Must Have Video Equipment

[TropixxxStudios]

Same Cam as Bass PV-GS250, I know she knows what she’s doing so that did make this easy for me :thumbsup:

A good choice if you are going to take advantage of all the manual control features it has. However, if you are the kind of guy that shoots mainly in "automatic" mode, you might want to check out the PV-GS300. Same basic camera, a lot less $$, fewer manual overrides. It does seem to do better in low light as well. We use the PV-GS300 to teach our entry and mid-skill level EFP (Electronic Field Production) class.

[basschick]

i've read that the 300 has virtually the same video quality as the 250. have you found that to be true?

btw, you can't beat manual white balance, imo.

A good choice if you are going to take advantage of all the manual control features it has. However, if you are the kind of guy that shoots mainly in "automatic" mode, you might want to check out the PV-GS300. Same basic camera, a lot less $$, fewer manual overrides. It does seem to do better in low light as well. We use the PV-GS300 to teach our entry and mid-skill level EFP (Electronic Field Production) class.

[maxpower]

A good choice if you are going to take advantage of all the manual control features it has. However, if you are the kind of guy that shoots mainly in "automatic" mode, you might want to check out the PV-GS300. Same basic camera, a lot less $$, fewer manual overrides. It does seem to do better in low light as well. We use the PV-GS300 to teach our entry and mid-skill level EFP (Electronic Field Production) class.

Ya I am looking at both, just the 250 sounds better in the long run, but I might still go with the 300. I really dont know, what do you think is better about the 250?

[TropixxxStudios]

i've read that the 300 has virtually the same video quality as the 250. have you found that to be true?

btw, you can't beat manual white balance, imo.

Yes, and in fact I think they use the same 'core' (in terms of chips, opticals, etc.) but I could be wrong.

And yes, you can not beat manual white balance. You also lose the focus ring, analog to digital pass through, and some other "prosumer" features. But if your focus is budget, and you are entry level with no experience...it could still be a good choice.

That being said, if you have the dough, go 250. In fact, I see on some sites they are selling below the newer 300. Go figure. The 250 will be a camera you can grow with as you learn to manipulate image control.

Good Luck.

[maxpower]

Yes, and in fact I think they use the same 'core' (in terms of chips, opticals, etc.) but I could be wrong.

And yes, you can not beat manual white balance. You also lose the focus ring, analog to digital pass through, and some other "prosumer" features. But if your focus is budget, and you are entry level with no experience...it could still be a good choice.

That being said, if you have the dough, go 250. In fact, I see on some sites they are selling below the newer 300. Go figure. The 250 will be a camera you can grow with as you learn to manipulate image control.

Good Luck.

Ok then I was on the right track, it is wierd but I can get a 250 for less than the 300.

[TropixxxStudios]

Ya I am looking at both, just the 250 sounds better in the long run, but I might still go with the 300. I really dont know, what do you think is better about the 250?

In a nutshell, the 250 gives you a shitload more of manual settings. In the start, you might not use them at all...but as you learn more about videography, you will appreciate things like the manual focus ring, wb settings, etc. etc.

[TropixxxStudios]

Ok then I was on the right track, it is wierd but I can get a 250 for less than the 300.

Thats because they stopped making them. So they are on closeout at most places.

[maxpower]

Thats because they stopped making them. So they are on closeout at most places.

This so make we want to order this thing now, sounds like this is a really good time to pick one up

[longboardjim]

ooh... ME too please!

regular or decafeinated..err..starbucks or seattle? :fool:

jim

[gaybucks_chip]

Maxpower,
Also, to get the best image, you should ALWAYS turn OFF image stabilazation, etc. So it doesn't matter if the camera has that or not.

Hey, Michael,

I know this is true if it's digital image stabilization, which actually "stabilizes" by blurring adjacent pixels, thus blurring the image. But on newer, higher end cameras, such as the Canon XL-2 and Panasonic HVX and DVX, the image stabilization is optical rather than digital and actually does an amazing job of improving handheld shots. There's no loss of sharpness with optical stabilization; even the HD cameras have it.

Invest in a fluid tripod ($300+) or a steadycam rather than rely on camera image stablization. A great steadycam will cost anywhere from $500+, but you can build one yourself for about $20.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

We have a couple of these for our mini camcorders, and they work great. Only problem is, you can't get through airport security with them... they have to go as checked baggage, and even when they get checked, they get looked at VERY carefully... I think they assume they're bombs. For the larger camcorders (DVX-100 and HVX-200), we use the DV-Rig Pro (www.dvtek.com) which is almost as good as a true ($2000) steadycam in terms of stability, if used by a good cameraperson.

[maxpower]

Have you used the 250 or 300 Chip? Am I going to have problems with the image stabilization of these models? :crybaby:

[gaybucks_chip]

Image stabilization on both of those are digital, so you don't want to use it.

If you want optical image stabilization, I haven't seen it on any lower priced camcorders. I'm pretty sure you have to step up into the $1200 and up category. An excellent choice if you want to spend that much is the Canon GL. I know a lot of people that shoot adult content on GLs.

However... if you practice and use both hands and learn to brace your camera against your body, you can actually get pretty steady handheld shots even with the smaller cameras and no steadicam.

Also, I wanted to echo Michael's point on lighting. I would much rather have a less expensive camera and excellent lighting than a fabulous camera and shitty lighting. You'll spend some money for good lighting, but it's a wise investment... I'm always amazed at how poor the lighting is on the majority of gay adult content I've seen.

[gaybucks_chip]

Sorry, I didn't completely answer the question above.

We own two 300s, one is with Skyler for him to shoot content for his site, and one we keep as a b-roll camera. They work well, and i'm surprised at the quality of the image from these cameras. There is a noticeable difference between these and the DVX, but the DVX is almost ten times more in cost.

We also have a piece of shit JVC bottom-of-the-line DV camcorder that we use exclusively for capturing. It is marginally OK for outdoor work in bright sunlight, but the color rendition is abysmally bad in anything other than very well lit settings, and not great in any setting. By contrast, we can intercut B-roll footage from the 300 with footage from the DVX (a $4000 camera) and, while it's noticeable if you look closely, it generally fits together pretty well.

The one warning I'd give is one of our 300s died within a month of getting it, and ALL of these low end camcorders seem to crap out within 6 months to 18 months when used regularly. So this is a case where I highly recommend getting the extended warranty. We bought our 300s from onecall.com, and I think we got a 4 year extended warranty on them for about $150. The last low-end camera we had with a warranty on it, we had it repaired about 6 times in 4 years, and the warranty paid out over $700 in repair costs, so it was a really good deal for us.

[maxpower]

Image stabilization on both of those are digital, so you don't want to use it.

If you want optical image stabilization, I haven't seen it on any lower priced camcorders. I'm pretty sure you have to step up into the $1200 and up category. An excellent choice if you want to spend that much is the Canon GL. I know a lot of people that shoot adult content on GLs.

However... if you practice and use both hands and learn to brace your camera against your body, you can actually get pretty steady handheld shots even with the smaller cameras and no steadicam.

Also, I wanted to echo Michael's point on lighting. I would much rather have a less expensive camera and excellent lighting than a fabulous camera and shitty lighting. You'll spend some money for good lighting, but it's a wise investment... I'm always amazed at how poor the lighting is on the majority of gay adult content I've seen.

Ya for sure I will pick up some lights man, not sure how many and what type I will need but that will come with playing with the cam I guess. Most of the reality stuff I have seen do not use any lights as far as can tell, but its hard for me to talk too much crap about others video work (at least yet)

Not sure if I will ever really be able to create film at the level you do, after all most of my time has to go into the sites I have to run, and I am alone in this so far anyway. But I could get a better cam if you think I need that for the type of content I will shot. (mainly just reality stuff I can use on my sites)

[maxpower]

Sorry, I didn't completely answer the question above.

We own two 300s, one is with Skyler for him to shoot content for his site, and one we keep as a b-roll camera. They work well, and i'm surprised at the quality of the image from these cameras. There is a noticeable difference between these and the DVX, but the DVX is almost ten times more in cost.

We also have a piece of shit JVC bottom-of-the-line DV camcorder that we use exclusively for capturing. It is marginally OK for outdoor work in bright sunlight, but the color rendition is abysmally bad in anything other than very well lit settings, and not great in any setting. By contrast, we can intercut B-roll footage from the 300 with footage from the DVX (a $4000 camera) and, while it's noticeable if you look closely, it generally fits together pretty well.

The one warning I'd give is one of our 300s died within a month of getting it, and ALL of these low end camcorders seem to crap out within 6 months to 18 months when used regularly. So this is a case where I highly recommend getting the extended warranty. We bought our 300s from onecall.com, and I think we got a 4 year extended warranty on them for about $150. The last low-end camera we had with a warranty on it, we had it repaired about 6 times in 4 years, and the warranty paid out over $700 in repair costs, so it was a really good deal for us.

Thax man, sounds like the 250 might be best for starters, not sure I am ready for a 4000$ cam yet or would know what to do with it. I am really getting existed about learning videography, I really do love to learn new things like this. Not really talking about porn thing though, not that I have a problem with it, but if I had it my way I would love to do landscapes. :turtle: