On 17 May 2002 03:22:50 -0700, yanipoo@yahoo.com (Nailvarnish) wrote:

>Let me add an amendement on that. My goal is to put the documentary
>through the festival circuit, and I suppose if I am very lucky (which
>I doubt) will be on TV. What I want to make sure if that I fulfil the
>minimum requirements for this. A lot of people have agreed to help me
>and is willing to talk on the video, along with a possible
>distribution at the end of it. However, choosing a camera seems the
>most difficult task. Thank you.
>
>Yan

>yanipoo@yahoo.com (Nailvarnish) wrote in message news:
...
>> I am also working on a documentary this summer and looking to buy a
>> DV. Personally I am looking for a "Broadcast quality" DV, however it
>> seems "broadcast quality" means a lot of different things to different
>> people. I have a budget of US$ 3000, which should be more than enough
>> but having difficulties in finding the right product. Please, any
>> advice would be apreciated.
>>
>> Yan

For around $3000 I would look at the Sony PD150 (no money
left for accessories...), or the similar VX2000 (about $600
left for accessories... The picture is top-end (and the same
on both), the automatic controls are top-end (and can be
biased for preferences - useful if your camera-operation
skill levels are "newish";-], the high-capacity tiny NPF-960
accessory battery will run the camera all day, removing
powering issues, etc. - see this review for more,
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm, and,
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/vid_pict_characts.htm for
background on video picture issues). Accessories you may
want: short-shotgun mic and boom, WA lens converter, the
NPF-960 battery, a good UV filter (and perhaps a good
circular-polarizer - I like Hoya for good cost/performance
in filters), a good Lanc controller, and an acceptable
fluid-head tripod (see the review article for specifics).
Getting all of these will put you over budget, though...
This rig is "broadcast quality" (at least a lot of material
shot with it is broadcast...;-), though it is a bit short
of what can be done with MUCH more expensive gear, with
MUCH more experience... And then, there's film.......;-)