What CamCorder Do you all use.

A forum to share ideas and opinions on the equipment and technical aspects of film, video and AV making.
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Ian Gardner

What CamCorder Do you all use.

Post by Ian Gardner »

Dear all,
I`m trying to get lots of threads going! But................

What Camcorders do you use?

I used to have the Panasonic M10B (Full size VHS). This worked for 12 years
of me doing weddings etc. I then joined my video club and found out that
analogue video edditing and captureing is very time consuming with a few
minutes taking up a few GIG of memory! So my wife very kindly bought me the
Canon MV630i. It`s mini DV with Firewire and USB in and out. I know this
is basic but it is a good camera. My only critism is that the low light is
a bit grainy. It`s only 1CCD.


What is your dream one that you could buy?

I wanted the Sony FX1 and dreamed about it. A friend in the video club has
just bought 2 of these for his weddings etc that he does. I helped him one
evening. I turned up. He said `Heres the camera`. Do your best. I did. Excellent
he used all my footage and non of his own! This is an excellent camera. It`s
lanc conector works good. It has Proper Widescreen with a proper Widescreen
viewfinder and monitor. It is also High definition HD!!!! Supurb and it uses
Mini DV tapes. It also records in standard DV.

No tell me that all of you work for the BBC and your allowed to borrow (take
home) their cameras at the weekend!

See you all,

Ian Gardner
Ned C

Re: What CamCorder Do you all use.

Post by Ned C »

Hi Ian,

Welcome to the forum. It's good to have a top quality camera but in truth
its the person behind the camera and operating the NLE that matters. At our
convention we had a presentation of material shot on a 1 ccd Canon and edited
on iMovie that was absolutely stunning in both quality and content. Visit
our website www.ampsvideo.com although we are in the USA we welcome entries
from around the world.

Good filming


Ned C


"Ian Gardner" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
Dear all,
I`m trying to get lots of threads going! But................

What Camcorders do you use?

I used to have the Panasonic M10B (Full size VHS). This worked for 12 years
of me doing weddings etc. I then joined my video club and found out that
analogue video edditing and captureing is very time consuming with a few
minutes taking up a few GIG of memory! So my wife very kindly bought me
the
Canon MV630i. It`s mini DV with Firewire and USB in and out. I know this
is basic but it is a good camera. My only critism is that the low light
is
a bit grainy. It`s only 1CCD.


What is your dream one that you could buy?

I wanted the Sony FX1 and dreamed about it. A friend in the video club has
just bought 2 of these for his weddings etc that he does. I helped him one
evening. I turned up. He said `Heres the camera`. Do your best. I did. Excellent
he used all my footage and non of his own! This is an excellent camera.
It`s
lanc conector works good. It has Proper Widescreen with a proper Widescreen
viewfinder and monitor. It is also High definition HD!!!! Supurb and it
uses
Mini DV tapes. It also records in standard DV.

No tell me that all of you work for the BBC and your allowed to borrow (take
home) their cameras at the weekend!

See you all,

Ian Gardner

Michael Slowe

Re: What CamCorder Do you all use.

Post by Michael Slowe »

"Ian Gardner" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
Dear all,
I`m trying to get lots of threads going! But................

What Camcorders do you use?

I used to have the Panasonic M10B (Full size VHS). This worked for 12 years
of me doing weddings etc. I then joined my video club and found out that
analogue video edditing and captureing is very time consuming with a few
minutes taking up a few GIG of memory! So my wife very kindly bought me
the
Canon MV630i. It`s mini DV with Firewire and USB in and out. I know this
is basic but it is a good camera. My only critism is that the low light
is
a bit grainy. It`s only 1CCD.


What is your dream one that you could buy?

I wanted the Sony FX1 and dreamed about it. A friend in the video club has
just bought 2 of these for his weddings etc that he does. I helped him one
evening. I turned up. He said `Heres the camera`. Do your best. I did. Excellent
he used all my footage and non of his own! This is an excellent camera.
It`s
lanc conector works good. It has Proper Widescreen with a proper Widescreen
viewfinder and monitor. It is also High definition HD!!!! Supurb and it
uses
Mini DV tapes. It also records in standard DV.

No tell me that all of you work for the BBC and your allowed to borrow (take
home) their cameras at the weekend!

See you all,

Ian Gardner


This seems to be 'advice for Ian Gardner day' ! Ian, as has been said many
times, it's the man not the camera that matters. Having said that the quality
of the image up on the screen does enhance your production no end and this
makes a great initial impression on your audience - it is then up to you
to retain their interest.

I used to use a big Sony DVCAM which was a semi pro camera and gave great
service but as I then wanted a lighter, more mobile camera, I got the new
Sony Z1 this is the semi pro version of the one that you were lucky enough
to try out. As things stand this is probably the state of the art camera
for amateurs (and increasingly for professionals - but I have my doubts there)
but beware that editing this new HDV format can provide real problems unless
you really understand how video works and what tools there are available
to overcome the problems. If you were to get this camera you could shoot
in HDV but use the built in down convert to normal DV for post production.
There are many issues to consider about a camera, not least the ability to
be able to place any of the controls on manual instantly when you need to.
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