Advice Please: Cam Purchase

[cincyjack]

I need new cam, $1,500 budget.
I have an Edius NX card - firewire and S-video in.

In my work, we really don't have a need for HD at this time. I'd like to move to a flash memory cam but I must have external mic input and ideally firewire out.

Most flash mem cams I see have USB 2.0 out or HDMI. Perhaps I can get USB > Firewire adapter and copy files direct to the G-Raid drive that has firewire in? In which case, whay is the NX card getting me?

Newb question: Is it the case that these HD cams can record in SD or 720 x 480? I assume I would run the converter to change the AVCHD source to Canopus HQ.

I don't think I can swing an upgrade to new Edius card at this time.
Lots of options to keep track of...

Any theories as to how to hang on to the NX card and get a new cam that does basic training videos for the web (ext. mic. in) would be appreciated.

[cincyjack]

It also occurs to me that if I capture in HD, I could output to whatever but...
I fear my old 3.1 GHz Pentium and 2GB of mem might not cut it. Could an older machine handle AVCHD files converted to Canopus HQ?

[gdame]

So I take it that you have a PCI-X type NX card. What motherboard do you have? Is your NX a single card or do you have the optional HD secondary card as well. What version of Edius are you running? As you can see I would need a whole lot more detailed description before I could provide my suggestion to you.

[cincyjack]

Single card PCI-X NX.
Box is a Dell XPS400.
Edius 5.

Perhaps I just download via USB to the G-Raid and convert?
Seems like I'm in the neighborhood of models such as the Canon HF11...

[gdame]

Yes you could, though as long as you are working and shooting in SD a mini DV camera would give you better quality and faster workflow. Converting from AVCHD to an SD GV/Canopus file format is a slow process as it is. The faster the computer the faster that render goes. Your system will take some time to do this. You could have captured an entire mini-DV tape into your system in lossless form and be ready to edit in much less time.

I would bet you could find a nice DSR-PD150, PD-170 or something similer for less money and you would have a better camera. If you needed tapeless workflow, there are solutions like the Focus Enhancments Firestore that would provide a nice solution.

[gdame]

If you do plan on moving forward with an AVCHD camera, that would be fine if you where preparing a major system upgrade in the near future. It would be slow for now, but then with a new i7 system and 64 bit OS you could convert much quicker and edit, preview and output HD or SD material.

[cincyjack]

Thanks. The Focus option was staring me in the face. Given budgets around here, I don't see a new desktop happening for a while. So I'll look at the mini DV's again with the Focus in mind.

[mattie]

the new JVC GY-HM100 sounds excatly what u need - it uses SDHC cards and records SONY XDCAM codec in HD so realtime editing in Edius with no conversions

check it out :)

[SRsupport]

But it is above the $1500 budget the OP has.

[cincyjack]

But it is above the $1500 budget the OP has.

Yah and I'd suspect the old P4 is not up to it.

[Alter Ego]

Panasonic AG-DVX100B is the best answer. It isn't tapeless but it is one of the best SD mini-dv cams ever made. I am selling one in pristine condition. Used for a 10 day shoot and has only 50 hours on it :)

[tingsern]

Yup - I second that. That Panny camera is great - small and light. The predecessor to HVX200 and the lot. For SD - and if the offer price is right, it is a good camera.

Alternatively, look at some of the Canon SD cameras as well ... they are pretty good too.

[Standard Play]

DVX-100B is great, but i have heard a lot of good things about that
Canon HF11 that you are looking at. one of the guys at BH said its hi def can almost hang with the canon xh-a1's HDV($3,000). you said you aren't shooting hi def now, but you should plan for the future. it'd be a shame if you decide to get the 100B and a month or two later someone asks if you can shoot hi def. Hi def is creeping up faster than you may expect.

I don't know what kind of shooting you do, but I do almost exclusively multi-cam. with the Canon HF11, you can get 2 and still be around your budget. Or just get one and get many accessories.

Time is always a factor. Digitizing memory on to your pc is a lot faster than digitizing a mini dv tape bc tape is real time capture.

I say get the Canon HF11

[tingsern]

We should look into the whole picture. From his camera to the editing workstation - then out to delivery.

It is no point asking him to buy a HD camera, when his PC cannot cope with editing HD today.

So - if he can get the Panny DVX100B for a good 2nd hand price - why not?

[cincyjack]

We should look into the whole picture. From his camera to the editing workstation - then out to delivery.

It is no point asking him to buy a HD camera, when his PC cannot cope with editing HD today.

So - if he can get the Panny DVX100B for a good 2nd hand price - why not?

I am thinking along simlar lines. My work PC is not geared for HD.
Boss has said to up the budget (maybe 2,500?)if required, so now I have more (confusing) options. I think I want to stick to DV but have tapeless workflow. That's where research is centered. DVX-100B is cool; love the XLRs in. But the starting price makes addition of a Firestore a bit iffy... Wish the company would just pony up... I don't see us going HD where I work for quite a while...