I want it to be digital so I can go straight from the camera to my editing software.
Also, what speed are films recorded?
I want this to look like a genuine movie that you would go to theatres to see.
Thank you ahead of time. Welcome to the world of DV, my friend.
If you are looking to spend nearly nothing, there are some mid range consumer grade cameras such as the Canon ZR series. The picture isn't too bad, nothing spectacular, but depending on the exact model, you can get some okay manual features that a professional would need at a dirt cheap price. They are in the $300-$600 range I think.
Next, you can go to a higher-end consumer camera, such as the Panasonic GS series. These have 3 ccd chips, which means that you are going to have really good color quality. Again, the exact features like manual focus and white balance depend on your exact camera. These run anywhere from $700-$1200 I think.
Even higher is an HD camcorder. The Sony HDR-SR1 or the Panasonic HDC-SD1 are examples of these. The HDC-SD1 even has 3 ccd's. These cameras deliver great picture and resolution, but the price range can be anywhere from $850-$1500, depending on where you get it.
Stepping up into the professional grade, you can buy something like a Sony DSR-PD170. They are Standard definition. But, they will deliver the features and manual controls you need like dual XLR inputs with level adjustment, a focus ring, white balance, iris, gain, apeture, all that good stuff, as well as 3 ccd's. There are many other camcorders like this, like the Canon GL2, for instance. Once again, it all depends on the model type. These can run anywhere from $2000-$5000.
If you really want the "film look", though, you need the Panasonic AG-DVX100. It shoots in a 24fps mode, which is similar to what you see on the big screen. I've seen sample footage of this from amateur videographers, and it looks like very professional, cinema quality stuff. B&H Photo is selling this for $2800, so if you don't mind having less money in your wallet, this would be the way to go IMO.
It all depends on how much you want to spend. What you put in is what you get out. If you plan on making youtube videos, the 1ccd's will do you good. If you plan on making more serious stuff, like maybe amateur documentaries or something, then you would want to bump up to the 3 ccd consumer cameras or one of the professional camcorders I mentioned. And if you don't mind spending a little extra now, just buy one of the HD cameras and you'll be ready for the future when everything turns HD.
Hope that helps. Whatever you choose, make sure the output format works with your software. I have a Pentax which outputs Quicktime, so I must use Quicktime Pro to do my editing. If you really want the best quality video, go for a camera with 3 separate CCD's. You may want to use a boom microphone or wireless tie clip microphones to get the best sound if you are recording people speaking. In that case, you will need one with audio or microphone input. One that records on DV tape instead of DVD or Hard Drive will give you the best quality because DV tape records with a lot less compression. A viewfinder is better than relying on the pop out LCD screen because it allows you to steady the camcorder against your cheek. Image stabilization is good to keep your shots steady.
That being said, it is hard to get all the features in a single camcorder anymore. For instance, the Panasonic VDR-0310 has a lot of the needed features, but records to DVD. The Sony HC96 has a lot of needed features, but is a one-CCD camera. If you are serious about quality, consider stepping up to an HD camera, but make sure your editing software can handle HD.
I would recommend you research the websites of Panasonic and Sony, two very good brands, to compare features. A good site for comparisions and reviews is http://www.camcorderinfo.com.
As to getting the video into your editing software, a DV camera streams it in via Firewire. Make sure your Firewire card is OHCI compliant so the software can control the camera. A Hard Drive camera usually transferrs a file via USB.
If you haven't selected editing software yet, the Sony Vegas Movie Studio series is known for being the most stable. Most brands of editing software do a great job with editing, but all user reviews I have seen say only the Sony software is rock solid. I use Sony Movie Studio and it has never crashed. That is important. |
