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Good camera for an amateur director?
The_Fad
regular
regular
I'm 99% sure this thread goes here.
So I'm going into college to major is Mass Media w/ an emphasis on Digital Film Production. Basically, I'm going to try and become a director. As such, I find myself in need of a good video camera.
I've owned a camcorder before, but I wouldn't have deemed it worthy or more than shooting family reunions or other non-formal things. I gave it to my friend because I couldn't figure out how what I could possibly use it for. Now I'm on the prowl for a better, more fitting model.
That's where you guys come in. Here's what I need:
1) Lasts me through college.
2) Shoots crisp, clear, professional quality video.
3) Captures sound VERY well (I was thinking about purchasing a boom mic, maybe? Sound is one of my big pet peeves)
4) Preferably records digital video, so I can just import it directly into Final Cut Studio after shooting
5) Fairly cheap (I'm not made of money, sadly), but I'm not opposed ENTIRELY to shelling out a reasonable price for the right video camera.
As of right now that's all I can think of. So, what do you guys think would work best for me?
**EDIT**
I'm shooting for a camera priced, hopefully, somewhere between $500 and $1.5k. Relatively cheap, not outrageous, but it'll still get a nice, clean, professional quality video to come out.
So I'm going into college to major is Mass Media w/ an emphasis on Digital Film Production. Basically, I'm going to try and become a director. As such, I find myself in need of a good video camera.
I've owned a camcorder before, but I wouldn't have deemed it worthy or more than shooting family reunions or other non-formal things. I gave it to my friend because I couldn't figure out how what I could possibly use it for. Now I'm on the prowl for a better, more fitting model.
That's where you guys come in. Here's what I need:
1) Lasts me through college.
2) Shoots crisp, clear, professional quality video.
3) Captures sound VERY well (I was thinking about purchasing a boom mic, maybe? Sound is one of my big pet peeves)
4) Preferably records digital video, so I can just import it directly into Final Cut Studio after shooting
5) Fairly cheap (I'm not made of money, sadly), but I'm not opposed ENTIRELY to shelling out a reasonable price for the right video camera.
As of right now that's all I can think of. So, what do you guys think would work best for me?
**EDIT**
I'm shooting for a camera priced, hopefully, somewhere between $500 and $1.5k. Relatively cheap, not outrageous, but it'll still get a nice, clean, professional quality video to come out.
The_Fad on
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I use a Canon HF-100 (flash media, AVCHD codec, has a mini-hotshoe for light/mic, pretty affordable), but I'm seriously thinking of selling it and my Canon 10D to get a new Canon DSLR that shoots in HD. That would let me use my set of 35 mm lenses so I'd have great fast optics, but I'm not sure if the hotshoe supports mics (I bet it doesn't).
How long ago did you have a camcorder, they have come quite a long way in the past 3 years or so. Cheapest foot in the door ($650-$1K) is a consumer AVCHD camcorder with a hotshoe mic. One thing about consumer HD camcorders is they cannot really go wide, they maybe do 42mm and on a 16:9 aspect that means I'm often stepping back to get things in frame properly. You can get wide converters but they are kindof a hack (often you don't have the full zoom available, and they can distort the image even more than the existing zoom).
Do you know which codecs Final Cut Pro supports?
The best thing you could do for yourself right now, even better than getting a camera, would be to try and get on a movie crew and just start working. Try to land a P.A. job, let them know you're interested in camera and make friends, this business is ALL about connections and starting at the bottom and working your way up. To be honest you don't need a degree in the film industry, but if it's something you want for yourself...more power to you. I will let you know you will need to work hard to make sure that you don't get stigmatized by being a Film Major. Often film majors will grad, get on a production and be more worried about what the higher ups are doing than about their own job and will often make poor P.A.s or whatever because they want to more more involved in things they aren't really meant to be at the moment.
If you happen to live here in TX, let me know and I can give you some more info on the local industry. I interned for the Texas Film Commission last semester too, so I also know of some really good camera workshops coming up soon!
I know all the horror stories about film grads, but i'm willing to risk it. I like to think I'd be able to keep in my place. Right now, though, I'm more concerned with the camera itself, not so much the career, haha.