What professional camcorder would you recommend?

Q. I make ski movie shorts but this year I am making my first full length film. I have a pretty expensive consumer camcorder but I was not satisfied with its performance this past season. I need something professional, cheap, durable, fairly light weight, and easy to operate. I know I will have to compromise on some of these things - but do you have any suggestions?

A. What is your budget?

What are you planning to edit with and on?

"Cheap" is a relative term and means different things to different people.

Why weren't you satisfied with what you are using? It is difficult to know what issues we are trying to resolve.

Professional grade - to me - means:
Lens diameter: 72mm or larger
Imaging chip size: 1/4" or larger
XLR audio connectors
Lots of easy to reach manual controls (audio, zoom, focus, aperture, white balance, etc.) on the outside of the camcorder - not buried in the menu.

Prosumers (all of the above, but 1/8" audio in jack, not XLR):
Standard definition: Canon GL2
High Definition: Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000

Pro grade (meets all the above requirements):
Standard definition: Panasonic AG-DVX100, Canon XL2
High Definition: Sony HVR-Z1U, HVR-Z5U, HVR-Z7U (then they jump to the more expensive XDCAM and HDCAM families), Canon XH and XLH series, Panasonic AG-HVX200, HVX205, JVC GY-HM series.

All are larger than consumer-grade cameras - but all have fully automatic or fully manual settings - and variations in between.

Original Question

Whats the difference from Prosumer and Consumer?

Q. From what i understand an HD camera has better quality than a non HD. But somehow a prosumer camera without HD quality is worth more than non HD consumer camera.
What makes the prosumer camera worth it?
For the purposes of making a professional DVD to sell that includes medical rehabilitation exercises what type of camera would be best? (for as cheap as possible)
These exercises are things like a doctor moving around someones head with their hands indoors, not like jumping around exercise.

A. Consumer camcorders have small lenses and small imaging chips. Mostly, they do not have an audio in jack (some do), and if they do have a mic in jack it is 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo only. Manual controls are difficult to get to - if they are available... and there is typically no manual audio control.

Prosumers start with manual audio control, have an audio in (stereo) 1/8" mic jack... Some even use XLR connectors for audio-in... and can have larger lenses and bigger imaging chips (allows for better low-light capture characteristics). Manual controls are easier to get to and use.

Pro grade have big lenses, big imaging chips, everything can be manual or auto (audio, zoom, exposure/iris, shutter, focus, etc) XLR audio connectors and 1/8" mic-in...

Typical high-end consumer: Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7, HDR-HC9

Typical prosumer standard definition: Canon GL2, Sony DCR-VX2100, Panasonic DVX100B

Typical prosumer or low-end pro high definition: Canon XHA1, Sony HDR-A1U, HDR-FX1, HDR-FX7,

Typical end pro-grade: Panasonic HVX200, Sony HVR-V1U, HVR-Z1U...

There are others, but this is a place to start.

For what you say you want to do, I would stay in the "Typical prosumer or low-end pro high definition" category. This is because theses camcorders can shoot in standard definition and high definition...

The camera is only part of the equation - tripod, crane, mics, lighting, makeup, wardrobe, editing, experience... there is lots more that goes into making pro-grade video... but the first step is to start with decent equipment.

Original Question

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What are good, moderately priced semi-professional camcorder?

Q. I'm a Journalism major and I'm currently in production of a documentary about religion practiced in my hometown for my school.

As I'm currently in college, I have very little money to spend. One pf my goals is to be an indie film/documentary director. As such, I would love to purchase a good camcorder.

What is a good camcorder of semi-professional/professional quality that I can purchase for a moderate price (at least as moderate as a camera will allow).

P.S., as a little side question, would kick-starter be a good way to raise money? For the project as well as the equipment?

A. My definition of a "professional camcorder":

Lens filter diameter = 70mm or larger
Imaging chip is 3CCD (3CMOS is acceptable but not preferred) that is 1/3" or larger.
Audio inputs are XLR connectors. If the camcorder has a single 1/8" (3.5mm) sretro audio input, then it drops to "prosumer".

The Canon XHA1 meets all these requirements of "pro grade". The Sony HDR-FX1000 meets all the requirements for "prosumer" and an XLR (juicedLink or BeachTek) adapter can be used for XLR mics. The Sony HVR-Z5 and Panasonic AG-HVX200 round out the list of entry-level pro-grade cams that meet or exceed the stated requirements. I think the Panny is the only one that comes with a shotgun mic for camera mounting but all the others can mount a shotgun mic. Since I prefer Sennheiser or Audio Technica shotgun mics, it does not really matter.

The next step up has the Canon XF and XLH lines; Sony HVR-Z7, HDCAM/XDCAM lines and the JVC GY-HM series.

All are "digital" including those using miniDV tape. Remember, the "DV" in miniDV = digital video.

If your definition of "semi-professional/professional camcorder" is different, please let us know what that is so appropriate suggestions can be provided to you.

When you research these, you will find pricing from around $3,000 up to $60,000. "Moderate price" is relative. Remember that the camcorder is a small piece of a larger system. You will also need a good, sturdy tripod and other steadying devices, video lights, optional batteries from the manufacturer, cables, cases, mics (there is no single "best" mic), video editing application, possible computer upgrades to be able to edit the video you capture...

Kick starter? We don't know where you are. Perhaps there are small businesses in your area willing to pay few $ for video production for posting to the web or there is a local wedding/event videographer willing to take you on as an intern or parents willing to pay for video capture of their children's sports activities or stage performances.With little/no experience with video capture, selling video services, editing and delivering a final product to your customer, this could be an interesting learning experience for you.

Original Question

What professional camcorder would you recommend?

Q. I make ski movie shorts but this year I am making my first full length film. I have a pretty expensive consumer camcorder but I was not satisfied with its performance this past season. I need something professional, cheap, durable, fairly light weight, and easy to operate. I know I will have to compromise on some of these things - but do you have any suggestions?

A. What is your budget?

What are you planning to edit with and on?

"Cheap" is a relative term and means different things to different people.

Why weren't you satisfied with what you are using? It is difficult to know what issues we are trying to resolve.

Professional grade - to me - means:
Lens diameter: 72mm or larger
Imaging chip size: 1/4" or larger
XLR audio connectors
Lots of easy to reach manual controls (audio, zoom, focus, aperture, white balance, etc.) on the outside of the camcorder - not buried in the menu.

Prosumers (all of the above, but 1/8" audio in jack, not XLR):
Standard definition: Canon GL2
High Definition: Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000

Pro grade (meets all the above requirements):
Standard definition: Panasonic AG-DVX100, Canon XL2
High Definition: Sony HVR-Z1U, HVR-Z5U, HVR-Z7U (then they jump to the more expensive XDCAM and HDCAM families), Canon XH and XLH series, Panasonic AG-HVX200, HVX205, JVC GY-HM series.

All are larger than consumer-grade cameras - but all have fully automatic or fully manual settings - and variations in between.

Original Question

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What professional camcorder would you recommend?

Q. I make ski movie shorts but this year I am making my first full length film. I have a pretty expensive consumer camcorder but I was not satisfied with its performance this past season. I need something professional, cheap, durable, fairly light weight, and easy to operate. I know I will have to compromise on some of these things - but do you have any suggestions?

A. What is your budget?

What are you planning to edit with and on?

"Cheap" is a relative term and means different things to different people.

Why weren't you satisfied with what you are using? It is difficult to know what issues we are trying to resolve.

Professional grade - to me - means:
Lens diameter: 72mm or larger
Imaging chip size: 1/4" or larger
XLR audio connectors
Lots of easy to reach manual controls (audio, zoom, focus, aperture, white balance, etc.) on the outside of the camcorder - not buried in the menu.

Prosumers (all of the above, but 1/8" audio in jack, not XLR):
Standard definition: Canon GL2
High Definition: Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000

Pro grade (meets all the above requirements):
Standard definition: Panasonic AG-DVX100, Canon XL2
High Definition: Sony HVR-Z1U, HVR-Z5U, HVR-Z7U (then they jump to the more expensive XDCAM and HDCAM families), Canon XH and XLH series, Panasonic AG-HVX200, HVX205, JVC GY-HM series.

All are larger than consumer-grade cameras - but all have fully automatic or fully manual settings - and variations in between.

Original Question

Whats the difference from Prosumer and Consumer?

Q. From what i understand an HD camera has better quality than a non HD. But somehow a prosumer camera without HD quality is worth more than non HD consumer camera.
What makes the prosumer camera worth it?
For the purposes of making a professional DVD to sell that includes medical rehabilitation exercises what type of camera would be best? (for as cheap as possible)
These exercises are things like a doctor moving around someones head with their hands indoors, not like jumping around exercise.

A. Consumer camcorders have small lenses and small imaging chips. Mostly, they do not have an audio in jack (some do), and if they do have a mic in jack it is 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo only. Manual controls are difficult to get to - if they are available... and there is typically no manual audio control.

Prosumers start with manual audio control, have an audio in (stereo) 1/8" mic jack... Some even use XLR connectors for audio-in... and can have larger lenses and bigger imaging chips (allows for better low-light capture characteristics). Manual controls are easier to get to and use.

Pro grade have big lenses, big imaging chips, everything can be manual or auto (audio, zoom, exposure/iris, shutter, focus, etc) XLR audio connectors and 1/8" mic-in...

Typical high-end consumer: Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7, HDR-HC9

Typical prosumer standard definition: Canon GL2, Sony DCR-VX2100, Panasonic DVX100B

Typical prosumer or low-end pro high definition: Canon XHA1, Sony HDR-A1U, HDR-FX1, HDR-FX7,

Typical end pro-grade: Panasonic HVX200, Sony HVR-V1U, HVR-Z1U...

There are others, but this is a place to start.

For what you say you want to do, I would stay in the "Typical prosumer or low-end pro high definition" category. This is because theses camcorders can shoot in standard definition and high definition...

The camera is only part of the equation - tripod, crane, mics, lighting, makeup, wardrobe, editing, experience... there is lots more that goes into making pro-grade video... but the first step is to start with decent equipment.

Original Question

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