What camera should I use?

D

Diamons

I'm 17 and I feel that making short films is definitely going to be a hobby of mine. Right now me and a few friends shoot off my iPod Touch and we have such a fun time doing it with the bloopers and whatnot and I love producing something for lots of people.

However, the iPod Touch camera is simply horrible. I'm looking for film quality comparable to the following videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lARtddMB9NA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u4r2A4RH_k


What would be the cheapest camera to get? My paycheck is very small at best so please keep money in mind =X
 
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Well I'm thinking of about $400 maximum? IDK how much video cameras cost and whatnot.

I want to make good looking video to make a YouTube web series or something of the like.
 
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Start your homework here:
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&t...=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=39e5bf4e97622fe9

Canon: http://photography.shop.ebay.com/Ca...=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Panasonic: http://photography.shop.ebay.com/Ca...=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Sony: http://photography.shop.ebay.com/Ca...=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282


Anything you find should be good enough for the next three years.
- Manual focus is the biggest thing you're looking for.
- Manual aperture second.
- External microphone jack is BONUS! Might not need it anytime soon, but it's great to have it.
- Hopefully it'll be on SD/SDHC memory rather than minidisk or tape. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_card

Also consider what computer you'll be editing your work on.
What's its RAM & clock speed in gHz.
Hopefully it's something current running on DDR3 RAM with 7200 rpm Serial ATA or SATA hard drive of something usable in size.

It's a two part gig.
Doesn't do you any favors to record WHOPPIN' big video files to edit on a five-year old Geezer PC.

GL
 
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Diamons said:
Well I'm thinking of about $400 maximum? IDK how much video cameras cost and whatnot.

I want to make good looking video to make a YouTube web series or something of the like.
Click to expand...

Okay,

Check out the Canon FS200 and the Canon R100. Both are in
your price range and either will be good starter cameras. To get
good quality learn to light well and pay attention to sound. Using
a microphone that isn't attached to your camera will sound so
much better than the on camera mic.

Remember, it not the camera it's the skill and talent of the person
using it. I recently shot some footage with my iPod Touch using
my experience shooting and lighting and it looks fantastic. With
some practice and patience you will get better. Just don't think that
aiming a camera is in the same league as lighting a scene.
 
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I don't have access to lighting and whatnot. Thanks for all your posts!

Wow, this is going to cost a lot more than I thought. My part time job pays like $80 every two weeks...

What about old technology? Basically what's the cheapest camcorder I could use but still make it look like a movie? (24fp with color editing)
 
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Diamons said:
I don't have access to lighting and whatnot. Thanks for all your posts!

Wow, this is going to cost a lot more than I thought. My part time job pays like $80 every two weeks...

What about old technology? Basically what's the cheapest camcorder I could use but still make it look like a movie? (24fp with color editing)
Click to expand...

Nothing is going to look like a movie without lighting. You'd be better off sticking with the iPod and investing in some lights.
 
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Two of the three videos you posted were recorded on DSLRs. It seems like what you're after is a shallow depth of field more than anything else. You could probably find a used GH1 or T2i for around $400.
 
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The video also records sound separately which means adding a miv, recorder, boom and windscreen at least.

Check out the video you posted and then their behind the scenes video which was recording with the cam mic.

Do what you can right now with ur 400 by buying a used camera with kit lens and filming whatever you want. It will teach you a lot more about film making really fast and you'll find out what else you need really quickly. Meanwhile, keep saving money.
 
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Diamons said:
Ok, I think I didn't provide a good example of what I'm trying to do here. I'm not trying to make the next Notebook or whatever. I simply want to do this as a hobby with a few friends.
Click to expand...

In that case, check out the Canon FS200 and the Canon R100. Both are in
your price range and either will be good starter cameras. If you don't want to
use lighting, you don't need to use lighting. If excellent sound at this point isn't
a priority you don't need an external mic.

All you want is a camera you can point and press "record" and it looks excellent.
And you want that for $400. Slightly unrealistic, but understandable. As SinEater
said, you might need to get a DSLR like the T2i for around $400 used. That will
at least give you the all important shallow depth of field that is so desirable
these days.

Go out and have fun! Later on if you want you can learn about lighting and
sound. Until then, head over to your local Best Buy with $400 and get what
ever camera they have in that range. Any camera from one of the major
manufacturers will be great for shooting hobby movies with your friends.
 
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directorik I must thank you so much for all your help! I've looked at all the camera's you've suggested to me and they all are decent, however the film quality just isn't there.

I'm leaning towards the Canon R100, but I have one last resort.

What about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10?
Sample Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IczHK0KMXb8

Thanks in advance. It's down to either the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10 or the Canon R100! Either way it comes next week after I get my paycheck =]
 
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Diamons said:
directorik I must thank you so much for all your help! I've looked at all the camera's you've suggested to me and they all are decent, however the film quality just isn't there. ]
Click to expand...

I hear you brother. In all honesty, even in the $5K-$15K range the film quality look is very subjective. Cine -lenses for those cameras are $4K-$5K each all by themselves. Enough to drive a person nuts.

I would follow directorik's advice and just go with that. There are some post production plug-ins that claim to give you the "film look," but that all depends on your opinion of it. Don't drive yourself crazy trying to find a cheap "film look" camera. Learning the shots and the process will give you much more success.
 
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