G'Day everyone;

I've been thinking of switching over from my regular-def DV video camera to a HD video camera; but I'm at a loss as to which is best. A lot of them seem to be advertised as 'MiniSD' and 'HDD' and all of that.

I am going to Uni next year to study arts and media, and I shoot a few short films a year, edited thru iMovie (draft) and FCP (final edit). I want to push up the quality of what I film firstly by improving the filming quality.

My current camera is excellent, a Sony TRV950; but it is only SD and lacks a night mode. I feel as if the world has progressed onward a bit from when I bought my camera.

I'm looking to sell my trusty TRV950 and buy something for around $1200 - $2000.

What can people recommend? What works with Final Cut Pro?
Are there any drawbacks from using a HDD (hard disk) camera?

I would also like people's recommendations for good sound equipment - mikes etc.
Currently the audio I record from my TRV950 is buzzy and distant, the camera was designed to have a proper microphone plugged into it and the onboard one is pretty bad.

I want to shoot footage in HD on the camera; and edit in HD for the best possible quality; and then export to DVD in standard def. But when the next generation authoring equipment comes out, I want to be able to stay up-to-date as well.

The camera I buy also has to be considerably better (i.e. in every way) to the one I currently have; that means manual focus and exposure, microphone input, and things mine doesn't have: a proper low-lux shooting mode etc.

If anyone has tips, recommendations, anecdotes etc. please post them here.

Thanks.

Canon HV30 is the amateurs favourite right now it seems.

Would going to hard disk have any adverse affects?
Is it easily editable and accessible?
Does the quality suffer when transferred?

I'm looking at prosumer cameras, not basics cameras for family videos etc. It has to have easy adjustment of all the settings - manual focus ring; exposure dial; and fully extendible viewfinder (like my present camera).

Can anyone recommend such a camera; and give positive recommendations, not an unsupported comment about some camera being 'the one to go for' without saying why that is so.

Okay then, let me be more specific.

Avoid HDD the codecs usually don't work on Mac and once the HDD is full, what do you do then? Tape or flash is the way to go.

The Canon HV30 is a prosumer camera and has all those things you want.

Go to the manufacturer websites (Panasonic, Sony, Canon, JVC) and choose the one you like.

For your budget of $1200 though, the Canon HV30 is the best choice.

Good enough for you sir?

I've on the market for a prosumer camera myself and am on a huge learning curve at the moment. I may be wrong but as I understand it, HDD cameras tend to compress the image a bit more than HDV cameras that record on miniDV. I don't really know enough about the technical side of things to be able to back it up with a technical explanation though.

encryption - by 'prosumer' I think he is referring more to the semi-pro cameras like the Canon AH-X1, or the Sony HVR series and above. Those are the prosumer cameras I've been looking at as well and they're at least $3000 upwards of $6000. The CMOS/CCD chips are bigger than in the home camera range, presumably producing better images.

The industry standard is or was the likes of (as an example) the Sony PD-150, and the HVRs are the next HDV step up. I've used the PD-150 before and have no complaints about it, I am assuming that the HVR cameras will function more or less the same but with higher quality images. Did they not film that Kenny movie with PD-150s? Anyway the thing I like about the HVR-V1P in particular allows you to remove and attach a wide-screen lens as well which I really like. The main difference between the HVR-V1P and the HVR-Z1P are CMOS chips (previous) and CCD chips (latter). I haven't had a chance to compare these two chips though.

The prosumer cameras also allow you to attach a much better quality microphone to it, either directly on the camera itself or on a boom. I'd have to get back to you about some microphone recommendations though. Have you checked out any stores like lemac or videocraft? Check out the microphone included in the kits on the videocraft website.

Just wanted to ask you as well, have you had any issues or criticisms using FCP or FCPe? Have you used AVID for comparison?

IN terms of prosumer I've got the HV30 and the Sony EX1 (closer to corporate/ commercial than prosumer I guess).
The HV30 can't be faulted at all. Its daylight shooting is superb. Less good in low light.
The EX1 handles low light like you wouldn't believe. Enhances things above and beyond what the eye can gather.
On a budget - get the HV30.
As Decryption says - don't go HDD. Tape and flash are where it's at.
If you could stretch to a compact flash based Sony you'd be a happy-chappy.

Mics are an individual choice. Nothing wrong w/ Rode gear at all. Hands down offers the best value-for-money, bang-for-buck in Aust.
I have a Beyerdynamic shotgun mic w/ a Rode boompole that plugs straight into the XLR on the Sony.
Also have an NT4 for stereo indoor conditions.
Figure to buy a mic. Never met a cam w/ a built-in that was any good at all.

I use FCP and have done for 5 years. I only knew of Premiere before that. Love FCP. Can't see myself using anything else. It is truly versatile. Takes a good while to get to know it past the basics but no one ever has any trouble editing straight away. It's simple to start with that's for sure.

Coming to the end of a 70 min set of clips. Thousands of edit decisions have been made. I've mixed media and compression rates and frame sizes just on my older G5. No hint of an issue at all.

Canon HV30 or the Sony HDRHC9?

I am going to buy one of these in the coming weeks - am a bit stuck! Apart from the notes already posted has anyone a view on the canon v the sony?

Have you used AVID as well? I just wanted to hear some personal opinions on how they both compare.

How is the low-light mode? Decent or completely blacked-out (like my current camera)?

Can someone de-mystify this new flash-based format for me? Is it better than tape (compression-wise) or is it inferior?

I'll have a good look at the HV30 from Canon.

Any tips about the other one from Sony, the HDRHC9?

My current video camera is a Sony? Which is better, Canon or Sony; from a professional point of view, in regards to quality and reliability?

there is allot to respond to here, so if anyone wants more advice on Cameras, mics etc... then feel free to PM me, and I will give you a call sometime and discuss your requirements.

I dont have two hours to type responses for everyones questions here, but happy to talk to you all with free advice.

There's also a lot of information in here, I think:
my new HD camcorder!

Avids not for the faint hearted. I work in broadcasting and its in every orifice of the building. It basically does the same thing as fcp just differently it come at editing like an old tape reel splice cut etc. Drag and drop isnt a concept avid use very often if you get my drift.

thanks for the point to the other forum. Excellent info - the treatyourgoods site does not seem to be up and running? Has anyone had any luck there, of late?

I think the issue really is that you're going to struggle to get something that is semi pro / prosumer for this kind of $$.

If you're studying next year, does your uni not have equipment available to you to use ?

What exactly do you want to be when you grow up ? ;-) I don't mean to be a smartarse, but if you're keen on directing, you'd be FAR better off putting the money into your actual films, rather than the *gear* to make them.

There's nothing wrong with shooting SD. For the kind of money you're talking about, shooting on a compressed HD format isn't really going to give you a lot of extra production value, and it won't make the acting or story any better.

Another way to go would be to use your hard earned cash to rent a much better camera for your major film project. Rent a steadicam. Pay a sound recordist. Get a dolly. Pay a gaffer to turn up and help you light it. Pay a professional actor. etc etc.

I reckon your SD camera or what ever your course provides will be fine for *practise*. Save your money for when it really counts. I've been a professional DOP for close to 10 years. I've never owned a video camera. I try to spend my money on format agnostic things that don't go out of date and make my job easier and better. I do own a lot of lights, a geared head, filters, 3D storyboarding software etc.

jb

I have a Canon HV20 and use a Rode VideoMic Microphone Review: Rode VideoMic

The HV20 is the same as the HV30 (all they did was change the colour for the 30 over the 20). It is a fantastic camera.
The combo I use is virtually unbeatable for the price.