"Joe Zorzin" <super-stud@forestmeister.com> wrote in message

news:vngfpq2t1bc116@corp.supernews.com...

> I'm a forester, and I've photographed forests with a 35 mm camera (Nikon

> F100), but now I'd like to try video. I've never had a video camera and have

> no idea what to look for. I will definitely do my homework- but any advice

> would be nice. I will film forests of all types- in some cases it will be

> timber harvesting activities and other forestry work.

>

> I presume some of the same issues will arise as with still photography- type

> of film/tape/digital choices, lighting, tripod, etc.

>

> I can't afford professional equipment, but I don't want total junk either.

> Not sure at this time how much I'll be willing to spend. I'll spend more if

> I'm convinced I should to get good recordings.

I would look at the Sony VX2000 for this since it has excellent

picture sharpness (all of it is needed to shoot forests/landscapes

without having it look like a bunch of blobs), excellent low-light

range (it can shoot without lights in surprisingly low light levels -

as in deep forest areas on cloudy days...), it has really nice

greens (trees don't look like they are covered in grey mud...;-),

and contrast is fairly moderate (needed for the high-contrast

lighting often encountered in forests ["dappled" sunlight, etc..])..

As for tape, ALWAYS use the same brand, whatever it is

(I've had consistent results without problems for years with Sony).

Tripods are a sore issue - if you do not need to pan/tilt, almost

any fairly sturdy stills tripod will do; if you want pro-grade

smooth camera movements, the bill starts around $1500; for

about $200-300 the Libec and various Bogen solutions can

serve if you are not critical...

For more on the VX2000, see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm.

For how it relates to other Sony camcorders, see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm.

For an idea of the picture flaws that video is subject to, see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/vid_pict_characts.htm.

The VX2000 sells at good dealers for about $2400. Add

a 58mm single-coated Hoys UV filter for lens protection,

and probably either a couple of NPF750 or one NPF960

batteries (the latter will last 1-2 days of intermittant shooting,

or more...). Useful is a good wide-angle converter (remove

the filter before adding it to the lens) - for info on these, see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/WA-converters.htm. For other

VX2000 odds and ends, see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/VX2000_odds.htm.

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com