Professional HD Video Camera

[hanqiang1011]

Hi guys,

I am a newbie when it comes to video cam.

May I know how much do those professional graded HD video cam cost around? What are the models and brands?

TIA.

Regards,
Jack

 

[Bamboopictures]

Not all are bargains but all are pro:

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/871416-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Panasonic-HMC82EU
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/875764-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Panasonic-HVX202
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/870742-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Sony-PMW-EX3
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/870727-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Sony-PMW-EX1

 

[hanqiang1011]

Not all are bargains but all are pro:

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/871416-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Panasonic-HMC82EU
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/875764-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Panasonic-HVX202
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/870742-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Sony-PMW-EX3
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/870727-WTSell-Video-Cameras-Sony-PMW-EX1

In video cam term, does the number of hours of usage matters in buying a sec hand pro video cam, just like shutter count of a DSLR?

Thanks

 

[DXNMedia]

if the cameras are tape based models, then yes, drum hours incurred is important. Depending on manufacturers recommendations, anything above 1000 hours may typically be considered due for a head replacement or tape drive overhaul, but life expectancy varies a lot depending on your usage & luck.

if the cameras are solid-state models, then I don't see that operation hours are important. However, the hours meter can be used to judge extend of use, and if you're taking over the media cards, then it's worth considering how much the cards have been cycled since most memory cards have a read/write life span

 

[hanqiang1011]

if the cameras are tape based models, then yes, drum hours incurred is important. Depending on manufacturers recommendations, anything above 1000 hours may typically be considered due for a head replacement or tape drive overhaul, but life expectancy varies a lot depending on your usage & luck.

if the cameras are solid-state models, then I don't see that operation hours are important. However, the hours meter can be used to judge extend of use, and if you're taking over the media cards, then it's worth considering how much the cards have been cycled since most memory cards have a read/write life span

Roger that... Nowadays, these pro HD video cam all using High speed memory cards for storage?

 

[Bamboopictures]

HDV tape cameras are on their way out but still available in stores. For someone buying a pro camera for the first time, the most important consideration is the editing workflow and the hardware requirement for the native codec of your camcorder. Least processor intensive are DVCPRO HD and MPEG-2 long-GOP (XDCAM and HDV). Most processor intensive is 1080p AVCHD. MP4 is somewhere in between. Codec is far more important than the type of media. If your future projects are likely to have many layers and effects, it may be wiser to shoot on intra-frame compression codec such as DVCPRO HD. (but P2 card is one of the most expensive media)