best camcorder 2013 for the money image
upwardly_m
My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html
My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.
Answer
Hi "Upwardly Mobile":
Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.
When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.
And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.
For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).
The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.
As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.
Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)
hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
Â
Hi "Upwardly Mobile":
Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.
When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.
And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.
For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).
The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.
As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.
Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)
hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
Â
What did you get for Christmas?
Sienna
I didn't get anything i wanted or actually liked- i had a wide range of very weird presents especially for a 15 year old girl E.G hair rollers, word search game, bad suitable for 3 year old Chocolate, gloves that are already broken and a memory stick. whereas my brother got an Electric guitar! So not the best xmas present wise. however i value family over presents and we had really good time. what did you get? and what did you do?
Answer
At least it's the thought that counts, eh? You'll do better next year probably!
I'm a thirteen year old girl and I got
- Two pairs of PJs
- Socks (like gloves, toe fingers in them)
- A rhythmic gymnastics ball
- Ballet shoes
- Wii Fit Plus
- Vivitar purple pocket camcorder
- An All-Seeing-Eye top
- A black shirt with a quote
- Money
- A big 'Lush' bath bomb
- Dark red converse
- Lady Gaga: Fame perfume
- Police: To be woman perfume
- Keith Lemon: the film DVD
- Ted on DVD
- Peter Kay back on nights DVD
- 2013 Guiness world records
- 2013 Ripley's believe it or not
- False eyelashes
- So Superstar lipgloss, spray and perfume
- 4 big makeup sets
- Nail varnish
- Lots of chocolate
And my dad coming home from Thailand early :)
Merry Christmas, I hope you and your family had an amazing day!
At least it's the thought that counts, eh? You'll do better next year probably!
I'm a thirteen year old girl and I got
- Two pairs of PJs
- Socks (like gloves, toe fingers in them)
- A rhythmic gymnastics ball
- Ballet shoes
- Wii Fit Plus
- Vivitar purple pocket camcorder
- An All-Seeing-Eye top
- A black shirt with a quote
- Money
- A big 'Lush' bath bomb
- Dark red converse
- Lady Gaga: Fame perfume
- Police: To be woman perfume
- Keith Lemon: the film DVD
- Ted on DVD
- Peter Kay back on nights DVD
- 2013 Guiness world records
- 2013 Ripley's believe it or not
- False eyelashes
- So Superstar lipgloss, spray and perfume
- 4 big makeup sets
- Nail varnish
- Lots of chocolate
And my dad coming home from Thailand early :)
Merry Christmas, I hope you and your family had an amazing day!
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