recommended)
-256 MB required for HD and AVCHD*
DirectX 9 (or higher) compatible sound card
3.8 GB of disk space
DVD-ROM drive to install software

Import Formats

â¢Video: AVCHD*, AVCHD Lite*, BD Blu-ray*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP (MPEG-4)*, WMV, non-encrypted DVD titles (incl. DVD-VR/+VR), QuickTime® MOV (DV, MPEG-4*, H.264*), DivX Plus® MKV*
â¢Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*, WMA
â¢Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF, PNG, J2K

If interested, link below takes you to the site, but you can get this $80 program for free. Do this by opening a web browser, surfing over to YouTube. Once there, in the search box on that site, enter 'Pinnacle Studio 14' or âSony Vegas Pro 10â. Youâre looking for free download, find a link or video that says that, in the video description, there will be link for a free download. Make sure, before you do this, to make sure your computer can meet or exceed those Specs above, and pay special attention to the AVCHD specs if you have or are going to get a HD camcorder.

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14635 Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate Collection

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15120 Sony Vegas Pro 10

Good romance/drama manga?

Sonador

Some of my favorites are Mars, Akuma de Sourou, Hanatsukihime, Cat Street, Rockin' Heaven, Hana Yori Dango, Red River, orange...etc

I don't like popular ones like Ouran Host Club, Vampire Knight, Kaichou wa Maid Sama, Dengeky Dais, Beast Master, Moe Kare, Black Bird, Say i Love You, Kare Kano and similar.

Also I read really a lot of manga, somewhere about 200, so please no common/popular titles...
Maybe something newer, that started airing in 2011/2012? Or some older ones that are not so well known but good and underated.

And please no Naruto, Bleach, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist etc. also...
I like romance, drama, slice of life, psyhological, fantasy, supernatural and little comedy...
No yuri, yaoi, ecchi, shounen... Smut is fine.

Thank you and 10 points for best answer. :)

Answer
Rec Kimi ga Naita Hi (FINISHED)
--- Aizawa Minami is a girl who has never cried. She prefers to observe life through the lens of her camcorder, as she is an awkward and serious person. Because of this her classmates shun her, but she ignores it and occupies herself with recording the things she likes. One day she meets Satoru, a classmate and retired actor who seems to understand her. They quickly become close, but what Minami doesn't know is that Satoru is hiding a big secret from the world...
--- This drama romance is one of the best manga I've ever read. It's only 4 chapters, but I couldn't stop thinking about it all day after I finished it. It's beautiful.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/rec_kimi_ga_naita_hi/

Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai (FINISHED)
--- Aihara Ryo is a shy highschooler who is shunned by everyone. She doesn't own a cell phone because no one would call her anyway. So she imagines owning a cell phone in her head, but one day there is a connection, and someone is on the line! And thus begins an interesting friendship...
--- This 5-chapter manga packs an emotional punch. It hit me in a kinda sorta similar way to Orange, sad and sweet. I can't tell you any more without ruining it, but it's definitely one of my favorites!
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/kimi_ni_shika_kikoenai/

Hajimari no Niina (PUBLISHING)
--- Niina is a cute and energetic 11-year-old girl who is very special. She still has the memories of her past life as a girl named Chitose who died at age 15. One of these memories is a promise she made to her boyfriend Atsurou. Now, as Niina, she wants to fulfill the promise she made so long ago. But can she?
--- This manga is ongoing, with 9 chapters out currently, and I love it so far. It's sweet and sad at the same time, and the main character is really cute.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/hajimari_no_niina/

Dear Green (FINISHED)
--- Aoi has always been the delinquent kind of girl, not taking her future seriously. She's always being compared to her talented older sister, and she's fed up with it. As a child she loved to play the flute, but she gave up because of her lack of self-confidence. One day when she is in her secret hiding place, she meets a genius photographer named Yohsuke. Can he give her the confidence to move on in life?
--- I almost never like romance one-shots because the love always feels rushed and fake when it's squished into one chapter like that. But this one is different. It's sweet and refreshing.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/dear_green_sakura_amyuu/

Akuma to Love Song (PUBLISHING)
--- Touzuka High School is a public school with a pretty low grade point average. One day, a girl named Kawai Maria transfers in after being expelled from the state's top private girls school (St. Katria) for being violent. She's beautiful, but her bristly personality, arrogance, and brutal honesty quickly isolate her from most of the class... except for two very opposite boys...
--- This manga is ongoing, with 59 chapters released so far. It's not your typical romance shoujo manga. The characters are unique and complex, and you find out more about them and their pasts as you read. It's a great romance drama.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/akuma_to_love_song/

Hana to Akuma (FINISHED)
--- 14 years ago, Vivi (a demon) decided to leave the demon realm and come to earth. There he found an abandoned baby girl and on a whim decided to keep her, naming her Hana. 14 years later, they are still living together, with Hana confused about her feelings for him and Vivi thinking of himself as her guardian and nothing more. But is their life together really that simple?
--- This manga is 58 chapters, and is a blend of drama, comedy, romance, and cuteness, with a smidge of demon-realm danger thrown in.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/hana_to_akuma/

Hotarubi no Mori e (FINISHED)
--- Hotarubi no Mori e is 4 chapters long, and each chapter is a separate love story. Chapter #2 is titled "Hotarubi no Mori e", where the manga got its name. That chapter was recently turned into an anime movie with that same title, which is just as good as or maybe better that the original story. I love both so much.
---Chapter #2 is about a little girl named Hotaru who goes on summer vacation and gets lost in an enchanted forest, where she meets a spirit named Gin. He helps her find her way back but won't let her touch him, because a human's touch makes a spirit disappear forever. Hotaru and Gin become friends, and she begins to visit him in the forest every day of summer vacation, year after year.
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/hotarubi_no_mori_e/


(I don't have enough room to describe these next ones)

Koko ni Iru yo (COMPLETED, 21 chapters)
Hibi Chouchou (ONGOING, 17 chapters so far)
Kingyo Sou (COMPLETED, 8 chapters)

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A good 300 to 400 dollar handycam?

saifm

So i am looking for a good durable handy cam that i can use for years since i am just need the camera to record simple hangouts and parties with my friends.

Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video. Not to mention, but the computer you upload your HD files to jas to have at least a 1 GB video card and a separate Audio card that can support Direct X 9 technology, you normal every day computer has massive troubles with HD video. Consumer level HD camcorders interpolate the video. This means they take one frame, make up the next 4 or 5 frames, take a frame and repeat this, over and over, for the remainder of the video, every video it takes is like this. With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a MIC jack. You will need a Firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a Firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer. To say this is not HD, think about this. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $250 Canon MiniDV tape camcorder.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Camcorders/High_Definition_HD/HV30/index.aspx

Need a Camcorder 300-$?

Jauke De H

So i stretched my budget to 300 Euros, and i need a camcorder, but i dont want a camcorder thats 300 euros, because you have to buy a memorycard and than i get over my budget, so the camcorder must be beneath 300 euros, and not a pocketcamera!

i have been searching alot!
what i need is

Medium/good light at night
Good optical zoom 30 +
HD
And a good battery life, i am happy with 1/2 hours!

Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a Mic jack. You need a firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer. To say this is not HD, think about this. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $250 Canon MiniDV tape camcorder.

This all in Canadian dollars, I do not know how to convert, but I do know the euro is $224 or something like that and you will save some money.

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3ccd professinal camcorder?

lakh s

trying to go in to recording industry and having hard time to find nice price on 3ccd / high def camcorders. Please advise if anyone knows a cheep place to buy or used will work.

Answer
A good 'Starter' cam for when you're getting serious is a Canon XL1S. I use one for my internet video business which also produces DVDs, so the quality has to meet that standard.

They're discontinued now, so you'll only get one second-hand, but they are very reliable and give a fantastic picture for the money.
They were replaced by the XL2, which is HD (I think) but that cost about 4x as much!

Equally important is the video production software you want to use. Make sure the camera is compatible with the computer and software.

When you come to buy, check eBay.

DSLR vs. 3CCD camcorders?

D-Bag

I'm a newb, to put it simply... And I'd like to know the differences between the two. Pros and cons of both, please? I would definitely appreciate it!
Also, stick to the facts and save the pretentious, artistic, I'm better than you bullshit.

Answer
DSLR is meant to take pictures
3CCD is meant to take movies.

You don't know the difference so you shouldn't purchase either.

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What camcorder should I buy?

Alex

I really want to start filming and stuff but I have no idea what camera to get. I don't really have a big budget but I'm just looking for a solid camera to go filming with.

Answer
Check out this blog, it listed the top rated and affordable camcorders to buy.http://lovetosharethis.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-best-hd-and-digital-camcorders-can.html

which digital camcorder?

diamond08

Which brand or make is best?

i want something that works really well and is small so its easy to put in a purse. also something that doesnt cost a lot.

Answer
Try CNET, best electronic review site.
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-camcorders/
This is a link of the five top camcorders, but I suggest you click the best budget camcorder list on the left. The ones on the top list can reach a thousand!

Btw, funny thing is today I was looking online for a camcorder two. I didn't have much options because I was using Dell.com which lacked in a lot of brands. Though I eventually settled on Canon FS100.

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Memory card stopped working?

Adam

Hi, i was using my kodak mini camcorder and then it just froze. When got it to work again, all my files were gone, altough at the top is showed that i only had 30 minutes of recording left, so i know that
it hasnt actually deleted everything. I cant get anything when i connect it to a computer. What do i do? That memory card holds all my photos since 2011, and it hasnt been downloaded to anything yet. I dont know what to do.

Answer
This is why you save your files to your PC as soon as you get the chance, and then back up your PC to an external drive. Flash memory can do funny things, slowly the cells of the card degrade and fail to work properly. I hope you find your files but I wouldn't count on it.

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