What are the best Pro Video Cameras today under 12K

[Eric Addison]

John,

Make sure you have the PPro CS3 3.2 update – that should allow you to have native XDCAM support. Just import in the folders from the SxS cards and your editing – no transcoding, re-wrapping, or anything like that.

I’ve got PPro CS4 on my laptop and I did a shoot with the EX1. While on location, we could pull the cards from the cameras and look at clips from the card on the laptop in PPro, and even edit quick sequences to make sure footage matched and would cut later. In my opinion, PPro has the best XDCAM EX workflow…as for the EX cameras – great cameras.

—Eric

[John Reynolds]

Thanks Eric,

Your right. After going back and trying it again it worked. Didn’t realize the update fixed that problem. Thank you so very much. Do you have any experience working with the Sony EX-3? If so any comments on any of the improvements they made on it? Or drawbacks? Is it ergonomically any better than the EX-1?

John

[Brian Barkley]

Having the right camera is only half of the game. Tiffen has some great filters you might want to try out. When shooting interviews, the use of cucaloris’s, colored gels, etc. can enhance the scene. The correct angle and intensity of the main light, back light, background light, fill light, etc. And don’t forget a good tripod. There is so much more involved in getting a good image other than a good camera. Well, Craig will hopefully weigh in on this.

I have found that many young people getting into the video business these days do not have the patience to learn the business from the ground up . . . OJT (on the job training) was a ‘must’ in the old days of film. But buying an expensive video camera and getting the right exposure makes one just another cameraman in my opinion. There is so much drab & boring camera work out there . . .

[John Reynolds]

Hey Guys…I really appreciate your comments on my post but I think we have gotten off the main path to my question. I don’t see any relevance at all to this answer on my question What are the best Pro Video Cameras today under 12K?

[Craig Seeman]

[John Reynolds] “What are the best Pro Video Cameras today under 12K?”

There is no “best.”
each have advantages and disadvantages and, at times, the very same feature can be either/or depending on the circumstance.

Personally I think you asked the question the wrong way which I alluded to before.

If you went to each forum and asked why they chose their camera over others in that price range you’d get a good compiled list.

Maybe it’s because the area I work in as a shooter (and editor) is as a video journalist, I think what question one asks is mission critical to getting the story.

[Brian Barkley]

OK, this is the camera I am recommending to you. I saw it at NAB, and it is the best bang for the buck that I have seen to date . . . and you’ll be getting the very latest camera that JVC has to offer:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606888-REG/JVC_GY_HM700L17_GY_HM700L17_ProHD_Solid_State_Camcorder.html

It is true 1080p

True, it has 1/3″ chips instead of 12″ like the Sony EX-3, but the image I saw at NAB was excellent. If you are shooting outdoors or a lit set, this would look as good as the EX-3. The EX-3 might be better in available light conditions, if those conditions were very low light.

[Craig Seeman]

But there other differences I’m still finding out about in addition to chip size and still some questions I haven’t seen direct comparisons for.

HM700 has no interval recording (no time lapse mode).

Overcrank maxes at 720p24/48 compared p24/60 for EX

Overcrank does NOT record at higher data rate. It records at 35mbps. In other words. HM 720p24/48 records at 35mbps and would play at 17.5mbps. EX 720p24/48 records at 70mbps and plays at 35mbps.
A friend with HM did a record test and found the card filled at the same rate overcrank or not. With EX if you’re at double frame rate the card will fill twice as fast.

There is certainly much to like about the HM but I thought I’d make the above clear.

HM has balanced shoulder mount

Records 24/48 or 30/60 to SDHC (but at lower data rate than EX)

I believe it has a movable “spot meter” (EX is always center)

_______

[Brian Barkley] “True, it has 1/3″ chips instead of 12″ like the Sony EX-3”
To me this is a BIG deal. I want the Depth of Field control. To me that’s an important part of “film look” and Story telling (focusing the viewer).

[Brian Barkley] “It is true 1080p “
Can you point to pixel size of sensor. EX is 1920×1080. I don’t believe the HM has 1920×1080 sensors but I’m willing to be proven wrong.

Also I’d love to see a low light comparison. 1/2″ chips tend to have much better light sensitivity due to the basic physics involved.

[Eric Addison]

The camera that fits your price range that I’m most excited about is the new Panasonic HPX-300. So much to love about the camera. Yes, it has a 1/3″ chip, but the images look great (that I’ve seen). And it does AVC-Intra.

And with Panasonic releasing the P2 E cards, the media to record to is now going to be much more affordable.

I think, John, that it all depends on your workflow and preferences. You need to really go out and shoot with the cameras you’re interested in, and then work with the footage in post to see what you like. Every camera (like every NLE) has it’s strong points and it’s weak points.

—Eric

[John Reynolds]

Brian…Yes I was looking at that model. Thanks for sharing. I do a lot of concerts in low light so I will take that into consideration.

John

[John Reynolds]

Thanks Eric….really appreciate you taking the time to answer me.