I Want To Buy A Consumer Camcorder With Professional Camcorder Quality. Suggestions? (more Bang For My Buck).?
I want to produce video footage that can be professionally broadcast on television, but I don’t have the $3,000 to spend. Are there any consumer camcorders (Handycams) that would produce the same quality? I have up to $1,400 to spend. I would prefer MiniDV or HDV.
It is not possible. Consumer cameras give you consumer lenses and image sensors. This results in consumer quality video. Professional grade camcorders use much better quality parts and much better settings. This results in much better quality and use for editing and distribution.
For $1,500, you can get a couple of professional camcorders in both HD and SD. For high definition, try the Sony HVR-HD1000 or the Panasonic Pro AG-DVC20. For standard definition, try the original Panasonic DVX100 or the Canon XLS1
*** You are on the right track! HDV (which is actually a robust form of miniDV) is the way to go for professional video and video editing. Dv tape technology may be slower than tapeless, but recording to tape gives you an immediate original which can be copied to a Master Copy for copyright control. The Master Can then be copied to one or more working copies which are used for capture, editing, and broadcast. In order to copyright a recording in tapeless format, you have to put it on something physical such as tape or DVD.
Canon HV30 or Sony HDR-HC9. Not quite “professional quality” but about as close as you can get.
If you use a good, sturdy, tripod (expect to spend at least $90) or SpiderBrace, and decent pro-grade mics (XLR mics require an XLR adapter like those from JuicedLink or BeachTek), you can get decent quality. NEVER shoot handheld.
As consumer cams, neither will do well in low light (lenses and imaging chips are too small).