Advice please on CCD Digital Video Camera

HI All - weve been asked to purchase a camera on behalf of a client to video some industrial machines. Im also interested as we will be able to use the camera ourselves possibly for some adult content shoots etc.
It must have a hard disk drive (we assume this is the best way to do as opposed to tape or dvd disk) , be CCD or is it 3ccd etc.
Most the filming will be outdoors for this corporate client but if we use it too them some will be indoors etc. Weve heard ccd is good. Weve heard good things about:
http://www.sony.com.au/dis/catalog/p...tegoryId=30727
Also Panasonic and JVC too ?
Any advice and recommendations ? Oh and it must be below $2000 Australian Dollars.

if your client will be primarily shooting indoors and does not wish to spend time learning about lighting and buying a light kit, if you're going with CCD the most important things will be the size of the CCD and size of the lens. bigger CCDs allow more light into the camcorder and so does a bigger lens. most consumer/prosumer camcorders or even digital cameras are not great in low-light conditions because they generally have small CCDs (1/6 or 1/5 of an inch each) and a smaller lens opening.

i don't see a point in going with a harddrive rather than mini dvs from what you've said, and although i'm not an expert, i've been doing a lot of shooting. if you are trying to stay within a budget and get the best camcorder you can perhaps you could consider mini dv camcorders.

what will your client do with these videos - will he/she need HD?

Thanks for feedback - generally they will be either burning the finished shoot onto dvd or most likely editing it down and posting on their web site as an online demo of the machine.

Basically theres so many variables and everyones got different opinions that we are so confused ! :) It does seem though if we take everyones comments into consideration that 3ccd is good ? most conflict on whether we should go with HD, DVD or disc. And either Sony, Panasonic or JVC for the price limit we have are the best which is about $1400.00 USD.
Any recommendations of models would be brilliant ?

Peter,

You know me from Bostonboyz.

I ALWAYS loved the Canon XL series. They have bumped up in price. But damn I have never seen a better lens than in that baby.

You may shop around and find older XL models at a decent price.

That camera rocks my world.....

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. EVERYTHING!!!!!

Hi yeah I do :) We looked around at second hand but have strict instructions from client to not buy second hand so that rules out the Canon XL series :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by peterf

Hi yeah I do :) We looked around at second hand but have strict instructions from client to not buy second hand so that rules out the Canon XL series :(

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Buy it NEW. It's worth every penny. That's an amazing cam.

yeah right ! its like $6000 to $10,000 above the budgeted price ! Unless you want to buy it for me !

You can get for around 3,000 US...

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...-Camcorder.htm

Ok
The XL2 For $2700
http://www.thecamerapros.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=282

Great fucking camera. I may buy an XL2, I love my XL1 so much. Have two for some better "money" shots.

Fuck. Are these guys for real? The GL series is good as well...
http://www.thecamerapros.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=281

The GL series looks more realistic anyone know if they are good ?

Remember my clients buying it not us so there limit is $1400.00 USD.

Seems the GL Series is not available in Australia - http://www.canon.com.au/products/cam...ras_video.html

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/iss...meracorner.htm

that's a review. They are good.

Damn. That's a nice camera. What I ALWAYS loved about the Canon is the lense. Great Great Great in low light. Could never beat the image on anything even close in price.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_XM2_ca...-31054648.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_GL2/45....html?tag=also

What's the exchange rate? Can you buy from US? They are both under 2k usa

We can spend $1400.00 USD. I dont believe we can or should buy from USA what with risk and customs.