I'm looking into buying a video camera. I've always been interested in story telling, creative art, and acting. So I thought I might do some solo vids, involving just me (to start with), and i'm lookin for a good camera. I'm willing to pay $400-500 dollars for one. I could be content with just starting with a cheaper one and moving on from there.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had some recommendations, it's main purpose will be to film short films (with the option of longer ones). I need good sound quality, night time shots not as important to me. Also, I want either to learn or have an easy way of getting information off the camera onto the computer. From there I can put it onto a DVD if i want or whatever. It'd be nice if the camera just saved the video to some large built in hard drive like 30 gigs or something. So i can film it all on one camera, and there'll be extra scenes in there because i won't know what i'll like. Then i'd also need a some free software for video editing, i don't need super fancy stuff. I don't plan to try any special effects until later on if i really pursue making short films. I'm going to try to keep it simple, and effective.
What I'm looking for, and i'm open to learning from the expertise here:
Video Camera Prefrences:
High Pixel Density capacity, crisp pictures are a plus.
High frame rate, I want to capture very fluid motion.
Good Optical Zoom (it actually physically has a good zoom, not a virtual zoom in)
Portable I want to be able to hold it in my hand (maybe it'll take both hands), it can be a reasonable size, but I DON'T want a massive camera.
Some degree of night time shots nice.
Lastly I'd like for it be able to transfer off the camera via like a USB stick or something. I have a portable Hard Drive (320 gigs), maybe i could use that, bring it with the camera and just plug it in somehow, and then the camera starts saving information to that.
I honestly don't know much about cameras. I've thought about them logically, how they must work but i've had no formal training or instruction on them. That's why with the movies i plan to keep the shots simple, the camera still, until i get used to the multiple angle shots. I'll do 180 degree shots, over one persons shoulder to the other person shots. The shots you see on T.V. shows i can imitate some of them i think
Then secondly I'm interested in Software
What i'm lookin' for in the Software:
1.) Free (be nice) unless i get serious i don't plan to buy some proffesional level software
2.) basic editing tools, making cuts, rearranging the order of scenes, adding text, some other special effects opportunities. Seperating voice editing and video editing. So i can Sync of desync, or add in audio...
I already have some short film scripts about (15min each) written up, most are comedy skits, some are meant to be serious. The problem with serious though is it require good acting, comedy, if you suck at acting it just becomes part of the comedy.
Any advice.. telling me what i need or don't need. Maybe i'm placing to much value on frame rate, i've watched older films and i know their frame rate is low, and i've liked it. Maybe i can save a lot of money by sacrificing less essential stats. I just want if i put it on youtube that'd it look and sound nice. and people wont' be distracted by shoddy sound or picture.
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