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Beginner camera

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cow.
Posts: 416 - Karma: 200

hey all,

im a beginner filmmaker, and i was wondering if you guys could suggest a good camera to use. followcams and still shots make up most of teh filming i do. i would rather a digital camera to a film camera, and faster than 30fps if possible. it would only have to shoot for facebook and youtuube edits, so picture quality isnt that important, but more than 480p (standard defintion) would be awesome. for under 500$ if possible.

thanks all!

Dec 8 2009 3:22PM
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icantskiiFILM
Posts: 2113 - Karma: 140
your asking for a lot. u say u dont care about picture quality a lot but then want HD...get something used
Dec 8 2009 3:27PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
LOL you actually thought about using film?

and youre not gonna get a camera with more than 30fps for under 2000, let alone 500 dollars.
Dec 8 2009 4:30PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
You wont find a camera that shoots 60p for under $500 other than the Kokak Zx1, which wouldn't be the best for you.

Honestly, for under $500, most cameras will perform about the same image wise, but some may have better features than others, and that's what you have to decide on.

Steer clear of Hard Disk camcorders.  Cnet is a good source for finding a cheaper camera.  Spend some time searching/reading and you'll find what you're looking for.

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/?filter=1000036_3808675_100021_10194772_500551_106039_&tag=mncol;dir1

Hope this helps.
Dec 8 2009 5:24PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
No true at all my friend....


Check out the Sanyo FH1:
- Only consumer cam to do 1080 x 60p (sick slowmo)
- Pretty  good lowlight (1/2.5" chip, minimum 6lux in standard, 2-3lux in high sensitivity mode)
- SD card (solid state)
- 8mp photos (native not interpolated)
- $404 shipped (ebay)

That's your best bet for under $500.... hell, that's your best bet for under $1000.

Make sure you read the review at camcorderinfo and check out test shots on Vimeo. Good luck.
Dec 8 2009 5:25PM
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horner
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 1,578
nice find, that's actually a decent little camera.
Dec 8 2009 5:34PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
I would never recommend that camera, ever.
Dec 8 2009 5:49PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
I shoot with it and can't stress enough what a good bang for the buck it is. I'd like to hear why you wouldn't recommend it. Besides Image stabilization, which is bad. And lack of cold shoe. I take it you have some experience with it?
Dec 8 2009 5:59PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
Zero experience, its just an HD camera thats under 500 dollars. I dunno, i shoot with a camera 10 times the cost, i just believe in you get what you pay for when it comes to video. If he only has 500 bucks then word go for it, id personally save up another 100-200 and get an hv30/hf200.
Dec 8 2009 6:09PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51

Anyway, to the OP. You have to make up your own mind obviously and do your own research. but here are some sample vids covering everything from macro to slo-mo. And like I said, around $400 shipped



VPC-FH1 skate slowmo from Lucasberg (Joey) on Vimeo.



Sanyo Xacti FH1, stabilization test at full zoom hand held from RonScuba on Vimeo.




Sanyo FH1 testing from yxzkm on Vimeo.



Sanyo FH1 Movie Sample (FHD, Macro, Spyder web) from ePrice on Vimeo.




Dec 8 2009 6:11PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
As good as "test" videos make cameras look good, they are usually modified. Just saying.
Dec 8 2009 6:15PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
No Offense, but that's an incredibly ignorant opinion.  I have shot with a hv30 and had purchased an hfs100 only to return it for the Sanyo. The Sanyo had better  low light and is the only consumer cam I would think about using for action sports (at the moment). I hate Interlaced!

"I dunno, i shoot with a camera 10 times the cost,"  Come on dude, seriously? The guy asked for a $500 camera that shot higher then sd and you basically stuck up your nose at him because he (Nor I for that matter) could afford a $4000 cam. I'm a huge believer of bang for your buck. And I can guarantee for every dollar over the price of the FH1 you are going to see decreasing returns to scale, meaning to increase picture quality by 50% you're going to have to spend a damn lot more then 50% more...i.e. a $4000 prosumer cam.

Anyway, sorry for the rant, I just like to hear opinions based on solid info and not on hearsay. Is the FH1 the best cam out there? Hell no, I even named a bunch of faults. But I would bet my left nut that it's the best cam he's going to find anywhere near his budget.
Dec 8 2009 6:20PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
Modified? Yes.... you do some post I assume?


And all the vids didn't display (Damn imbed is fucked for me) but you owe it to yourself (OP) to check them out, especially the slo-mo tests.

Dec 8 2009 6:22PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
I just meant to say, i film with an expensive cam so my opinion on smaller cheaper cameras is bias.


IMO buying cheap HD cams is better than it used to be, but i still dont recommend it. But like i said, i have a higher end opinion and that doesnt really help out kids just tryin to spend 500 bucks like this guy.
Dec 8 2009 6:23PM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
wow your a fool. you only shoot with expensive cameras so that means inexpensive cameras are worthless? you haven't even used the camera he's talking about why not keep your mouth shut then rather than voicing a bullshit opinion which is basically you saying "look at me, i'm like a proooo filmer for clownschool, so i only use like, proooo cameras that are so exproooooensiveeee"  seriously just listen to yourself. your being a huge duschebag.
Dec 8 2009 8:38PM
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Sfish130
Posts: 145 - Karma: 10
word.
Dec 8 2009 9:48PM
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eheath
Posts: 61599 - Karma: 123,017
Can you read?

I never said they were worthless, i just said i have a bias opinion. Smaller, cheaper hd cameras are great, im actually getting a gopro hd, they also are bringing dope video quality cameras into more peoples hands. im just bias agaisnt them because im a firm believe in the cheaper the camera the worse the quality (not exactly video or whatever, just the product) and suggest he save 100-200 on an hv30 or hf200 because both of those cameras have proven to me their quality. Now, after watching some videos with the sanyo, it seems pretty solid for 400 bucks, but id still recommend saving up and buying the hv30 or hf200.
Dec 8 2009 9:51PM
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dylansiggers
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 6,088
threads for argument haha
Dec 8 2009 10:31PM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
can you?

not even the point of my response. the point is don't be such a cocky ignant pretentious fuck just because you use crazy expensive cameras. the thread title is clearly 'beginner camera', so if you don't have input about a beginner camera shut your fucking face. i'm pretty sure if I was looking for a beginner camera I wouldnt want to spend a shit ton of cash. you basically just came up in here and said "I only use expensive cameras" when the kid is just looking for advice on a cheaper startup camera. so whats the point of that besides to point out how cool you are for using an expensive camera? like really, just read what you wrote up above and think about it. how can you not feel like a duschebag? and on top of that you said you "wouldnt recommend" a camera youve never even fucking used. I just think its kind of whack is all.


Dec 9 2009 12:01AM
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