Camcorder Buyer's Guide
Shooting With Style (page 3)

How does the professional camera feel in your hands or on your shoulder? If you're looking for a lightweight, consumer-like camera, the Sony HVR-A1 is a perfect palm-sized professional camcorder. The price is right, too, for around $2,000. Larger handheld cameras include the Sony V1, Z7 and XDCAM EX1. The Canon XH-A1 and XH-G1 and the Panasonic HVX200 are all excellent cameras that run $3,000 to $10,000.

Are you more interested in shoulder-mount cameras? Canon's XL-H1 is a workhorse that will make XL1 and XL2 owners very happy with its similar styling. Sony's new HVR-S270 is an excellent choice, and the affordable HVR-HD1000 with its single-CMOS sensor is perfect for school and event videographers. All of JVC's ProHD cameras are shoulder-mount cams and have interchangeable lenses, so you can swap in better glass. This gives you more options without requiring a lens adaptor like a Redrock Micro. Other shoulder-mount cameras - including the Panasonic AJ-HPX500, AJ-HPX2000 and AJ-HPX3000, and also the Sony XDCAM HD series - have larger sensor sizes, which allow larger pixels and a better signal-to-noise ratio. You get clearer images and more shallow depth of field. Cameras with smaller sensors have deep focus (everything in the shot is in focus), while cameras with larger sensors require longer lenses that give short focus (the background and foreground are out of focus while the key subject is in focus). TV stations and high-end production houses prefer these cameras, though the prices can reach $35,000 without a lens!

Though HDV is still going strong, many of the newer models are tapeless, using technology like Sony's XDCAM (records to Blu-ray discs or SxS memory cards). Panasonic offers its DVCPRO HD series of camcorders with P2 media. The AJ-HPX3000 uses intra-frame compression, which is new to the line.

To reiterate: knowing your budget will help in choosing a camera. The great news about professional units is that many offer what videographers and digital filmmakers are looking for: HD, 24p/30p/60i and even 60p formats; more image control; plenty of manual control; and more. To break it down further, if you're shooting sports, news or high-end commercials and weddings, shoulder-mount cameras with larger sensors, like the HPX or XDCAM HD series, are a great fit. If you're making smaller videos and films, the more affordable and powerful HVR-V1 and Canon XH-A1 are perhaps a better fit. When it comes to editing, all NLEs support DV, HDV, DVCPRO HD/P2 and XDCAM HD and will continue to support the new "flavors" of video, be it HD or SD (standard definition) and the available frame rates.

Things have changed quite a bit, and they'll continue to do so. Even without a magic ball, it's easy to see both consumer and professional cameras are moving towards tapeless acquisition, and they're moving fast. Sony and JVC provide special portable drives that can record to HDD while also recording to tape. As high definition and tapeless recording edges out the "old" technology, new cameras with features and functions we haven't even dreamed of will become the standard. If you keep your shooting needs in mind, choosing between a consumer and professional camcorder will be much easier. After that, it's just a matter of looking at which unit suits you best.

The Videomaker Camcorders Buyer's Guide listing helps you choose the best products for your needs. The grid format allows easy comparison of competing products, feature for feature and price for price!

Please continue to check back. We are always adding more!

Heath McKnight is a filmmaker and writer.

To view our Manufacturer's list of camcorders, Click Here.

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