So i was just wondering what you guys shoot on..... Im look i buy a new camera to blog with and take on shoots. People have told me to buy a cannon or Panasonic gh2 I was looking at a JVC GC-PX18EU and would love some feed back on what people thought about it but alas i leave myself in your hands Rooster teeth
I'd recommend a Panasonic GH2 or a Canon t3i. both are under $1,000 with accessories. both full 1080p at 24fps. theses camera's will both be useful if you want to pursue videography and production a little bit more. if not, and you just want something to blog with, you can use pretty much anything.
I'm sure the new iPod Touch will have the 1080p camera and it already has a front facing camera. Something like that would be the best for simple blogging. Plus their extremely easy to use and you can upload the videos directly to YouTube when you're done.
My friend has access to two Sony HVR-A1u camera from his work. However, only bad thing about them is they suck in Low light.
You may also want to look at checking on a DSLR camera as most of them record 1080i video as well. Some can even run up as high as 60 fps, but I wouldn't know the prices.
That JVC you list, seems like a decent camera, and if it's the one you want to use, then use it. Just don't think, "Ok, now that I have this top camera, I can now make movies". Casey Neistat, a NYC short film maker said this once at a film festival workshop that I attended. He said to worry more on shooting and making sure the story is good than focusing on the camera. A lot of times, he will use the $150 Nikon type camera that you can get at walmart because if they get damaged, he's not out a ton of money. Usually, he uses these type when doing something dangerous or putting the camera in a position where it might take damage (bike handlebars, helmet cams, etc)
Like HunkyDory said, the iphone is a great camera, and some film festivals even have an iphone division for people to film on iphone only.
which is why i said it's more for videography and production video. having a 1.6 crop sensor like the ones in those DLSRs gives you depth which is a more professional look. also 30FPS looks worse than 24FPS. i higher number doesn't mean better. watch some examples and you'll see.
fps has nothing to do with quality, it's the speed at which the film is recorded, 60 fps is better for action t hat you want to com across as having a little of a slow motion feel, as it's recording tice as many frames as a camera running at 30 fps. The best example of this is for the fans of the previous season of Doctor Who, in the episode "The Girl Who Waited", in which when the "future" Amy is fighting the hand robots near the end, it's shot at 60 fps, which gives it a slowed down type of effect.
The only bad thing about DSLR camera is that you need to have someone who is really good keeping tabs on the focus of the shot, unless the camera is one of the newer auto focus models. My friend and I have had to re shoot some scenes because the DP didn't watch the focus when we shot, and when we watched the playback on the computer, we could see stuff was out of focus.
I never said FPS had anything to do with quality. it's an esthetic that is preferable for film. 24fps was what 35mm film was usually recorded at and originally video was only 30fps so shooting at 24fps is just an effort to get footage to look like film. 60fps footage is often played back at 24fps which makes it 40% the speed. i don't think any DSLRs today have auto focus during recording, but since it sounds like any shots c040242 is planning on doing of himself would be static tripod shots, there should be no need to change the focus point. for an operated shot though, and external monitor is the best way to watch the focus, since you can get a higher resolution, or having an AC who knows how to pull focus properly.
Also, make sure there is front fill light to hit the faces. Don't use a flood light without a diffuser for it, or you get some really nasty looks, and "yellow" looking skin. Without a front fill light, the lights from above don't accent the facial features.
Also, you may want to look at getting some good audio equipment, as sometimes the build in mics suck ass. Wireless lapel mics are ok, and if you find a way to put a good quality shotgun mic, or a good voval or condenser mic on a stand so it can pick up audio is great too. Be sure to make certain anything that makes sound is off, or it will be recorded. Worst offenders are HVAC air conditioner systems and being in a location next to a busy street, as the audio from passing road traffic might be picked up.
i was looking at the 7D.....might be my next camera ;) if anyone has 2k just sitting around though buy the new "black magic" cam.....stores footage raw :P
if you want to go more prosumer and and actually learn some cinematography, it may be worth taking a look at the used market in your community. but again, good lighting is more important than the camera for shorts.
