How's this for a video camera?

minkster · Post by **minkster** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:34 pm

From my previous thread I took a lot of your advice and have come to a conclusion in a couple camera's I may want to buy. Here are the three main ones:

Panasonic:

PV-GS400
This camera I'm like drooling over. It has 3CCD, 12x Optical Zoom, and a high resolution, including still images. Although it is pricey, it goes for about $1,100 the lowest.

PV-GS200
This one is also really nice too. It has a lot of great features, and is a step below the GS400. But yet again it costs around $805

GS500
This is like a stripped version of the GS400, but not nearly as pricey, its around $580

So what do you guys think I should get...I'm going to have to pay for it all except 100 bucks supplied by my parents as part of my bday present. I have a job, so I'm probably going to make monthly payments of $75-$100

HomicidalBarber · Post by **HomicidalBarber** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:21 pm

Arg I hate panasonic, something in mine fried itself after owning it for about 6 months. So I went to the local camera shop and they got a quote saying it would cost 300 dollars to get it fixed. Could have bought another camera. That may have just been my camera but Im never going to buy another panasonic.

mustardseed · Post by **mustardseed** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:06 pm

go with the Panasonic GS180 if you don't want to spring for the GS400. It normally retails for $600 but i've found it at many respectable places for $350.

Check the review of it on camcorderinfo.com and you can find the links.

Reploid Ayla · Post by **Reploid Ayla** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:20 pm

im sorry to burst your bubble, but they stopped making decent consumer cameras years ago. Im saving my pennies for this camera...Canon

You can find a nice used one for 500 on ebay. Yes it will plug into your computer. Whats Hi-8? you're an poop egress.

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usbcd36 · Post by **usbcd36** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:22 pm

I'd love to have a RED ONE, but it's out of my price range.

Put quite simply, if the project succeeds, it will be on equal footing with $250,000 HD cameras for only about $30k (that's including the required RAID, lens and other accessories).

â€¦and yes. I'm "drunk on the RED juice". Kudos for whoever gets the reference.

minkster · Post by **minkster** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:33 pm

Hmm...well are the camera's I picked any good? Any other good ones for a grand?

usbcd36 · Post by **usbcd36** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:46 pm

I've heard good things about Canon's Optura series (the 30 is good, but bad in low light, the 40 is good in low light, but otherwise the same as the 30, and the 50 is the best). They all shoot TRUE widescreen (their CCDs are actually wide), so if you're into thatâ€¦

I also remember some good things about the Canon Optura Xi, but it's not produced anymore. It has 11x optical zoom, a manual focus ring, and takes Mini DV tapes. The only real complaint I've seen is that the tape comes out of the bottom (like almost all Mini DV camcorders).

If I had to pick one, I'd go with the Xi, but only because I'm a huge fan of manual focus.

Reploid Ayla · Post by **Reploid Ayla** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:26 am

dude, Buy the Canon. If you want to make any sort of legitimate film with out a budget (or a very low one), get that camera. I guarantee it will give better character to your film than any mini dv camera or such. In fact I probably will make a film with one of these cameras (eventually).

minkster · Post by **minkster** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:55 am

So Cannon would be my best bet? How about this one Canon Optura 600

Sony also makes good cameras, how about this Handycam
The only thing that bugs me a little is the low battery life.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 8:38 am

I've been looking at getting a DV camcorder and I have to say out of the three you have there, and from what I've read/researched the PV-GS400 is the best. The 500 is a nice camera but really with all the options and scaling down they did it's not on the same level, the extra money would be worth it.

Super Cameraman · Post by **Super Cameraman** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:44 pm

YES. PV GS-400 all the way! Get it now! I've used the 500 and I loved it, but the 400 is way better because it has more manual control. If you REALLY want to go all out and get a very good camera, get a Canon GL2.

-Super Cameraman, who actually researched this camera, and it looks REALLY good.

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:34 pm

I have a ten year old Canon and it's still a better camera then most new ones that are sold in stores.

minkster · Post by **minkster** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:26 pm

I drove to BestBuy today to take a look at what their selection and a lot of DVD camera's which I stayed away from, but did stumble across this Sony HDR-HC3 It seems like a pretty sweet camera and it cost about $1,200. I wasn't planning on buying it because I wasn't sure if it had a microphone jack, I even asked 2 bestbuy employees and they weren't sure either. It's located where the blue rimmed jack is:

Do you think that camera is worth it? If not, I'll be looking out for the GS400 once I can find an online store that sells them.

Post by **benheck** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:26 pm

Mink, that's a LANC jack. It looks like a headphone jack, but is really an ancient device control port. I've never seen them even used.

-Ben

minkster · Post by **minkster** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:14 pm

benheck wrote:Mink, that's a LANC jack. It looks like a headphone jack, but is really an ancient device control port. I've never seen them even used.

-Ben

Ah, I see...well Ben your into filming, what would be your choice of a video camera around the $1,000 range?

I believe the Panasonic GS400 has been discontinued

All online stores say its been replaced with the GS500.

EDIT: I found another Sony camera called the Sony HandyCam HDR-SR1
This one records onto its own 30gb harddrive, I know I've heard they are not the greatest camera's, but this one seems promising too and it has a microphone jack. Not to mention its in HD quality also

Watcha guys think?