Okay, maybe this isn't the right place for this, but maybe it is. I need a new video camera. I already have a Mini DV and need to stick with that format, but the old one is going the way of UT basketball and it's time to replace it.
I need (want) very low light capability, viewfinder, and don't want to spend an exorbitant amount. I've got a JVC now with extra batteries, it would be a plus if they worked with a new one but that isn't mandatory. Anybody use a good one they can recommend? I have read millions and millions of reviews, but that is only useful to a point. Thanks in advance.
I got one last year and read a million of reviews before I decided. I decided on a pansonic. It has 3CCD which means the picture quality is amazing(Broadcast Quality). It does not have the zoom of alot of sonys and jvc but It destroys them in picture quality. I took mine to florida last year and I could not believe how good the picture quality was. Everyone who saw my footage said it looked like an HBO documentary. I got the miniDv over the hard drive and cd versions because I heard from some of the camera geeks say the picture is better. Mine is a gs-320 I think(I will have to go look and double check it). I am not quite sure if they still make this model anymore. I know you can find them new on ebay though. Yeah tapes are more of a hassle but those hard drive cameras are so small they tend to shake in my hand. I paid $450 for mine but they dropped alot in price about 2 months later. I bought a 8 hour battery on ebay for $20 bucks that will last forever. What ever you decide, try to get one with 3CCD. It is worth it.
Take a look at the quality in this youtube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FiMapmrr2s
(03-10-2009 01:36 PM)FORealTigerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I got one last year and read a million of reviews before I decided. I decided on a pansonic. It has 3CCD which means the picture quality is amazing(Broadcast Quality). It does not have the zoom of alot of sonys and jvc but It destroys them in picture quality. I took mine to florida last year and I could not believe how good the picture quality was. Everyone who saw my footage said it looked like an HBO documentary. I got the miniDv over the hard drive and cd versions because I heard from some of the camera geeks the picture is better. Mine is a gs-320 I think(I will have to go look and double check it). I am not quite sure if they still make this model anymore. I know you can find them new on ebay though. Yeah tapes are more of a hassle but those hard drive cameras are so small they tend to shake in my hand. I paid $450 for mine but they dropped alot in price about 2 months later. I bought a 8 hour battery on ebay for $20 bucks that will last forever. What ever you decide, try to get one with 3CCD. It is worth it.
This is great info, thanks. I'll look into this.
I just bought a JVC from a friend. I'm not sure how much it costs new but it's a nice camera. It's the HD300. The picture quality is amazing (obviously, it's an HD camera) and it records on a 60GB hard drive. I've used it for several projects in one of my film classes and so far have had no problems out of it. Oh yeah, and it's blue
(03-10-2009 01:56 PM)Jenkz Wrote: [ -> ]I just bought a JVC from a friend. I'm not sure how much it costs new but it's a nice camera. It's the HD300. The picture quality is amazing (obviously, it's an HD camera) and it records on a 60GB hard drive. I've used it for several projects in one of my film classes and so far have had no problems out of it. Oh yeah, and it's blue
I've had a JVC for years, but I have to stick with Mini DV for now because of all the tapes I've got recorded. Many have been dumped onto DVD, but not all. HD would be nice. ONe thing about JVC minis, though, is they are reported to have problems loading the tape. Mine does now, it has in the past, and people have written reviews complaining that it still happens. That's not a deal breaker to me, but it is cause for concern.
The last time I used a mini dv was in high school about 2 years ago. Our production class had a huge budget and alot of old equipment so we went out and bought 3 JVC Mini DVs, a **** load of batteries and tapes, and a new mac with Final Cut Pro HD. We never had any problems getting the tape to load, but there were alot of instances the computer wouldn't recognize the camera at first and we had to try a few times. That could have been due to a bad firewire cable though. Guess I'll never know.
Anyways, what kind of budget are you on? I can ask around the film department and try and find you a hell of a deal.
(03-10-2009 02:08 PM)Jenkz Wrote: [ -> ]The last time I used a mini dv was in high school about 2 years ago. Our production class had a huge budget and alot of old equipment so we went out and bought 3 JVC Mini DVs, a **** load of batteries and tapes, and a new mac with Final Cut Pro HD. We never had any problems getting the tape to load, but there were alot of instances the computer wouldn't recognize the camera at first and we had to try a few times. That could have been due to a bad firewire cable though. Guess I'll never know.
Anyways, what kind of budget are you on? I can ask around the film department and try and find you a hell of a deal.
Probably $300 or so, more if it's justified, but that seems to be where the better mid-priced are. But I haven't done this for a while and am not sure what's out there.