Upgrading Picture Quality For My Set-Up

[Chris Rackauckas]

Hello, I'm new here, but have been around (especially Gearslutz)

Here's the deal: I'm not really a video guy. As you can tell from the fact that I roam Gearslutz, I'm a sound man. I also do lighting a lot. So I have lights, and I have some of the best sound equipment ever (Schoeps MK41, a great set of studio preamps, mixers, everything)... but video quality... ehh.

What I have been doing is (don't laugh at me, I just started video) recording video using my A720 (which has decent video quality) that has CDHK so I put the quality up to 93. This gets me something that is good enough to pass as a decent SD camera (comparable to footage I edited the video with an XL2), but I would really like to get the HD look. Then I use Vocalign with a stem recorded through my audio equipment and it sounds great.

So here's what I want:

I was thinking of getting the Blackmagic Video Recorder and having my laptop with me (I always have it for sound anyways, and plugs around for lights). I will go RCA in from a board so the sound will be fine, but I would like a good HD camera that can send YUV into the Blackmagic Video Recorder. This way I have the HD look with my sound equipment. The key is I think I can save money because I just need the look on the camera, I don't need good sound on it at all.

So, what's your recommendation for that camera for this specific set-up? I'm trying to go budget, so the cheapest thing you think will get me a passable HD picture. I would like not to exceed $800, if that's reasonable (I'll have to see by your recommendations if it is).

Thank you!