3 CCD DV camera

xtraview · September 2, 2005

I'm looking to buy a 3 CCD DV camera around $1000

I saw Panasonic PV-GS250 $780 @ B&H

Any recommendations?

Thanks,

RJ

Paul Bruening · September 4, 2005

Hey now,

Whatever you get, make sure it has some form of mic jack-in. The built-in mics are darn near useless.

September 5, 2005

in my honest opinion, its hard to get a good 3 CCD camera for that price. Try to see if you can get a used XL1 or a PD150. You'd probably be lucky if you can find them for that kind of a price.

xtraview · September 6, 2005

in my honest opinion, its hard to get a good 3 CCD camera for that price. Try to see if you can get a used XL1 or a PD150. You'd probably be lucky if you can find them for that kind of a price.

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Thanks guys for your suggestions.

Greg Gross · September 6, 2005

Xtraview,

As of two days ago(haven't checked since then)B&H Photo had some used

XL-1's,XL1S's,PD-150's for sale. Good audio is very important and you will

never be happy with poor audio. Its rare here in the east that one finds the

PD-150 for sale,used. You can use microphone off camera. Sometimes I use

two microphones simultaneously, a small microphone on the body and a mic-

rophone on a boom. A microphone on the camera picks up the operational no-

ise of the camera. Best wishes for your search. B&H Photo is in N.Y.C. and not

hard to find. 420 Ninth Ave.,New York,NY 10001. Video Dept. 800-947-1175,212

444-6675. If you are in the city you can get free one hour parking at 349 W. 34th

Street. Best wishes for your search.

Greg Gross

Jonathan Bryant · September 7, 2005

I recommend looking for a used VX-1000 the original 3ccd camera from Sony for standard 4:3 documentaries because of great low light performance at that price. For 16:9 widescreen stuff I would recommend the Sony TRV-900 since it has native 16:9 ccds. There is also the Canon gl1 which has more of a softer film look and is not quite as good in low light.

It is really all in what you are looking to do. To me it is worth the extra money to step up to the VX2000 from Sony which has much better picture quality than its older brother. And the VX1000 doesn't have a flip out color monitor.

What really separates these are the ccds size. The SONY VX-1000, and VX-2000 have the larger 1/3rd inch ccds. The Sony TRV-900 and GL1 have 1/4inch ccds. And the cheap Panasonic 3ccd cameras you are looking at offer only 1/6inch ccds. The smaller the ccds usually the worse it will perform in low light and almost everything will be in sharp focus (Looks more like a home video cam than movie, because in movies they reduce the area that is in focus to help us focus more on one part of the picture just like our eyes do in real life)

Though if you want a Really cheap 3ccd camera buy a new gs120 from Panasonic 1/6inch ccds or look for a used AG-EZ1 from Panasonic.

Jonathan Bryant · September 7, 2005

By reading some of your other posts I can tell you want to shoot a feature movie. So in that case I would have to almost force you to buy a Canon GL1. Though it is 1/4 inch ccds it is alot cheaper used than a DVX,XL1,etc.... And it has the Movie mode for the film look something the Sonys do not have. You should be able to get one under $1000 used and is a much better camera than the cheap Panasonics. Invest in a boom mic and lights too.

xtraview · September 9, 2005

By reading some of your other posts I can tell you want to shoot a feature movie. So in that case I would have to almost force you to buy a Canon GL1. Though it is 1/4 inch ccds it is alot cheaper used than a DVX,XL1,etc.... And it has the Movie mode for the film look something the Sonys do not have. You should be able to get one under $1000 used and is a much better camera than the cheap Panasonics. Invest in a boom mic and lights too.

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Mainly I wanted to get a mini DV to shoot audition and personal stuff. Now for the short film project I plan to use DVX100A shooting in 24p mode.

I looked at the review about GS250 and they all say good things about this camera -- newegg.com has it for $748

When I rent DVX100A it will easily cost me over 1K even if i get one day rental change for the weekend (3 days) kinda deal.

This camera is on sale at b&h for 2899 (aftet $500 rebate) without any kit -- just the camera.

So the question is ----- I will spend $2K (1K+ for renting of DVX100A + GS250 (800(including tax) ---- would it be wiser to spend extra $1K and

buy new DVX100A instead of buying GS250 and renting DVX100A for the project?

I looked at GL1 on ebay and they all go for around $1500 .. I would be cheaper to buy GS250 and rent DVX100A than buy GL1.

Please advice.

Thanks to all for reading and responding to my post.

Thanks,

RJ

Jason Hamilton · September 10, 2005

i would say buying dvx100a would be the better way to go, i've seen it as low as 2099 usd online, and you can get one with a kit on ebay for cheap as well. then when you shoot your short you just rent any sound and lighting equipment you need on a day to day basis.

jay

Edited September 10, 2005 by Jason Hamilton

xtraview · September 14, 2005

i would say buying dvx100a would be the better way to go, i've seen it as low as 2099 usd online, and you can get one with a kit on ebay for cheap as well. then when you shoot your short you just rent any sound and lighting equipment you need on a day to day basis.
jay

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Im leaning on buying GS400 now (1200) from b&h ..still considering other options

by the way .... i would not recommend you buying from any of the online stores

that has it so cheap.. read the review of each store @ http://www.resellerratings.com/

www.ExpressCameras.com

www.BestPriceCameras.com

www.USAPhotoNation.com

<--- all of these are scammers .. only trust newegg.com | b&h and others that have good reviews