souleh 0 #1 February 10, 2004 (Told to post it over here, got the wrong forum.. whoops ) I'm making a small film for a project, and kinda need a video camera. I'm on a really tight budget, so need help and tips (please!) on getting the best bang I can for my buck. Second hand / ebay etc are no problem, I don't mind using those kind of resources. I've got my eye on a Canon MV1 (currently list price £115.00), is this camera any good? Has anyone used one? Ideally I'd like to get a Mini-DV camera to make editing easier and quality best, but it's no big issue as one of our guys can convert pretty much any format to digital anyway. I'd like it to give as clear (think TV-like?) picture as possible! ;) Alternatively has anyone got an old camera that just about fits these criteria they would want to sell me? I can cough up about £150 or £160 ($280/$300) at most, though obviously the less the better! Thanks in advance! 'buttplugs? where?' - geno Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #2 February 10, 2004 Think TRV for best features for money. The 14 and 19 are the two current ones but you can get basically the same for a less money. Then there's the PC series which are more ££ but smaller. Think slightly older for the best bargains such as the PC101 or PC6 upwards with a little drop in picture quality. BUY PAL not NTSC ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #3 February 10, 2004 ....if you are on a tight budget,,, AND if you have friends with cameras who are NOT using them now, in the winter,,,, maybe you can work a deal with one of them...... ( offer them coupons, for future pack jobs,,, later this year....) if they are video people,,they would likely appreciate an arrangement like that.... .. Plus then,,, you can become a bit more proficient with the camera,,, and see what features you may need or want,,, before laying our your own CASH,, for it... just a suggestion.... jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
souleh 0 #4 February 10, 2004 Big thanks to both of you. Unfortunately despite spendng large chunks of today trawling through auction sites, camera shops etc, I've not managed to find anything particularly useful to my budget One friend has a top of the range sony minidv cam, which he said we can use (great!), cost him about £1k - but we need multiple cameras for this one.. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2985420432&category=20333 I'm planning to bid on that. Seems a fairly good camera for the price (I'll probably max bid £160 or so) Any last minute 'NO! DONT DO IT!'s? Thanks again guys, Nick 'buttplugs? where?' - geno Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #5 February 10, 2004 Re; any last minute don't do this///////.... well maybe..... I don't know about a Canon Mini Dv...... Canon is Super for 35 mm SLR ( canon eos 2000 ) ... still cameras,, and now is good with their new digital stills,,,( 10 D and Eos digital ) but frankly I dunno about their video cams...... I am a Sony video camera owner,,, I have 3 mini dv units right now,,, they are durable and rugged and work very well in freefall,,, ( If you eventually think that you will use the camera while skydiving.).. but I can't vouch for the Canon video... A buddy of mine was using one,, the pic.. was OK....during ground shots,,,,. but the freefall footage seemed to have a lot of "tape flutter" during playback..... ( maybe not a problem for your movie project...). but again i am a sony man.... good luck..... jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icevideot 0 #6 February 10, 2004 there is a guy at my dz using one and he is learning 4-way video and practice tandems. The quality is way up from the last canon I saw but it still doesn't like low light very much and seems to adjust to changes a smidge slower. I say Sony all the way but would probably go JVC next. Just what I have seen and I don't know anything about their model numbers"... this ain't a Nerf world." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 February 10, 2004 QuoteI say Sony all the way but would probably go JVC next. JVC's have a reputation for the heads coming apart. They literally just stop working. I even had a friend that doesn't skydive have one quit on him. Moral...Don't buy JVC. I have a Sony PC-105 now and I jumped a Panasonic for over 100 jumps. The Panasonic worked well but of course you can't get all the toys such as DBoxs and Cam Eye. The lack of DBox eventually led to it's destruction at the hands of a Canadian. Watch my recently posted vid to see it happen....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
