Author Topic: Video camera  (Read 7581 times)

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Canuck

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Video camera
« on: December 12, 2009, 01:42:10 PM »
Hi everyone,

I wanna make a skate video.

Whats the best camera to use. I'd like to make something of quality. All my research thus far, shows that VX1000s or 2000s seem good. What do you guys think?

Whats a decent price to pay? I'm willing to spend as much as $1500 (Canadian - about 1300 American)

Thanks in advance.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2009, 09:25:03 PM by Canuck »

StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2009, 01:47:36 PM »
i have a vx2100/mk2, and a vx1000/mk1. i love both setups. if you want a camera/lense setup go with the vx1000/mk1,  you really can't beat that. however, vx1000's are pretty hard to find in decent condition. 2_00's both have a zoom ring which is pretty convenient. i've never owned them but i wouldn't recommend a gl1 or gl2. i've heard nice things about the DVX series as well.

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2009, 01:54:39 PM »
i have a vx2100/mk2, and a vx1000/mk1. i love both setups. if you want a camera/lense setup go with the vx1000/mk1,  you really can't beat that. however, vx1000's are pretty hard to find in decent condition. 2_00's both have a zoom ring which is pretty convenient. i've never owned them but i wouldn't recommend a gl1 or gl2. i've heard nice things about the DVX series as well.

Cool man thanks, I'll check it.

Have you been back to Louisville park since we randomly meet? I wanna go back so bad. Let me know if you're ever coming up to Toronto to rip. I could show you some spots.

StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2009, 01:59:16 PM »
Expand Quote
i have a vx2100/mk2, and a vx1000/mk1. i love both setups. if you want a camera/lense setup go with the vx1000/mk1,  you really can't beat that. however, vx1000's are pretty hard to find in decent condition. 2_00's both have a zoom ring which is pretty convenient. i've never owned them but i wouldn't recommend a gl1 or gl2. i've heard nice things about the DVX series as well.
[close]


Cool man thanks, I'll check it.

Have you been back to Louisville park since we randomly meet? I wanna go back so bad. Let me know if you're ever coming up to Toronto to rip. I could show you some spots.
i haven't, i wanna go back so bad. we found this sick quarter pipe spot right down the street too later that day. toronto sounds real fun, i'd love to make it out there this summer. what about you? are you going back at all?

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2009, 02:11:16 PM »
Expand Quote
Expand Quote
i have a vx2100/mk2, and a vx1000/mk1. i love both setups. if you want a camera/lense setup go with the vx1000/mk1,  you really can't beat that. however, vx1000's are pretty hard to find in decent condition. 2_00's both have a zoom ring which is pretty convenient. i've never owned them but i wouldn't recommend a gl1 or gl2. i've heard nice things about the DVX series as well.
[close]


Cool man thanks, I'll check it.

Have you been back to Louisville park since we randomly meet? I wanna go back so bad. Let me know if you're ever coming up to Toronto to rip. I could show you some spots.
[close]
i haven't, i wanna go back so bad. we found this sick quarter pipe spot right down the street too later that day. toronto sounds real fun, i'd love to make it out there this summer. what about you? are you going back at all?


Not yet man. Hopefully this summer.

We found so many random spots on that trip. The craziest one by far was in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Right on the banks of the Mississippi was this fucking massive bank - how fitting.


Tried to ollie into it but, there was no fucking way I was gonna make it down. That thing is so fast and so big.

Anyways, Toronto's good. Any kinda thing you wanna skate we got pretty much. Let me know if you do, we gotta futon we let people crash on.


StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2009, 07:41:46 AM »
damn! that bank looks harsh. here's the quarter pipe we found in louisville.
http://i46.tinypic.com/epkgeq.png
i'll keep you updated if i make it out there.
good luck with the camera hunt.

Beer Keg Peg Leg

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2009, 02:45:20 PM »
That handrail is asking to be ollied over.

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2009, 06:33:15 PM »
That handrail is asking to be ollied over.
Dude... its so gnarly. I'd love to see someone do that.

rawbertson.

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2009, 10:37:45 AM »
i used to have a vx2100 but it got stolen. it was pretty sweet. i have a canon gl1 now. its basically the same thing i really dont notice the difference. the main difference is the night shot isnt as good. it is a lot cheaper though. i dont know too much about cameras but as far as what it looks like on the TV yeah you can tell the difference between the two the GL looks a bit "foggier" more like british TV and the sony looked a bit sharper but the one was not much better than the other one to be completely honest.  the VX was a really heavy camera too.
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Beer Keg Peg Leg

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2009, 01:33:03 PM »
You think British TV looks foggier than TV in North America?

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2009, 06:54:24 AM »
i dont know- i just know when we see their shows here, the older ones anyway, like the Office - compare the american vers to the british. it looks foggy for some reason. maybe our TVs are diff?
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grimcity

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2009, 07:06:14 AM »
I love Sony VX cams... our shop has a 2000 and it makes for some really good looking images... plenty of manual settings, and as with nearly every Sony, it has a tendency to lean blue and cool. All I know of Cannon video cams is from an old XL1, which is pretty amazing, but not built very well for skating and shooting at the same time (imho).

Last year I got a Sony HDR-HC9:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC9-Definition-Handycam-Camcorder/dp/B00123Q936

...it's consumer model HD (HDV) handy cam. 1080i, tiny, cheap, seggzy, and super great in everything but low light. It uses a CMOS chip instead of a three chip array, and I find the color to be pretty damned true to life... especially at the resolution you can capture. Also, if you prefer filming in standard def, you can toggle it.

For 1,200 you could get the camera, a tripod, some inexpensive lenses, and a case. I think B an H photo sells these in a kit with filters and all kinds of good shit.

The Amazon link shows the camera naked, here it is with a lens, cold shoe light and tripod:




It's so damned small, too... I keep it in my laptop-backpack and never have trouble finding room for it and an extra battery. Just figured I'd throw that out there. I love this little thing.

rawbertson.

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2009, 08:06:04 AM »
yeah i was actually thinking about getting that... the main reason i got the GL was cause i got it off a friend for real cheap and another friend of mine got the exact same model so our video will have the same look to it. my friend's is kind of choppy though, we cant get the settings exactly the same on both cams.

^that is basically the equivalent to the sony handy cam that my friends and I used to use back in 2001. it was nice and small and could fit some nice little fisheyes and the quality was a lot better than pretty much everything else that was in our price range. seriosuly that is all you need for skating. the bigger cameras can end up being a pain in the ass.
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grimcity

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2009, 09:00:14 AM »
seriosuly that is all you need for skating. the bigger cameras can end up being a pain in the ass.
Big time. And for those of us that are filming skating for a hobby (not trying to become skate filmers), it's a lot easier to handle breaking a $40 wide angle than a really pricey Century Optics.

Also, after the video has been captured, just half-ass decent HD footage converts down into really clean standard def. Shit footy is still gonna be shit, but decent footy can wind up looking really good on an SD television or monitor.

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #14 on: December 15, 2009, 09:23:37 AM »
yeah just dont film at night that is basically what im sayin now i am juist gonna make a video fully of the sessions i have on saturdays and sunday afternoons

also when thugs see big cameras right away they want to come up and try and punk you off
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Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #15 on: December 16, 2009, 05:04:13 AM »
Grim and Rawb, thanks for the advice homies.

Gordon Ramsay

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #16 on: December 16, 2009, 12:50:18 PM »
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seriosuly that is all you need for skating. the bigger cameras can end up being a pain in the ass.
[close]
Big time. And for those of us that are filming skating for a hobby (not trying to become skate filmers), it's a lot easier to handle breaking a $40 wide angle than a really pricey Century Optics.

Also, after the video has been captured, just half-ass decent HD footage converts down into really clean standard def. Shit footy is still gonna be shit, but decent footy can wind up looking really good on an SD television or monitor.

good point. I have used consumer HD cameras with the CMOS sensor in it and once you break it down in finalcut or whatever editing softwear you are using, it generally looks pretty clean.
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Re: Video camera
« Reply #17 on: December 16, 2009, 01:46:05 PM »
OK THIS IS LONG WINDED, but i just went through the same process as you a month ago so i think i can offer some good help.


i wouldnt waste my money on a consumer hd camera, all hd is is a different resolution - those cameras are always 1 ccd and produce crap washed out colors compared to regular 3chip cameras like vx series, gl series, and dvx cameras.

Basically, get a 3 chip camera for the best quality nicest shots, and a real camera. if you are gonna spend that much money on a camera you might as well get a fully functioning real camera that will last you for years rather than a point and shoot flavor of the month hd handicam.

On top of that, the thread sizes for the popular skate cams all have really cheap death lenses for them from opteka, whereas with a consumer cam you might be left with wierd threads and a spacer that wrecks your footy or just a wide angle lense.

Ebay and craigslist are your friends. I wound up with a dvx100b and death lense for around $1350 canadian.

Go for VX2k if you think you are gonna be shooting alot of night stuff, and you like a sharp clean digital image. If you prefer the look of film and warmer softer colors (and if you have experience shooting with a film slr camera) pick up a DVX. VX2K shoots insanely well in low light and i noticed this trend of cool night city videos comming out of the east coast. DVX films in 24p as well as 30i so you can get nice long lense shots that look like 16mm.

 I just grabbed a dvx and my first day with it i was able to produce kinda nice shots just because it has all the settings you need to get to such as manual zoom and focus rings, and whitebalance, exposure etc right on the side of the camera so you dont have to go through lame menus. It really makes filming more enjoyable when you can actually work to produce a nice shot and be happy with it, whereas filming with a little auto setting digi cam could get boring really fast. I have never enjoyed filming before, but with a sick cam and manual settings you really get into it and wind up having alot of fun (which I figure should be the case given how much money i dumped into it).


I filmed this pretty much after taking the camera right out of the box, so its not even close to what the camera is capable of.
http://www.vimeo.com/7976554




TLDR : you are spending a shitload of money! consider getting a camera that will last a long time and be fun to use.

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2009, 02:52:55 PM »
Thanks for the help everyone. Apperciate it.

I am happy to report, that I just sealed the deal on a VX2000 with a nice fisheye for 1500 (batteries, tripod, etc... included

Next on the list refurbed imac.

Gordon Ramsay

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2009, 04:10:22 PM »
Thanks for the help everyone. Apperciate it.

I am happy to report, that I just sealed the deal on a VX2000 with a nice fisheye for 1500 (batteries, tripod, etc... included

Next on the list refurbed imac.


Good look buddy, once you get that mac, I have an FTP that I'll load finalcut onto and give you a generated product code. keep this in mind and PM me when you are ready. Always need more good filmers and editors!
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Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2009, 05:17:47 PM »
Expand Quote
Thanks for the help everyone. Apperciate it.

I am happy to report, that I just sealed the deal on a VX2000 with a nice fisheye for 1500 (batteries, tripod, etc... included)

Next on the list refurbed imac.

[close]

Good look buddy, once you get that mac, I have an FTP that I'll load finalcut onto and give you a generated product code. keep this in mind and PM me when you are ready. Always need more good filmers and editors!

Gordon. I'm buying the imac at the beginning of February - hopefully sooner. I will definitely be needing a copy of final cut pro. So I will be PMing you then. Thanks a ton btw.

StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2009, 07:37:21 PM »
Canuck, so stoked for you! what lense did you get? I have a vx2100 so if you got any questions, lemme know. Are you gonna get a capture cam?

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2009, 08:33:00 AM »
Like the actual death lens - Century optics 0.05 or something. And I dunno, I'll try capture cam. My plan was to get good on final cut pro... cause of the whole industry standard thing.

What do you use to edit?

StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #23 on: December 20, 2009, 10:54:45 AM »
i use final cut, but i mean like a camera to capture your footage with, that way it doesn't wear down the heads on your vx2000. i was capturing with my vx2100 way too much and i was having problems with the camera heads. i got them cleaned professionally and bought a shitty 100 dollar capture cam so i don't have that problem anymore.

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #24 on: December 20, 2009, 11:30:35 AM »
i use final cut, but i mean like a camera to capture your footage with, that way it doesn't wear down the heads on your vx2000. i was capturing with my vx2100 way too much and i was having problems with the camera heads. i got them cleaned professionally and bought a shitty 100 dollar capture cam so i don't have that problem anymore.

Damn, never even thought about that. I'm a rookie to this whole game. So I have a shit load to learn. Something I'll definitely have to think about.

StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #25 on: December 20, 2009, 11:54:10 AM »
Expand Quote
i use final cut, but i mean like a camera to capture your footage with, that way it doesn't wear down the heads on your vx2000. i was capturing with my vx2100 way too much and i was having problems with the camera heads. i got them cleaned professionally and bought a shitty 100 dollar capture cam so i don't have that problem anymore.
[close]


Damn, never even thought about that. I'm a rookie to this whole game. So I have a shit load to learn. Something I'll definitely have to think about.
for sure man, even like a broken little 1 chip point and shoot camera off ebay or craigslist will do the job, as long as it captures it will work. if you plan on keeping your vx2000 for a while, i'd advise a cap cam.
« Last Edit: December 20, 2009, 01:34:00 PM by StokedTaco »

Gordon Ramsay

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #26 on: December 20, 2009, 12:21:12 PM »
Speaking on capture cams, I've been relentlessly searching for one of these for a good price :



But they are just so damned expensive everywhere  :(

Capture cam or MiniDV deck will give you so much more life out of your camera.

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StokedTaco

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #27 on: December 20, 2009, 01:41:51 PM »
yeah for sure, and new heads aren't cheap at all.

Canuck

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #28 on: December 21, 2009, 10:10:48 PM »
I've learned so much from this thread. Gnars all around.


I would have never even considerd a capture cam...

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Re: Video camera
« Reply #29 on: December 22, 2009, 12:59:03 PM »
thats sick but damn 1500$ is a lot to spend on a camera... i tohught 800$ was a lot...
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