Which camera?

Hey all,

I have used my FCPX a few times, but always with borrowed cameras. I'm looking to buy my own nice video cameara. I'm thinking somewhere in the $1300-$2100 range. Can anyone give me a place to start looking for a good camera at about that price (that will also work with FCPX)?

Thanks!

Peace,
Beaton

What kind of stuff will you be shooting?

How will you be recording audio?

Is this budget just for the body or does that also include lenses?

Do you have access to lighting?

What about tripods and other gear like that?

Ill give it a shot!

With that range most likely your looking at a DSLR, but lets go through some options.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera - $1000

Max Frame size is 1920x1080.
Does Raw recording, so you can get the max data out of each frame
Small and compact
Lets you use different lenses

Canon 7D - $1500

Max frame size is 1920x1080
Does compression recording
can connect one microphone, hdmi out, easy access to shutter, iso, and aperture
Lets you use different lenses

Canon 60D - $900
I honestly don't know the difference as far as video(let me reiterate VIDEO), is concerned between the 60D and 7D...I don't think there is one, besides the 7D being built out of better material

GoPro Hero 3 - $400
Max frame size is 4096x2304
Does compression recording
Only FISHEYE lens
No control over shutter, iso, aperature
Frame rates can exceed up to 240fps..but the higher the frame rate there is a cost in frame size. 240 fps is at 720x480

Thats all i can think of in the range you specified....Sony and Panasonic make some decent ones as well, but they are usually run and gun news cameras...at least the look of them...but they will have more expandability into microphones and more storage and better battery life than the ones i listed. the ones I listed tend to let you get more creative, by either letting the cinematographer choose the lens, or let him/her place the camera in unique places to get some pretty breath-taking shots.

I would go with a DSLR before going with the Blackmagic Pocket.
Alone do to the access to Lens and accessories.

I'm embarrassed that I don't know more than I do about names/brands/specifications/whatnot, but I do understand some of course. I'll be using the camera to make short documentaries and short films, nothing too fancy.

I'd like to use a camera that has a little audio attachment piece like this one does: www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/prod...d_video_cameras/xa10

And yes, I'll need a microphone, too. Perhaps a clip-on corded one to use for interviews, and maybe another big fuzzy thing that mounts on top of the camera.

I do not need another tripod.

Yeah my budget for everything would probably be around $2200.

BMPocket has interchangeable lenses and works with accessories just like any DSLR. I'll be dumping my DSLRs for it when it ships.

The black magic pocket camera can actually take more lenses than other dslrs because its a micro four third mount. So you can get an adaptor for just about any lens out there. I think it also has some sort of audio input, not sure though.

The main issue with the camera will be the crop factor. It's a 16mm sensor so if you put a 10mm lens on it, it would be the same focal length as like a 25ish mm lens on like a canon 5D. I do a lot of wide angle close up shots so this camera won't work for that type of stuff, but it will be good for most other stuff.

The other downside of it being a 16mm sensor is that it doesn't pick up as much light so it's not going to be great in situations with low light.

Do you have a deadline you need to get this by? If not, I'd wait to see what the real world tests with this camera are.

I currently use a Panasonic GH2 and love it, especially since I could get the pocket camera and use the same lenses.

This was typed on an iPhone, please ignore parts that don't make sense.

I too like the BMPocket cam, but am slightly reticent regarding the sensor size which in addition to the issues listed above, I prefer the depth of field a larger sensor provides. Also the lack of global shutter is another concern.

However, I am attracted to a smaller camera rather than the large DSLR format, though I like the swivel screen.

The upshot is, there is no perfect camera... yet.