500 Dollar Video Camera

ZicklePop · Sep 8, 2005, 04:23 PM

Hey I'm getting into digital video, anyone know of a good digital camera I can use with my Mac Mini(or Powerbook) to do some interesting videos that will look DECENT(or better ;-) ) on a DVD or moniter (HDTV is no where found in a 1000 miles from my house so I don't need that I don't think.) I don't know what to look for. Any help? Thanks!

fordlemon · Sep 8, 2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZicklePop

Hey I'm getting into digital video, anyone know of a good digital camera I can use with my Mac Mini(or Powerbook) to do some interesting videos that will look DECENT(or better ;-) ) on a DVD or moniter (HDTV is no where found in a 1000 miles from my house so I don't need that I don't think.) I don't know what to look for. Any help? Thanks!

get a canon

ZicklePop · Sep 8, 2005, 05:05 PM

Any special model that fits what I might need?

ZicklePop · Sep 8, 2005, 08:05 PM

Hows the Canon ZR400?

jaysmith · Sep 9, 2005, 12:33 AM

pick up a used canon optura 10 or 20, amazing picture quality for a 1 chip. the best i've seen out of any. optura 10's go from $150-300, 20's for $280-450.

illegalprelude · Sep 10, 2005, 01:22 AM

im going to have to disagree on that with everybody else. If you want good picture quality, I would recommend getting a Sony. You will be much happier. Plus better night quality with the sony for night shots if u so care but in general, the Sony's offer you a sharper sense of things with more true life colors imho.

JeDiBoYTJ · Sep 10, 2005, 08:40 AM

Consumer-level Sony's are much better than consumer-level Canons. I worked with many Consumer Canon's and Sonys in the start of my video production career, and I can tell you that the Canon's picture quality is much more grainy than the Sony's.

I would get a Sony.

Jopling · Sep 10, 2005, 04:16 PM

I started on an Optura PI that I got in 99' when I first started. I started borrowing and renting Panasonic AGDVX100AS. I also used a couple different Sony's. Half a year ago I got a Canon XL2 and it is wonderful. I agree with the other member. Start at an Optura, they are cheap an offer good picture with more than a few features (No night vision, you won't find it on most "serious" cameras.)

illegalprelude · Sep 10, 2005, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopling

I started on an Optura PI that I got in 99' when I first started. I started borrowing and renting Panasonic AGDVX100AS. I also used a couple different Sony's. Half a year ago I got a Canon XL2 and it is wonderful. I agree with the other member. Start at an Optura, they are cheap an offer good picture with more than a few features (No night vision, you won't find it on most "serious" cameras.)

you would be surprised man how much its used now. I do editing works for the True Life series on MTV and most of it is just shot on consumer level camera's and night shot is used and accepted. Gives everything a sense of intensity and your there feel but thats just in MTV's case.

I do agreeif your serious about work and short films and such, you will never use night shot.

Having said that, I thought about the XL2, used to work alot with the XL1 and panasonic GL100 but im going the FX100 way from sony. Native WideScreen, HD.

yummie.
no SLR input though, but thats ok

Jopling · Sep 10, 2005, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illegalprelude

you would be surprised man how much its used now. I do editing works for the True Life series on MTV and most of it is just shot on consumer level camera's and night shot is used and accepted. Gives everything a sense of intensity and your there feel but thats just in MTV's case.

I do agreeif your serious about work and short films and such, you will never use night shot.

Having said that, I thought about the XL2, used to work alot with the XL1 and panasonic GL100 but im going the FX100 way from sony. Native WideScreen, HD.

yummie.
no SLR input though, but thats ok

Yeah, the Canon XL2 has everything except HD. It's nto too bad though. If you edit in FCP and you have it set to be in HD then you do color correcting the image appears in HD and people almost always think it was filmed in HD.

illegalprelude · Sep 11, 2005, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopling

Yeah, the Canon XL2 has everything except HD. It's nto too bad though. If you edit in FCP and you have it set to be in HD then you do color correcting the image appears in HD and people almost always think it was filmed in HD.

how does this process work? just wondering, wouldnt mind messing around with it. Also how do you do color correcting (i know thats not a simple answer lol but like where do you go to start color correcting?)

Jopling · Sep 11, 2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illegalprelude

how does this process work? just wondering, wouldnt mind messing around with it. Also how do you do color correcting (i know thats not a simple answer lol but like where do you go to start color correcting?)

Right click on the sequence and there is a preference there and you can set dimensions, number of lines, etc. You then go into effects and video filters and there are a couple of different color correctors.

Lacero · Sep 11, 2005, 08:35 AM

The Canon XL3 just is ready to come out in the next few days. You should look into this one.

Canon XL3 Premature Specifications

Jopling · Sep 11, 2005, 09:30 AM

UGH, OMG!!!! They dropped 24p WHAT THE HELL!!!!? And it's still and XL2, not an XL3. They also doubled their price for HD only to drop 24p. I'd take 24p over HD anyday.

wrxguy · Sep 11, 2005, 10:21 AM

Canon has all around good quality stuff...I would suggest the sony if you can afford them... The new VX2100 is amazing...but the low end and the high end canon stuff is really worth your money...go on ebay to find stuff too, you can find some killer deal's and get lots of lenses and filiters and such..

LethalWolfe · Sep 11, 2005, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacero

The Canon XL3 just is ready to come out in the next few days. You should look into this one.

Canon XL3 Premature Specifications

The source says "10-12k w/a lens" does that mean w/the stock lens or w/an additional lens? 'Cause if it's 10-12k out of the box it's way over priced compared to other cameras in its class.

-Andrew

840quadra · Sep 12, 2005, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LethalWolfe

The source says "10-12k w/a lens" does that mean w/the stock lens or w/an additional lens? 'Cause if it's 10-12k out of the box it's way over priced compared to other cameras in its class.

-Andrew

Thank you!

I was looking into that camera as a possibility to buy next month, along with taking the plunge and buying FCP, however I will now be limited to working only from my G5, because neither my G4's or iBook G3 600 will be enough power anymore

Can some of you pros give us a small list of good cameras to consider?

840

Sep 8, 2005, 04:23 PM	#1
ZicklePop macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2005	500 Dollar Video Camera Hey I'm getting into digital video, anyone know of a good digital camera I can use with my Mac Mini(or Powerbook) to do some interesting videos that will look DECENT(or better ;-) ) on a DVD or moniter (HDTV is no where found in a 1000 miles from my house so I don't need that I don't think.) I don't know what to look for. Any help? Thanks! __________________ - ZicklePop [ www.zicklepop.com ]
	0

Sep 8, 2005, 05:05 PM	#3
ZicklePop Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2005	Any special model that fits what I might need? __________________ - ZicklePop [ www.zicklepop.com ]
	0

Sep 8, 2005, 08:05 PM	#4
ZicklePop Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2005	Hows the Canon ZR400? __________________ - ZicklePop [ www.zicklepop.com ]
	0

Sep 10, 2005, 01:22 AM	#6
illegalprelude macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles, California	im going to have to disagree on that with everybody else. If you want good picture quality, I would recommend getting a Sony. You will be much happier. Plus better night quality with the sony for night shots if u so care but in general, the Sony's offer you a sharper sense of things with more true life colors imho. __________________ "PeAcE is but a shadow of death, desperate to forget its painful past" SonyRumors.net Sony News, Talk, and Reviews Bebi Tech Consulting Your Mac Consultant
	0

Sep 10, 2005, 08:40 AM	#7
JeDiBoYTJ macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL	Consumer-level Sony's are much better than consumer-level Canons. I worked with many Consumer Canon's and Sonys in the start of my video production career, and I can tell you that the Canon's picture quality is much more grainy than the Sony's. I would get a Sony. __________________ Hardware: Rev. C 15in PowerBook G4 1.5ghz - 1GB RAM - 80GB HD - ATi Radeon 9700 64MB VRAM Switcher Since August 28th 2004... and not looking back www.va-films.com
	0

Sep 9, 2005, 12:33 AM	#5
jaysmith macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2005	pick up a used canon optura 10 or 20, amazing picture quality for a 1 chip. the best i've seen out of any. optura 10's go from $150-300, 20's for $280-450.
	0

Sep 10, 2005, 04:16 PM	#8
Jopling macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2004	I started on an Optura PI that I got in 99' when I first started. I started borrowing and renting Panasonic AGDVX100AS. I also used a couple different Sony's. Half a year ago I got a Canon XL2 and it is wonderful. I agree with the other member. Start at an Optura, they are cheap an offer good picture with more than a few features (No night vision, you won't find it on most "serious" cameras.) __________________ While my guitar gently weeps.
	0

Sep 11, 2005, 08:35 AM	#13
Lacero macrumors 601 Join Date: Jan 2005	The Canon XL3 just is ready to come out in the next few days. You should look into this one. Canon XL3 Premature Specifications
	0

Sep 11, 2005, 09:30 AM	#14
Jopling macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2004	UGH, OMG!!!! They dropped 24p WHAT THE HELL!!!!? And it's still and XL2, not an XL3. They also doubled their price for HD only to drop 24p. I'd take 24p over HD anyday. __________________ While my guitar gently weeps.
	0

Sep 11, 2005, 10:21 AM	#15
wrxguy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Deepest Regions of Hell	Canon has all around good quality stuff...I would suggest the sony if you can afford them... The new VX2100 is amazing...but the low end and the high end canon stuff is really worth your money...go on ebay to find stuff too, you can find some killer deal's and get lots of lenses and filiters and such.. __________________ ...sometimes you need to go crazy and other times you need to go crazier... -Andrew W.K.
	0


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