Which Professional Video Camera Should i Buy?

i am not a professional film maker …. but i am in a situation where i have to record a TV show my self (with help of two friends) here in USA every week and send it to Pakistan to be aired on Television…basically i am suppose to Shoot few public sitting in park disssucing differnt issues, then we might question public on street on their views ..its all out door shoots …… and it should have a look and feel of a movie … i have a high-end computer which i can use to eidt our videos , the aim is it should look professionally shot and to the standard of putting in on television…

i want to know what is the best choice i have in terms on buying a camera under $ 4000.00 , which would give me a film like shooting and excellent voice? i know there are JVC , SONY , CANON miniDV HD camera’s or P2 format ….public are talking about List XH A1 or Sony HVR-V1U or JVC Pro GY-HD200u , what else would i need additional then the camera , in order to shoot this kind of footage, appricate any help

Answer by Daniel K
You have a excellent budget for the camera, so you should have no conundrum getting one that will work fantastic. B&H Record in New York is a excellent place to shop.

You need to spend at least some of the budget on a shotgun or omnidirectional interview type mic. A excellent external mic will make the record sound much better. You want to get the mic as close to the person speaking as possible, especially in an outdoor situation where there is social class noise etc.

Get a camera with “XLR” mic inputs and learn how to exchange the audio levels.

Here is a fantastic free book on audio for record:

http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web_ug/documents/web_resource/us_pro_audiovideoproduction_ea.pdf

Answer by Nikolai
You have an brilliant budget, so you have many brilliant choices. I will give you my opinion. First, I will talk about formats. Assuming you want to go HD, the first and most common format is HDV. HDV utilizes miniDV tapes; its a very simple format to use, and also very practical. In the consumer division of camcorders, HDV is the obvious choice (for me at least) for 2 main reasons: 1) HDV is much less compressed than the AVCHD camcorders (hard drive, mini DVD, and SD flash media) and (2) HDV is compatible with all the best control systems, while AVCHD is limited to a small number of programs.

Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about professional camcorders. Sure, HDV is much less compressed than consumer level hard disk formats, but it is still very compressed (too compressed for many professional filmmakers). Therefore, you may get slightly sharper footage on pro hard disk formats such as Panasonic’s P2 card, or Sony’s XDCAM. In that case, you may want to go with the Panasonic HVX200 or the Sony PMW-EX1. But, I still have problems with P2 and XDCAM. My major concern is that their complex media cards do not hold much (you may get 25 minutes on one XD SxS Card). Also, buying a replacement card isn’t cheap, making these camcorders a real pain. HDV, on the additional hand is much more practical, with miniDV cassettes only costing several bucks- even for the pro HD cassettes. In conclusion, I judge Hard disk formats such as the SxS card and the P2 card have a future in the digital filmmaking world, but right now, HDV is still more practical.

Now that I have discussed the pros and cons of formats, I will talk about camcorders. The best camcorder for you is probably the CANON XH-A1 for around $ 3,300. It is unexpectedly simple to use, very well built, and packed with features that make the XH-A1 rival camcorders much more expensive. It is an exceptionally well loved model, and is regarded as one of the best camcorders, for its fantastic balance between quality and value. My only conundrum with it is its lack of a REAL 24p mode (24p changes the native 30 frames per second, standard on digital camcorders to the 24 fps of film- it also gives the footage a softer, nearly pleasingly grainy look that indie filmmakers desire). Instead, the XH-A1 has a feature called 24f, in which List claims to be identical to 24p. I have not place the 24f through its paces, so I cannot make that argument any way; I expect it to be nearly, if not just as excellent. Any way, the XH-A1 may be your best choice.

Another camcorder that often fails to get the recognition it deserves is the JVC GY-HD200U for a bit over $ 4,000. It has all the elements of a excellent pro camcorder, but I was especially impressed with its picture quality. I usually don’t go for JVC, but I judge this camcorder may have the best picture quality in the prosumer range, next to the Sony EX1 and List XL-H1. Another feature that sets the HD200U apart from most camcorders in its price range, is that it accepts interchangeable lenses.

Regarding your final question about additional accessories, I would look into a Shotgun Mic, a Pro Tripod with a Fluid Head (for smooth pans, etc), and a powerful control system.
SHOTGUNS: Daniel K’s suggestion to get an XLR mic is a excellent one. I recommend looking into mics such as the Sennheiser ME66 or the Rode NTG1 and NTG2- they are exceptionally well loved among pros. They may seem a bit pricy, but in my opinion, a excellent mic is always worth the investment- a excellent mic will never become obsolete so they will still be just as excellent ten, even twenty years from now. Generally speaking, the quality of a mic is directly related to its price.

TRIPOD: Of course, when handling thousands of dollars in gear, it may be a excellent thought to invest in a reliable tripod, especially one that supports your camcorder’s weight. Also, look for one that has a fluid head for without fault smooth pans that gives you that professional look. Here is a link to a decent tripod that is a particularly excellent deal as it comes with attachable dolly legs- they aren’t the best for dollys, but at least its a start.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/243272-REG/Davis_Sanford_PROVISTA7518_Pro_Vista_Tripod_with.html#goto_itemInfo

EDITING PROGRAM. With a professional 3-chip HD camcorder, you will probably be unsatified with consumer control tools in cheapo programs. I found that consumer programs also give you much worse quality, so a excellent control system may be just as vital as the camcorder. In the professional world, the most-used systems is the Final Cut Pro by Apple (Macs only), and the Avid Media Composer (for Macs and PCs). In my opinion, the Avid systems are still a lot better…and if you are a student you can get them at an EXCELLENT value via student discounts. Its a $ 4,000 value at a money off of $ 295 at www.journeyed.com

Hope that helps!! Best of luck on you journey into the world of filmmaking!!!

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hey, do you guys know of any professional record camera’s (must be HD) that range in pricing from about $ 1,500-$ 3,500? if not then anyone know how much a professional record camera with a nice sound quality might cost?

any help much appreciated
best answer gets best answer =)

Answer by Jim A
Here’s a list of several that you can peruse.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=professional+record+cameras&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Answer by Sammy
you might consider List XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Record Zoom Lens III

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQLKRG?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001JQLKRG

Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBDWNS?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000IBDWNS

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The List HV20 HDV Camcorder brings the power of professional level HD recording to the consumer at a price that won’t break the bank. The HV20 captures images in genuine HD resolution of 1920 x 1080, so you are shooting in real HDTV, all on a mini HDV tape. One of the largest features this camera brings to the consumer camcorder market is the ability to capture in 24p, the same frame rate used in movie film. List improves upon the standard CCD camcorders by using a 1/2.7″ CMOS sensor to generate images. The 2.96MP CMOS sensor tends to process nearer than a CCD for richer color and sharper detail. When you add a List Optics HD lens, 10x optical zoom and a DV II processor you get ultra-sharp color and incredible detail even from a distance. In order to ensure you get the highest possible record quality and picture List added an HDMI output and hot shoe terminal to the HV20. As impressive as the HV20 is as a camcorder, it gets even better as a 3.1 megapixel digital still camera. Store images on tiny HC Mini-SD memory cards with the Mini-SD card slot. The optical image stabilizer and advanced AF auto focus make it simple to get crisp clean record and photos. Choosing and using the enhanced features such as Smooth Zoom Zebra Pattern and Level Shot Control, are simple thanks to the 2.7″ LCD screen. List fit everything you can question from a camcorder in the HV20, all in a body that fits comfortably in your pocket. Now if they may maybe only develop a “remove 10 pounds feature”…