How much can I get for $1500?

C

Co2

I need a camera, lenses, audio, lighting(?), accesories..ect

I'm sure I cant get everything I need for my budget so ill have to cut corners in some places. I'm starting from scratch.. I literally have nothing film related and I dont want to go over budget.

I was looking at getting a Gh2 or maybe a T3i

I'm assuming I can get away with using just one lense (50mm)?


Suggestions for what i should get / do.. would be very helpful. I have been researching cameras for days now and I would really like to figure out what would be best for me on a low budget. I cant afford a $1000 camera with nothing left for lenses, batterys, memory, audio... ect


Thanks
 
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Hello new dude! :cool:

Get a used T3i body, an adapter, and some Canon FD lenses. Links below:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Processor-Vari-Angle-Body/dp/B004M170YC
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/canon-fd-35-105mm-f-3-5

Spend the rest of money on audio.

Here's a good starter kit:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/551607-REG/Audio_Technica_AT_875_Shotgun_Microphone.html

For lighting, go to a local hardware store, and pick up some clamp lights. You can then buy C-stands, which can be used for both audio and lighting.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cla...clamp+lights&rls=en&tbm=shop&tbs=vw:l,p_ord:r

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=c+stands&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Or you could build some DIY stands:

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=DIY+lighting+stand&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

------

Also, remember:

When you begin working on bigger projects, do not buy and handle the equipment yourself. Hire other people to rent and operate equipment. A DP will get better visual results than you. A boom op and sound recordist will get better audio than you.

-----

Also, remember to get a tripod and rig!

I recommend the $130 Ravelli AVTP tripod.

http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-AVTP-Professional-Camera-Tripod/dp/B00139W0XM

It's built like a tank and has a really smooth pan and tilt. You can also mount a jib onto it when you are ready.

This is a nice piece of gear as well:

http://www.amazon.com/JRFOTO-RIG-Follow-Focus-Counterweight/dp/B005UF3G2Y

Best of luck with filmmaking!
 
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Audio alone can easily eat up your entire $1,500 budget. As my handle (Alcove Audio) indicates I would put my resources into sound. But the issue, as I point out continuously, are the techniques and skills required, which are just as (if not more) important than the gear. You can have $10,000 worth of audio gear - or camera and lighting equipment - and it is almost useless unless you know how and when to use it, because YOU will not be running it.

Okay, now that that is out of the way, here are the absolute raw audio basics:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/551607-REG/Audio_Technica_AT_875_Shotgun_Microphone.html - $550

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/821259-REG/Tascam_DR_40_DR_40_4_Track_Handheld_Digital.html - $185

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/826148-REG/Tascam_BP_6AA_BP_6AA_External_Battery_Pack.html - $35

TOTAL = $770

That's half of your $1,500. Why?

Your project will only look as good as it sounds, because
"Sound is half of the experience."

Okay, you want ultra low budget?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/937192-REG/rode_videomic_booming_kit_windbuster.html - $190

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._07MKII_DR_07mkII_Portable_Digital_Audio.html - $150

TOTAL = $340

You'll potentially have to deal with RF and EM interference and other audio issues.



And we haven't touched on audio post............
 
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I know it would be best to get others who specialize in the equipment to use the equipment but i figured i would gain much more know how by using it myself.. plus its cheaper that way.

I did realize how much bad audio could ruin everything thats why i was hoping to be able to have enough for a decent camera/lense and audio. I might be able to get extras for my birthday or something.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for the right audio to use.

Any suggestions on the camera?
 
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Co2 said:
Any suggestions on the camera?
Click to expand...

Get a used T3i body, an adapter, and some Canon FD lenses. Links below:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Processor-Vari-Angle-Body/dp/B004M170YC
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/canon-fd-35-105mm-f-3-5

For lighting, go to a local hardware store, and pick up some clamp lights. You can then buy C-stands, which can be used for both audio and lighting.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cla...clamp+lights&rls=en&tbm=shop&tbs=vw:l,p_ord:r

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=c+stands&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Or you could build some DIY stands:

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=DIY+lighting+stand&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Also, remember to get a tripod and rig!

I recommend the $130 Ravelli AVTP tripod.

http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-AVTP-Professional-Camera-Tripod/dp/B00139W0XM

It's built like a tank and has a really smooth pan and tilt. You can also mount a jib onto it when you are ready.

This is a nice piece of gear as well. Not as important as audio, but it never hurts to have it...

http://www.amazon.com/JRFOTO-RIG-Follow-Focus-Counterweight/dp/B005UF3G2Y

Best of luck with filmmaking![/QUOTE]
 
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I am not sure if someone mentioned it before but getting only one lens such as 50mm on crop sensor which is the T3i is not a good idea since this means that getting wide angle would be quite hard and some shots would be completely impossible if you're shooting let's say in a small room .

I would recommend getting the T3i with the 18-55 kit lens . Sure it is not perfect but it covers nice amount of focal lenghts and I think it is the cheapest for the price as sometimes it goes directly with the T3i for very low cost .

Remember that lighting is extremly important .

Also I know that Alcove will verbaly rape me for what I'm about to say but spending so much money on audio at the beginning is just waste of money .

Sound is a complete new artform by itself and if you learn to operate camera and make good lighting while trying to do sound everything will be just a big mess.

Spend money on camera and lighting , make some silence films and be creative with the audio in post . Learn to tell a story first , because you'll fail horribly doing that at the beginning . At one point you'll get very good and you'll have to work a lot on the audio as well since it is extremly important ,but this is not the case when you first start out .

Getting 500 dollar audio gear is not going to make your sound great , you'll have to work on that a lot , just like with the camera and lighting . The question is what is more important for you at the beginning ,having a good sound or just learning to visually tell a story .
 
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Chimp.. thank you for the suggestions, but i was thinking.. if a used gh2 only costs $100 more shouldnt I go for the gh2? I thought it was a much better camera. Also HOLY HELL that canon glass is EXPENSIVE!!! Why so much? I yhought there was really good quality cheap glass out there.. is that not the case?
 
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I have two of these and the sound is very decent:

Rode Camera Mounted VideoMic + Auray Fuzzy Windbuster Bundle. = $160

I have one of these and it's great for the price:

Tascam DR-100mkII - Portable 2-Channel Linear PCM Recorder

Windbuster, windshield, deadcat etc. Whatever it's called, don't try to film outside without one unless there is zero wind. You will regret it.

Dont forget to price in media storage and batteries. Be really careful what spare batteries you buy. Some will only last a few months or even weeks.

I've tried Wasabi Batteries and so far have been pleased. Previously, I bought batteries from Ebay and they did not last long at all.
 
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Hi Co2 - I would respectfully disagree with my colleagues. If you want a camera that can record for more than 12 minutes continuously, has a viewfinder that actually works while you are shooting video, records at 1080/60p for smooth action and/or slow motion, has touch screen autofocus, has wi-fi/NFC for wireless backup and control, has focus peaking and doesn't need a follow focus to maintain continuous autofocus, you don't want the T3i.

Instead, I would get a camera that can shoot continuously for hours, has a viewfinder that is usable for video (like a camcorder) - shoots at up to 1080/60p, has continuous touch-screen autofocus, wi-fi/NFC and focus peaking - the $638 (with kit lens) Panasonic G6.

So, for about, $1048, I recommend:

Panasonic G6 with the 14-42 kit lens for $638 on sale

Rode VideoMic with Rycote shock mount for $149

Zoom H1 recorder for $99.99

Sescom cable to connect the output of your recorder to the input of your camera (with headphone output) - $35.95

Fancier-branded version of the Ravelli AVTP tripod - $124.99

You'll need something to mount the recorder and mic on the camera. Recently, I have become a big fan of the approach outlined in this video from Professor Duy Linh Tu at the Columbia School of Journalism: http://vimeo.com/75630564

You will need an $18 Kamerar hot shoe extension and a $14.49 shoe adapter for your recorder to make this work - which will take you up to $1085, but you will have a setup that will give you great 1080/60p or 24p video and decent dual-system sound with an in-camera backup track.

Here is how I do it on my Panasonic GH3:

P1120288.JPG


If you want to step up to the GH3, it will cost you $998 body-only on sale. It will give you an all-metal splashproof body, a headphone jack and a choice of codecs and bit-rates up to 72mbps. You will lose NFC and focus peaking, though.

You can start with a 14-42mm system lens for $125, but it will take any manual Nikon or Canon FD lens with an inexpensive adapter.

Here is what the Panasonic G6 can do with the 14-42mm kit lens:

http://vimeo.com/73561266

Here is what the GH3 can do:

http://vimeo.com/49420579

http://vimeo.com/59543338


I didn't mention the moire problem with the Canons, but here are a couple of comparisons between the Canon 60D and the Panasonic GH2 - the moire comparison between the Canon T3i and Panasonic G6 should be about the same:

http://vimeo.com/20565849

http://vimeo.com/21962491

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
 
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