Semi Pro DV Camera

[crandall]

I'm a Stills Photographer and I want to get into the video market. I'm hoping to buy a Semi Pro camera that looks the part and connects easily to my Apple Mac by Fire wire. I hope to produce local news style videos for company websites, does anyone have any camera suggestions or know where is good place to buy a used one.

Many thanks

Clint

[bobthemonkey]

If you are OK with standard def miniDV then something like the Canon XL1 should do the trick.

If you want proper HD, then the Sony EX1/EX3 are very well thought of at the moment. Records to Sxs/(express34) cards.

There is also the HVX200 which was the darling of the indie film crowd for a long while. You should be able to get a good deal on a SH one. Records onto tape or P2 cards.

[crandall]

Thanks for the advice Bob, can you recommend a good place to start looking for a second hand one?

Cheers

Clint

[GetCarter]

Not what you are looking for, but any excuse to post some porn.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm http://www.red.com/cameras

[crandall]

Ouch $17500, bit rich for my blood.

[bobthemonkey]

GetCarter said:

Not what you are looking for, but any excuse to post some porn.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm http://www.red.com/cameras

Uber geek porn.

I guess you know that someone has brought out a Canon Eos mount for it. Full control of the lens motors, and it feeds the info back to the camera, both on screen and records it in frame by frame metadata.

Edited by bobthemonkey on Friday 17th July 23:51

[jackal]

crandall said:

I'm a Stills Photographer and I want to get into the video market. I'm hoping to buy a Semi Pro camera that looks the part and connects easily to my Apple Mac by Fire wire. I hope to produce local news style videos for company websites, does anyone have any camera suggestions or know where is good place to buy a used one.

Many thanks

Clint

i'd avoid HDV and go straight for an EX3 or an HVX200

neither are that cheap though


if you're on a budget and don't need HD then maybe pick up a DVX100a .. cracking camera that does progessive

[TwistingMyMelon]

I do similar freelance, how much do you want to spend?

I had a Canon XL1 in past, looked after it and it never let me down, great reliable camera. Its downsides are that it dosent do true 16.9 as standard , no hd and is quite bulky . It has great presence tho, people really think you are a "pro" which can be good and bad.

I have a Sony Z1, good camera, jack of all trades master of none, main reason I went with it was I got a cracking deal importing from Hong Kong. I work with a Mac using Final cut and have no issues (well no biggies!). Would recommend it as an overall package, but other cameras beat it in other areas, worth considering.

Don't forget to factor in tripods, lights, mics to your budget, decent kit isn't cheap! (you probs already know this doing photography!)

HDV is acceptable for business purposes, you can get good results, it does what it says on the tin if you accept its downsides.

Ebay is your friend for the best variety of deals, beware it is a bloody mindfield at times when dealing with expensive video gear

Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Monday 20th July 12:43

[crandall]

That's really helpful, thanks. I think I'll study and watch ebay and try for a complete secondhand kit. Are you getting much work in this field and do you think it's growing?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Good luck, threres some good stuff around and loads of info and opinions on kit on the net, just google away.

Ive been working on other projects so haven't put much effort to my video work, but got quite a bit of work just through word of mouth and no advertising, which can't be bad through a recession!

Yes I think there is a lot of growth area, some companies and individuals are very very keen towards video promotion, others think it is the work of the devil! There are loads of channels and formats to generates work if you are savy and are willing to embrace new trends..

Mandy.com is handy for getting work. The key for me in getting work is working hard and chargeing reasonable rates, some people just price themselves out the market straight away on basic jobs, guess this is just common sense tho!

[crandall]

Once again thanks for all this useful info, I'm afraid I don't know any one in this field so I hope you don't mind me pestering you for info. You mentioned reasonable prices, could you give me an approx idea of what would be a reasonable daily rate? In my photography world I charge £110 per hour and £65 for each hr after that, would these be about right?

[TwistingMyMelon]

It all depends really on what kit you have, how much experience (ie skill!)you have and how much the client is willing to pay.

TBH the going rate for a mini DV camera and operator for the day is around £150-£250 PER DAY. It tends to be on per day, or half day, not per hour and the rates seem a lot less than you are getting for photography
.
I got to film some interesting projects and events meaning sometimes I would charge less for the actual filming , but offer a complete package and edit it up and encode it in flash (HD with its own player) for their website for a set charge (so make money from the editing)

[GetCarter]

I'd agree that your rates as a pro still photographer will in no way equate to owning a semi pro Camcorder. I was asked last month to do a corporate vid, but turned it down as the numbers just didn't stack up.

An 8 hour day at your rates will buy anyone a decent second hand video camera - and everyone has either iMovie or Movie Maker FOC!