New Camera

**mamaluke** · 09-08-2004, 06:19 PM

I love doing this and now im taking a course in highschool called Film Study which makes my senior year happy. Anyways i turn 18 friday and my parents want to buy me something so im thinking about maybe a video camera finally so i dont have to use my friends all the time. My question is whats a good video camera at a resonable price for a beginner?

**mamaluke** · 09-08-2004, 06:24 PM

Sorry for putting up another post but I was also wondering if using DVC 80 A/V inputs to transfer video to your computer instead of the FireWire thing makes it alot less quality or messes up the sound alot? because thats what I've been using.

**Alan Mills** · 09-08-2004, 08:28 PM

It's a lot less quality. Always use firewire fro transfer - full stop.

**p4ocer** · 09-09-2004, 06:34 PM

What do you consider a reasonable price?

**Alan Mills** · 09-10-2004, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by p4ocer

What do you consider a reasonable price?

It all depends on what you want. No indication in this thread on which type of camera is to be chosen.

I'm a newbie. I bought a Sony TRV33E earlier this year as my first digital camcorder. I have no problems with it. It does all I need of it right now.

If I get more serious at some time in the future then some kind of multi ccd Prosumer model will be the order of the day. Those aren't necessary to get you started though.

My best advice at this stage would be to decide what features you really need. I would include MiniDV and DV-OUT to be compulsory features tbh. For me I wanted widescreen, hence the model I chose.

Forget all the fades and effects that the camera may be able to perform. Quite simply, if you use them you're doing it wrong. These 'effects' are done better in post production (editing) on your PC (or whatever).

Basically, you can get a good Mini-DV camcorder for under £500 (UKP) but budget closer to £2K for a prosumer model.