Mark Percival
March 17th, 2002, 12:24 AM
Ok this isn't a XL1 vs VX2000 question, well kinda, but not really. I'm just looking for some opinions on the XL1 and VX2000 for a certain format.
Here's the rundown.
I want to make a documentary, and I'm looking for a good DV camera to buy for that purpose. Now I've narrowed it down to the vx2000, the XL1s and the PD150, which I know isn't really narrowing it down much.
There's gonna be a lot of indoor shots and its gonna be done handheld most of the time. Alot of run and gun. I'm looking at the XL1s and it seems like a great camera but what about shouldering it. I love to shoulder cameras, its so much easier to get a steady shot, and with the XLR adapters the XL1 is shoulderable, but supposedly still front heavy. If I get the VX2k or the PD150 then I've got to buy a habbycam or something similar to shoulder it. And its still got the viewfinder at the back which is annoying to look through shouldered.
Then there is the viewfinder on the VX2k, I think this would be a great addition but I've never spent any real time using a camera with an popout LCD. Any of you guys find the XL1's lack of LCD monitor a problem(I know you can add one on, but if you don't have one added on, do you ever wish to did)
The last is the look, which in most cases I wouldn't give a damn about but now it could be an issue. Its stupid but when you walk in with a VX2k only a pro is gonna know what you've got. The XL1s makes you look like a pro, which in alot of cases is a really good thing. Tell someone your making a doc and you hold up what to them looks like home camcorder and sometimes they don't take your seriously, which can be a good or bad thing. For the doc I want to make I really would rather look more like a pro, I think in a few instances it would get me access to some people that would feign away from doing the interview when a guy with a handycam shows up. The PD150 also beat the vx2000 here.
Anyone have any experience with the XL1 in a documentary setting? Not just tripod shots and setup interviews, but run and gun guy-on-the-street style interviewing. Pros, Cons, and other cameras that would do the job better.
I'm also not looking to spend a fortune. A couple good mikes, and XLR adapter, and maybe a steadicam or some variant(which means an LCD too for the xl1) and thats its. The XL1s might bump me above budget but I would be willing to shell out a little more if its the better solution.
So I what do you guys think?
Mark Percival
Here's the rundown.
I want to make a documentary, and I'm looking for a good DV camera to buy for that purpose. Now I've narrowed it down to the vx2000, the XL1s and the PD150, which I know isn't really narrowing it down much.
There's gonna be a lot of indoor shots and its gonna be done handheld most of the time. Alot of run and gun. I'm looking at the XL1s and it seems like a great camera but what about shouldering it. I love to shoulder cameras, its so much easier to get a steady shot, and with the XLR adapters the XL1 is shoulderable, but supposedly still front heavy. If I get the VX2k or the PD150 then I've got to buy a habbycam or something similar to shoulder it. And its still got the viewfinder at the back which is annoying to look through shouldered.
Then there is the viewfinder on the VX2k, I think this would be a great addition but I've never spent any real time using a camera with an popout LCD. Any of you guys find the XL1's lack of LCD monitor a problem(I know you can add one on, but if you don't have one added on, do you ever wish to did)
The last is the look, which in most cases I wouldn't give a damn about but now it could be an issue. Its stupid but when you walk in with a VX2k only a pro is gonna know what you've got. The XL1s makes you look like a pro, which in alot of cases is a really good thing. Tell someone your making a doc and you hold up what to them looks like home camcorder and sometimes they don't take your seriously, which can be a good or bad thing. For the doc I want to make I really would rather look more like a pro, I think in a few instances it would get me access to some people that would feign away from doing the interview when a guy with a handycam shows up. The PD150 also beat the vx2000 here.
Anyone have any experience with the XL1 in a documentary setting? Not just tripod shots and setup interviews, but run and gun guy-on-the-street style interviewing. Pros, Cons, and other cameras that would do the job better.
I'm also not looking to spend a fortune. A couple good mikes, and XLR adapter, and maybe a steadicam or some variant(which means an LCD too for the xl1) and thats its. The XL1s might bump me above budget but I would be willing to shell out a little more if its the better solution.
So I what do you guys think?
Mark Percival