cheap b-roll camera? at DVinfo.net

Leslie Wand · March 1st, 2012, 02:59 AM

anyone suggest a 'cheap' b-roll camera to 'match' my z5?

not looking for any bells and whistles - just a cheap, clean picture - sound unimportant.

tia

Jay West · March 1st, 2012, 03:21 AM

How cheap? There are an array of less expensive matching cams in Sony's CX lines. The ones with the larger sensors match pretty well and often can be run in auto mode. I've been using a pair of CX550 (about 1/3" sensor) in multi-cam shoots with an NX5 and FX1000. The current versions 1/3-inch sensor cams are (I think) the CX 700 and 560. (The 560 is viewscreen only and has a smaller -- 5 hour -- recording capacity). The less expensive CX cams have smaller ¼ inch sensors and lesser controls and lesser recording capacity.

Les Wilson · March 1st, 2012, 08:07 AM

Take a look at Panasonic's TM line of 1/3" 3-chip cameras. The 60p is very nice and at a decent data rate for AVCHD. The camera has a ring that can be focus, zoom or iris. There's a shoe and a mic input that is handy in a pinch where your wireless receiver can be used. Whatever camera you look at, pay attention to the datarate. You will want to grade it to match your Z5 and the more data, the better it will suffer in post.

Adam Gold · March 1st, 2012, 11:26 AM

Obviously the best match would be a used FX1000. But if that's over your budget, I'd have to agree that a used cx560 or 700 would be a good choice. But be aware that you will need a smokin' fast PC to handle the mixed formats on your timeline, even if you shoot 1440 AVCHD rather than 1920.

Andrew Yip · March 1st, 2012, 08:48 PM

You could always pickup a A1 or V1 or Z1 on ebay.

March 1st, 2012, 02:59 AM	#1
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	cheap b-roll camera? anyone suggest a 'cheap' b-roll camera to 'match' my z5? not looking for any bells and whistles - just a cheap, clean picture - sound unimportant. tia __________________ www.lesliewand.com.au

March 1st, 2012, 03:21 AM	#2
Jay West Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lodge, Montana Posts: 889	Re: cheap b-roll camera? How cheap? There are an array of less expensive matching cams in Sony's CX lines. The ones with the larger sensors match pretty well and often can be run in auto mode. I've been using a pair of CX550 (about 1/3" sensor) in multi-cam shoots with an NX5 and FX1000. The current versions 1/3-inch sensor cams are (I think) the CX 700 and 560. (The 560 is viewscreen only and has a smaller -- 5 hour -- recording capacity). The less expensive CX cams have smaller ¼ inch sensors and lesser controls and lesser recording capacity.

March 1st, 2012, 08:07 AM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: cheap b-roll camera? Take a look at Panasonic's TM line of 1/3" 3-chip cameras. The 60p is very nice and at a decent data rate for AVCHD. The camera has a ring that can be focus, zoom or iris. There's a shoe and a mic input that is handy in a pinch where your wireless receiver can be used. Whatever camera you look at, pay attention to the datarate. You will want to grade it to match your Z5 and the more data, the better it will suffer in post.

March 1st, 2012, 11:26 AM	#4
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: cheap b-roll camera? Obviously the best match would be a used FX1000. But if that's over your budget, I'd have to agree that a used cx560 or 700 would be a good choice. But be aware that you will need a smokin' fast PC to handle the mixed formats on your timeline, even if you shoot 1440 AVCHD rather than 1920. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

March 1st, 2012, 08:48 PM	#5
Andrew Yip New Boot Join Date: May 2011 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 5	Re: cheap b-roll camera? You could always pickup a A1 or V1 or Z1 on ebay. __________________ www.esmedia.com.au