Analog film video cameras

[rallynavvie]

I'm looking at maybe getting a video camera jointly with another person who is interested in cinematography. Of course I'd love to start a revival of 70mm I don't think I can even afford a decent 35mm camera. I have little experience with these so any advice or websites you can recommend to read up on them would be great.

If it looks to be too complicated we'll probably just be going in on a Sony DSR-250 or similar digital camcorder.

[Cornucopia]

Not trying to be pig-headed, but when you lump "video camera" and "70, 35mm" into the same sentence it makes me wonder if you really know what you're doing.

Note to all: Video cameras and Film cameras are completely different beasts. There is no such thing as a combo Video-Film camera. All film cameras are analog. Video can be either.

You'll have to make a decision: Go the film route (expensive, esp. for film stock & developing, but very "organic" and old skool) or the video route (economical, hi-tech, little bit sterile). I don't think you can afford to do both. If you go videocamera and go digital (likely), you can then edit with a computer; not so for film camera. You would either have to get an edit bay (like a Steenbeck) or Telecine all your footage to video and then edit. Which isn't to say that it is without it's merits.

Scott

[rallynavvie]

I have little experience with these so any advice or websites you can recommend to read up on them would be great.

Yeah, I think I mentioned that I don't have much experience with them, thanks

I was recommended Arriflex or Panavision cameras but those are mostly $8k+ or in a really bad shape. The person I'm going in on this with has access to all the equipment necessary to edit (more than just razor blades and tape). I'd like to spend around $5k for one. I could wait and find a good one at that price on eBay but which models should I be looking for? I don't want to jump on what I think is a deal and end up with the misfit model that never worked quite right (there's always one in the bunch).

[EvilWizardGlick]

I have little experience with these so any advice or websites you can recommend to read up on them would be great.

Yeah, I think I mentioned that I don't have much experience with them, thanks

I was recommended Arriflex or Panavision cameras but those are mostly $8k+ or in a really bad shape. The person I'm going in on this with has access to all the equipment necessary to edit (more than just razor blades and tape). I'd like to spend around $5k for one. I could wait and find a good one at that price on eBay but which models should I be looking for? I don't want to jump on what I think is a deal and end up with the misfit model that never worked quite right (there's always one in the bunch).

What is your focus? You have limited experience, except for a buddy who has editing equipment, yet you want to spend 8k on a camera?
If you plan on wedding videos, that is a bit extreme. If you want to enter various festivals and such, you can acheive a lot more for a lot less.
I would say start with defining EXACTLY what you plan to do. From that point examine your options. For the money you expend on a camera you could nearly set up a whole studio.

[Karate Media]

What is this project? Is it really worth getting tied up in film (figuratively, that is)? What will the final output be? If you want to distribute on DVD, for example, are you prepared for the expense of going from film to DVD?

You may want to consider a 24p miniDV camera such as the Panasonic DVX100A, which can record video at 24 frames-per-second (like a film camera) and has various built-in settings to achieve a "film-look." You can typically find the DVX100A for around $3000-$3400. You can also buy a less expensive miniDV camera and use software tools to approximate a "film-look" if that "look" is what you want to achieve. There really is no magic bullet (although there is a product by that name), but if your final output is TV/DVD/web, these may be a more efficient and cheaper solution than shooting to film and transferring to video.

Is $5K the budget for your camera, or for everything? You'll still need lighting, microphones, tripods, etc, which could add anything from another $200 to $3000 and much higher.

But the question remains: what is the project and what is it worth?

EDIT: I was typing while Glick was responding...

[tag]

I've been out of the biz for years now but, the last time I looked, you couldn't even buy a Panaflex; they're rented by authorized rental houses. Further, for what it would cost you just to rent a full Panaflex package for a day (camera body, mags, batts, lenses, head, accs, et al), you could almost buy that Sony DSR-250.

Another consideration is that 35mm raw stock plus processing prices are absolutely wicked. Again, last time I looked, figure about a buck a foot and 1000' runs circa 11 minutes.

[Epicurus8a]

If you're really serious, check out the Canon XL1 or XL2. It's not for beginners, though.

[housepig]

you should check with MTN public tv and with the U of M Film Society - I know that once you become a member of MTN and take some basic classes, you can borrow equipment and reserve studio time. not sure what they have for film, but it's worth checking.

it may be the same with the U - I think there are non-degree classes that you can take, which open your access to library-style lending of gear. If nothing else, they can give you some leads on where to rent stuff in the area (I'd certainly rent and try out before dropping $5K) and probably some tips on what gear to watch out for.

[rallynavvie]

I've been shooting shorts and things for fun with XL-1s and various smaller Sony cameras like the DSR-250 and that time I "stole" one of Speed's 500s Digital is great for it's ease of use, and those cameras can record like a film camera IIRC, or I can run it through Premiere and adjust levels or whatever necessary if I wanted to. I certainly have the hardware for doing the production work on digital stock. I would be interested in renting or leasing equipment but when the other party came up that wanted to go in on one since I was already looking at spending short of that on a digital unit. I'm not a videographer, in fact I don't much like shooting events even though I get roped into it for friends' and family weddings and events. I'll have to check out the local links. Being able to rent one would save more for film, which I already had looked at pricing. I want to see if my filming would look differently on film rather than a computer.

[edDV]

rallynavvie, its not clear what you are trying to do.

If you goal is independent film, be assured that 90% of Sundance Festival submissions are shot on DV format.

Film stock and processing are very expensive. That is what investors are for.