camera recommendations

masmedia wrote on 8/20/2005, 1:30 PM

Hello all,

I've started my own video co. with Vegas 6 and just have a digital 8 for a camera, wanting to very soon upgrade to at least a 3ccd dv. I'm planning on mainly weddings for the beginning, would love to do more corporate/training (any ideas on rustling up such business?) but might just freelance that shooting out anyway as I have a full time day job (video producer) as well. So, looking mainly for a good quality cam for weddings and odds and ends shoots on my own. Thinking I'd really like 16:9 capability.... I also heard HD is hard to light right, and I'd want something every forgiving with lighting as weddings can be held anywhere. Any suggestions?
thanks!
mas

Comments

Steve Mann wrote on 8/20/2005, 4:46 PM

"I've heard that ...."

The current crop of HD cameras are rated one to two f-stops less sensitive than the PD-150, Vx2000 type of cameras. This may be the source of the "hard to light" rumors.

Asking for advice on cameras is like asking for advice on religion. Look at the specs and get a general idea of what others are using, but don't ask for advice.

I use a Sony PD-150 and Vx2000, and I particularly like the low-light capabilities. I don't even own an on-camera light for events. I am thinking about buying a third camera. If I can find a sweet deal on a used PD-150, then that's what I'll buy, but if I buy new, it would be the Sony Z1 HD camera.

I don't see a rush to HD by event videographers, mostly because the demand for the product is currently zero. There is no consumer HD media or player yet, and with the insider bickering going on between Blu-ray and HD-DVD, I don't see one this year. Hollywood wants Blu-Ray because of its better copy prevention, and the drive manufacturers want HD DVD because they only need to modify their DVD manufacturing process, as opposed to buying new equipment.

The joke will be on them as some DVD players with MPEG4 codecs that will play WMV HD files on a standard 4.7 Mb DVD are already hitting the market.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/20/2005, 10:02 PM

> Asking for advice on cameras is like asking for advice on religion

Well, I think it’s safe to say that there are some popular cameras to choose from. You can’t go wrong with a Sony VX2100 or Sony the PD-150/170, or the Cannon GL2 or XL2, or the Panasonic DVX100A. At those prices you should seriously consider the Sony HVR-A1U or Sony HDR-FX1 which are both HDV (and also shoot DV).

IMHO, buying a new DV camcorder today is silly when there are HDV cameras in the same price range that do both DV and HDV. Right now, Sony seems to be leading the pack in price/performance. You might want to ask on the Video University forums. While there might not be a demand for HDV in event videography, those videographers seem to think that HDV is a differentiator for them so I wouldn’t count it out as a serious option.

~jr

Coursedesign wrote on 8/20/2005, 10:43 PM

Somebody who was at the recent WEVA "congress" said HDV was a monster hit there, and they thought only ultralowbudget weddings would be shot with non-HD soon.

It doesn't matter that video DVDs are SD only today, because wedding memories are supposed to last for a long time, and HDV on a computer screen can look fabulous as we have seen here.

apit34356 wrote on 8/20/2005, 10:58 PM

check out a Sony Stye store if you can for a quick look at the HDV fx and vx2100. But also go to a Best Buy and check out the new HDV C1. Have them hook up the C1 to one of the Sony's new tvs, compare live footage fron a SD camera. The extra HDV capture area can make a good scene out of a poor one in post edit using cropping, pan and zoom.....etc

farss wrote on 8/21/2005, 3:40 AM

If you want 16:9 that kind of cuts down the field dramatically but it's a wise thing to want. Even if you don't want to leap into HDV just yet you should think seriously about 16:9.
There's a 3 camera from Panny (something 400) that's pretty affordable and decent, beyond that there's the XL2 but that's a lot of camera. If you're short of cash maybe the yet to be released 'pro' version of the HC1 will fill the bill, forget the HD bit for a while if you like. You get 16:9 SD and balanced audio inputs. Only downside, if your clients are idiots like many they'll judge your work by the size of your camera and these things are tiny for what they are.
Low light though and CMOS is not so good.
Bob.

masmedia wrote on 8/21/2005, 2:05 PM

thanks, everyone! this helps much!
mas

Spot|DSE wrote on 8/22/2005, 5:12 AM

Can you please post some comparison pix? In other words, shots of the same scene under the same lighting conditions from both the Z1 and DVX100? With information about how you set the cam up in both cases?

Lili wrote on 8/22/2005, 5:27 AM

I just bought a second Sony PD170 - great all-around camera and one of the best in low light as far as I know. The price has gone down to a reasonable level relative to the PD150 I started out with (Canadia dollars).
Very easy to operate and also a good-looking camera (surprising how many camera-challenged clients make remarks to that effect)

BowmanDigital wrote on 8/22/2005, 6:53 AM

I'd highly recommend the PD150/170 for weddings, and shoot in DVCAM wherever possible. We shoot on panasonic 83MQ tapes in DVCAM and get about 55mins. Shooting in DVCAM does help reduce drop outs and it does give u some options for timecode. The mic on these cameras standard aren't very good, get a good shotgun.

EDIT: Battery life on the these cameras are unbeatable as far as i know for on camera batteries.

I'm in the process of wrapping up my wedding videography business and if your interested i can sell u our wedding video process and templates.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 8/22/2005, 6:41 PM

Well, that makes it kind of a useless comment - zoom in and you loose light, as I'm sure you know, because you are pulling in light from a smaller angle of view, which is why larger lenses are better for low light, as well as larger CCD's. It means that you are able to pick up more light from that tighter angle. (the explination was less for you as it was for the benefit of anyone who didn't know this).

Dave

Edin1 wrote on 8/23/2005, 11:48 PM

Forget all these fancy answers! They are all confusing, especially if you are just beginning!
Forget High Definition, as it takes more processing power and time, and the delivery channels are not so available. HD camcorders with very low light requirements are not available either (lowest is 3 lux, compared to standard definition 1 and 2 lux).

All you need for start is a Sony DCR-VX2000 or DCR-VX2100.
They are as forgiving on low light as a camcorder can get!
Whichever one you can afford (few hundred dollars difference).
The VX2000 needs a minimum of 2 lux, while VX2100 needs a minimum of 1 lux (supposedly twice lower light requirements).
The VX2100 gives a more accurate color. It also has a transflective LCD, which allows you to view it without problems even under a bright direct sunlight. And it has few more buttons (Zoom and Record control) on the handle, convenient when holding the camcorder by its handle while recording.

And if you want true 16:9 capability, just use a 16:9 adapter for the camcorder, which basically "squeezes" the video, and then you "unsqueeze" it in Vegas!
The VX2000 and VX2100 do offer built-in 16:9, but they simply cut off the top and bottom, reducing your available resolution.