Camera Quandry

[Chris C Sanner]

Ok...so here is the deal I am looking at buying a few different camera packages for myself and I'm not quite sure which setup I want to buy and I'm looking for input on the following:

Cart 1

Canon Gl2
-Hard Carrying Case
-Tripod
-Ma-300 adapter for XLR
-Shotgun mic kit
-Extra Battery + Spare Charger
-25 DV Tapes

Canon Rebel XT
-4gb flash card
-Extra Battery
-Zoom Super Wide Angle EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens

Total: ~$4300

Cart 2

Canon XHA1
-Hard Carrying Case
-Tripod
-Shotgun mic kit
-Extra Battery + Spare Charger
-18 HDV Tapes

Total: ~$4400


So basically the question is...is it worth losing a quality still camera to get the HD picture quality the XHA1 can provide? I have a machine capable of taking advantage of the HD video...but is it worth giving up on taking quality still pictures. I know Billy Griffin owns an XHA1 and if anyone else has used one and/or a GL2 I'm looking for input here. Either way...I'm torn on this one and was wanting some input either way.

 

[scott r currens]

I am not a big fan of the package deals. I'd suggest purchasing the RebelXT ($400) and the XHA1 ($3050) from B&H Photo without all the extras. After you have the cameras awhile you will figue out what accessories you realy want and need. The package deals never seem to be a deal when you look at the quality of the extras.

 

[Laura Hedien]

I think "piece-mealing" is better than package deals also. Even if there's only a few things you might not need in the package deal, you'll lose your "savings" of the package deal because you don't need a case, already have a tripod, etc.
Are you a camera or video person? It's so hard to do both when the shi* is hitting the fan and you want to get footage/images.
If you plan on using video as your mainstay, I'd think the best video camera you can get is a good call.
If you have a so-so camera and need (vs want) a better one, I'd go with cart 1 then.
I like to hold out until I can afford higher quality stuff then settle for something less.
Good luck with your decision, and good for you for putting so much thought into it.
Laura

 

[JF Massicotte]

Scott is right, packages deals usually are not that great...

Also I would suggest you go deeper in your possiblilities...

Are you going to use this for chasing purpose only?

Perhaps you might also look into the Sony line...

What's your experience with camcorders and digital cameras? For example, Sony are the best when it comes down to low light performance, but are a little more expensive... But dropping a 4400$ package including a 3000$ camcorder and go for a 4000$ cam that will provide better quality may be the way to go... Do you really need a Shotgun Mic kit?

You are going to do a major equipment investment, take your time, chase season is still a few months away... I studied my needs carefully before forgetting about new camcorders and chose to go for a used VX-2000 camcorder and still have no regret. This year will be the time to buy a new camcorder now that I fully understand my needs. On the other side, I spent 1300 (Can) $ on a Fuji S-9000 digital camera a little more than 2 years ago. The camera is good... at best. It has many fonctions I don't really need (but paid for them$$$) and lost much of my investment because 6 months later the same new camera was sold new for 600$. I guess you got the picture now.

 

[Dick McGowan]

Buy a Sony FX7 for ~2500 from BHphotovideo.com, then buy a Canon Rebel XTi (544.95 for the body) and the Canon 10-22 (right now it's on sale for 639.00), heck if you are wanting to spend 4400, buy the Canon 70-200 f4/L telephoto for an extra 550.00 and you'll still be at around 4250, and you can buy about 15 batteries each for each camera lol off of ebay. Generic batteries are around 5 bucks for the Xti (which work just as good) and I've bought Canon brand, BP945's for 15 bucks (retail 150 or so).

Or, switch the FX7 for the bigger Sony FX1, and drop the telephoto. You could get so much more, and such better quality, for a lesser price than that. To me, that extra stuff is a rip.

Tapes are just as cheap on there....

So for a 3 ccd Canon GL2 (I owned one and didn't like it) and a Canon Rebel XT, you can get a high definition Sony (with an infinity focus lock which the Canon doesn't have), which is 10x better, and an upgrade to the Xti, for less money!

I forgot to add...that BHphotovideo.com usually has promotion codes out there which will save you even more money, sometimes they are hard to find but they can be found, just google "bh codes."

 

[Dan Robinson]

I wouldn't worry with the expensive HDV tapes. Their advantages are questionable in theory and non-existent in practice. I've been using regular MiniDVs in my HD camera for two years now with no problems. No reason to pay $10-$14 per tape when you can pay $2-$4 per tape.

Also, you may want to reconsider the Canon camera if you plan on using it for chasing. The Canon HD models have great pictures but are among the worst in low light performance (see some of the earlier HD threads).

 

[Chris C Sanner]

Actually I pieced all of these together myself guys, just as a post forewarning. The thing is...I'm going to be using the video camera for much more than just chasing as I plan on shooting some film and such as well but I've heard good reviews about the Canon XHA1 for that purpose. Basically the shotgun mic is very important for getting the best audio. Audio is half of your production and you should budget pretty strongly for it because of that reason I'm mainly a video guy but I really would like to take some stills too. There are a lot of times I find myself with the camera tripoded and nothing else to do except use my current "rinky-dink" Digital Camera to take some pics.

Hard case is important to protect the camera when I'm toting it around and the tripod is infinitely important for good video. Extra battery is also necessary as you always should have a backup...trust me, I know I don't know why I put charger in there since I get one with the cameras, that was a brain fart I do believe. I also buy my tapes in bulk just because you should stick with the same type of tape for your camcorder so you don't wear the video heads down so this is an easy way to do it.

I decided upon the XH-A1 HD Cam for the second package I put together because it offers the best all around performance with the most manual control (a big sticking point with me). When you get the settings right, it shoots low light just as good as the FX1 does. What I'm really looking for is someone that's used one out in the field to let me know how they work for storm chasing. I've been leaning towards just using a cheap digi still camera and going the XH-A1 route. The Sony's were all good, but I really didn't like that they didn't have any XLR inputs and they don't work that well with a 24fps (no built in mode at all). In all fairness none of the Sony models in my price range are close to the XH-A1 in terms of overall quality

Also Dan, how much shooting have you done on just SD tapes? I have read that it does indeed work...but I'm all about being safe than sorry....but now that I think about it...I will probably go the regular tape route to be a tad cheaper

Anywho, thanks for the suggestions and tips guys (and gals), I should probably provide more info up front next time so I don't sound like a beginner with cameras :O

 

[Chris C Sanner]

I forgot to add...that BHphotovideo.com usually has promotion codes out there which will save you even more money, sometimes they are hard to find but they can be found, just google "bh codes."

I actually haven't heard about that but I am indeed using BH for all my purchases, as I have done the past couple of years so that is a huge help, thanks!

 

[Dan Robinson]

Also Dan, how much shooting have you done on just SD tapes? I have read that it does indeed work...but I'm all about being safe than sorry....but now that I think about it...

I've gone through close to 200 Sony premium tapes with my camera. Not one dropout or problem. The datarate for SD DV and HDV is the same, so there is no loss in quality. The HDV tapes record the same data stream as the MiniDVs.

I too at first was die-hard on exclusively using the expensive HDV tapes, but was I more or less forced to start using regular MinDV tapes due to simple economics and convenience. I simply couldn't afford to pay 3 to 5 times the price for the expensive tapes at the rate I use them. Furthermore, when you run out and are in a pinch, you have to order them in advance as they are not sold in stores anywhere, at least nowhere I have seen. One day in 2005, I ran out of the HDV tapes and had no choice but either use a regular MiniDV tape or miss the shots. It worked just fine and from that day on I never bought another HDV tape.

The HD cassettes are supposed to have tape with a more robust magnetic material that is resistant to droputs. But that really only applies if you plan on re-using a tape over and over. I never reuse a tape to begin with. When you're talking about such a huge price difference, there better be some type of incredible benefit to using them, and as far as I can see, there isn't one. Good news because you knock 80% off of your tape stock costs!

 

[Chris C Sanner]

So true! That's another thing I have preached to people...never ever reuse tapes...mostly because you never know when you are going to want to go back and use old footage. Again, I learned the heard way a couple of years ago by just dumping the video onto a computer and reusing the same tape over and over again. That was back when I relied on the parents for money and I really didn't have any extra funds to use so three tapes was it, lol. So with that long story, RIP 2004 storm chase raw video collection

Anywho, that definitely is a price saver there, I had kinda been debating if they were worth it just to prevent dropouts and I think I'm starting to lean towards NO! Thanks for the advice Dan, much appreciated!