Canon HV40 or EOS550D

[armstrong]

Hi fellas, I am double minded because of these cameras, I've made lots of short films and I am making, and surely I will so I am looking for the most avaliable and useful camera for independent filmmakers, I've been researching these cameras even contrast them one and one but still there are questions waiting to be answered. I am not good at techical things of cinematograpy I am not good at techical informations about which one is should be good or filmmaking DSLR machine or Canon Hv40, so I need your helps here, I've some questions that confused me about HV40.

We know HV40 records the film to DV cassettes not a memory card except image stills. So this should be a problem for importing film to the computer ? I think I need a firewire card to import to the computer, USB do not work for it? or is there a another way ?

They say HV40 is a special-made camcorder for filmmakers but also some says EOS-5550d gives you better performance at filming because you can put some wide-angle and different objectives to it to get the view that you want to. Can't we also put some wide angle or tele objective to HV40 ? Or does it matter at all ?

I've to make a decision till this autumn between these, Hv40 looks to me more suitable than 550d but I dont want make a decision without consulting master guys like you. Waiting your helps, and thanks for your helps.

[cgbier]

You'll need a F/W card, yes - check for a F/W with Texas Instruments chipset. If that thing works, there's no problem with ingesting your footage (if you got the right software).

If you are keen on optical quality, then you should definitively look into a DSLR. Them wide angle and tele adaptors are optically not as good as DSLR lenses. One thing you have to remember is that you'll have to spend some money to get a DSLR rig together.

I prefer to work with dedicated video cameras (and tape!), but I'm not much of a filmmaker.

[Janke]

A video camera (be it tape or card) is definitely easier to work with. Setting up a DSLR takes more time and knowledge.

If you are going to shoot mostly "run-and-gun" situations, choose a camcorder (not necessarily a tape machine...)

If you want to do well-planned, artistic shoots, and have time to set them up, a DSLR would be my choice.

[movielighter]

Since you seem newer to the concept, the HV40 should be the choice for sure. You will get the look you need from it (with less effort, Janke's post). I still look back on the HV30 stuff I did a couple of years back, they are GREAT cameras and this line is alive and well.

If you happen to get the 550D, consider this as an example:
1) 550d w/ kit lens - $700
2) 2x class 10 32gb cards - $110
3) 2x Canon Batteries - $100
4) New DSLR camera bag - $75
5) 50mm 1.8 lens - $100
6) 70-300mm 5.6 lens - $160
7) Battery Grip - $75.00
8) 2-3 DSLR books for video (there are many out now) $80
9) Computer - You better have some muscle to edit! (I did a $200.00 upgrade, RAM, video card) $200
10) 2x External Hard Drives 1tb $200.00
11) Software - Cineform NeoScene $150
12) Software Pluraleyes - $150


This is about what you need to get started and walk out the front door with it on the average. It will take some time to get used to, keep practicing. You might already have some of the things you need.

[drapeama]

I'd vote for the camcorder too, tape-based just as CG said.
You can see what you can do with a bare HV40 here.

[Timbit]

12) Software Pluraleyes - $150

This is about what you need to get started and walk out the front door with it on the average.

You forgot a mic for basic (or if ML is added, decent) sound, and if Pluraleyes is in the budget, we mustn't forget something like a Zoom H1 for it to be useful...

[movielighter]

oops! Yes, add $99 for the ZoomH1, or pick up a used ZoomH4n for about $250

[Timbit]

... or pick up a used ZoomH4n for about $250

Really? I think I might look into that...

[armstrong]

Since you seem newer to the concept, the HV40 should be the choice for sure. You will get the look you need from it (with less effort, Janke's post). I still look back on the HV30 stuff I did a couple of years back, they are GREAT cameras and this line is alive and well.

If you happen to get the 550D, consider this as an example:
1) 550d w/ kit lens - $700
2) 2x class 10 32gb cards - $110
3) 2x Canon Batteries - $100
4) New DSLR camera bag - $75
5) 50mm 1.8 lens - $100
6) 70-300mm 5.6 lens - $160
7) Battery Grip - $75.00
8) 2-3 DSLR books for video (there are many out now) $80
9) Computer - You better have some muscle to edit! (I did a $200.00 upgrade, RAM, video card) $200
10) 2x External Hard Drives 1tb $200.00
11) Software - Cineform NeoScene $150
12) Software Pluraleyes - $150


This is about what you need to get started and walk out the front door with it on the average. It will take some time to get used to, keep practicing. You might already have some of the things you need.

thanks for your informations, I'll consider your suggestions while I'm making decision to buy which one. As a independent filmmaker I try not to spend too much many, I'll try to be economical so I'd rather spend money to the crew than the spend to the equipments. whatever dslr machines needs lots of equipments with its own but hv40 seems like an economical for independent filmmakers eventhough it has lots of and various options also.

[armstrong]

I'd vote for the camcorder too, tape-based just as CG said.
You can see what you can do with a bare HV40 here.

these captures really impressed me, there are no grains almost eventhough you shot it with low light, nice performance,also likes the 16mm look, this really gives the feel of real cinematic things to the audition and I can see that what Hv40 can cabable of with great editing.

[drapeama]

these captures really impressed me, there are no grains almost eventhough you shot it with low light, nice performance,also likes the 16mm look, this really gives the feel of real cinematic things to the audition and I can see that what Hv40 can cabable of with great editing.

1) Yeah, I've been impressed to when I transfered the pictures that night.
2) If you can "tweak" some settings in the menu, then you can get something very useable. I'll check the settings when I'll get home and I'll post them if you want.
3) Yeah, the 16mm look is something very personal to me: a movie without a little bit of grain isn't a movie, it's more a TV show. In almost everything I make (even the last music video I made), there's grain, artistic choice probably. I agree that it automatically gives a cinematic tone to the video.
4) Yeah, the HV40 is really great for editing, I don't regret my 1100$CND purchase back in 2009.