My wife has recently passed her teaching exam and satisfied a lifelong dream to become a dance teacher. Consequently she is competing as a professional ballroom dancer often now and I would like to capture as much as possible on film. Unfortunately I still use a regular film SLR camera which still produces spectacular pictures and, as such, I haven't looked for a new still camera in years and I have never looked for a video camera.
So I'm interested in suggestions. Suggestions about cameras, suggestions about lenses, suggestions about websites or shops I can visit for more info, lots of suggestions.
I don't expect to spend much less than $1000 dollars but I don't want to spend the $3500 that some of those large semi-professional looking sony's and canons are unless absolutely necessary. Ideally, something which had lense changing capabilities as competitions can be held from small rooms requiring a wide angle lens right through to large auditoriums requiring longer distance lenses. It also doesn't have to be tiny but I'd rather not need to bench 400 just to hold it up for a day of competition.
I invite your input and thank you for the info.
Bruce
EDIT: It also needs to be very good in low light situations as most ballroom competitions are not exactly brightly lit environments
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I use a Panasonic DVX100 for home use because of it's excellent white balance (and quick also). One of the features I like is that it has a fairly wide angle.
What I do recommend in your case is to research a few 3CCD cameras and try them out in person - rent them if you have to.
Set yourself a budget ahead of time - this will help determine models you should be looking at. Don't forget to budget for a tripod, bag, extra battery and charger, light, maybe even a mike....
Most consumer or prosumer camcorders do not have interchangable lenses, but they may have wideangle or telephoto attachments.
Based on your budget, I think you could do with a high-end consumer camera or a low-end prosumer camera. Any of the 3CCD Panasonics, Sonys or Canons with firewire should be fine.
I would also recommend some sort of a stabilizer for smooth action shots. Hand held stuff just won't cut it, especially with a small lightweight camera. I have the SteadyTracker Xtreme, but the 'light' version may be okay for your use.
You can get the SteadyTracker and all kinds of other DV gear (including Macs) at the DV Shop.
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Most consumer or prosumer camcorders do not have interchangable lenses, but they may have wideangle or telephoto attachments.
Based on your budget, I think you could do with a high-end consumer camera or a low-end prosumer camera.
Yes I agree but you should check out the new Sony Hc-1, it is a HD camera but it will record in DV and it seems to have everything you need, I know I want one.
This thread is a bit out of date...but I've been away for a while and I thought I'd reply to it since I've been deeply into video for the past decade.
For what it's worth...here goes.
3CCD is wayyy better than a single CCD. You WILL notice the difference in the footage. Chip size and density is also important. As is reliability. Your camera won't do you much good if it breaks so often that you are afraid to take it out of the camera bag....
Good news...right now you can get a smokin good Panasonic 3CCD mini DV video camera for quite a bit less than a grand these days. And it's tiny! I only use the semi pro stuff so I don't recall the model number, but it's the only small 3CCD camera available these days so any knowlegeable salesman can probably show you one at any of the bigger electronics stores.
Better yet...it's a Panasonic! So, unlike the semi-reliable Canon or the utterly despicable Sony, it won't break when an errant butterfly lands on it.
3CCD is wayyy better than a single CCD. You WILL notice the difference in the footage. Chip size and density is also important. As is reliability. Your camera won't do you much good if it breaks so often that you are afraid to take it out of the camera bag....
Not all 3CCD cameras are equal and the less expensive ones will rarely be better than the 1 CCD models in the low-end price rance - you should have a look at some of the reviews of those models - they don't do too well...
Sony is a reliable brand -- regardless of what MacNutt says. I've yet to have any issues with any of the cameras/camcorders I've used. One of the older cameras I have, a TRV110 has been used quite extensively (over 200 hours of video shot) and has traveled a lot of miles. Mind you, it's was only a consumer-level camera, but I've tried out various Sony 3CCD cameras (I forget the models) at the Ottawa Screen Training Centre and TV Factory (local Ottawa video production house) and they proved to be quite good -- even spending 3 hours in the cold weather!
If I was shopping for a new camcorder in your price range...I'd consider this one.
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I am assuming you will want to edit the video you shoot ... if that is the case, stay clear of DVD camcorders since they typically do not have a Firewire output.
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