Looking for a new camera

Both of those would be pretty bad choices. Tape based, sd quality, really old, etc... The only tape based sd camera to consider would be DVX.

And to really help you, tell us somethings. What's you budget? How involved in the filming process do you want to be? How fast is your computer? Do you have any previous camera experience?

I'm looking for something around $1,500, but will go a little more/less. My computer if quite fast, (Apple), and I have about 2 years of filming experience.

Canon T2I (Ill let 1337 chime in)

a little out of your prive range but AG-HMC150

well, you'll end up spending more than 1500 eventually. I'm about 2grand into my DSLR. It's not cheap, but when I got to upgrade my body to something else, everything else is compatible. Thats REALLY nice to have, lenses and stuff all last a really long time if treated right, so they can just crank out upgrades and I can only have to pay the difference (hopefully).

Try to answer all of these questions as thoroughly as possible:

1) First, do you think you might consider using a DSLR?

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

3) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS?
--3a) Do you know the downsides to HDSLRS?

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses?

5) What are you going to shoot? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)

7) How important do you think audio is?

8) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

9) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)

If you wanted to go the dslr route, 1500 might get you started on the body, some old primes and a tripod.

Thats not bad at all though. Ive got a 7d body, canon 17-40 f4L lens, and manfrotto tripod and with tax and warranty run me almost 4 grand. now i need to work more this summer before i can get some primes, telephoto, view finder, follow focus, mattebox, etc. even with just my camera, nice lens, and tripod, i can get really nice footage and can defiantly pump out some good edits. for $1500 you could get a great start up HDSLR kit.

I think you did something wrong there :\

1) If were talking about something like what a Nikon D90 could do, I have one.

2) I do have a tripod, and I have 2 len's for the D90 up to 200.

3) I have basic knowledge of the D90, but nothing very advanced.

3a) No

4) Im willing to do whatever it takes to become better.

5) My main purpose is skiing and mountain biking, but I would love to try other stuff.

6) I try to do all.

7) Audio would be 6/10

8) I would want other people to be able to film as well, but if its a camera that is to complex for people with no experience, than it is not an issue due to me having other cameras for them to film with.

9) I have Adobe Premier, and I would say just a 2 or 3.


Thanks for all the help man, I already had you at a 10/10. But thanks!

If it helps, here's the last edit I have.

instead o letting people seem to pick for you, what are your thoughts on the DSLR route? If you search around, there has been a ton of discussion about them in the last few months.

*instead of

What are to pro's of using one of these over a camcorder?

search around a bit.

They do better on lowlight and are capable of having a much more narrow depth of field. Plus you can always pick different lenses depending on what you want.

HDDSLRs give you an amazing depth of field, a much more portable and lightweight camera and you have a world of lenses to choose from

the cons list from rolling shutter to terrible audio to expensive setups.

Everything is atleast $200 more in Canada. One place quoted me $2600 for a 7d and kit lens. I just laughed and left.

buying stuff in store is the worst :\