Video Cameras: Tell Me What To Buy

[Orphonic]

What is the next equipment step for me?

I want to be able to shoot good quality music videos, documentaries, weddings, and also live music. I will often times be in low light situations. I feel it is important for me to be able to manually control exposure and focus, for the things I want to do.

I am using Final Cut X, and I am happy with it.

I have friends with $2,000 and $5,000 video cameras, but I'm not ready to make that jump. I want to find the best camera at the lowest price.

Here are features that are important to me.
1) Manually control focus and exposure/iris
2) Ability to control frames per second
3) HD

Here is what is NOT as important to me:
1) Sound. I have good external sound equipment already. No need to pay for it on the camera.
2) Storage/Battery. I don't imagine shooting any more then 2 hours of footage at a time.
3) Size. Don't care. Actually, I'd prefer it didn't look like a toy.

Your thoughts... go!

[MJA]

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/338074-HD-cam-under-800

check this thread to get an idea

[redwudz]

Orphonic, , in the future please use a more descriptive subject title in your posts to allow others to search for similar topics. I will change yours this time. From our rules:

Try to choose a subject that describes your topic.
Please do not use topic subjects like Help me!!! or Problems.

Thanks,
Moderator redwudz

We also have a Camcorders Forum where your thread may be more appropriate. I will move this there.
And we also have a Mac Forum if you have specific questions concerning that OS.

And welcome to our forums.

[budwzr]

Since you already know what you want, why not simply check the websites of the top camera makers? Everybody here is going to have their own opinion, this thread will go on forever, and you'll still end up doing that anyway.

In your three item list, the only thing driving the price up is controlling fps (overcrank/undercrank). That one feature will cost you dearly, whereas a cheaper camera would do.

[edDV]

What is the next equipment step for me?

I want to be able to shoot good quality music videos, documentaries, weddings, and also live music. I will often times be in low light situations. I feel it is important for me to be able to manually control exposure and focus, for the things I want to do.

I am using Final Cut X, and I am happy with it.

I have friends with $2,000 and $5,000 video cameras, but I'm not ready to make that jump. I want to find the best camera at the lowest price.

Here are features that are important to me.
1) Manually control focus and exposure/iris
2) Ability to control frames per second
3) HD

Here is what is NOT as important to me:
1) Sound. I have good external sound equipment already. No need to pay for it on the camera.
2) Storage/Battery. I don't imagine shooting any more then 2 hours of footage at a time.
3) Size. Don't care. Actually, I'd prefer it didn't look like a toy.

Your thoughts... go!

Read the suggested thread for background. Your requirements may lead to a different camera suggestion. He was shooting sports for an SD NTSC release with a periodic HD Blu-Ray release.
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/338074-HD-cam-under-800

Questions?

Why do you want to control frame rate?

What is your desired output format?

[Orphonic]

I figured frame rate would be important to do slow motion shots in music videos. I haven't given much thought to output formats yet.

[budwzr]

I figured frame rate would be important to do slow motion shots in music videos. I haven't given much thought to output formats yet.

Well, it depends how much motion is involved. This clip is slomo, but from 30p: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUlOAjDy3EQ and it's smooth enough.

Anyway, all decent camcorders should have 720p60, and that's all you need.

Personally, I like a DSLR that shoots video because I shoot a lot of stills too. Videos are great, but you need good stills mixed in there too, or for transitions, motion graphics, etc.

[edDV]

I figured frame rate would be important to do slow motion shots in music videos. I haven't given much thought to output formats yet.

Not much latitude on frame rates. shooting 60p (or 60i) offers the most range for slow mo.

For output frame rates, you have to decide between 60i or 23.976p for Blu-Ray or DVD. It will affect your camera selection. 60i can be converted to 30p for youtube, etc.

[Orphonic]

A guy I know did this video. He spent like $5k on his camera. I'd like to get a camera that can do this, but for far less money: http://youtu.be/QHgYOy1h9r0

Maybe it's just wishful thinking. Ha!

[budwzr]

Yeah, that's great work.

I might be wrong, but notice when the band is playing, the depth of field is very narrow, that means the camera was real close, and the aperture was wide open, and they lost some highlights but did a creative colorization (burn?) that looks great. (My Guess).

The headshots were probably done with a 50mm lens ($100). They're very sharp.

Certainly, much of the "look" is done in post. Cameras these days have creative filters, but nothing that good.

[edDV]

A guy I know did this video. He spent like $5k on his camera. I'd like to get a camera that can do this, but for far less money: http://youtu.be/QHgYOy1h9r0

Maybe it's just wishful thinking. Ha!

As for the shoot it was more about lighting than the camera. In post they went for that overexposed look with compressed whites. The original camera shot probably looked more normal.

What about that clip suggested something special about the camera?

[budwzr]

Yeah, if you simply change the white balance, you get back to regular old camera.


[Attachment 8644 - Click to enlarge]

[edDV]

The post art director seemed to be going for a contrast of compressed whites for the band to somewhat underexposed portraits. Lighting was good. The "look" effects were done in post.

Yeah, if you simply change the white balance, you get back to regular old camera.

You can get that look in the cam by field white balancing off "warm cards".
http://www.warmcards.com/WC1.html