Where to start?

[Hugo M]

I'm 16 in living in small town New Zealand. Recently decided after much day dreaming that I'll just get off my ass and make a feature film this year. Hooray, I'd rather you didn't tear my dreams to bits right now.

I've done some reading around and have knowledge about photography, which seems to be helping in reading up about film cameras. Presuming I already have what I need to edit as well as a crew and salvageable lights would I be needing anything else other than a 35mm lens (or 2), DOF Adapter, Mic (I'll just tape it to a broom) and MiniDV camera. Can I manage a beautiful looking film from that? How much money would I be needing to raise? I'm currently pennyless (Keep in mind that the $NZ is doing rather badly against the $US at the moment).

I keep seeing OK footage done with an GL2/XM2 and some good footage with Xl2s but then footage that matches those shot on an HV20. I've seen some pictures of pretty maxed out HV20s also, DOF adapter, Matte Box etc... A tad bewildered.

 

[thefilmgeek]

HV20 is a great camera, doesn't have oodles of manual control, though. While a 35mm adapter will afford you the opportunity for very shallow Depth of Field, it's not necessary. Great lighting and proper shots are what's gonna give you cinematic results, for the most part.

Keep in mind, have to have a script ready to shoot. You can have all the equipment in the world, but without a decent script to shoot, you aren't gonna go very far, hehe.

 

[Hugo M]

HV20 is a great camera, doesn't have oodles of manual control, though. While a 35mm adapter will afford you the opportunity for very shallow Depth of Field, it's not necessary. Great lighting and proper shots are what's gonna give you cinematic results, for the most part.

Keep in mind, have to have a script ready to shoot. You can have all the equipment in the world, but without a decent script to shoot, you aren't gonna go very far, hehe.

My 'style' if you will is with very shallow DOF, I try to use large apertures in all my photography, gives it a certain feel that I like. Would an HV20 blow up well on film in the 1/100 chance I get to that stage? And how lacking is it in manual controls?

 

[thefilmgeek]

I personally don't own an HV20/30 so all my information is second hand. From what I understand, it does in fact shoot 1920x1080 high definition resolution, so that's about as good as you're gonna get for blowing up to 35mm film, unless you start getting into like the RED cameras and shooting 4k.

Also, I'd check some specifications and specific camera forums on the manual controls... I know it won't afford you nearly as many manual controls as a big dog like the XH-A1, so you're still stuck with basically a consumer camcorder, as I see it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a cheaper consumer camera such as the HV20/30 won't perform in low light nearly as well like the XH-A1, or have as rich colors I'd assume.

The HV20 uses a single 2.96 megapixel CMOS sensor, as compared to something like the XH-A1's 3 CCD's.

As long as you aren't looking for a wide range of manual controls, richer colors (most likely), and definitely better low light performance, then an hv20 will do you good.

Correct me if I'm wrong as well, but the HV20 won't have an XLR input if you plan on recording to the camera, so you'll have to deal with RF interference, and you won't be able to power phantom mic's. You can still get an XLR mic to the camera I believe if you use an adapter (and the mic requires no phantom power) and it won't afford you the same RF protection that a real XLR input will, I don't believe.

It really comes down to what level of professionalism you're looking for in the camera, and sacrificing the ability to shoot in low-light much easier, and manual controls and inputs.

 

[Hugo M]

The goal is to shoot a film with as much professionalism as possible. Would aiming for an Xl2 be a good mid-point between the XH-A1 and HV20? And as lighting will be an issue on the film, the ability to shoot in low light would probably prove very beneficial (but I was under the impression CMOS sensors could pick up far more light but had more grain whereas CCD sensors had crisper and richer images but needed more light?)

I want to shoot some short films prior to filming also, but we have no useable camera, if I can figure out how much money we need to raise then at least we have something to work towards.

 

[thefilmgeek]

In my opinion, and I believe plenty others share it, getting something like the XL2 when you can spend the same money or less and get an XH-A1 would be ridiculous.

SD is shipping out these days. Everything is shifting toward HD. Even youtube displays HD video now.

You would really be doing your craft and work a disservice by investing 3k+ in an prosumer SD camera like the XL2.

Here is the first generation XH-A1: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447098-REG/Canon_1191B001_XH_A1_3CCD_HDV_Camcorder.html

It was recently replaced by the XH-A1s. The XH-A1 linked above is 2999.99, while the newer S-version is 3999.99.

For professionalism, I'd definitely invest the money in an XH-A1, personally it's my camera of choice for indie film and shorts, or any sort of video work.

 

[Hugo M]

In my opinion, and I believe plenty others share it, getting something like the XL2 when you can spend the same money or less and get an XH-A1 would be ridiculous.

SD is shipping out these days. Everything is shifting toward HD. Even youtube displays HD video now.

You would really be doing your craft and work a disservice by investing 3k+ in an prosumer SD camera like the XL2.

Here is the first generation XH-A1: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/447098-REG/Canon_1191B001_XH_A1_3CCD_HDV_Camcorder.html

It was recently replaced by the XH-A1s. The XH-A1 linked above is 2999.99, while the newer S-version is 3999.99.

For professionalism, I'd definitely invest the money in an XH-A1, personally it's my camera of choice for indie film and shorts, or any sort of video work.

I got confused with the Canon XL H1, but you're right the XHA1 is cheaper. What would be the best way to record sound?

 

[thefilmgeek]

Well, I am most definitely no sound expert. Hopefully someone will jump in and help out here, but I can give you my two cents.

I'd assume the best way to record sound is uncompressed, and then have it be 24bit, and 48hz or 96hz.

I'm not entirely sure if the XH-A1 records at that level, but I doubt it. I'm sure it compresses the sound.

Personally, I use an Edirol R-44 field audio recorder, and plug my XLR shotgun directly into that, and record audio seperately from the video. It's uncompressed 24bit/96hz which is what I use (has 48hz, too). It's roughly 900 bucks on B&H Photo, and comes with an SD card already for recording on to.