Q. I want to make some films and documentaries also with effects and such, greenscreen, and all that other stuff.
I think I already know what computer and video editing software I am going to get namely i7 processor and Adobe.
I don't know hardly anything about professional camcorders. I have a amateur consumer SD harddrive Sony camcorder right now. I am looking into getting a professional HD cam. I am not sure what the differences are between the consumer and the pro? I don't know what features I would need and wouldn't want to be sorry after buying? Or what is the best cam or for the best price? Can you help me out just telling me about these cams and what is important to know and which is best and all the detailed insightful information I can get would be VERY helpful THANKS!
I think I already know what computer and video editing software I am going to get namely i7 processor and Adobe.
I don't know hardly anything about professional camcorders. I have a amateur consumer SD harddrive Sony camcorder right now. I am looking into getting a professional HD cam. I am not sure what the differences are between the consumer and the pro? I don't know what features I would need and wouldn't want to be sorry after buying? Or what is the best cam or for the best price? Can you help me out just telling me about these cams and what is important to know and which is best and all the detailed insightful information I can get would be VERY helpful THANKS!
A. The typical differences:
Consumer: lacks manual controls for zoom, audio, focus, aperture, white balance, etc, on the outside of the camcorder. The manual capability may be available, but accessed via the menu/options system. If there is a focus/zoom ring, it is a single shared ring that can do one or the other - not both - most have no ring and use a rocker switch.
Prosumer/Pro: Manual controls for zoom, audio, focus, aperture, white balance, etc, on the outside of the camcorder. Some settings access through menu - but htey are not commonly used items or things that need adjusting in the middle of a scene or shoot. Focus, zoom and aperture are separate ring/controls.
Consumer: In the hard disc drive (HDD) and flash memory environment, save to very highly compressed MPEG2 standard definition video or in the case of high definition, very highly compressed AVCHD/MTS files. MiniDV tape based consumer camcorders same to the same high quality DV/HDV formats as their prosumer/pro-siblings. DVD based consumer camcorders use highest compressed VOB (standard definition) or AVCHD (high definition) format.
Prosumer/Pro: Typically, there are no internal hard disc drive prosumer or pro camcorders. If a HDD is used, it is external and connected using a firewire cable to the DV port of the miniDV tape based camcorder. These external HDDs record to DV/HDV. There are a couple of flash memory camcorders. Panasonic makes a couple that are (in my opinion) categorized incorrectly as they use AVCHD compression. The rest of the Panasonics that use flash (like the AG-HVX200) write DV/HDV or DVCPRO/HD to P2 cards. The Sony HVR-Z7 uses compact flash cards (not memory sticks!) to write DV/HDV or DV/XD/HDCAM files.
Consumer: Small lenses and small imaging chips get grainy under poor lighting conditions.
Prosumer/pro: Large lenses and imaging chips handle low light environments much better.
Consumer: 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack - if there is one - most don't have them.
Prosumer: 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack - all have them. A couple on the "edge" have XLR audio connectors.
Pro: ALL have XLR audio connectors. Some may have a 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack for low-end wireless lav connectivity.
DV/HDV/DCVPRO/XD-HDCAM tape based camcorders require the editing computer to have a firewire port for importing DV/HDV. USB will not work. USB-to-firewire adapter/cable/converter/hub things won't work.
Higher-end pro grade gear uses SMTPE timecode for audio sync and other imprtant timing items. Generally, anything above prosumer does not take any stills. They have LANC for wire remote (so when you put the camera on a crane you can control zoom and focus remotely from behind the camera). Some have built-in Neutral Density filters to cover specific lighting conditions.
This is a start - there's lots more.
Start with a budget (starting at around $2,500). See what fits...
LOW end prosumer/pro DV/HDV cams are in the Sony HDR-FX1000 arena. The usual supects in the same field include the Sony HVR Z1, Z5, Z7... Panasonic AG-HVX200, Canon XH and XLH series and the JVC GY series. If you stay in the standard def area, then the Panasonic AG-DVX100 and Canon GL2 and XL2... and the Sony DSRPD170.
You will also want mics (I use a shotgun, wireless lavs and a stereo consenser mic); a good sturdy tripod (Bogen-Mafrotto and Libec are good starting points) and cases (I like Pelican)... and cables, etc... You can easily spend more on the accessories than the camera itself.
Then there is the editing environment... Is your computer up to the task? HDV is pretty resource intense... LOTS of CPU cycles, LOTS of RAM and LOTS of available external hard drive space.
Consumer: lacks manual controls for zoom, audio, focus, aperture, white balance, etc, on the outside of the camcorder. The manual capability may be available, but accessed via the menu/options system. If there is a focus/zoom ring, it is a single shared ring that can do one or the other - not both - most have no ring and use a rocker switch.
Prosumer/Pro: Manual controls for zoom, audio, focus, aperture, white balance, etc, on the outside of the camcorder. Some settings access through menu - but htey are not commonly used items or things that need adjusting in the middle of a scene or shoot. Focus, zoom and aperture are separate ring/controls.
Consumer: In the hard disc drive (HDD) and flash memory environment, save to very highly compressed MPEG2 standard definition video or in the case of high definition, very highly compressed AVCHD/MTS files. MiniDV tape based consumer camcorders same to the same high quality DV/HDV formats as their prosumer/pro-siblings. DVD based consumer camcorders use highest compressed VOB (standard definition) or AVCHD (high definition) format.
Prosumer/Pro: Typically, there are no internal hard disc drive prosumer or pro camcorders. If a HDD is used, it is external and connected using a firewire cable to the DV port of the miniDV tape based camcorder. These external HDDs record to DV/HDV. There are a couple of flash memory camcorders. Panasonic makes a couple that are (in my opinion) categorized incorrectly as they use AVCHD compression. The rest of the Panasonics that use flash (like the AG-HVX200) write DV/HDV or DVCPRO/HD to P2 cards. The Sony HVR-Z7 uses compact flash cards (not memory sticks!) to write DV/HDV or DV/XD/HDCAM files.
Consumer: Small lenses and small imaging chips get grainy under poor lighting conditions.
Prosumer/pro: Large lenses and imaging chips handle low light environments much better.
Consumer: 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack - if there is one - most don't have them.
Prosumer: 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack - all have them. A couple on the "edge" have XLR audio connectors.
Pro: ALL have XLR audio connectors. Some may have a 1/8" (3.5mm) audio-in jack for low-end wireless lav connectivity.
DV/HDV/DCVPRO/XD-HDCAM tape based camcorders require the editing computer to have a firewire port for importing DV/HDV. USB will not work. USB-to-firewire adapter/cable/converter/hub things won't work.
Higher-end pro grade gear uses SMTPE timecode for audio sync and other imprtant timing items. Generally, anything above prosumer does not take any stills. They have LANC for wire remote (so when you put the camera on a crane you can control zoom and focus remotely from behind the camera). Some have built-in Neutral Density filters to cover specific lighting conditions.
This is a start - there's lots more.
Start with a budget (starting at around $2,500). See what fits...
LOW end prosumer/pro DV/HDV cams are in the Sony HDR-FX1000 arena. The usual supects in the same field include the Sony HVR Z1, Z5, Z7... Panasonic AG-HVX200, Canon XH and XLH series and the JVC GY series. If you stay in the standard def area, then the Panasonic AG-DVX100 and Canon GL2 and XL2... and the Sony DSRPD170.
You will also want mics (I use a shotgun, wireless lavs and a stereo consenser mic); a good sturdy tripod (Bogen-Mafrotto and Libec are good starting points) and cases (I like Pelican)... and cables, etc... You can easily spend more on the accessories than the camera itself.
Then there is the editing environment... Is your computer up to the task? HDV is pretty resource intense... LOTS of CPU cycles, LOTS of RAM and LOTS of available external hard drive space.
Recomendations for Webcam with Zoom capabilities?
Q. I'd like some recomendations for a webcam that has a good zoom lens on it. I'd also like a motion detection feature as well but that is secondary.
A. 99.9 percent of webcams are digital zoom. Fair warning that a webcam's zoom is not true zoom because the image is simply resized.
Most people that want emphasis on zoom use a camcorder with a USB interface, unless it 's for surveillance, then expect to simply move into a surveillance model - moreso because USB has a maximum bandwidth cable range of 15metres.
Surveillance in a webcam is usually program generated. There are quite a few freeware kits and company kits from Logitech and Creative that support the cameras they sell along with a range of webcams with some of the zoom and tracking capability you're looking for.
Hope this helps...
Most people that want emphasis on zoom use a camcorder with a USB interface, unless it 's for surveillance, then expect to simply move into a surveillance model - moreso because USB has a maximum bandwidth cable range of 15metres.
Surveillance in a webcam is usually program generated. There are quite a few freeware kits and company kits from Logitech and Creative that support the cameras they sell along with a range of webcams with some of the zoom and tracking capability you're looking for.
Hope this helps...
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