suggest for buy a camera.

[ZaKKoS]

http://www.fotoboom.com/imagenes/productos/ampliadas/AG-DVX100AE.jpgpanasonic ag dvx100AE

I'm not a digital video fan and i'm not saying that this camera is the best one (i've used the sony vx2000 and it was good...). is just what i'm buying...they all look pretty the same to me. As you can see this has a leica lens, the canonical 3ccd scheme, 24p, if i've understood well this is probably even beyond what you really need. The price is relatively high if you don't have money or relatively low if you use it for work (nearly 3000€+20% taxes, in italy).

[zoc]

some guys show me this
canon xl2 (http://www.canon.it/for_home/product_finder/camcorders/digital/xl2/index.asp)
it seems to be cool....
what do you think about HD?

[Raji]

my choice was between the DVX100B and the XL2. I chose the XL2 in the end because it had less video noise than the DVX, a better onboard mic (not too important since you want to replace the onboard mic with an external one eventually anyway) and was a shoulder mount.

HD is starting to get some software support, but not much, and the hardware still has some glitches they need to work out of them, not to mention that there is still no distribution medium to keep the quality at HD until DVDs get replaced with BluRay this year.

My best suggestion is to do what i did, which is what people suggested to do when i was choosing: Educate yourself as much as possible about all the cameras so you know what you want and don't want in a camera, then if you still can't choose, go to a local video shop and try out all the cameras there. It helps a LOT to be able to handle the camera and get a feel for it instead of just looking at the specs.

[dammarud]

The XL2 is a good choice. Sure HDTV is eventual, and a lot of hype right now, but there is no way to get it right now. HDV is not true HD.
I've been using an XL2 for a couple small projects, and like the XL1, there are lense adapters which aren't cheap, but allow you to use all CANON, even Minolta lenses. This is the real key to it, and by swapping lenses you control the images, and achieve a "film look", because the standard lense is just GOOD, nothing more, and not enough alone.
I started messing with video and film a long time ago, and have used every format i could get my hands on, and believe me, nothing lasts, every thing gets phased out or reduced to nostalgia. A lot of people like to prattle on about whats good/not good, ideal quality and tech specs, but really there is only the standardization specific to your final output that matters.

Anyways, my point is that things getter better and cheaper, and what you as a novice, or student, consumer, whatever you are , WHAT YOU CAN GET TODAY is better than anything Spielberg or Hitchcock or whoever had as there first rig, when they started...Even more so you can , edit, add music, and distribute via (internet)a movie using ONE SINGLE MACHINE. So use the tools and have fun and make great work!
VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

[zoc]

I'm near to make my choise... but now, the last question.
XL2 record miniDV, XL H1 record in mpeg1 and mpeg2...
If I have to make motion graphic, composing with 3d element, what format is better?
less compressed is better, isn't?
thanks!

[Ed Bittner]

XL2. Super clean for comps, greenscreen, etc. We've been using it for everything.

E.

[macsupremacist]

http://www.fotoboom.com/imagenes/productos/ampliadas/AG-DVX100AE.jpgpanasonic ag dvx100AE

I'm not a digital video fan and i'm not saying that this camera is the best one (i've used the sony vx2000 and it was good...). is just what i'm buying...they all look pretty the same to me. As you can see this has a leica lens, the canonical 3ccd scheme, 24p, if i've understood well this is probably even beyond what you really need. The price is relatively high if you don't have money or relatively low if you use it for work (nearly 3000€+20% taxes, in italy).

My dad just got this camera about a month ago and it is amazing. Outstanding colors and contrast.

[ZephyrStar]

I'd also recommend the XL2, I've been looking at getting one for a production I'm gearing up to work on...and one of the main reasons for me I didn't see listed above is that the audio circuitry in the XL2 is really very very nice. It almost completely reduces the need for an external dat recorder, unless you have a really complex situation. Most of the time, you can plug your boom right into the camera.

Good audio is a must for shooting movies, trust me, it makes a huge difference. You can shoot your film on a 500$ mini dv cam, and as long as you're careful with your lighting, you can dress the video up and filter it and color correct it, and it'll look pretty good. BUT, if you use the audio from that camera, your movie won't be nearly as impressive as if you get yourself a decent dat and decent mic and record the audio that way.

Just some words from painful experience :O Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Chris

[zoc]

thanks a lot people!
you're very gentle!
a think the XL2 is for me... even if I don't know how many time i'm gonna take to pay it all!! :)

[Auctane]

I went with a DVX100B as a backup to my 16mm camera, I hate the way video looks. The 24p mode with the DVX is what I like. I used an XL1 for a while a couple years ago, I didnt like the image it produces.

HD is a joke right now. Until people actually have HD TV's and DVD players, there is no point to it. When you can buy HD at Walmart, it will be time to make the change.

[visualboo]

IMO, there is no point in buying an SD camera anymore. With HDV as cheap as it is I would go that route. Not to mention you can get uncompressed SD from an HDV camera with ease.

Btw, I have a dvx100b at work and it's a nice camera. I own a few z1u's personally and feel they are a lot stronger of a camera in many ways. Personally I would only buy that panasonic if 24p was my highest concern. If it's not, look elsewhere.

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