View Full Version : Camera?
zombeh
06-03-2009, 10:00 PM
I think this would be a good place to ask this burning question. I'm an "aspiring filmmaker" with tons of ideas running around in my head. However, there's two problems: I'm 15 and have basically no money (but I do have some), and also I have no camera. My dad has a really crappy camera for sports games and stuff but does anyone have any advice on a relatively cheap (___hundred dollar range) camera that shoots good quality footage? The times I've tried to use my dad's, imagine a blurry, bad image and sound quality thinger. It kind of ruins the magic.
Thanks, and I love the show. It appeared at a perfect time in my life.
jonnywb
06-04-2009, 12:08 AM
I'm no camera expert, but I'd say that saving up for a decent camera is the best Idea. Obviously the more you spend, the better camera you will get.
The Higher Quality camera you get, means that (for someone like me) it's more enjoyable to watch.
As long as you know that film making is what you want to do, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to eventually get something good. And believe me, it's worth the wait... - I'm the kinda person that wants something straight away, but sometimes I throw my money away on something average, when If I'd waited a little while longer, I would have been able to get the thing that I wanted most.
turbocam
06-05-2009, 02:11 AM
I think this would be a good place to ask this burning question. I'm an "aspiring filmmaker" with tons of ideas running around in my head. However, there's two problems: I'm 15 and have basically no money (but I do have some), and also I have no camera. My dad has a really crappy camera for sports games and stuff but does anyone have any advice on a relatively cheap (___hundred dollar range) camera that shoots good quality footage? The times I've tried to use my dad's, imagine a blurry, bad image and sound quality thinger. It kind of ruins the magic.
Thanks, and I love the show. It appeared at a perfect time in my life.
Hey,
Well, I also have the same problem. Dad's Crappy Camera. I'm saving up for the Canon HV20. Shoots in 24p and Very high quality. If you have the extra cash, get the HV30. Now, if you want a more professional camera, slightly more expensive.... about $900 more... look into the Canon xl1 and xl2 cameras. Hopefully that helped
joeyrock
06-05-2009, 02:44 AM
The key to get a good looking footage for little money is with the lens, not the resolution... I'd suggest, if you are going to save up for something, looking into some of these up coming SLR's or Micro 4/3's cameras which do video. Since you can change the lens it transforms what you can do with digital video.
The Panasonic GH-1 is one such camera.. maybe a bit expensive at the moment but the depth of field controls puts it way ahead of a consumer camcorder..
http://www.vimeo.com/4582107
There will be many of these camera coming in the next 18 months... and they'll be getting cheaper.
nextgenxbox
06-05-2009, 08:23 AM
Buy a Flip Mino HD and start playing around. -- Remember, the camera doesn't make the movie -- the story does! You could film a great movie with a cell phone!
My advice for you right now would be to get a cheaper camera that's still in good working order and not to blurry to you(and a half-way decent tripod). Save any extra money for your next camera, or whatever else you decide you need once you get up and going. No camera is going to have really great audio from the camera Mic, and the best camera in the world isn't going to immediately add enough "magic" to make up for that experience you lost out on not shooting while you where saving for it.
The more you do, the better you'll get at it. Do as much as you can.
Write as much as you can, shoot as much as you can, and watch as much as you can.
and at some point find others to share and work with, because film making is a team sport.
ryanconnolly
06-05-2009, 01:32 PM
My advice for you right now would be to get a cheaper camera that's still in good working order and not to blurry to you(and a half-way decent tripod). Save any extra money for your next camera, or whatever else you decide you need once you get up and going. No camera is going to have really great audio from the camera Mic, and the best camera in the world isn't going to immediately add enough "magic" to make up for that experience you lost out on not shooting while you where saving for it.
The more you do, the better you'll get at it. Do as much as you can.
Write as much as you can, shoot as much as you can, and watch as much as you can.
and at some point find others to share and work with, because film making is a team sport.
Great advice. I couldn't agree more.
jonnywb
06-05-2009, 03:35 PM
My advice for you right now would be to get a cheaper camera that's still in good working order and not to blurry to you(and a half-way decent tripod). Save any extra money for your next camera, or whatever else you decide you need once you get up and going. No camera is going to have really great audio from the camera Mic, and the best camera in the world isn't going to immediately add enough "magic" to make up for that experience you lost out on not shooting while you where saving for it.
The more you do, the better you'll get at it. Do as much as you can.
Write as much as you can, shoot as much as you can, and watch as much as you can.
and at some point find others to share and work with, because film making is a team sport.
yeah, ignore me, do what he said... :p
gabeja
06-14-2009, 07:48 PM
I'm in the market for a fairly affordable boom mike.
Suggestions?
ryanconnolly
06-14-2009, 11:50 PM
I'm in the market for a fairly affordable boom mike.
Suggestions?
Depends on what you mean by affordable. What's your budget?
gabeja
06-15-2009, 07:03 AM
Depends on what you mean by affordable. What's your budget?
The absolute most I would spend would probably be about $300
ryanconnolly
06-15-2009, 04:32 PM
The absolute most I would spend would probably be about $300
Most on this page here are pretty good-
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/8533/Shotgun.html/mnp/0.0/mxp/0.0/sortDrop/Price%3A+Low+to+High/pn/1
Some of them come with a shock mount, which would be good to get.
sidebuster
06-16-2009, 05:40 PM
I went with
H2 Portable recorder to record audio
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VBH2IG/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
and a Cannon HV30 to record the video
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00114PN1U/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
It isn't in your budget, but I thought I would just share what I use incase it helps.
Check out youtube for a bunch of reviews on different things. It helped me a lot.
aiiaznsk8er
06-17-2009, 08:16 PM
Is there a camcorder that has good image quality and full manual control over exposure and focus for under $500? Right now I've got a basic point and shoot Sony camcorder DCR-HC21.
scoobydiesel
06-21-2009, 10:06 AM
For the longest time i just used the video mode on my digital camera but later got a samsung video camera.
The one i want is honestly the HV30 but by the time i save for that something way newer and hopfully cheaper will be kicking ass.
But always keep in mind that what you are using to record your video/audio is only a plus to the story telling that is coming from your mind.
josermj
06-26-2009, 10:51 PM
I'm in the market for a fairly affordable boom mike.
Suggestions?
I just bought a zoom h4 field recorder B-stock. It comes with a tripod mount so I took a painters pole and the right nuts and bolts and made a boom pole that fit a tripod mount. In all I spent about $215 for a pretty good little kick ass boom mic setup. The good thing about the H4 is that it has 2 XLR inputs with phantom power so if I want to upgrade the mic I can and it records in 24bit 96K.
josermj
06-26-2009, 11:24 PM
What do guys think about the Panasonic AG-DVX100B. I know it's not a budget cam but I've been looking into getting one.
nextgenxbox
06-27-2009, 07:11 AM
What do guys think about the Panasonic AG-DVX100B. I know it's not a budget cam but I've been looking into getting one.
It's standard definition. Don't get it. Yes, it's a nice camera, I've used it, but HD is the future. -- Buy an HD camera.
scoobydiesel
06-27-2009, 10:57 AM
I've also been looking at the Canon VIXIA HF200. Its about 600 bucks so i digg that over the 1k price point of the HV30.
icedsoul
07-06-2009, 12:22 AM
a the perfect thread :-)
long time I've been to the forums,good to be back and good to see your show up! enjoyed it alot so far :-)
what camera are you guys using to film your episodes? and I mean the cinematic parts if you use different ones for the segments.
thanks a bunch!!! and keep up the great work!
sabasteonshane
07-06-2009, 03:50 PM
Im selling my Sony HDR-UX1. When i bought it it was about 900 dollars, and i am selling it for 475 OBO. i have lots of extras with it. Im not sure if this is the place to try and sell it, but i figure i would throw that out there since people are looking and I'd sell cheap to help out the cause.