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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Lights...camera...action! » » HD camcorder under $1500? (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

motivationalmagic
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Any recommendations for an HD camcorder under $1500? Looking to get as close to "broadcast quality" as possible. Recording shows and training videos to make DVDs. Really want to get a vibrant crystal clear image.

Post in another thread said that the Sony VX-2100 is fabulous, but its in the $2500 price range.

Any thoughts on mini DV vs. hard drive, etc? Pros and cons?

Thanks so much!
Motivational Magic
"The Magician on a Mission to Motivate"
www.MotivationalMagic.com
oddsmaker
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You can pick up a Canon GL2 on ebay for around $1500.
wdwfan71
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Quote:
On 2008-02-05 04:06, oddsmaker wrote:
You can pick up a Canon GL2 on ebay for around $1500.


The Canon GL2 is not HD.
ScottRSullivan
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I know your post is a few weeks old, but its been revived. Have you gotten a camera yet? If so, this could all be moot. If not....

I actually prefer the image of the Panny DVX-100B to the Canon. Plus it has better imaging chips. But that's just personal preference. The GL2 is a good camera for its price range. Its a little "plastic-y" in its feel, whereas the Panny DVX is very solid. Not heavy. Just that it feels very solid.

wdwfan71, he did ask for thoughts on miniDV also, so the GL2 does fit into that category.

But you are correct. It is only an SD camera, as is the DVX that I just mentioned. Both are about the same price, but the DVX is a little more. But you get what you pay for.

I'm just not sure that there are many "HD" cameras below $1500 with a quality imaging chip. The Canon HV-20 is a nice sub $1000 camera, but has many drawbacks.

One drawback is that it is HDV. This can be nice to capture video, but can be difficult to edit. It is highly compressed to 25 MB/sec. The Panasonic HVX-200, by comparison, is 100 MB/sec, giving a much better picture with more detail. But that camera currently costs around $6,000 I believe.

The plus side is that you can capture from the HV-20's HDMI port out direct to a hard drive. This requires a computer and isn't going to work very well unless you can set it up in the corner or sound booth. Using the HDMI port bypasses the HDV compression and you will get a very good picture this way if you can live with tethering a computer to your camera. Of course, you'll need something like a Blackmagic Intensity card to capture the HDMI data.

Hard drive cameras or solid state memory (SD cards for example) ARE the way to go, in my opinion. It is what we shoot with mostly these days.

Good luck!
Scott
oddsmaker
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My bad, I didn't realize it wasn't HD.
Thanks for the correction.
inhumaninferno
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Scott,

Your experience and expertise shows in spades once again. I just wish the video from my last show shoot turned out better so I could have had you edit it.

Would've, could've, should've.

Your comments on hard drive and sd vid cams will be taken to heart.

Thanks,

John J.
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