What kind of camcorder and computer do pros use to shoot videos?

Question

What kind of camcorder and computer do pros use to shoot videos?

Answer 1

Depends, really. In general, pros use Macs--overall, they are better editing machines. A lot of semi-pros use iMacs, but the real pros use 8-core Mac Pros...insane, I know. A vast majority of pros edit on Avid Media Composer, and a lot use Final Cut Studio too.

For cameras:

for movies:

Usually use 35mm film cameras like Panavisions or Arris. Highest quality is 65mm, like for IMAX. More and more movies are shot digitally and use these cameras:

-RED One

-Dalsa Origin

-Panavision Genesis

-Arri D-21

-Thompson Viper FilmStream

-Silicon Imaging SI-2K

-Vision Research Phantom65

-Sony F35

most of these listed have Super35mm image sensors, can shoot at high frame rates (the Phantom65 can do 1,000fps) and are higher than HD (the Red One and Dalsa Origin can shoot 4K, about 8 times the res of HD at 1920x1080)

But those are for big-daddy filmmakers, like for big movie productions. Not for your average pro. Lots of newcasters and documentary filmmakers use pro ENG cameras with three 2/3" image sensors like Panasonic Varicams and Sony CineAlta cameras, but they cost like $40,000 to $60,000. Still kinda expensive if you ask me.

Lots of pros use prosumer cameras. here are the best ones:

1) Sony PMW-EX1

2)Panasonic HVX200A

3) JVC GY-HD200U

4) Canon XH-A1

others include: Canon XL-H1, Sony HVR-Z1U, Sony HVR-V1U

      Lots of low budget indie filmmakers use these cameras. I heard of a lot of films that were shot on the HVX200, and several shot on the HD110U (the older model of the HD200U). Not so many on the EX1, but that's cuz it's new--it's actaully the best prosumer camera currently available, as it is the only one that can shoot in true 1080 HD with a resolution of 1920x1080.

A new camera is coming out in the first quarter of 2009, called the RED Scarlet (same maker as RED One). It's probably the best prosumer one on the list, and the cheapest too. Like the pro digital cinema cameas listed above, the Scarlet can shoot in higher than high definition RAW 3K. It also shoots up to 120fps (the EX1, HVX, HD200U,XH-A1... can only shoot a max of 60fps). The Scarlet will be $3,000.

hope that helps :-)