i have a very good friend that graduated from film school and has access to very good equipment and editing stuff..

but im just curious whats a good beginning camera. ( for myself) not for full length films or anything that big, but for documentaries. short films, experimental, advent garde type things..?

im looking at only spending about 400-500 bucks...im not sure whats best bet that is really versatile for that price??

any feedback is appreciated and if other threads are about this please direct them my way please. thanks

In the $1,000 and under range all cameras are pretty much the
same. A Sony is like a Sharp is like a Canon is like a Panasonic is
like Samsung. You can go to any Best Buy and pick up a camera
in that price range and you won’t be able to tell the difference.

Check out these threads:
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=17514
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?p=86959
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=12037
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=11309
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=12203

so are you saying all junk?? or just the features will pretty much all be the same on each camera???

thanks for the links..

so are you saying all junk?? or just the features will pretty much all be the same on each camera???

thanks for the links..

Nope. I didn't say "junk". All cameras in your price range
are pretty much the same. Pick up a camera from any of
the major manufacturers and you won't be able to tell the
difference. None of them is better than another. And any
of them will make a fine beginner camera.

I have a canon hf200 (no tape!) that I love. It's cheap... For $1000 you can have the camera, a 35mm adapter, lens and some other goodies.

Canon HV20 Canon HV20 Canon HV20...
Great starter camera and it will take you awhile to "outgrow" it". If you can find one, grab it

Canon HV20 Canon HV20 Canon HV20...
Great starter camera and it will take you awhile to "outgrow" it". If you can find one, grab it

I was thinking about buying that one. However, I'm leaning toward the Canon Hg20. It's really cheap too. Like $700 bucks.

Yea, my advice is to get a non-tape based camera. The HG and HF series Canons are better cameras than the HV, IMO... I havent used my HV at all since I got the HF....