Best DSLR? and Best HD Camcorder?
 

I'm looking to upgrade ALL of my equipment in the next few months.
I currently have 2X Olympus E510 DSLR's which have served me well for nearly 2 years, and a couple of Sony Handycams I use for shooting amatuer type content.

I'm now thinking of upgrading to the new Nikon D90 for my main DSLR and I'm also looking at the canon EOS 50d.

As for HD camcorders, I have no idea what to get and was looking to see what you would recommend?
Also if there is any DSLR I may have overlooked let me know what you would recommend or what you are currently using.

Happy New Year Everyone!!! :thumbsup

That Canon EOS 50d is nice, I currently use a Canon Rebel XT for my personal use. I am also looking for a good HD camcorder. Bump for answers. :thumbsup:

what are you using it for and what sd camcorder are you currently using?

I'm using a couple of Sony DVD610s for solo, amatuer and POV. but I want to branch into HD and these Camcorders do not really produce the high quality i'm looking for. they are easy to use and good for doing auditions and amatuer stuff but I need to find a good HD camcorder in order to start producing more High-End content.

The canon hg21 is very nice and its bit rate is higher than hdv. You want to get serious the panny hmc150 which is about 4 grand or the sony ex1 which is about 7 grand. For porn the hg21 would be more than enough if you know how to light good enough.

Thank Tony will check them out, Lighting ain't a problem thats the easy part for me

We're currently shootin' with a Nikon d80 (newest)...and still occasionally using our older Olympus e10. Both are good dependin' on what they're being used for. I'd say you'll probably like the d90 if its as good as (if not better) than the d80.

The d80 took a while getting used to after using the e10 for quite a few years - but I'm very fussy and particular with a camera and tend to shoot a LOT of experimental test stuff to really get-to-know the camera's performance, limitations and capabilities inside and out.

If you decide you want to unload the older equipment...some of us new folks might be interested in taking in off your hands, depending on the price.

If you dont mind spending a little get the Sony EX1.

I have had my Nikon D90 for about 2 months ... very nice camera!

Had the Nikon D300 for 5 months and it is absolutely amazing. A really nice ccd, excellent zones, and a well thought out design putting pretty much every useful function in reach of your fingers while holding the camera. After initially setting up the camera with my parameters I hardly pass via the menu anymore

good luck dudes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you really want to know about good video equipment, go browse around www.b-roll.net ... it's a site for TV news shooters, employed and freelance. These guys know there shit.

Now here's an interesting turn of events. If you need HD content cheap and easy, Canon just released a $200 cam... yes, you read that right .. $200 for HD video.

pocket-sized Webbie HD camera ... record HD MP4 video ... plays nicely with sites like YouTube (has software to auto-upload) ... Cram up to 8.5 hours of HD video footage or thousands of photos (based on 16GB media) on ultra-small Memory Stick PRO Duo media....

News article

Sony web site

I imagine the video compression is pretty intense like the DVD recordable cams, but for amateur HD, I'd think this might be worth grabbing.

That's my vote. Works spectacularly out of the box in full auto, a 3 year old can use the camera if they could support the 8lb weight. :)

My first video camera was a 3 tube Sony on one shoulder with a long cable connecting it to a 3/4" deck on the other. Total weight was around 60lbs. I loved it when we upgraded to chip betacams ... only 45lbs!!!

You'll love this then: I'm an old AG-450/460 shooter taking a trip down memory lane

I got this on the way from B&H :D

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-HVRHD1000U/

It ain't "a porn rig" but it'll be fun...

D90 Rocks!

And i want one of these .. : :thumbsup:thumbsup

The problem is they put such an amazing piece of glass on the e10 we are ruined for life. I have a $1000 L lens and its fair compared to the glass on the e10

Exactly. :thumbsup

My still camera is still an e10 (I was an OM-4T shooter for many years; an exceptional camera)

I got my e10 early and paid dearly for it (like $2k + $500 for the battery grip) but it kicks enough ass that it's tough to replace -- though the slow buffering is a pain: "Hold that look sweetie, the lil' orange light is still flashing..."

If they had fixed the buffering problem in the e20 that would still be my camera of choice.

Ok nikon D90 is my final choice for DSLR. still need a dedicated HD camcorder though. sony is my pick simply for the fact they are the one's that are ahead in the HD recording game in my mind. what model to go with though? they are changing all the time and get newer by almost the second. what is thE newest one? if they are going to be evolving every second and something new is going to come out all the time I may aswell go for the top dog newest thing out there.

What would this model be?

You will probably be very happy with the D90. Just remember the glass is more important than the body behind it.

If you're talking about the consumer world of HD, yes it changes pretty quickly... always has. Same with the point and shoots. I'm not convinced buying the "newest" will necessarily be your best choice.

I don't know where to research for consumer gear. I do know that Sony is leading the pack in cine production:
http://www.digitalcinemasociety.org/...20Aquired%2008

I'd say the top dog in the pro world of video is the Sony EX1 and EX3.

Actually if you're looking for the "newest" thing, I just remembered this from CES. Check out the Sony Webbie HD mini camcorder.

http://www.gearlive.com/news/article...ini-camcorder/

It's literally designed for YouTube and such. For $299 (list) you get up to 8.5 hours of HD MPEG-4 video on a 16GB Memory Stick Pro (not included).