Looking for a HD Video Camera. [Bought!]

[KarthXLR]

Ok, so most of you already know that I'm heading for film-school this fall. Big deal. I've kind of wanted to start practicing with a couple of ideas I've had dancing around in my head, but my (dad's) current camcorder is garbage. It still uses tape, has awful battery life, poor focusing, poor sound quality, and only outputs video in 4:3.

My budget would probably end up being $500-700. Here's what I want out of it:  Update: I got a large amount of money recently and has bumped my budget up to $2500-3500, here are some features I'd like to see in the camera. I'm planning on using this on non-school related projects.

• High-Definition output (720p or higher, 1080i would be nice but unnecessary)
  
• Non-tape storage. I know I can't take as much, but I'd love not to have to hassle with firewire.
  
• Lot's of manual options along with automatic alternatives (such as manual and auto focus, video format, etc.)
  
• Large-ish internal memory. Maybe 30 gigs? I don't know how much they normally come with.
  
• Good battery life. At least an hour or longer. It'd be nice if it came with more than one.
  
• It'd be nice if it came bundled with some software, but that's debateable.
  
• Some extra lenses would be nice, and a manual f-stop wouldn't hurt.
  

If you see anything not on that list that I should be looking into, or see anything that you disagree with, please let me know. I'm open to suggestions.  

Update: I've been hearing really good things about the Canon 5D and 7D, but I'm unsure about the video quality of both of them. I've looked up videos that have shown off fairly impressive imagery, but I'm unsure that I want a camera with video or a straight-up video camera (full with boom mic and everything). Anyone have any experience or recommendations with the camera?

[Mission Difficult]

Ok, so most of you already know that I'm heading for film-school this fall. Big deal. I've kind of wanted to start practicing with a couple of ideas I've had dancing around in my head, but my (dad's) current camcorder is garbage. It still uses tape, has awful battery life, poor focusing, poor sound quality, and only outputs video in 4:3.

My budget would probably end up being $500-700. Here's what I want out of it:

• High-Definition output (720p or higher, 1080i would be nice but unnecessary)
  
• Non-tape storage. I know I can't take as much, but I'd love not to have to hassle with firewire.
  
• Lot's of manual options along with automatic alternatives (such as manual and auto focus, video format, etc.)
  
• Large-ish internal memory. Maybe 30 gigs? I don't know how much they normally come with.
  
• Good battery life. At least an hour or longer. It'd be nice if it came with more than one.
  
• It'd be nice if it came bundled with some software, but that's debateable.
  

If you see anything not on that list that I should be looking into, or see anything that you disagree with, please let me know. I'm open to suggestions. 

Would you be interested in anything second hand? I know a lot of people that work in production and rental houses out here, they MIGHT have something for you. Do you care about framerates (if you say that you want to do 24p I'm going to fly out there and kick you in balls.)

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg209974#msg209974 date=1307859575]
Ok, so most of you already know that I'm heading for film-school this fall. Big deal. I've kind of wanted to start practicing with a couple of ideas I've had dancing around in my head, but my (dad's) current camcorder is garbage. It still uses tape, has awful battery life, poor focusing, poor sound quality, and only outputs video in 4:3.

My budget would probably end up being $500-700. Here's what I want out of it:

• High-Definition output (720p or higher, 1080i would be nice but unnecessary)
  
• Non-tape storage. I know I can't take as much, but I'd love not to have to hassle with firewire.
  
• Lot's of manual options along with automatic alternatives (such as manual and auto focus, video format, etc.)
  
• Large-ish internal memory. Maybe 30 gigs? I don't know how much they normally come with.
  
• Good battery life. At least an hour or longer. It'd be nice if it came with more than one.
  
• It'd be nice if it came bundled with some software, but that's debateable.
  

If you see anything not on that list that I should be looking into, or see anything that you disagree with, please let me know. I'm open to suggestions. 

Would you be interested in anything second hand? I know a lot of people that work in production and rental houses out here, they MIGHT have something for you. Do you care about framerates (if you say that you want to do 24p I'm going to fly out there and kick you in balls.)
[/quote]
Yes I do. I know 24 frames a second is traditional film format, but I don't want to be limited to that. 29 and whatnot would be nice.

[HeK]

Depending on how you wish to use it, you might want to look at a D-SLR with video recording. However you'd be looking slightly out of your price range for new, $800-900. Used will be affordable.
While most can record at 1080p in either 24 or 30fps, and offer very good DoF and focus control, they are limited to 10-15 minutes of recording per clip. 5-6MB per second, 30 min of video on a 4gb SD, 2 hours on a 16gb.

Quality is getting into the $10k range with $1k of equipment.

[KarthXLR]

Bumping this thread. I got a large amount of money recently and has bumped my budget up to $2500-3500. I've been hearing really good things about the Canon 5D and 7D, but I'm unsure about the video quality of both of them. I've looked up videos that have shown off fairly impressive imagery, but I'm unsure that I want a camera with video or a straight-up video camera (full with boom mic and everything). Anyone have any experience or recommendations with the camera?

[Didzo]

Borrow Azure's Big Red.

[KarthXLR]

Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.

[Mission Difficult]

What NLE are you going to be working with? Pretty sure there are some camcorders in your price range out there that wrap in MXF if you're going with Avid. You might try cruising Beards and Hats to see what's around. They also have a used section if you're into that. Also, mics that come with cameras tend to be garbage unless you're just using it for production audio. Not to mention the clamps on most cameras won't hold real shotgun mics.

[KarthXLR]

What NLE are you going to be working with? Pretty sure there are some camcorders in your price range out there that wrap in MXF if you're going with Avid. You might try cruising Beards and Hats to see what's around. They also have a used section if you're into that. Also, mics that come with cameras tend to be garbage unless you're just using it for production audio. Not to mention the clamps on most cameras won't hold real shotgun mics.

I'm not sure what I'm going to be working with. I don't have a mac (and don't intend on buying one anytime soon) so final cut is out the window. I was on board with avid, but it turns out I can't purchase with the discount unless I'm required to own a copy for a class. I may stick with Vegas for home stuff and upgrade to AVID once I'm able to purchase it. Also, I'm planning on trying out anything before I buy.

[at0m]

All hipster film students should own a Flip HD. Lack of manual focus is ironic, and it fulfills the rest of your requirements.

[KarthXLR]

All hipster film students should own a Flip HD. Lack of manual focus is ironic, and it fulfills the rest of your requirements.

Thanks at0m. Any other suggestions?

[Azure_Angel]

[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238440#msg238440 date=1328252245]
[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).
[/quote]
Thanks! I think I've settled on something like that. Just hard to believe that such a powerful camera is so small.

[Azure_Angel]

[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238593#msg238593 date=1328496742]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238440#msg238440 date=1328252245]
[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).
[/quote]
Thanks! I think I've settled on something like that. Just hard to believe that such a powerful camera is so small.
[/quote]

You're very welcome. Which one did you settle on?

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238598#msg238598 date=1328501934]
[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238593#msg238593 date=1328496742]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238440#msg238440 date=1328252245]
[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).
[/quote]
Thanks! I think I've settled on something like that. Just hard to believe that such a powerful camera is so small.
[/quote]

You're very welcome. Which one did you settle on?
[/quote]
I'm going to check out a 7D. Everyone I've talked to hasn't been able to tell me why a 5D is significantly better than a 7D, and I'll save some money.

[Azure_Angel]

[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238628#msg238628 date=1328552422]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238598#msg238598 date=1328501934]
[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238593#msg238593 date=1328496742]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238440#msg238440 date=1328252245]
[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).
[/quote]
Thanks! I think I've settled on something like that. Just hard to believe that such a powerful camera is so small.
[/quote]

You're very welcome. Which one did you settle on?
[/quote]
I'm going to check out a 7D. Everyone I've talked to hasn't been able to tell me why a 5D is significantly better than a 7D, and I'll save some money.
[/quote]

The 5D has a large CMOS sensor, faster processor, and is built more with video in mind where as the 7D is more of a photographer's camera. the 5D also has more manual control when in video than the 7D.

[KarthXLR]

[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238634#msg238634 date=1328561865]
[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238628#msg238628 date=1328552422]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238598#msg238598 date=1328501934]
[quote author=Azure_Angel link=topic=5705.msg238593#msg238593 date=1328496742]
[quote author=Karth link=topic=5705.msg238440#msg238440 date=1328252245]
[quote author=Didzo link=topic=5705.msg238438#msg238438 date=1328250151]
Borrow Azure's Big Red.

Haha, I don't need or want something that crazy. Overkill for side-project use.
[/quote]

I wish it was mine... But seriously my personal camera is a Canon 5D and I absolutely love it. It'll teach you a lot about camera use. It gives you full control over everything, and allows you to mess with lens types. If you're worried about video quality, all you have to do is watch the last 3 seasons of House. Multiple episodes was filmed using the 5D (I'm not sure which ones exactly, you'll have to look them up). You can attach external mics to them, but not external monitors (well you can, but it can't run both monitors at the same time).
[/quote]
Thanks! I think I've settled on something like that. Just hard to believe that such a powerful camera is so small.
[/quote]

You're very welcome. Which one did you settle on?
[/quote]
I'm going to check out a 7D. Everyone I've talked to hasn't been able to tell me why a 5D is significantly better than a 7D, and I'll save some money.
[/quote]

The 5D has a large CMOS sensor, faster processor, and is built more with video in mind where as the 7D is more of a photographer's camera. the 5D also has more manual control when in video than the 7D.
[/quote]
I'm going to head to a camera place sometime this week and (hopefully) get to play with both models. A 5D would be nice, but it takes a pretty steep price hike. Unless I can notice a huge difference I'm going to stick with the 7D. Again, this is mainly just for side project stuff, I don't want to go overboard with my first camera buy.  :p

[Eschatos]

But, but, 7D is two higher than 5D.

[KarthXLR]

But, but, 7D is two higher than 5D.

Doesn't make much sense, does it?

[Azure_Angel]

[quote author=Eschatos link=topic=5705.msg238642#msg238642 date=1328570012]
But, but, 7D is two higher than 5D.

Doesn't make much sense, does it?
[/quote]

It really doesn't does it? It's like the T2i and the T3i. The T3i is "newer", but the T2i is more reliable and the better camera.