Hey Everybody,
I'm in a real jam. I'm scheduled to start shooting a feature film in six days, and the guy who owns the camera we were going to use has officially dropped off the face of the earth. Just disappeared. Won't return phone calls, won't respond to emails or online messages, no one can get a hold of him or has seen him in a week - he's basically disappeared completely, and taken the camera I was relying on to shoot with him.
So this puts me in the awkward position of being forced to make a move I wasn't planning on making for another six months or so - buying a camera. Unfortunately, I haven't budgeted for this, and we're out of money. However, my girlfriend has been amazing enough to offer to put the cost of a camera on her credit card (as mine has already been maxed out for this movie). So I have about $1,500 to spend on a camera; maybe up to $2,000, but no more than that, and if in any way possible, much less.
In the past I've worked with a Panasonic DVX-100A, a Canon XL2, and a couple other lower grade DV cameras. I'd like to purchase something that I've already used in the past, but I get that beggars can't choosers. I was also looking at Sony VX 2100s. But to be honest, I'm no camera expert, so I'm open to suggestions.
I've already accepted the fact that this is going to push back the start of filming, so buying online is probably the way to go; but I need to keep my time overages as low as possible, or I'm going to start losing actors. Also, since cost is such a major issue, I was considering purchasing something used. I've had friends who have gotten great deals on good cameras on eBay; but I've also heard absolute horror stories of people paying for a camera and then never getting it, or getting the camera, and having the heads be so dirty that the footage is unusable, etc.
So I guess my questions are this:
1. What camera could I get in my price range? I need to be able to shoot in at least 3CCD DV at 24p, and go 16:9 or 4:3.
2. Should I even be considering buying something used? If so, how many hours is too many to be logged on a camera before it's unsafe to buy? Is there any way to tell if the heads are in good order without seeing it?
EDIT: I've also got a line on a Panasonic AG-DVC60. Has anyone worked with this camera? Would you advise it?
Does anyone have any advice, or experience I could learn from?
Thanks for your help guys!
I'm in a real jam. I'm scheduled to start shooting a feature film in six days, and the guy who owns the camera we were going to use has officially dropped off the face of the earth. Just disappeared. Won't return phone calls, won't respond to emails or online messages, no one can get a hold of him or has seen him in a week - he's basically disappeared completely, and taken the camera I was relying on to shoot with him.
So this puts me in the awkward position of being forced to make a move I wasn't planning on making for another six months or so - buying a camera. Unfortunately, I haven't budgeted for this, and we're out of money. However, my girlfriend has been amazing enough to offer to put the cost of a camera on her credit card (as mine has already been maxed out for this movie). So I have about $1,500 to spend on a camera; maybe up to $2,000, but no more than that, and if in any way possible, much less.
In the past I've worked with a Panasonic DVX-100A, a Canon XL2, and a couple other lower grade DV cameras. I'd like to purchase something that I've already used in the past, but I get that beggars can't choosers. I was also looking at Sony VX 2100s. But to be honest, I'm no camera expert, so I'm open to suggestions.
I've already accepted the fact that this is going to push back the start of filming, so buying online is probably the way to go; but I need to keep my time overages as low as possible, or I'm going to start losing actors. Also, since cost is such a major issue, I was considering purchasing something used. I've had friends who have gotten great deals on good cameras on eBay; but I've also heard absolute horror stories of people paying for a camera and then never getting it, or getting the camera, and having the heads be so dirty that the footage is unusable, etc.
So I guess my questions are this:
1. What camera could I get in my price range? I need to be able to shoot in at least 3CCD DV at 24p, and go 16:9 or 4:3.
2. Should I even be considering buying something used? If so, how many hours is too many to be logged on a camera before it's unsafe to buy? Is there any way to tell if the heads are in good order without seeing it?
EDIT: I've also got a line on a Panasonic AG-DVC60. Has anyone worked with this camera? Would you advise it?
Does anyone have any advice, or experience I could learn from?
Thanks for your help guys!
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