Help With Buying Digital Camera

[Belgian Horseman]

I' m pretty new to camera's and filming but I'm thinking about buying my first camera and filming a show during the next tour. As I don't know much about camera's could you guys give me some advice on which brand I'd best go for, what things do I have to give attention to? Which things are important on a camera in order to film shows? I can imagine that there are huge differences between the available cameras. That's why I like to ask this question here to the people that already have filmed a show or shows as they know what is good at their camera or what is missing in order to get steady and clear shots.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

[oip]

What about price? How much money can you pay for it?

[jarrur]

in the Tech section is One topic. You perhaps might wanna check it out.

First you need to ask "What do I want from my camera?"

But basically any MiniDV camera will do it. You may have heard that there are new stuff like HDD, MiniDVD and latest the Memorycard (SD, MS, SM, XD etc...). Some of these new formats are so new that there aren't any good program to edit them. So you are f*cked with that option. About videoformat do you wanna Standard Definition (SD) or High-Definition (HDV).

[Belgian Horseman]

Thanks for your answers. I'll check out that topic. I can't afford the most expensive type, but I always buy decent stuff. The past has learnt me that buying something cheap results in months of enerving and afterwards you decide to buy the better type after all and the total then is even higher as when you have bought the decent one from the start. to summon : I would like to buy one that is good for its price and one that doesn't enerve me all the time when I film. It should have all the necesarry features. I also would like to go for a high definition one.

[jarrur]

If it's HDV you want, Then it easy. Canon HV20. Review.

Camcorderinfo hdv winner

This camera has all the things and more you might wanna have. I'm buying this as soon I have save enough money.

[Belgian Horseman]

That topic was very helpfull indeed! A Lot of things became much clearer.

I would like to have these features :

- Do you want/need optical Image Stabilization.

- HDV

- Do you want/need external microphone input. yes

- Do you want/need AV in/Out,

Don't know, do you use that a lot?

- Do you want/need 1 or 3 CCD --> 3ccd

- Do you want/need native WS
what do you recommend?


Are there more things I need to pay attention too? Some things you guys experienced yourselves while filming. Things you really want or don't want at your new camera when you would buy a new one.

I'm not going to let my choice be influenced by that, but as said before I'm not going to buy the most expensive version there is. I'm thinking a reasonale price is maximum around 700 or 800 euros.

Those version without hard discs you mentioned, are there version where you can film a whole show without changing discs? That's also something I want.

[Belgian Horseman]

If it's HDV you want, Then it easy. Canon HV20. Review.

Camcorderinfo hdv winner

This camera has all the things and more you might wanna have. I'm buying this as soon I have save enough money.

I didn't see this post earlier. I will check out that link. It looks promising.

[Sabkissmet]

Whatever you heard already about which camera to buy. Disregard it. Because you can buy an excellent used camera off of ebay. Believe it or not. Its gonna cost much less as well then if you buy a new camera and lets face it, a lot of new cameras dont have external mic jack. You should consider buying a Sony Digital8 camera. They are being phased out. So prices are incredibly inexpensive.
If you record in LP mode on tapes in a Digital8 camera its as good as recording in SP mode in a Minidv camera. You can also record up to 135 mins on one tape in these cameras. Look for models on ebay.

[Belgian Horseman]

I'll check out the Sony Digital8 camera for sure. And ebay is definately an optional place to buy my camera but first I have to make the -hard- decision. Anyway, thanks to whoever replied. I have learnt a lot I didn't know and it will be a help for sure with my choice.

[kenm]

If it's HDV you want, Then it easy. Canon HV20. Review.

Camcorderinfo hdv winner

This camera has all the things and more you might wanna have. I'm buying this as soon I have save enough money.

I'll second this. The HV20 has awesome features for a $900-$1100 camera. Not sure if you'll need 24p for filming a live show though,