Camcorder - How much of a difference?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the GL2 will do progressive scan or 60 fps.

P-Worm

If you're looking at something that is not HD, but is still a step up, seriously consider Panasonic's vx100a or vx100b. Those are widely considered to be the best of the prosumer mini-dv camcorders.

In my opinion, you should look into getting an HD camcorder. Everything is heading that direction and since you're looking into this as a profession and don't need the camcorder for a job now, it would be best to wait or just bite the bullet and get a nice prosumer HD camera.

P-Worm

Besides your camera, what other gear do you have (lightening, audio, DIY dolley/steady-cam, etc.,)? If you don't already have things like that spending a few hundred dollars to get them will be much more useful than buying a new camera.


Lethal

The GL2 has proven to have great results. Focus on a good lighting rig first and foremost, and then see what you think. The GL2 is great though.

The best bang for your buck with regards to making your videos look better is to get a tripod. Even a cheap $30 is a whole lot better than using your hand.

P-Worm

So maybe you could look at an even better true-fluid head tripod (Bogen?), and some lighting instead of a new camera.

Let me recommend a book for you. It's called the DV Rebel's Guide to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap. You may not be doing action, but this book has a lot of great tips to making your videos show a lot of production value without breaking the bank.

P-Worm

P-Worm said:

Let me recommend a book for you. It's called the DV Rebel's Guide to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap. You may not be doing action, but this book has a lot of great tips to making your videos show a lot of production value without breaking the bank.

P-Worm

Click to expand...

And let me provide a link.

I have to 2nd P-Worm that it is a great book. I'm glad you are looking into getting lights even though more gear means more stuff to schlep around, but lighting is pretty much key. What is your camera recording? Light. I've often heard DPs describe what they do as "painting with light."


Lethal

2 Questions for you guys:

1. P-Worm, I checked out you movies and liked them alot, what dimensions were you making your quicktimes? (the action test and the good sandwhich one?)

2. I am shooting a short film in 2 weeks. I can use my GL-2 or my friends PD-170, but I recently shot with an XL-2 in 24p and loved it, not sure I can go back. So, in your opinion, should I just shoot in frame/progressive mode on the GL-2 or PD-170, or should I make sure I get my hands on DVX-100? In other words, what are your opinions on the frame/progressive mode from those 2 cameras? (I hate the normal 60 mode).

Thanks!

If you see an embedded QT file like mine, you can view the source code and it will tell you the dimensions (roughly because you need to account for the extra pixels needed for the scrubber bar). What I have been doing lately, I think both Action Test and Hungry! fall in this category, is recording with markers on my viewfinder of where I am going to crop the video so that I can get the 2.35:1 aspect ratio instead of 16:9. Then later in Compressor I tell it that I am outputting in 2.35:1.

Hope that helps.

P-Worm