Too many questions from a total newb

[eyesic]

Hello HV20 Forum, Ive done video editing in the past but we were using vhs and screenplays to edit. Technology has changed significantly in the last 10 years.

Im getting back into video editing and recording. I want to shoot short films and documentaries. I really like the film look the canon cameras are giving off (for the price they are godlike).
I currently have an Imac with an intel duo core 2.4 ghz processor, and im really undecided which camera i should get.
Ive read pros and cons of alot of the cameras but i would like a recommendation.

I would like to go Tapeless, but i hear the quality in Hv20,30,40 are great, but can i achieve the same look with an HF200 (whats similiar or better to this camera)?

Should i be looking at something else?

I went to Bestbuy but the models there are different like HFS etc...

Im really confused this has been a hard journey and im glad i found this forum. With my Mac do you think i will be able to handle AVCHD?

Please note that the 24P film look is what im looking for, what would you guys recommend as add ons for shooting the above mentiioned, like 35mm adapters (brands is Jag35 GOOD?) boom mics etc..


im sorry i know i sound like a total newbie and its because i am. I would really appreciate your help guys. Thanks.

[Fade to inferno]

Hey eyesic! welcome to the forum!

Theres always a debate on HVxx or HF, and it pretty much just comes down to your preference. There are so many Pro's and Cons for both that in reality they even out. My preference is miniDV because in this way a have a back up medium for footage other than in my harddrive.

If your looking to eventually add on 35mm adapters then i would recommend taking a step back and looking at the Canon Rebel T2i. Reason being that with the price of the camera, 35 mm adapter, and extras (lens, external monitor, Flip Hack, adapter, Rail system) it ends up being around the same price. So you may want to look up the t2i and consider it an option.

BUT

if you do decide to get a 35mm adapter most people would agree that a handy35 (altho more expensive) is well worth the price. I personally have noted that the JAG35 has had a large amount of complaints, so just heads up. Havent heard too many complaints about twoneil adapters, however.


Any other equipment like microphones you can easily find options by searching the forum.

[DigitalVideo]

Honestly when it comes to the canon cameras, hvxx series and hg series, the look should be about the same. It's just a choice of whether you want to edit AVCHD files or not. I edit AVCHD, but I'm on one of the new core i7 iMacs, so I'm a little bit biased :P I'd say the amount of time it takes to edit/render/upload will even out regardless. Because AVCHD will take a long time to render, however tapes will take a long time to capture. I'd suggest starting with tapes, using an HVxx camera instead of editing AVCHD files. It's hard to learn how to get good quality in editing and rendering while working with an older computer and a tough filetype like AVCHD.

[eyesic]

Thanks Inferno, Does this camera have 24P mode and how good will video look?
Im just iffy because its a digital slr but i saw the Sample EOS 5D Mark II Video and it looked amazing, i couldnt believe it was shot with and slr but i guess its gotten to this point where soon enough we will just have Slr's that do everything lol. Man ive been under a rock for so long. Thanks.

[eyesic]

Honestly when it comes to the canon cameras, hvxx series and hg series, the look should be about the same. It's just a choice of whether you want to edit AVCHD files or not. I edit AVCHD, but I'm on one of the new core i7 iMacs, so I'm a little bit biased :P I'd say the amount of time it takes to edit/render/upload will even out regardless. Because AVCHD will take a long time to render, however tapes will take a long time to capture. I'd suggest starting with tapes, using an HVxx camera instead of editing AVCHD files. It's hard to learn how to get good quality in editing and rendering while working with an older computer and a tough filetype like AVCHD.

I know DigitalVid, It is what im afraid of, getting this new cam an not being able to even edit the video, this was a reason i was leaning towards the HV.
but also its that i need to learn it anyways if im going to get into this agian lol.
Confuseeeeeeed! Lol Thanks

[DigitalVideo]

Well... if you are already planning on buying a camera, and a 35mm adapter, and lenses, maybe you want to try DSLR? If you buy a canon t2i (I think it's the cheapest DSLR right now, film wise), you can try out AVCHD, but if it doesn't work, you have a good chance of getting all your money back if you sell the camera. DSLR is hot right now, so I think you will find a buyer quickly if you can't handle AVCHD.

[Timbit]

Hi eyesic!

With your computer, the HVxx will work the best on the dual core processor, but like everyone here has said, DSLRs are the "hot" thing right now. Tape is on it's way out the door, but the cameras still perform excellent, and achieve results that are simply stunning when edited correctly.

[eyesic]

Ok, ive been looking around and the Canon T2i (550D in Europe and Aus) video freatures are almost the same exact thing as the Canon 7D which is an awesome HDSLR? lol.. The only problem with these cameras is that the Autofocus is slow, and not as great as a video camera such as the HF200. These cameras are also really light weight which is a downfall in the steadiness deparment.

How hard will it be to shoot with a dslr? Now im in the 75% dslr and 25% HF model, ive decided i want to try out the AVCHD format. Now i think i should go with the Dslr just because it would be cheaper.

How much does the 35mm or interchangable lens help out the image quality? should i go with DSLR over a video Camera?


Thanks.

[Bif]

I have and use both AVCHD camcorders and the 7D & T2i which use an AVC encoded file in an MOV (Quicktime) container. So I'll try to answer some of your questions.

The only problem with these cameras is that the Autofocus is slow, and not as great as a video camera such as the HF200. These cameras are also really light weight which is a downfall in the steadiness deparment.

With most video capable DSLRs you cannot effectively use autofocus once you start recording a scene. Temporary brightness changes can occur and the "lock" on focus is slow because in video mode you have to select either "live view" mode which uses contrast, or the normal autofocus mode where the mirror flips down, autofocus occurs and the mirror flips back up.

Either is unacceptable for smooth video.

The upside: You get to learn manual focus techniques (Folks in my age group get to "relearn") and acquire more skills in that area. It can be kind of fun and makes you "tune in" to your video more. It's not difficult, we did it long before we had autofocus and you just plain have more control over it.

Panasonic GH1, though, actually has a lens designed for it that does use continuous autofocus, but many of us seem to prefer the image quality that comes from the Canons

How hard will it be to shoot with a dslr? Now im in the 75% dslr and 25% HF model, ive decided i want to try out the AVCHD format. Now i think i should go with the Dslr just because it would be cheaper.

If you try to hold it out in front of you 8" to a foot or so (in video mode the only viewfinder you have is the LCD) it's not going to be easy. If you attach an LCD viewfinder loupe several aspects get easier. Better focus, better exposure judgement, and you now have a third point of contact (area around eye or surface of eyeglass lens) on which to stabilize the camera. Or for $50-just under $100 plus shipping you can get a shoulder brace that works very well. I use the SpiderBrace 2 Combo (www.spiderbrace.com).

For a viewfinder loupe I use the Hoodman (www.hoodmanusa.com) with the optional 3X eyepiece (I'll be ordering the Hoodcrane for mounting so you might consider their Cinema Pro Kit which is a bit less than buying everything piecemeal like I did).

Trying out AVCHD: Gonna be very frustrating with your present computer. If your budget will stand it you might look into some of the Dell and HP offerings built around the Core i7 processor. This is a quad core that performs somewhat like an 8 core processor. You're going to need something like that sooner or later anyway, as further video advances will need much more computing power than your dual core machine has.

Either AVCHD (Canon HF series) or AVC (H.264) in MOV (Canon DSLRs) will not work well with dual core processors and some editing packages.

There are some temporary ways around this, something to "transcode" to either another format or an intermediate format that editors like Vegas can work with, some are claiming this approach works for them.

How much does the 35mm or interchangable lens help out the image quality? should i go with DSLR over a video Camera?


Thanks.

It's probably a combination of the larger sensor size (about the same size as the motion picture film frame size) and the more flexible lenses. Plus once you figure out what perspective and lens performance you want you can go for a lens that does that (the "kit" lens that comes with the T2i is not bad and is fairly flexible).

Now I went this route briefly with the T1i (which had no manual control in video), you can adapt several other brands of older manual lenses to the EOS mount and pick up some good lenses inexpensively on ebay. I got a Nikon to EOS mount and picked up a "mint" 50mm f1.8 Nikkor AI-S lens for low light work and manual aperture control. With the 7D and T2i I don't need that approach anymore and stick with Canon EF/EF-S lenses, but others are finding lenses that work excellent for them in the older Nikon line or the older Takumar (Pentax) line.

Should you choose camcorder over DSLR or the other way around? You have to make that call. Your simplest, least costly way to go is a Canon HV40 (while they still make and sell them), you can edit it on your current computer, but I would NOT go for a 35mm adapter at this point. Wring out the HV40 to it's limits and make it by itself do what you want. Add the DSLR to it when you upgrade computer, there's valid reasons for having both.

Or go for the DSLR , upgrade to a quad core computer, and roll on into what the future brings.

Long answer, eh?

[eyesic]

Long answer but very helpful, i probably already frustrated many people with this post. Thanks to everyone who has helped out. Soon enough i will make up my mind lol, i will do a little more research and look into a newer computer, lets see where my budget takes me lol.

[cgbier]

24p? Be aware that the only software doing that on the Mac are Final Cut Studio, Adobe CSx and Avid. All three of them are a bit on the pricey side.

[eyesic]

Im actually very lucky that a friend of mine joined the military, and moved to Kentucky. He needed extra cash so he sold the Imac and a bunch of software to me for 500.00 He has final Cut Studio, Office for Mac, Iphoto 2009, wireless mouse and KB.
Well im lucky to have these but i got to make good use of them.