Step 3 -Picking a Camera

Ah, the camera.
Believe it or not, and I'm not trying to sound cliche here, but not all cameras are the same.

The real question is, "What format do you want to shoot your video in?...film or video? HD?
High Definition is prime, film was the norm, but with the advent of new technology, the Digital Video Camera (or DV/HDV cam), is becoming a more popular tool in making music videos. Not only is it because it's easier to use and handle, but the quality of the picture is fantastic,and the fact you can easily shoot and upload to any computer with ease, not to mention the fact it's much cheaper to use than film!
Now, I'm sure that you've already thought about what you want your video to look like and you got your story all figured as well, but choosing the right camera is an important step in making the video say what you want.

In fact, it's the most important step!
In choosing a camera, consider weighing these three factors:

• image quality
• price
• features

Here are some examples of some cameras to consider for shooting your video:

Film Cameras - (Format: 16mm / 35mm)
These cameras are what most of the bigger budget videos are being made with. Along with the fact that they have the best 'look', they also come with the biggest expense. The real deal!! And some directors just perfer film over video. It's a personal choice nowdays.

HD -(Format:High Definition, digital)
The future....and if you can afford it, go for it!!!!Amazing quality.

DV / HDV Cams - (Format:DV tape, digital)
This is the type of camera I use. In fact, I strongly recomend the Panasonic dvx100B...an amazing piece of technology! Easy to use, easy to handle, inexpensive to rent ( $100/day CAN)or purchase($4000), the quality is awesome, and the images are captured as a digital signal. This means there is no loss of generation no matter how many times it is copied! There are too many pro than cons with this choice! Most DV cams shoot in 30 fps (frames per second). Some of the higher end DV cameras have the capability to shoot in 24 fps , which is the standard for 35mm film, and therefore will have the similar look and quality as film.

Hi 8 video Cams (Format: Hi8mm tape, analog)
These cameras are a fairly good tool as they will provide a similar look and feel as film, but with the ease of a handy-cam. They are relatively cheap (around $300) but you need to digitize the recorded signal before you can edit. You need required software, and it's abit of a hassle.

VHS - ( format: vhs cassette tape, analog)
Ah, not recomended. Even though the costs that go with VHS are cheap, so is the eventual quality of the reording. Again, it's about the look, but any dv cam can recreate the same look as VHS, and come on....get with the times!! :)

If you're shooting a video yourself, I strongly suggest that you get an idea of what type of camera format you want to use. Film or Video.
It is very important to the look and feel of your video. Take a look at some different camera types that are out there in the 'film cameras' and 'DV cam' catagories. You'll get a chance to see what's out there, and get specific info on each style, and a general idea of the price ranges.....saving money on the project is the key here...cheaper the better!!

For the Devoid video specifically, I used the Panasonic dvx100b / Sony dsr250 / and a regular minidv camera. If you want to be successful in researching a camera, I suggest that you search for both film AND video cameras.
To look at more types of DV / HDV cameras click here...

They both offer so many different options.
Let me know what you think of this so far...if you have any questions, ask away!
Vince