What camcorder should I buy? - Scifi-Meshes.com

jimi kane · 09-20-2007, 10:35 AM

Im looking to buy a new camcorder in the upcoming months. Something HD is really my only sticking point, and i'm not looking at anything too outlandish, up too about £1500 would do. So you wise folk of Scifi, what do you think?

**Spry** · 09-20-2007, 11:11 AM

Having just been pampered recently by Sony in all their Events and PR glory, I can confidently recommend any Sony Handycam product. Furthermore anything with a CMOS sensor in it will seriously impress you.

Go to a retail store and get some of the boffins to give you a demo of the CMOS technology. It's very clever and very cool!

**al3d** · 09-20-2007, 01:03 PM

this is what i would personnaly go for..

**Freak** · 09-20-2007, 01:07 PM

Lol

jimi kane · 09-20-2007, 06:42 PM

Lols al3d, what the hell is that?

Nutsy · 09-20-2007, 07:14 PM

Ill get a HD camera... Heck if you have a few small grand to burn go for the Pannasonic HVX200 camera... HD1080p 720p at up to 60fps... only downside is exspensive flash media is the only way you can store on the fly... But i think there might be a firestore svailible for on the fly recording too

**Samurai** · 09-21-2007, 01:06 AM

^Yeah, but you're looking at about £1500 for the Firestore Recorder, on top of the £2,500 for the camcorder itself- a great solution that is good value for its target market, but probably not what Jimi here is shopping for.

Could look at the Sony HandyCam HDR-FX7E. Doesn't have the 1080p support that the Panasonic has, but it is £1k cheaper. There's also the Canon XH-A1.

I'll pop the links to the manufacturers blurbs, and you can take a gander.

SonyHDR-FX7E

Canon XH-A1

Hopefully those links will be a help- a quick search on Google's (far from comprehensive) product listing shows both models around the £1500 price mark, and apart from tapes, both are complete solutions out of the box (assuming you have the basic equipment such as carry cases, tripods etc' already.) Unlike the Panasonic, which will require quite large follow-up purchases to be used in the way the manufacturer intended.

I notice you don't say whether you're looking for something that offers fully featured recording for film/broadcast-type work, or an HD camcorder for home use.

If you're making money from filming activities, the Panasonic will likely pay for itself over time, but if you're just looking for a good quality sub-broadcast level HD camcorder, then the others will provide a good entry point into the world of amateur filmmaking. If you're just looking for a "Home use" HD camcorder, then it's a completely different kettle of fish.

**JeffrySG** · 09-21-2007, 02:17 AM

Must get RED.... must get RED... RED....

RED

Ok, so it's a little out of the price range... but whatever...

Nutsy · 09-21-2007, 03:41 AM

Yeah ok the Pannisonic is a little outside home use

but still its the camera i WANT!

Reds just silly good... But Red isnt as cheap as they made out... the camera alone yeah its cheaper than the Sony Vericam by almost a hundred thousand... But the camera along is 17k You still need to get all the mounts lesnes grips and stuff even for basic oporation the price can easly double....

jimi kane · 09-21-2007, 01:27 PM

Red is very nice, but WAY out of my price range.

In responce to Samurai's comment, im looking for the cheapest, closest to film/broadcast-type camera I can get.

09-20-2007, 10:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
jimi kane SFM Guru Join Date: May 2006 Age: 22 Posts: 493	What camcorder should I buy? Im looking to buy a new camcorder in the upcoming months. Something HD is really my only sticking point, and i'm not looking at anything too outlandish, up too about £1500 would do. So you wise folk of Scifi, what do you think?
	But where do all the calculators go? Ain't nothin' over till it's over.

09-20-2007, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Spry Lt Col Comrade Boris Spry Realname: James Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,431	Having just been pampered recently by Sony in all their Events and PR glory, I can confidently recommend any Sony Handycam product. Furthermore anything with a CMOS sensor in it will seriously impress you. Go to a retail store and get some of the boffins to give you a demo of the CMOS technology. It's very clever and very cool!
	"A rash self-warning: I sign in raw flesh, Sara!" Last edited by Spry; 09-20-2007 at 11:15 AM.

09-20-2007, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
al3d Mr. Speedy Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montreal Age: 42 Posts: 3,623	this is what i would personnaly go for..
	When you love a pet, loosing it is like loosing a part of your soul. I lost part of mine on Feb 12 2008. Never will it be the same again.

09-20-2007, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Freak Project Lead on SFM Film Realname: Dean Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, UK Age: 28 Posts: 8,024 Blog Entries: 7	Lol
	*“Well, I guess wiping out 2 billion people sort of qualifies as a dick move.”* - Guerrilla TH&B Project: Fighter 2 \| Ships of the Naraka Empire \| Ships of the Commonwealth of Solaris

09-20-2007, 06:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
jimi kane SFM Guru Join Date: May 2006 Age: 22 Posts: 493	Lols al3d, what the hell is that?
	But where do all the calculators go? Ain't nothin' over till it's over.

09-20-2007, 07:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nutsy SFM Obsessed Realname: Simon Join Date: May 2006 Location: Never Never Ever Forever Land Age: 26 Posts: 1,332	Ill get a HD camera... Heck if you have a few small grand to burn go for the Pannasonic HVX200 camera... HD1080p 720p at up to 60fps... only downside is exspensive flash media is the only way you can store on the fly... But i think there might be a firestore svailible for on the fly recording too

09-21-2007, 01:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Samurai This time you see Join Date: May 2006 Location: (Northern) England Posts: 4,119	^Yeah, but you're looking at about £1500 for the Firestore Recorder, on top of the £2,500 for the camcorder itself- a great solution that is good value for its target market, but probably not what Jimi here is shopping for. Could look at the Sony HandyCam HDR-FX7E. Doesn't have the 1080p support that the Panasonic has, but it is £1k cheaper. There's also the Canon XH-A1. I'll pop the links to the manufacturers blurbs, and you can take a gander. SonyHDR-FX7E Canon XH-A1 Hopefully those links will be a help- a quick search on Google's (far from comprehensive) product listing shows both models around the £1500 price mark, and apart from tapes, both are complete solutions out of the box (assuming you have the basic equipment such as carry cases, tripods etc' already.) Unlike the Panasonic, which will require quite large follow-up purchases to be used in the way the manufacturer intended. I notice you don't say whether you're looking for something that offers fully featured recording for film/broadcast-type work, or an HD camcorder for home use. If you're making money from filming activities, the Panasonic will likely pay for itself over time, but if you're just looking for a good quality sub-broadcast level HD camcorder, then the others will provide a good entry point into the world of amateur filmmaking. If you're just looking for a "Home use" HD camcorder, then it's a completely different kettle of fish.
	Here comes the water, It comes to wash away the sins of you and I. This time you see- like holy water, it only burns you faster than you'll ever dry.

09-21-2007, 02:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
JeffrySG SFM Obsessed Realname: Jeff Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 2,416	Must get RED.... must get RED... RED.... RED Ok, so it's a little out of the price range... but whatever...
	---- My Subdivision Modeling Video Tutorials ---- New York City in HDR ---- ---- My Favorite Tutorials/Links ---- 488 Star Wars Ref. Pics ----

09-21-2007, 03:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nutsy SFM Obsessed Realname: Simon Join Date: May 2006 Location: Never Never Ever Forever Land Age: 26 Posts: 1,332	Yeah ok the Pannisonic is a little outside home use but still its the camera i WANT! Reds just silly good... But Red isnt as cheap as they made out... the camera alone yeah its cheaper than the Sony Vericam by almost a hundred thousand... But the camera along is 17k You still need to get all the mounts lesnes grips and stuff even for basic oporation the price can easly double....

09-21-2007, 01:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
jimi kane SFM Guru Join Date: May 2006 Age: 22 Posts: 493	Red is very nice, but WAY out of my price range. In responce to Samurai's comment, im looking for the cheapest, closest to film/broadcast-type camera I can get.
	But where do all the calculators go? Ain't nothin' over till it's over.

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