• Best consumer camera for short films?
    32 replies, posted
My budget is £400 and I need a consumer camera that is decent enough to record HD but can offer a good cinematic feel without feeling too "cloggy" in framerate whilst filming. I would prefer one that used a hard drive or an SD card. Although, the only DV tape one i'd go for is the Canon HV30, although I will have a problem getting it off having no firewire unless there is a way to do it externally.. I have editing software and can easily loan out a boom mic from university or a friend.
I need this too pretty much.
Honestly, that sounds like something you wouldn't be able to find at that price-point. I would definately recommend looking into local rental options rather than purchasing if you're set on that sort of feature-set at that price range.
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29038614]Honestly, that sounds like something you wouldn't be able to find at that price-point. I would definately recommend looking into local rental options rather than purchasing if you're set on that sort of feature-set at that price range.[/QUOTE] Just a small series of episodes. Not asking for a hollywood looking one, just the best for £400. [editline]7th April 2011[/editline] Canon HV30: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILNVse1pz7w[/MEDIA] I can get that for about £400 but it's DV tape, although it's the best looking i've seen without being jittery. Just a problem is I do not have a firewire slot, only HDMI. Can this be done externally?
[QUOTE=Mr. Agree;29038840]Just a small series of episodes. Not asking for a hollywood looking one, just the best for £400. [editline]7th April 2011[/editline] Canon HV30: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILNVse1pz7w[/MEDIA] I can get that for about £400 but it's DV tape, although it's the best looking i've seen without being jittery. Just a problem is I do not have a firewire slot, only HDMI. Can this be done externally?[/QUOTE] Can what be done externally?
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29038941]Can what be done externally?[/QUOTE] DV Tape.
[QUOTE=Mr. Agree;29038950]DV Tape.[/QUOTE] You should be able to transfer the contents of the DV tape from the camera to your computer with the USB interface on that camera. You just won't be able to have a live stream, as far as I can tell.
I know it's above your budget but Canon EOS 550D. Takes incredible pictures and it's great for movies too. Well worth saving up for an extra while.
[QUOTE=Bengley;29039106]I know it's above your budget but Canon EOS 550D. Takes incredible pictures and it's great for movies too. Well worth saving up for an extra while.[/QUOTE] For good DSLR filming, you need a good set of lenses, a proper rig with focus-pull and a second person to pull focus. (Autofocus on SLR video isn't great, IS in the video modes works strangely, etc). That option would work out to be a lot more expensive.
Yeah, it's nothing professional. Just some short films and projects me and a friend want to do. I don't mind a second hand camera if anyone can reccommend good ones going cheap for second hand, just would like my own camera to start with!
[QUOTE=Mr. Agree;29038840] without being jittery[/QUOTE] You cannot judge that using Youtube
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29039139]For good DSLR filming, you need a good set of lenses, a proper rig with focus-pull and a second person to pull focus. (Autofocus on SLR video isn't great, IS in the video modes works strangely, etc). That option would work out to be a lot more expensive.[/QUOTE] Even the $100 kit lens that comes with the 550D is 10x better than the one on the HV30
Firewire cards are piss cheap and a lot better than anything you can do over USB. DV tape decks are VERY expensive still. Hell, you still can't buy Hi-8 tape decks for under $250 yet.
[QUOTE=dude2193;29045861]Even the $100 kit lens that comes with the 550D is 10x better than the one on the HV30[/QUOTE] For video? Not really.
How much are you looking to spend? I would suggest a professional level camcorder that uses MiniDV. You can then just use the Firewire port on the camcorder to output to Vegas, Premiere, or whatever your program of choice is. Edit: Saw your budget in OP. Look for a used Canon GL2 on eBay or something. I used one in a Video Comm class for 2 years and loved it. [editline]7th April 2011[/editline] Something like this would be perfect. [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-GL-2-/190520290812?pt=Camcorders_Professional_Video_Cameras&hash=item2c5be4edfc#ht_500wt_1156[/url]
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29046355]For video? Not really.[/QUOTE] For video even more, considering that the actual resolution is 1080p instead of 18 megapixels you can afford to use low key lenses and still get amazing performance
Just remember, when it comes to video equipment it is ALWAYS better to buy a great quality camera with a single lense than it is to buy a mid level camera with 5 lenses.
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29046355]For video? Not really.[/QUOTE] This entire video was shot with a 550D with the kit lens. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfbHJKtkMS0[/media]
I would advise getting the 550d too, if you plan on using it mainly for video you can always get a large variety of old manual focus M42 lenses like I have, they often have better optics than on many newer lenses, and are also cheap as fuck.
[QUOTE=Kagrenak;29039139]For good DSLR filming, you need a good set of lenses, a proper rig with focus-pull and a second person to pull focus. (Autofocus on SLR video isn't great, IS in the video modes works strangely, etc). That option would work out to be a lot more expensive.[/QUOTE] No, no no. If you are filming somewhere with a thing called light, you can get away with it by stopping down to about ƒ/8.0 or pull focus manually with the camera on a tripod over your shoulder.
Would a package such as: [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-T2i-550D-Digital-Rebel-SLR-6-Lens-MUCH-MORE-/160571114986?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item2562c8c5ea[/url] Be good for this sort of filming?
Kodak Zi8, I have one and it is a great pocket sized camera, I got mine from amazon and was shipped fast as fuck. It does 30fps 720p, 60fps 720p, 1080p and even takes photos at 8MP. Watch reviews on it, everyone thinks it's worth it's money. And it was only £115-125 but it's probably lower now.
ALSO the 550D supports magic lantern, MY GOD its the best thing ever for film makers: [url]http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki[/url] [media]http://vimeo.com/7838475[/media] (video is of the 5d II version but its the same shit)
[QUOTE=Kill coDer;29104013]Would a package such as: [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-T2i-550D-Digital-Rebel-SLR-6-Lens-MUCH-MORE-/160571114986?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item2562c8c5ea[/url] Be good for this sort of filming?[/QUOTE] maybe but dont be bribed by those horseshit lenses. My friend paid £550 for a 550D, 18-55 and 55-250.
I use a HV40 and love it, but if you are intrested in taking photos as well as filming then something like the 550D is a better choice, but for pure video production the HV30-40 will have its advantages.
hv30 infinite dof trololo
look at a GoPro Hero. for $250 its waterproof and does stunning 1080P but the sound quality it poor, but for short films it should be nice. and yes you can film underwater
hahaaahahaha gopro here oh god im splitting my sides here are you really comparing that thing and a god damn 550D
[QUOTE=codenamecueball;29116287]hahaaahahaha gopro here oh god im splitting my sides here are you really comparing that thing and a god damn 550D[/QUOTE] that is a $700 camera. the GoPro is $260
the gopro is also shite
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