I need a video camera, what kind should i get?

Question

Im in high school, and a pretty ameture filmer.

My three year project is to make a film and i want to be able to make videos with my friends as well.

what kind of camera should i be looking at?

Answer 1

Im thinking you are after a good deal... and there are a lot of really good deals out there :) but I have been using this site a lot lately and it will give you an idea of the types of products and prices out there at the moment  Goodluck!  http://www.deal-eh.ca/models.aspx?cat=Ca...

Answer 2

stay on my thread and see what the guys say

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 3

there are a couple of considerations when looking at cameras.

first, look at budget and then work out the best you can get for the money spent. try to steer clear of second hand units as they are usually more trouble than they're worth.

second, decide on a format to suit your style. most people are getting Hard drive cameras without thinking of the implications of the design. i will keep using mini dv tape myself until the bitter end as i think they are still the best format for low budget film making. you can use them in many HD cameras and will offer better archival storage and far superior image quality compared to DVD and HDD.

third - what sort of shooting are you looking to do? indoor studio? or outdoor sporting events etc. many cameras are good for one but might be lacking for the other. try to find something that suits your needs and work out features you may find useful. eg - night vision sounds great but it's highly unlikely that you'll use it regularly. but if you found something with decent mic inputs and separate sound controls you may find that FAR more useful.

consider you applications, decide your format and look at how much you want to spend. make a short list then try them out.

good luck to you.

PS - for the record, I use a sony hvr-v1p. it is an amazing cam and looks as good as super 16mm film.

Answer 4

Theres a really not bad refurbished Sony you can buy cheap that has pretty good quality recordings , look up this model on e-bay ccdtrv138, their worth about 800.00 new and the rebuilds or refurbished go for about 200.00

Best of luck and yes think it through well before buying any camcorder

Answer 5

Try reading this:

Which Digital Video Camera Should You Buy?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Hope this helps.