A second, used camera

[gorillaonabike]

Need a little advice. I am thinking about buying a second camera in Feb, primarily for interviews. I have a Sony VG10 which is a fantastic film-making instrument and am buying an EF cinema lens (manual everything) at Xmas. Naturally, I have a couple of E-mount lenses including the essential Sigma 30mm prime so can swap lenses around a little.

E-mount to 'anything else' adaptors are essentially non-existent and therefore glass is an issue unless anyone knows otherwise.

I want to buy used as it won't be getting much use. Ideally, it would be another VG as it meets my needs and takes a pounding (jeez, this is one h"ll of an impressive little camera, I absolutely love it) but as this will only be an 'occasional' camera, I want to be as cheap and cheerful as possible. Essentially, this will be shots during interviews from a second angle.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a cheap, second camera?

 

[brunerww]

It really depends on what "cheap" is.

<£1000? <£550? <£400? <£300?

For less than £1000pp, you can get a new VG30E body from Hong Kong or, for as little as £549 you can get another VG10E used from the UK. I have shot with the VG20, and agree that the VGs are terrific cameras. You already know what the VGs can do, so I won't share any examples.

If that is more than you want to spend, for less than £400pp, you can get a new Panasonic G6 (only one left at this price) plus an £8 Canon EF to micro 4/3 adapter for your new manual cinema lens.

This camera shoots at 25p and 50p, has manual sound level control, focus peaking, a built-in 2.7x lossless tele-converter mode to give your lenses a little more reach, and on-screen sound level meters.

Here is what this camera can do:

Narrative: http://vimeo.com/78037118

"I've Got My Fingers Crossed" by Avner Levona

Doc: http://vimeo.com/73561266

"Creative Space: Kathy Ponce " by Kevin Mayuga

Music video: http://vimeo.com/76081090

A. BELKIN - Good Morning Mr. Blues by Romas

Wedding: http://vimeo.com/72010967

Junwei + Daohua by Jon Wide

Sports: http://vimeo.com/76875252

Wavetest 2013 / Side On - Onshore Impression by Gleiten.TV

Travel: http://vimeo.com/72107884

"Riverbanks" by emeric

See more at: http://vimeo.com/groups/dmcg6 "Panasonic G6 on Vimeo"

If £400 is more than you want to spend, you can get a new Canon EOS M body on closeout for £230pp. You'll also need a £38 EF to EOS M adapter to fit your EF cinema lens.

Here is a professor from the Columbia School of Journalism using this camera in an interview setting: http://vimeo.com/75630564

Here is what this camera can do in a travel setting: http://vimeo.com/55604121

Hope this is helpful!

Bill