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hi_vis360
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Looking for a Beginner Camera.

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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future?

My budget right now is about $350, and I could spend more in the future, maybe a year after purchase depending on the item.

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own?

I am  novice, maybe not even that. I'm a beginner. I have a point/shoot camera, and I've been using it for things that it is not suited for, and I feel like it's time to upgrade. I have used a camera before, but know that I have virtually zero skill.

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

Tripod, gorillapod, will most likely be investing in a mic, but maybe not. I will also be getting a cam caddie for filming.

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? 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)

I will be using it for action sports film and photography, and stills/walkaround. I will make ski/longboard edits and I will set up a tripod and get some nice stills too. This will also be my everyday/walkaround camera.

5) 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?

I will probably not be doing all the filming, but it hardly matters since I'm a newb.

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)

I'm not entirely sure. What I plan on doing is tripod shots and some follow cams. hiking is pretty much reserved for longboarding since I'm alone a lot, but that will be minimal.

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great.

Macbook laptop. Don't know the deets though.

7) 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)

Imovie - 8
Photoshop CS6 - 8
Dec 3 2012 6:42PM
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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
I've been looking at the Nikon P510 and Fujifilm HS30EXR
Dec 3 2012 6:43PM
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
I would definitely advise against those. I'd say your best bet would be a dedicated video camcorder, and then getting a point and shoot/compact for stills. Not sure which exact camcorder would be best, but maybe one of the panasonics with 1080p 60fps.
For point and shoots, maybe look at a panasonic (just because this camera looks good, im not just saying this because I like panasonic) lx5, or a nikon p300 or canon s95/s100. A camcorder is going to be MUCH better for videos.
Have you ever used a gopro? You might be able to just use one of those until you feel the need to invest in a more expensive camcorder or dslr (possibly in the future, but they're only worth it if you invest ~$1500 into it, so a $500 dslr with kit lens is going to be shit compared to a camcroder of that price range.
Dec 3 2012 7:03PM
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
sry double post, but here is a good looking $400 camcorder http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HCV700K-Angle-Camcorder-Black/dp/B0072B5E7E/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354579406&sr=8-1-spell
It does 1080p 60fps, and seems to have good reviews. There might be much better out there in terms of image quality, I haven't done much research/know much about the different options.
Dec 3 2012 7:06PM
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Realist
Posts: 90 - Karma: 91
I'm liking this idea, and see your logic behind it. However, I don't have the money for 2 cameras, and the camcorder is a little out of my price range already. My idea was that I could have a camera to film on the hill with, with 1080p quality video, but also be able to switch the mode and get some stills easily without the hassle of getting the other camera out. But my main concern is money.
Dec 3 2012 9:06PM
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
Well the video out of a point and shoot would be utter crap, even from the best of point and shoots. Even a crappy camcorder would be better than that. If I were you I'd invest in a decent camorder and then invest in a stills camera later, or use your point and shoot. Hell, even an iphone can work as a decent stills camera, for the average person.
Dec 3 2012 9:11PM
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