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General discussion

Can't decide on a cam!

by spanish39 Oct 20, 2007 12:23PM PDT

I am trying to figure out what cam to use here, can you help?

I know audio and lighting are important, I understand all that. My problem is that I don want to spend more then like $1,200 on a cam. I'm not going to make the best looking shorts or features within this price range, but I still want to make some decent piolets and videos to shop and use in a portfoilio. I was originaly going to get an XL1 or something like it, but money is just not what it used to be and I'm tired of sitting around as opprotunities pass by. I need to go out and get a decent cam soon so I can began making videos.

What I can't decide is if I should go with HDD or MiniDV. I need a wind filter, I need a mic jack, I need something I can easily edit on my PC or iMAC with Vegas (Cool or some other afordable editing software, I need options.

I would like to be able to go to a store liike a Target, or a Fry, or a Wal-mart, or a Besy Buy to get this, and start soon. Do any of you have any suggestions as to what kind of cam I may need or can use?

Thanks for any help!

Discussion is locked

2 Posts
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so... you have a budget and
by boya84 Oct 20, 2007 2:14PM PDT

you know you need best available quality (miniDV tape) and you know you need a mic-jack - and I will tell you that you need manual audio controls. The "wind filter" worka only on the built-in mics. Get or make a Zeppelin. Sony Vegas work on Windows OS - iMovie or FinalCut (Express or Pro) on Macintosh OS.

So... what cameras make your short list with this criteria?

By the way:
Do you already have mics or are they part of your budget?
Do you already have lights or are they part of your budget?
Do you already have a good fluid-head tripod or is it part of your budget?

Target or Walmart won't have the camcorder you need. BestBuy will be a stretch. Fry's might... for the camcorder (and case) - but not for mics or lights or tripod...

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reply
by spanish39 Oct 20, 2007 2:42PM PDT

Well I have been looking at mostly Sony stuff, such as the HDR-HC7. The mic and lights and all the other additional stuff comes later, not part of the camera budget. I have seen that most of the cameras within my needs range from 800 - 1200. Its hard to make a short list cause I have looked through all the cams on many sites, and its hard to tell what I need. I'm looking more for recomindations I guess

From what I have read through these forums the miniDV is the best quality. So a MiniDV cam that has many options and allows for quick editing and additional mic use. There can only be a handful of cam that meet these needs, maybe I have seen them all but I can't tell them apart. All of my focus has been on pro rquipment and it has been a while since I have dealt with this stuff.

Any suggestions based on what out there?

JVC and Panasonic seem to not be as good as sony from what I can read here.

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