First camera?

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damian5000

I see a thread on this page already about a first camera, but I'd like to list my requirements and see if someone could give some suggestions.

First, I'll be starting as a complete newbie. I don't even have basic knowledge of how to start filming. I ran into a guy who was making a documentary film in Thailand and he said the best way to start is buy a damn video camera!

My budget for the camera would be in the $1000-2000 range. Is this doable? Would I be able to find one in this range that could somewhat "grow" with me.

I'd want to be able to actually sell the films I make. I'm very aware that I wouldn't be making much, if ANY money at all at the start, but my point is that I want the camera to be able to shoot at a quality that would make the film sellable.

I'd mainly be shooting relatively "simple" documentaries in SE Asia where I live a good part of the year.

Here are just a couple I was looking at:

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/canon-vixia-hv30/4505-6500_7-32786397.html?tag=also

and

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-handycam-hdr-sr11/4505-6500_7-32775808.html

are these cameras not even close to what I'd need?
 
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There is a book called "Shut up and Shoot, Documentary Guide" by Anthony Artis, ISBN # 978-0-240-80935-9. I just finished reading it. It is geared towards the non-technical documentary shooter. I highly recommend that you find the book and read it first, then buy your camera. The book will give you an idea of what other equipment you will need, so you can figure out how much you can spend on your camera and still get the bare essentials. The book also describes cameras and their features in a non-technical way.

I agree, and the author of "Shut up and Shoot" agrees that you must buy a video camera and get started, but there are other things you'll need and knowledge is power. Please see if you can find the book (or another good book), and spend some time reading before you blow your entire budget.

Doug
 
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You might also want to check out the author's website. He takes a no-nonsense approach to shooting. He recommends expensive gear only when it's the right tool for the job. He's definitely not into wasting money that could be better spent elsewhere. He puts heavy emphasis on sound, which is very important. URL: http://downanddirtydv.com/ ... I like his tag line "any budget, any camera, any time".
 
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