What Equiptment do you guys use?

[rollage]

Right, hey guys.

I have had this brillianrt idea for a film and I havent stopped thinking about how the brodderick i am going to create this story that is so far just in my old nuggen.

But please I would like to have some advice on how to make the most of the medium without equalling third world debt.

Like cameras, computers/macs?, editing software

Just anything you think i essential as I am stupid in this area

Thanks all.

[patrick coyle notsignedin]

I've only got a JVC GR-D20 meself. Which is a fairly low-end consumer mini-DV camera (under £300 when I bought it two years ago).

But I prefer to borrow a Panasonic DVX100 from university. The perk (no 's') of being a student. A DVX costs about three grand I think but it's pretty much top bollock for a miniDV. That or the Canon XL2, which I think costs about £3.5k.

It depends on what you're trying to do. Have you made films on camcorders and that before? I think you're best off experimenting with stuff that costs fuck all first. Doing a short version of it with mates on a cheapie camera. Or even as a photostory! It all adds to the planning and that until you can afford bigger stuff.

But then, I dunno. Before Clerks, all Kevin Smith had ever done was a shitty documentary at film school, and a camcorder film he made for a girlfriend that, by his own admission, the best thing about was that it was short. So maybe you can jump right in.

But what kind of ballpark are you willing to spend in, finance-wise? Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands?

[coyle stillgoin]

Editing-wise, on my computer I have a (naughtily downloaded) version of Sony Vegas editing software. I prefer it to anything else I've used, just because I'm more used to it. But it runs well on me 'puter (AMD 2.06GHz, 512Meg RAM), whereas the more "respectable" editing software gives me grief.

The most popular programs - the "industry standards" - are Avid (PC-based) and Final Cut Pro (Mac-based). Reet fuckin expensive and need a shit-hot computer. (You'll definitely need some major hard drive space, I'm buying meself a 250GB external drive when I get round to it.)

Then there's Vegas that I use, and Adobe Premiere and Pinnacle. But Windows Movie Maker uses the same basic principles. I don't know how capable any of these ones are at doing features though. My university has Final Cut Pro as well so I'd edit proper stuff there I reckon.

One of the most important things to think about and learn - and thus buy kit for - is lighting. I haven't got much of a grip on it yet, I wish I knew a cinematographer. But apparently lighting goes a long way to making video-based films look decent (moreso that with films that are shot on actual film). I keep meaning to buy some lighting stuff, but I don't really know what and I don't wanna go traipsing round Wilko's buying things I'll never use. I already did that once for a "bullet shot effect" trick that I couldn't get to work within 5 minutes, so I gave up on it.

[RydCook]

okay well, when i started out i brought my self a rather cheap panasonic mini-DV cammcorder, i didnt maike any films on this though, it was more shooting skateboarding and random stuff. When i got into making films i brought a canon MV600 i have made all of my films to date with this camera and it is very realiable and its definately rather cheap nower days it'll be the MV800 now though any of these sort of cameras will do the trick fine, just make sure they have DV IN/OUT without it you can't edit. I think its good to start out with this sort of camera, only downsides are the following: the picture quality is adaquate, but noticebly different to broadcast, or pro DV quality (In films such as 28 days later.. which was filmed with canon XL1's). The sound is okay, but there is always that annoying motor noise from the camera which you cant get rid off in the edit, and will make films with dialogue sound amataurish.

I myself have now upgraded to a new semi-pro camera the canon XM2 which i brought on saturday for £1420 including warranty, tapes and a UV filter (thats a dam good price.) The camera is superb and is near broadcast quality. Also the sound is superb, with three different modes, for voice, widescreen or normal. everything can be manual and you can get exactly the kind of shot you want, also the manual focus ring is very good making depth of feild easy, unlike the annoying manual focus on the MV cameras. But it all comes at a cost.

So with cameras, it depends how much money you wanna spend, and it also depends what quality you want to acheive. Very good films can be made on either of the cameras, your choise.

for computers, i highly recomend Mac based editing, simply because its cheap and easy. a mac mini will cost you from 599 quid, and that will come with iLife 06 which includes iMovie which is perfect for starting out for editing, because its easy to use and you can get results easy. i've used iMovie for 2 of my films so far, one of which is my favourite, even having done another two using final cut pro. i suggest you edit some films on iMovie first, and if you still dont feel creatively free, give final cut pro a go, its expencive yeah, but i have heard it can be downloaded off bit torrent. i dont know much about PC editing, but i doubt its as simple as mac, having to install firewire etc, and it seems more expencive, but again its your choise.

My mac, my firewire cable and i XM2 is all i need and its perfect for me. i would recomend to anyone. I think if your starting out, go cheap MV canon (i recomend canon, other cameras seem to have major tape problems, my panasonic was pants for tapes, and everything ive ever had that was sony, broke) a cheap mac and a firewire and your away. If you want quality results go for a semi-pro cam, but expect to pay around the £2000 range. one last thing, stick with DV, HD looks lovely, but the editing programs arnt really up to the task yet so wait until its standard.

hope this all helps, enjoy making your film!

[AndyBirtwell]

what kind of depth of field do you get with your canon XM2 ?

[rollage]

ryd22 said:

okay well, when i started out i brought my self a rather cheap panasonic mini-DV cammcorder, i didnt maike any films on this though, it was more shooting skateboarding and random stuff. When i got into making films i brought a canon MV600 i have made all of my films to date with this camera and it is very realiable and its definately rather cheap nower days it'll be the MV800 now though any of these sort of cameras will do the trick fine, just make sure they have DV IN/OUT without it you can't edit. I think its good to start out with this sort of camera, only downsides are the following: the picture quality is adaquate, but noticebly different to broadcast, or pro DV quality (In films such as 28 days later.. which was filmed with canon XL1's). The sound is okay, but there is always that annoying motor noise from the camera which you cant get rid off in the edit, and will make films with dialogue sound amataurish.

I myself have now upgraded to a new semi-pro camera the canon XM2 which i brought on saturday for £1420 including warranty, tapes and a UV filter (thats a dam good price.) The camera is superb and is near broadcast quality. Also the sound is superb, with three different modes, for voice, widescreen or normal. everything can be manual and you can get exactly the kind of shot you want, also the manual focus ring is very good making depth of feild easy, unlike the annoying manual focus on the MV cameras. But it all comes at a cost.

So with cameras, it depends how much money you wanna spend, and it also depends what quality you want to acheive. Very good films can be made on either of the cameras, your choise.

for computers, i highly recomend Mac based editing, simply because its cheap and easy. a mac mini will cost you from 599 quid, and that will come with iLife 06 which includes iMovie which is perfect for starting out for editing, because its easy to use and you can get results easy. i've used iMovie for 2 of my films so far, one of which is my favourite, even having done another two using final cut pro. i suggest you edit some films on iMovie first, and if you still dont feel creatively free, give final cut pro a go, its expencive yeah, but i have heard it can be downloaded off bit torrent. i dont know much about PC editing, but i doubt its as simple as mac, having to install firewire etc, and it seems more expencive, but again its your choise.

My mac, my firewire cable and i XM2 is all i need and its perfect for me. i would recomend to anyone. I think if your starting out, go cheap MV canon (i recomend canon, other cameras seem to have major tape problems, my panasonic was pants for tapes, and everything ive ever had that was sony, broke) a cheap mac and a firewire and your away. If you want quality results go for a semi-pro cam, but expect to pay around the £2000 range. one last thing, stick with DV, HD looks lovely, but the editing programs arnt really up to the task yet so wait until its standard.

hope this all helps, enjoy making your film!

Wicked mate

Proper helpful

[RydCook]

andybirtwell said:

what kind of depth of field do you get with your canon XM2 ?

a very good depth of feild... is that a good answer? no it isn't, i'm not at home at the mo, but i'll find out the focal legnth for you right now, via the internet. *searches for XM2*

aha found it, the focal legnth is 4.2mm to 84mm. and from my tests it looks great! there is also a mode, (i cant remember the name of) that gets rid of unnessisary light meaning you can get a very strong depth of feild.. overall, its bluming marvelous, can't wait to make a film/musid video with it.. beest hope this helps

[Dazza]

Hi I use a sony handycam as they are fairly weighty cameras and sit nicely on the tripod if you have one, for editing I now use Sony Vegas 4.0 its pretty good software and the quality outcome is pretty good even once burned onto DVD.