What cameras are people using?

[mullaney]

How do you like it? Any downsides? Any features that make yours particularly cool? Would you buy the same camera again?

[Shannon Manning]

I know most of the people in Leche are using fancier things, but I just got a Canon Elura last summer. It was fairly cheap, and produces very good quality. (but consider the source: the last camera I used before this was a Hi-8 about a decade ago.)

I keep saying that I will borrow a better camera when I need to shoot something "important" but so far the convenience of using my own camera wins out. I have not noticed a very great difference in it and the stuff people have shot for me on the GL1. (?).

My point is...lighting, direction, and sound are far more important that having the best camera. But then I'm punk rock like that..content over gloss...fix it in post.

wait. that's not punk rock.

cnet.com has nice descriptions of all the different cameras, with average costs. That's how I picked the (relatively) cheap Elura.

[TerryJ]

I've been asked..."why'd you buy a Sony [TRV900...then later, VX-2000] instead of a Canon [XL-1 or GL-1]?"

And to be honest, I was orignially going to get a Canon GL-1...but the real reason was that...

Sony had a 12 month/no interest deal with their 'Sony Preferred Card' (they usually do around the holidays.) Makes it easy to buy a $2,000+ camera.

Generally, however, it seems that the quality/features between these top level cameras are essentially similar (although the XL-1 has some nice extras...) If Leche Magica was any indicator, good results can be gotten from any of the above cameras.

-Terry

[cheesebot]

I currently use-

Canon XL-1
love it, love it, have been using it for a couple of years, and the ability to change lenses makes it freakin' unreal
the wide angle lens cannot be beat
Canon GL-1
footage matches well with the XL-1 and I can be sneakier with it
Sony VX-2000
all purpose low profile camera...easy to shoot without being noticed
Sony PDR-150A
great for casual shooting, and I love the DVCAM format....it records at a slightly higher quality than miniDV...and it has a direct XLR input (I have one for the XL-1, but it is an add on)

All these cameras are fabulous....but the XL-1 is by far the best....It has more than just a "few nice features", and is so very adaptable, and expandable...with proper lighting it is capable of very filmlike images, and at times rivals digital betacam.

I make love to it every night, and it always calls the next day.....

Goldstein

[mullaney]

You have all of those, Goldstein? Sheesh.

[Lizardo]

I love my little Canon ZR10. Granted, it's no XL-1 or GL-1. But it's a great beginner cam for well under $1000. All the settings can be used either manually or on automatic mode. And with an adapter
ring you can play with different lenses and filters.

Works beautifully with my PowerBook G3, Final Cut Pro and iMovie. (Yes, I'm a devout Mac user.) But I'm sure it works well with any fire wire set up.

[Curjay]

I have a GL-1 and it does the job. I'm always surprised by the quality of image. And it was a steal. The only thing that sucks is the mic. i need a boom dammit....a BOOM!!!

Curtis

[Bernie]

I have a canon Elura as well. I have to say I haven't used it much, other than some street pranks. It isn't great in low light, but if you're lighting the shot I guess is should be fun. The nice part is that it's got tons of auto features. Easy to use, all that good stuff.

My roommate has an interesting point of view on the cannon XL-1 vs. the others. It's that the camera is sexy looking. It "looks" like a real camera. That said, your talent will respond better to it. They feel like they are "really on film." I have to say, I was using my little tiny elura on the street. Interviewing shoppers for a prank. It was hard getting people to look into the camera, they kept looking at my partner, even though I kept telling them to. I bet had I had that legitamit looking XL-1 on my shoulder they'd been looking the whole time.

[Bernie]

Shannon, did you shoot your Leche Magica piece with the Elura?

[Shannon Manning]

i shot that piece with the Elura. And 60W bulbs in clamp lamps. FANCY!

All those auto features can also be turned *off* which is nice if you wanna play with exposure and focus and such.

I had it on a tripod, so maybe that's why my talent took me seriously. :)

[Bernie]

Must Be.

[Dan Powell]

I have an XL-1 and it's great, mainly for its unbelievable sound (not only is the included microphone great but it allows for all sorts of inputs).

The picture quality is noticeably better in good light (particularly natural light), but in poor lighting or indoor situations it isn't much better than the GL-1.

The one complaint I have is that it is extraordinarily bulky. And I can't afford (or really need) a new lens, so I haven't made any use of its capability to swap lenses.

My two cents,
D

[mullaney]

Originally posted by TerryJ
Sony had a 12 month/no interest deal with their 'Sony Preferred Card' (they usually do around the holidays.) Makes it easy to buy a $2,000+ camera.

Terry, where did you get a preferred card? I looked at the Sony website. They said that you can apply for it at participating retaliers. They listed B&H as one, however, when I tried to apply for one there, I got a lot of dumb stares. Finally one person said, "We used to accept that, but we don't anymore."

Does anyone have any ideas where I could buy a Sony camera and get one of these preferred cards?

[TerryJ]

Kevin,

I bought the Sony VX-2000 through J&R Music World (using the Sony Preferred Card.) I'm trying to remember, but I'm certain that I applied for & got the Sony Preferred Card a few years back through The WIZ (when I was buying my enormous TV.) I bought the camera at J&R this past December, so I assume the card is still being issued/honored.

FYI...there is also a Sony Visa/Mastercard that is not the same as the Sony Preferred card. The Visa/Mastercard gets you bonus points or somesuch based on purchases using the card...but is not the same as the Preferred card, which gets you the special financing.

-Terry

[mullaney]

The Sony PD-150 isn't listed on their site. :( I'll call them tomorrow to see if they can get it for me.

[kinglou]

I bought my camera a year ago and I really dig it. It has a huge display and the video quality is great. My only wish would be that it were a tad smaller. It's large-ness make it rather difficult to tape w/o people noticing. The Microphone is okay but I'm considering buying an external for more serious stuff. But hey, you can't get a 3 CCD camera for cheaper. Or maybe now you can but at the time you couldn't. Either way I'm happy w/ my purchase.

Later
Lou

[SamRiegel]

I use the XL-1 and find it to be amazing. I also just picked up the Pinnacle Systems DV500+ video capture card & Premiere 6.0. Also very impressed with this gear, although I haven't quite mastered it yet.

I'll be shooting a short silent video this August and I'm looking for someone to shoot my "B" camera (a Sony VX-1000 on loan to me from a friend). Anyone know a good video shooter that wants to work for free :angel: on a two-day shoot?

One more thing -- anyone got a nice tripod I can borrow?

Am I asking too much?

(I still loathe Tereyn.)

[kprobbins]

I just bought this camera today. Couldn't afford much more, especially in Canadian $$$, but the Carl Zeiss lens and the ability to add simple wide angle 0.6x and telephoto 2.0x lenses is a plus. Also, I'll be looking into a gun mic, matte box and external boom. And like Shannon said, sound, lighting and content are the most important elements, especially if you just want to tell a good story.

Great thing is I'll be picking up a 4-year warranty on it in a month from the store, which includes replacements up to four years, at which time, the technology will be that much better, that is, if it needs to be replaced.

Also, it very small and I think it'll come in handy for those hidden camera sex scenes I'll be luring unsuspecting women into.

:up: