Canon Handycam Camcorders
In camcorders, who is better? Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Samsung, or JVC?
I’m pretty sure Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung all fall behind the other two. But I’m looking for a professional video camera for under 2000 dollars.
It needs:
good battery life
magnificent quality (The HDest HD)
very good quality in low light shots (dark rooms, nighttime)
good memory
a boom mic
Auto Focus (this is less desirable than the rest)
Any Other Good Functions For An Aspiring Movie Maker.
I currently use a Sony Handycam, and my friend has a JVC camcorder and my other friends have Samsung. The JVC quality seems superior to Sony while Sony seems superior to Samsung. Also, these are the camcorders, not the professional video cameras like i want.
Also, what do real movie crews use?
Under 2500 dollars*
Under $2,000?
You’re not going to get everything. The most difficult is the low-light – your best bet is likelt the Sony HDR-FX7. You will also need to get an optional high capacity recharchable battery. None have a “magnificent” battery in the box.
The FX7 is a 1080i, miniDV tape based camcorder. It has a 1/8″ (3.5mm) stereo audio in jack. To use a good XLR mic, you will need an XLR adapter.
Boom mic: Sennheiser; Audio Technica. If you have to go inexpensive, the NRG Research SA-568. It can connect using XLR or 1/8″ (3.5mm) connectors. You will also want a couple of wireless lavs – I use Sennheisers. Sony (professional) audio Technica and serveral others make good UHF wireless gear. Be careful you don’t buy on-sale stuff in the 700 MHz range – the FCC is clearing that spectrum for other uses.
The FX7 has good manual audio control on the outside of the camcorder. It hae seaprate zoom and focus rings and a LANC port for a wired remote. It can be in auto focus or manual – your pick.
Being a miniDV tape based camcorder, that means your computer must have a firewire port.
“Real movie crews” still use film – not video. Typically, Panavision, Varicam, Arri, CineAlta… maybe Red (Scarlet or One) or maybe Silicon Imaging… And the audio is not captured by the camera but offboard with a very specialized audio recording system (low end would be a Dgigdesign ProTools set up). Though “Paranormal Activity” used a Sony HDR-FX1 or FX1000… Generally, if you watch the movie credits, there is a hint at the end…
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