cheap camera

D

djon

Hey guys,
I'm new to film and the whole film making process. Here's my issues, I want to make a film but i'm flat broke, I could spare a few hundred but not that many. I'm looking for a cheap camera that I can buy and use, if it uses tape its ok. I have a top of the line mac, so if I can find a cheap camera for my film it would be great. any recommendations.

Remember i'm new to all this but i'm looking to get my film done.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
In the few hundred dollars 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.

There are three things that are VERY important when getting a camera:

Three CCD’s or CMOS
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.


The JVC GZ-HD7, the first of the JVC HDD cameras is now a little over a year old,
I’ve seen these on line for as little as $800. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a
huge difference and full manual controls is important. Three 1/5’ 16:9 progressive
scan CCD’s are pretty impressive for a camera in this price range. It has manual
controls, a mic input and an excellent focus ring which is surprisingly rare on
small cameras. It records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive. The issue here is
the MPEG-2 compression. It’s not compatable with many NLE’s.

The GZ-HD6 can record 1080/60p through HDMI - pretty impressive.

The GZ-HD40 is a bit of a disapointment. I like that it records using AVCHD compression
which makes it compatable with most NLE’s but it loses the important focus ring
and it’s so small.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 uses a 3-CMOS array and records 1920 x 1080 video in
the AVCHD format to SD and SDHC memory cards. I like the ring on the lens that
controls zoom, focus, white balance, shutter speed, and iris and it actually has a
viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen. Very important it has both a mic and
headphone jack. I found it difficult to handle with all the cables attached (mic,
headphones and monitor) but it’s a camera with all the basics.

Close is the Canon HV20. It records in HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input
and manual controls of white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7” CMOS sensor
rather than 3 CCD’s. And it’s so small the handling is difficult.

The HV30 adds a 30f (Canon’s “frame mode”) in addition to 24p.

The Sony HDR-SR12 has a mic input and a good sized 120GB HDD. It uses a 1/3” CMOS
chip and like the Canon is really small. Because of the input placement, the mic cable
kept getting in my way. The HR9 (which records to tape) is also a nice, very small,
camera with the essentials. Again the mic input is just below the lens which is rather
poor placement, in my opinion.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You're right. Cameras that have the essentials are pricey.

The cameras in the few hundred dollars range don't have mic input
or manual controls. But if that's all you can afford then you should
get one anyway. You can learn the whole filmmaking process with
a less pricey camera - things like lighting, scheduling, working with
actors and crew, coverage.

Right now I think any kind of cinema mode shouldn't be on the top
of your want list. Three CCD’s or CMOSm manual controls for the iris,
shutter, focus and white balance and a microphone input should be.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Will Vincent said:
You don't necessarily have to own a camera to make your movie... find someone who has one, and bring them in as your DP
Click to expand...

Vince,
I tried that it didn't work, people sometimes have too much baggage, I just want to make a film. I will try a few more times hopefully they will cooperate.:(

let me elaborate,
when a guy that has never done film at all goes to a person who does and considers himself a pro its hard to make them understand that you want to make a film. I've made it a point that I want their help but they sometimes want me to learn their habits, which aren't always good. I'm stuborn, my idea my way, yes you can be part of it, if you wan fame you can have it.. all I want is to make my film or film (s).
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Making a movie involves working with people. And people often
have baggage. Unless you plan on doing an entirely solo effort
(including using only you as the actor) you're going to have to
learn to work with people - even people with baggage.

Bringing on someone who owns a camera can often be quite a
challenge. Very often someone who has spent the money to buy
a camera thinks of themselves as a professional. And they want
to be treated as a partner in the project. That can be difficult for
someone new to the whole film making process.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
directorik said:
Making a movie involves working with people. And people often
have baggage. Unless you plan on doing an entirely solo effort
(including using only you as the actor) you're going to have to
learn to work with people - even people with baggage.

Bringing on someone who owns a camera can often be quite a
challenge. Very often someone who has spent the money to buy
a camera thinks of themselves as a professional. And they want
to be treated as a partner in the project. That can be difficult for
someone new to the whole film making process.
Click to expand...

It's not like I haven't worked with people before, its trying to get them to understand that I want to them to be a part of the process and while they may have several years of experience I have already decided how the film should be shot. I guess from my view, I do also have to be understandable that they are considering themselves professionals. What irks me is that yes I take their opinion into consideration but it sometimes feels like I'm being belittled rather than informed, see what I mean. :D

I plan on bringing actors, now I'm not going to be one of them :lol:
but if I need to take on more roles (excluding acting:P) than I will to see my project take off.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My apologies.

From your first post I was under the impression you
were new to film and the whole film making process.
Since in the past you have found people to work with
who you feel belittle you then I understand you
wanting to take on more roles to see your project take off.

I'm sorry your pervious experiences with DP's haven't
been good. I hope someday you have the experiences
I have had working with great people who are creative,
talented, opinionated and still respectful. It makes the
process so much fun!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Correction,
when I said working with people, I mean just that working with people in general. I am a newb to film.

Thanks for your comments,
I think I have to consider how I approach people and what they have gone through. If a professional has a few bad experiences then when someone else comes along they are less likely to help, so I have to take that into account.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My name is not Vince. :) I don't understand why people see my name and insist on calling me by some variation of my last name.. maybe it's a California thing.. *shrug*

Try craigslist rather than just finding people around town... also you're probably likely to have good luck with film school students, they don't get to work on enough projects for the money they pay to go to their school, so if it's not finals or mid terms and such they'd probably jump at the chance -- they also might have some needed connections to get cheap or free gear to use. ;)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
djon said:
Correction,
when I said working with people, I mean just that working with people in general. I am a newb to film.
Click to expand...
In that case I think you will find that people in this field
are open to collaboration.

Will's suggestion to find a DP who owns a camera is a
good one. I'm sure you will find that someone with that
particular talent can be a HUGE help to a new director.

I mean, it really can't hurt, can it? You will make more
then one movie in your life, right?

So maybe it's not unreasonable to look around and find
someone who owns a camera to collaborate with you on
one. If it doesn't work out, if you feel belittled by the
person and you feel all people who own cameras are likely
to be the same, then you can buy a camera and not have
to work with others on your second movie.

I'm suggesting that you don't dismiss the possibility of a
collaboration with a DP because you have had difficulty
working with others on non film projects. I own a camera
(several of them) and work as a DP sometimes. I love the
collaboration between me and the director. Just as I love
the collaboration between me and the DP when I'm directing.

On the other hand, you know you better than I do. If you
cannot work with others then you should do every job
yourself in order to maintain complete control.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Will Vincent said:
If you cannot work with others, film really isn't for you. Write a book instead.
Click to expand...
Too extreme for me.

When people are just starting out there is often a desire to have
absolute, total control over everything. I know that comes from
working with people who have no experience and also want to have
absolute, total control over everything.

To me that doesn't mean film isn't for them. It means learning how
to work with others.

Those first few movies with a newbee can be really trying. Some
figure it out and actually enjoy the collaboration - some never do
and dig in to retain total control. As a sometimes DP I bet you can
tell which type I'd rather work with....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Will apologes, I assumed it was your name.

It's seems that my comments are being mis-understood. While I won't go into detail, I believe even an experience person would not try to deal with the crap that I have had to deal with. I'm gun hoe, but when someone just seems to be negative on every aspect regardless of how much talent they have it makes it hard to work with them. I wish I could explain more but I rather not go into detail.

I know quite a few people, they aren't actors but they will work as extras for free. I'm working on getting a camera, plus getting my script and written out and worked out. I still have a few resoures to work with but i'm going to try to work with everyone I can on the first fill. Well see how it goes, and not I can't right books. Why would I settle for less.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top