Ah...okay. Any good HDV cameras then?

I use the sony hdv 1000u. i like it. It's a bigger version of a smaller camera & has a few more features, but if you don't want the extra features you can save several hundred getting the smaller version.

The Z5 is maybe a bit more expensive that the quoted price range but seems to have everything going for it. We got out second one yesterday at around AUD 4,500 from GlobalMediaPro and this camera ticks all the boxes.

Oddly enough Sony builds a Universal variant as well. We only found out about this after placing our order. Next time we'll pay the extra $100 to get both Region50 and Region60 capability.

Bob.

Look at the Sony HDR-FX7 HDV Camcorder.... A lot of bang for the buck!

In that price range, you might want to consider a good top end consumer cam with the Beachtek XLR adapter, or something like that. Remember, audio is half the picture.

The Canon line of top end consumer cameras are really good, and the latest HFs-11 has some 'pro' features.

As well as all the other good suggestions on the board, you could also look at the HMC40 from panasonic or the HM100 from JVC.

kairosmatt

Yeah, the Sony FX7 is right at your price range:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459129-REG/Sony_HDRFX7_HDR_FX7_3CMOS_HDV_1080i.html

It's probably right at the lower limit of what might be considered "prosumer", but compared to a "handycam" type camera, this one brings a lot to the table -- and looks pretty cool too. Again, compared to a handycam model the things you get when you step up to this level are built-in neutral density filters, manual exposure control (and an easy way to lock the exposure), assignable buttons you can use for functions like steady shot on/off, peaking display on/off, etc., so you can do those things with one button push instead of stepping through menus.

You get audio meters on the display, and some manual control of audio but only by accessing menus. External mic input is 1/8" stereo jack -- not XLR.

(I don't know much about the 1000u -- I assume it has similar features as well...)

The only concern worth mentioning is that it uses CMOS sensors (but so do the RED camera, EX1, most of the new high-end Sony's). If you are a fan of hand-held shaky-cam type filming, the CMOS jello-vision might pose a problem. But other than that, for most any "normal" shooting you'll probably never notice any CMOS issues at all.

Tim L

Added: Oh yeah, the 20x zoom is really nice if you need it, and also the zebra indicators are a great feature for setting exposure.

Avoid the 1000u unless you have a specific need for what it offers.
It is a HC7 in a big plastic box. The number of people this has fooled is remarkable. They see big camera and they think "Pro" and then ask "Where are the XLRs?"

Not to say it hasn't got a place in the grand scheme of things and ours get a lot of use by the people who know what they're getting. It really is a quite cheap camera, you don't even get a lens cap.

Bob.

you don't even get a lens cap

I did! I got three technically (one w/camera & two w/wide screen lens).

The FX7 has better tech specs (wasn't anywhere near that price when I bought mine or else I would of gotten that one) with the cmos & lens, has more programmable buttons (1000 has only 1). Looks like it has a "real" zoom/focus ring too (not listed in any specs/features). The 1000 has a built in USB for picture transfer & LANC hookup, something people here complain isn't on the cheaper cameras that should be.

Not sure about the FX7 (assuming it does this too) but I found out a few weeks ago that the 1000 does stop-motion capture to the memory card. Pretty neat! :D 1/5/10/15 min increments.

i'm happy with the camera & there's only two things I'd change if I was in charge: put the view finder on a telescoping mount (farss mentioned this once I think & it is annoying, you can't move the eyepiece in/out for comfort) & make more programmable buttons. I don't care about XLR & what not as if I need to I record to a separate device. It's worth noting neither camera have XLR, and for $2k I'd expect it to!

There are 2 camera's in that price range that I would highly suggest, and they are both made by Panasonic. I have been a Panasonic customer for a while and am a professional videographer and LOVE their products.

1) Panasonic AG-HMC40 AVCHD Pro Camcorder
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Professional-AG-HMC40-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B002I9S9PE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258820880&sr=8-1

Basically this is the best camcorder you can buy for 2,000 that will give you as much flexibility as a pro model while the price is similar to a high end consumer model. There are drawbacks, however, with CMOS rather than CCD (some would argue that's not a drawback, but it is) and a small lens. But the image quality is great for that price.

2) Panasonic GH1
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001WAKSCW/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

This would be my choice. Save your parents $500 (and get a Christmas present before you're 80) and get 2 camera's in one...a great DSLR and a great HD camcorder...some drawbacks with both but this camera shoots better HD in some settings than my Panasonic AG HMC150 which cost me $3,500.

Merry Christmas.

I have been using the FX7E (European model) for the last two and a half years, alongside my FX1E, and am very satisfied with the results - both HD and SD.

I paid £2000 in April 2007 - and that was after some hard bargaining - so $2000 seems a good price for a good/excellent prosumer camera. It has USB out, HDMI out and the usual component and firewire connections.

As has been already pointed out it does not have XLR mic connections, something I do not see (or hear) as a big issue.

My FX7E has accompanied me to cold conditions in German/Austrian mountains as well as to 44.6 Celsius in Greece (forget about shade temperatures, as there wasn't any at times) performing faultlessly. It is a Mini DV camera so condensation needs to be considered when using - no more so than any other tape based camera.

It does have a memory stick pro slot for capturing stills (even when videoing) which, although of relatively low resolution, has provided me with photos printed at A4 size of very good image quality.

Go for it - all 5 to 10 Christmas/birhtdays.

Also, take a look at the HVR A1U. HDV with XLRs and considerable manual control. Can also do DV25 (DV and DVCAM). Can be had in your price range.

Panasonic GH1 + Zoom H4N recorder...

> Look at the Sony HDR-FX7 HDV Camcorder.... A lot of bang for the buck!

Add one more vote for the Sony HDR-FX7. If all I has was $2000 to spend, that would be the camera that I'd spend it on.

> Also, take a look at the HVR A1U

I have the HVR A1U and while it's a nice little camera, had the HDR-FX7 been available at the time I would have gone for that instead. My other camera is a Sony HDR Z1U so the FX7 would probably cut better with it anyway. Plus I'd take a 72mm FX7 lens over a skimpy 37mm A1U lens any day (bigger lens equals more light). I would miss the XLR's on the A1U but I already have a Beachteck DXA-2S to fix that drawback.

~jr

I've been using the Sony A1 for several years, and it is a great little cam, but these days I feel its way overpriced. Its basically the HC-1 consumer model with XLR jacks, one customizable button, manual white balance, black stretch and instant start on the tape. Also, the XLR adapter will work on the HC-1, there is just not the plate to mount it on.

B&H lists it for over $2000, and for that price I feel you could pick the latest Sony HDV or AVCHD and a beachtek XLR and save yourself several hundred.

kairosmatt

Rats - just been told my baby's ugly....

Ralph you are killing me here lol

The Panasonic AG-HMC40 that Drew mentioned is Videomaker's 2009 Best Professional Camcorder.

$2000 seems to be the going price for it.

Here is another review.

John

The only thing I don't like about the cameras in that price range today (including the FX7) is that instead of three 1/3" sensors like you got a few years ago (VX2000 for example), you get three 1/4" sensors. That makes a difference in low light.

Sorry Ralph! She used to be my baby too, but looking on ebay for a second A1, and I saved close to $1500 going with a HC1. Plus it has 95% of the manual controls. Didn't seem worth it.

And you can make the XLR adapter work on top, just isn't perfect.

kairosmatt

> Rats - just been told my baby's ugly....

LOL... I have never shot an FX7 so I can't say with certainty that I would prefer it over the A1U, but on paper it looks like more camera for the money to me. I'm sure I would miss features like Blackstretch, etc. and I haven't sold my A1U for an FX7 yet so it can't be that ugly. ;-)

~jr

> The Panasonic AG-HMC40 that Drew mentioned is Videomaker's 2009 Best Professional Camcorder.

Yea, but how does AVCCAM cut on Vegas? I guess the question should be, "What's the best prosumer camcoder for $2000 that edits well in Vegas?" (Panasonic and Sony have never gotten along) I like HDV cameras because they are so easy to edit. I would be weary of AVCHD and even more weary of AVCCAM. Can someone who has this camera comment?

> The only thing I don't like about the cameras in that price range today (including the FX7) is that instead of three 1/3" sensors like you got a few years ago (VX2000 for example), you get three 1/4" sensors. That makes a difference in low light.

Yea, I'm not sure how to interpret that because the A1U has a single 1/3" CMOS with a lux rating of 7 lux while the FX7 has three (3) 1/4" CMOS chips with a lux rating of 4 lux. So it would seem (at least on paper) that the FX7 has better low light than the A1U. Yes, my Z1U with it's three 1/3" CCD's has a lux rating of 3 lux so it has better low light than the FX7, so I agree with you there on 1/3" vs 1/4".

~jr

The only problem I've had with AVCAM in Vegas is the preview slows down at edit points. I haven't had any major red frames or crashes, and I got those with Sony HDV footage. We also have a small AVCHD canon cam for family stuff, and that seems harder to edit for some reason.

(My AVCAM is the HMC150, but it should be the same format-wise as the HMC40)

I like the HMC40, even though I have read that low light sucks. Would love to replace the A1 with this, but I would have to get a new underwater housing too. And maybe Sony will make an NXCAM A1 or something like that.

kairosmatt

The Panny AG-HMC40 is a really good camera, definitely worth considering.

It differs from other camcorders in the same price range in a variety of ways that make a difference when working professionally, and there is an extra cost XLR adapter option (AG-MYA30G, $259.00 street) that you could add later.

Read the second review linked by Craftech, that is more useful here than Videomaker's write-up.

The video format can be transcoded to another format if you don't like editing with a camera-recording format like AVCAM.