High Quality Video Camera?

Question

Summary at bottom

Hello. I've been inspired by some online video series I haunt, such as Hardly Working, to make movies. I have some good ideas and will also use it for school projects. I want something that is easy to pick up. I want to be able to lean on automatic settings for a while.

I want to spend between $550 to $1000. That is for the video camera and whatever accessories required. I want the best quality per price.

I really want high quality audio. I am willing to purchase a third party tool (a microphone) to make sure that is obtained. I want to have it with the camera, though, to make sure the audio is completely synced up with the video.

I don't care about the video medium. As long as it is high quality and I can get it on my computer, I'm happy. Codec advice welcome.

Summary: High audio quality, high video quality, easy to use, good automatic settings, smart for price. Easy to pick up, comfortable. Fits in a backpack (don't ask).

Answer 1

pvgs500 from panasonic audio jack for your third party audio system boom mic whatever

itll stay under that budget if you go with this

Answer 2

1) MiniDV tape continues to provide the best available video quality. DV and HDV are much less compressed than the other consumer storage media available. Take the hint from the professionals:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBus...

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro...

http://www.panasonic.com/business/provid...

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/categ...

None of these camcorders are in your price range - I just want to point out that miniDV tape is the choice of the pros because of the DV and HDV storage format.

2) You are wise to understand that video is only part of the equation - audio plays a huge role as well - You know you want a mic-in jack... what you need to know is not all camcorders have manual audio control.

These cameras fill all of the above "requirements":

Canon HV20, HV30

Sony HDR-HC7, HC9

I am not aware of any other camcorder less than $1,000 with all the manual (and auto) capabilities plus mic-in jack that these camcorders have.

All these cameras will shoot in standard definition (4:3 and 16:9) and high definition (16:9 by default), so you have options there.

Each of these camcorders has a 1/8" stereo mic-in jack. If you move to pro-grade mics, they typically use XLR connectors, so a BeachTek XLR adapter will be something to investigate. Sennheiser makes a good wireless lavaliere system that uses 1/8" jacks, but it is pretty expensive.

Each of these camcorders has full manual audio control. This, along with manual zoom, exposure and focus can all also be automatic.

Whether any of them fit comfortably is up to you.

As miniDV tape based camcorders, all four  will connect to your computer's firewire 400 port to the camcorder's DV port with a firewire (IEEE1394a, i.LINK - all the same thing) cable for import. USB is used only to transfer stills from the memory card.

Other items to budget for:

shotgun mic (check the NRG SA-568)

Wireless lavaliere mic (Shure)

tripod

additional rechargeable battery (or two)

tele lens

wide angle lens

LANC (wired remote)

boom pole

universal shock mount (Sabra SMM-1)

There's more, but this is a good start.