"Prosumer" Camcorder

ReedSkis~

ReedSkis~

Active member
I am looking into buying a new camcorder, just something a little bit more professional than my canon Hf10. I guess the correct term would be a prosumer camcorder.I would like something HD, with more manual settings and features, and over-all better video quality than a camera such as the Hf10 and Hv30.
So what i have been looking into so far have been the Sony FX7 and the Panasonic AG-DVX100B.I am fairly un-experienced with professional level camcorders so i don't want anything to tough to use.
What do you guess think would be the best camcorder in the prosumer range. The maximum amount of money that i can spend is $2,500.
Oh and it matters I edit with final cut express and after effects, and will be primarily filming skiing.
Thanks,R
 
We film with a GL2. It's a sick camera but it's not HD. We got ours or like 2000 dollars but i think if you want HD you have to get an XL2 which i think is over 3000. I would go with the Panasonic though. I've never really liked sony shit, and Panasonic is a respectable name.
 
if its between the DVX and FX7, go with the dvx. But at your price range, you are either looking at quality, or your looking at control. You can't be really looking at both, which for your first prosumer camera is fine. You can get something like an DVX and get good footage/colors, but it will still be standard def. Or you can get something with better quality, but with less manual controls, such as the Canon HF S100 (not technically prosumer.) I was kinda in the same situation and went with the HF S100, havent uploaded anything (lazy fuck and been gone a lot) but the quality from what Ive seen looks a ton better than a DVX.

If you could step up your price range a bit you could get a nicer camera with both quality and control (HMC/HVX) But that may too much, as you will naturally need other things such as lenses,bags,tripods, other shit.

Hopefully Im overlooking a newer option?
 
SD: DVX

HD: maybe a used fx1 you could snag for 2500, otherwise youre gonna need to step up to about 3000-3500 for a good HD prosumer cam.
 
i use a DVX100b and i love it! i feel its perfect for action sports cuz of all the manual features, and use it for all my edits and this season shot a snowboard video with it.
although its not HD i feel its better, and is perfect for snow sports because it can handle sub zero temperatures like a champ while other camera break at 0.
i highly suggest the DVX but thats just me. the next thing i would suggest is a HV30 with a shotgun mic and 35mm adaptor
 
You're whole post seemed a little odd to me, my hvx is better than your dvx and it opperates at -50, ive done it. And 35mm adapter is a ridiculous suggestion for an amateur.
 
yeah obviously a HVX is better than a DVX captain obvious but when he only had 2,500 to spend how would he get a HVX? DVX is about 1,500 used and will do the job and teach him to use a professinal camera up to par. i said a 35mm adaptor because it will teach him depth of field, while increasing the quality of his edits.
maybe it wouldent be perfect for somebody learning but if he got it he would learn to use it and his stuff would turn out better. and hell yeah use it for action sports are you kidding?
 
Ok so you want a camera that shoots HD, has professional controls, and is under 2,500.

Your options are

Sony FX7: In my opinion a TERRIBLE camera. I filmed with it and was disgusted at how cheap it felt and how little you could tweak the image in camera (compared to my DVX). No XLR imputs.

Canon XHA1: Seems to be an awesome camera. I've been really impressed with what I've seen from it, XLR audio imputs.

Those are the only two options I can think of right now. Maybe save a little more and get a Panasonic HMC150.
 
alright, so what would be some good options in this range?3500 is definitely the maximum that i could spend, maybe even lower
So far i have eliminated the fx7, but am considering the fx1 and the dvx, although i would prefer hdand maybe the xha1
what else should i consider?
 
actually I think that I have narrowed it down to the xha1 and the hmc150
thoughts?again, I am not looking for something too complicated, but definitely a step up from my hf10.
 
hmc sounds like your camera. i just bought a used hvx for 2500. hmc seems real legit. i was going to get it but got hvx instead
 
You should do your research and decide for yourself. My personal advice: don't upgrade at all. hf10 is a great camera, especially if you're just going to film skiing. I have an hv20 and an XHA1, and I never use the XHA1 for skiing, it's just too cumbersome of a thing to carry around. I love it for more practical applications such as filmmaking and video journalism, but the hv20 is more than enough for skiing. I'm pretty sure the hf10 is very similar to the hv20 other than recording format, correct? Anyhow, I suggest you wait on it. Get a lot of practice shooting, I mean A LOT, do you research, and save up to get the camera that you really want.
 
^ Ya maybe you're rightI guess I'll just wait another year or so and then see how i feel after that
Thanks for the suggestions guys
/Thread
 
yeah he's right, research which camera would be best for you.
before my DVX came i had already read just about the entrie manual online so i would know what it was good for, and after i ordered it i read through it in detail
 
How can you say that the man is "in over his head"?

If you take the time to learn all about how the camera works then you

should be fine. It isn't easy to master a camera and produce beautiful

images, but it can be done with time and effort.

Also. Keep in mind that the most important tool to film making besides

the camera itself is a solid tripod. A good tripod won't exactly be

cheap, so put aside money for that as well.

As far as the two cameras you are looking at.

Panasonic HMC150:

591110.jpg


Very similar to the size and controls of the DVX you were considering earlier but it has some new perks and obviously is HD.

-it records to SD cards in AVCHD format. this format is relatively new so it is still glicthy on some editing programs. it is however solid state and very affordable (especially compared to P2 which the HVX records to).

Canon XHA1s:

589903.jpg


I have never used it myself.

-it records to HDV (miniDV) tapes. while is is a major pain in the ass as far as capturing clips goes, it is always assuring to have a tape with all of your footage on it if something happens to your footage on your computer.

Baically MiniDV vs. AVCHD. Solid state is starting to take over and is much more convenient once they get the flaws out.

Eiether camera will be a great investement and a great learning tool. Good luck!

 
^p2 cards just dropped over 50% in price, flash is about to be slayed in a couple years when p2 is just as cheap.
 
Based on the fact that he went from looking at an Fx1/DVX to an HMC/XHA1s in a matter of hours, I say hes in over his head. He's not sure what he wants right now (not that its necessarily a bad thing) but he went from $1500 camera to a $3500 based on a suggestion from someone on the internet.

..in over his head.
 
Yea, no matter what i do (buy a new cam or not) i definitely do need a tripodAnd as far as what Paper_Route said about me getting in over my head, he might be right, but i would rather get in a little over my head than buy a camera that I won't like and that won't last me a long time.
I think the the hmc150 looks like what i am looking for. Again i still don't know if I really need a new camera, but the more I think about it, the nicer it would seem to have something with a little more weight on it, and where i can have more control over the video. the hmc seems to fit the bill, as I am familiar with avchd since that is what my hf10 records in.
thanks for the help guys +k
 
I'm curious. Where are you planning on putting these skiing videos. Online edits, full length film?

To the guy who recomended a MKII 5D.......did you not read "I want a bigger camera with a ton of controls". The man wants a camera that feels big obviously. Not a still camera that shoots video (although the video quality is exceptional).
 
I don't necessarily want a ton of controls, just a step up from my hf10I think i'm gonna wait another year before upgrading anywaythanks for the help guys
 
i honestly love my xh a1, the stuff i get with it is great. The video it shoots is deffanatly different from an hmc. much 'softer' colors then the panasonic line up. Not really better or worse just different. yeah the tapes can suck but it doenst bother me to much, if you really wanted you could drop a little more and get a cf adaptor that hooks right into the back of it. and if you do wait another year im guessing its going to be crazy cheap for what your getting because everyone wants to go tapeless

also i love having shutter speed and iris controle right on the camera without having to flip through menues to change anything around, the 18 custom presets and a few other things that i dont think (correct me if im wrong) the hmc has for easy to use controles
 
thanks a lot for making this thread!!! im in the exact same boat except i have sony DCR-Sr200 with a semi fish/ wide angle and some foam taped over the mic to muffle the wind a bit(didn't really work but left it on) and i wanted something that had manual focus, faster fram rate, better quality, and HD but under like 2 grand. But after looking around and then at this thread im thinkin i have to maybe get another job lol but thanks again +++K this helped alot in my dilema
 
i know this is old, but come on. Please know what your fucking talking about before you send advice to people.

You don't just slap a 35mil adapter on a camera and slay follow cams and film on hill. It's purely for on tripod work in a fairly controlled environment.

I don't like you.
 
oh buddy! we got another asian allen on our hands!

lol Im glad Im not the only pessimist in this thread..
 
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