Need Advice - Used High End Video Camera

[JLegnon]

My friend and I are getting into making Music Videos . We've got the software and are learning it , We also have the lighting too . Last thing we need is a High End video camera . We want to go with an older video camera used on Ebay because budget is pretty low . Is there a website out there that we can use to research older high end video cameras , so we can find a good used one on Ebay ? Thanks ,

[naripeddi]

For video cameras, the site www.camcorderinfo.com is pretty good.

[kpmedia]

(1) Are you looking to use tape, or go tapeless?
(2) HD or SD?

Remember while tapeless HD sounds nice, there's some really good SD cameras out there. Resolution from a cheap cam can look the same as SD from a good one! It's easy to make bad assumptions with photo and video. And you may not "need" something, but instead want it. Focus on the needs.

I have some thoughts, but you'll need to narrow it down.

[naripeddi]

kp, sorry for referring the OP to an external site. Since he specifically asked for a site name, I gave it.

[kpmedia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by naripeddi

kp, sorry for referring the OP to an external site. Since he specifically asked for a site name, I gave it.

Oh, it's a good site, no doubt.
But I give custom advice. Sites like that just give raw info. Sometimes it's an info overload.

That's the difference at The Digital FAQ.

We help individuals.

[JLegnon]

Thanks for the help guys !

Heres narrowing it down ,

Tapeless. Full HD. Budget $500-600 , New or Used on Ebay .

its mainly for use with a green screen. We're using a Canon FS 200 and whenever doing fast motion we get jagged artifacts when keying out the green screen whereas a Sony cybershot DSC N2 doesn't have the problem but video quality on the Sony isn't good enough. Either way both cameras are not full HD.

[lordsmurf]

For that budget, and for the needs described, what about a DSLR if tripod mounted. (Without, and it's no longer a good idea, due to rolling shutter.)
A camera that's HD, and good, is probably a few grand. The older SD cams are going to be what you'd get that cheap, and good.

[thecoalman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

The older SD cams are going to be what you'd get that cheap, and good.

Canon GL2 still sells for $1500, actually one of the best investments I ever made as far as maintaining it's value. You can get it at Sears for $4K........

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0125xMPALLx028

Quote:

Tapeless.

Don't shy away from tape, last I researched it which was a few years ago HDV on tape was still superior to the flash HD camcorders. That may have changed and looking over the pro video cameras available at B&H I don't see a lot of them still offering tape. That may work to your advantage because the used tape ones might be cheaper and actually superior to the older flash ones and $500 or $600 isn't much of budget to work with.

Quality aside the one advantage flash has is convenience for transferring files however if you're working in a studio environment you can avoid the tape altogether and record direct to HDD on a laptop or computer.

I'd also seriously consider LS's advice on the DSLR, I've seen some fantastic video produced from them plus you get a DSLR etc. That opens a lot of doors with lenses becsue I can almost guarantee you aren't going to find a decent camcorder with interchangeable lenses for that price even one that is SD and used.

[JLegnon]

Thanks for all the advice . I'm researching the Canon GL2 and a DSLR .

[thecoalman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLegnon

I'm researching the Canon GL2

The GL2 is great camcorder but remember it's SD and the lens is attached, there is mount on the front for attaching other lenses and accessories but they go over the hard mounted one. I see them on Ebay going for about $500 or $600 used. When the GL2 first came on the market it was probably about $3K. The next model up has detachable lenses but it also retailed for a few thousand more.

This is what the GL2 brings to the table:



There is a short DV-AVI sample here where that screenshot was taken from:

http://www.nepadigital.com/reencode/avidv.avi

[kpmedia]

I still think the GL2 looks excellent, SD or not.
Sometimes what makes a camera good is more than simply having "resolution".

[thecoalman]

Here's few more, this first one is deinterlaced:












Really low light:

[JLegnon]

wow , those pics look good . That dog pic looks like it was taken from a TV show sitcom .

[thecoalman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLegnon

wow , those pics look good . That dog pic looks like it was taken from a TV show sitcom .

That's Sally, deceased for some years now. I like to use that picture becsue it's a great example of detail.

The GL2 was actually used for some shows. I know the original half hour "jackass" used it and there was some other show that was actually more main stream and popular but I can't remember what it was.

FYI I looked on Ebay and the XL1 which is it's big brother is in your price range too. That's the real deal.

[JLegnon]

The XL1 looks bad ass !

Have any of you guys used the Go Pro Hero 3 ? http://gopro.com/hd-hero3-cameras

[NJRoadfan]

A friend of mine just got the Go Pro 3. the 4k support is a gimmick. Don't expect quality from a camera with a tiny lens and sensor. The camera is marketed for action shots and durability, not image quality. A 3CCD/CMOS camera with a real lens like the Canon will crush it in image quality.

[JLegnon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJRoadfan

A friend of mine just got the Go Pro 3. the 4k support is a gimmick. Don't expect quality from a camera with a tiny lens and sensor. The camera is marketed for action shots and durability, not image quality. A 3CCD/CMOS camera with a real lens like the Canon will crush it in image quality.

Yeah that Cannon is bad ass and looks like the one to get .

[JLegnon]

So I found out Tokio Hotel used the Cannon XL2 to record their first music video " Durch den Monsun " , the German version of Monsoon .
Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Sy5-sOodA

Then theres a making of that video where you can see the Cannon XL2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQaF7LoK4j0

Can anyone tell what lens they are using on the Camera ?

[kpmedia]

Is it just me, or is that video vertically squished?