[Zewb]

I'm getting into indie-film and stuff, and I'm looking for a cheap video camera. My only requirement is that it has sound and is digital, meaning that I can hook it up to my computer via USB.

I don't care if it has no color, or the film is grainy. In fact, I think grainy film looks cool.

Can anyone help?

[Deepsycher]

Do you mean the ones with the memory cards?

[Zewb]

Do you mean the ones with the memory cards?

I guess. My main thing is that it has a USB connector.

[Deepsycher]

I guess. My main thing is that it has a USB connector.

I have a Creative Pro Usb which I do not use anymore due to the overhead.
Some years ago I found a broken Baxall CD9712/LV which I repaired from two other broken models, the back board holding the power connectors seemed to be burnt out on the resistors behind. My guess was that someone went over the voltage stated, exceeding 12 volts DC or 24 volts AC. After swapping the back board over as they are identical with the same pin connectors from the same series, I connected it to my Wintv Theatre tuner, the picture quality was not so terrible at all, not so blocky but so smooth. The good thing is the little overhead.

What price range are you looking at for the video camera you want?

I have seen them selling cheaply around but they take memory cards instead unless for the expensive models.

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 07 April 2006 - 11:00 PM

[Zewb]

I have a Creative Pro Usb which I do not use anymore due to the overhead.
Some years ago I found a broken Baxall CD9712/LV which I repaired from two other broken models, the back board holding the power connectors seemed to be burnt out on the resistors behind. My guess was that someone went over the voltage stated, exceeding 12 volts DC or 24 volts AC. After swapping the back board over as they are identical with the same pin connectors from the same series, I connected it to my Wintv Theatre tuner, the picture quality was not so terrible at all, not so blocky but so smooth. The good thing is the little overhead.

What price range are you looking at for the video camera you want?

I have seen them selling cheaply around but they take memory cards instead unless for the expensive models.

I'm making minimum wage, so I'm going for the cheapest thing imaginable.

[Deepsycher]

I'm making minimum wage, so I'm going for the cheapest thing imaginable.

I found one here but not sure if this is too expensive for the type of income:

http://www.ptusainc....=DV8000&affid=6

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 12 April 2006 - 06:17 PM

[Shawnathan]

I bought my camera off of ebay, it's a Canon Optura 10. It has a beautiful picture res and the sound isn't too bad (If you can scrape up another 130 bucks you can buy the shotgun mic that attaches to the top of the camera).

And if you really do want film grain on your movie, many editors have effects to add film grain to the movie.

If you buy a digital camcorder that uses mini DV (small tapes), you'll need a video capture card to plug into your computer, the firewire cable usually has to be bought separetly. The Firewire cable plugs into your video recorder and streams the content from the mini DV to your computer.

I wouldn't reccomend using a memory card, you cannot fit too much recorded content on one and their pricey.

You won't be able to avoid spending a good amount of cash to get started making movies, your best bet is to save up your money.

This post has been edited by Shawnathan: 15 April 2006 - 12:27 PM

[Zewb]

What I have right now is a Kodak EasyShare 3.1 megapixel. It has a 256 MB SD card, which holds about 16 minutes of video, which should be enough for me, since I'm not really going to produce anything that's more than 10 minutes long.

The problem is that it eats through batteries like a mother fucker. And I can't find the goddamn USB cable.

[Deepsycher]

Oh a photo camera, yes I brought an adapter for mine due to the low lasting lithium battery and a tripod.

[Shawnathan]

A digital Camcorder sucks up more data than you might think, But... if you're just going to REALLY short movies, than I'd just go with one of those hand held devices that ONLY takes memory cards. Which still cost some cash.

[Despondent]

You ought to get a battery charger with two sets of rechargeable batteries (read the instructions prior to using). Plus an ac adapter.

[Deepsycher]

Yes, it took me a long time to find the specified adapter. Shops seem to overcharge triple, eventually I got it half priced. For mine I got a 1024 megabyte xd picture card, but the camera has some problems with the sound on the mpeg 4 recording after a certain length unless for anything smaller, but I use it mainly for the 10x optical zoom.

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 18 April 2006 - 11:30 AM

[ion eon]

That sounds like my old one

[Deepsycher]

That sounds like my old one

Which camera, my one or Zewb's?

Maybe to state the make as well. The power supply does make some high pitched noises when it is plugged in and the camera is off. I'll have to phone them up about that.