On Fri, 6 Oct 2000 09:06:02 +0100, "David Cowan" wrote:

>Hi all,
>apologies first if this is a lamer beginners question, but I am a lamer
>beginner :-)
>
>I currently have/use a Panasonic MiniDV DS11 for making little movies... I
>have been practising with manual focus, shutter control, and apeture sizes,
>but have been pretty unsuccessful with trying to create varying depths of
>field. I believe this is down to the fact that the lower range of camcorder
>that I am using uses digital filters and effects to simulate real shutter
>speed and apeture sizes.
>
>I have therefore been looking at the Canon XL-1, but the pricetag attached
>is a bit too steep for me at this point - since I am still not sure how
>seriously I intend to take my movie making career :-)
>
>As well as firewire at home, I also have a DC30+, so I figured that as an
>intermediate purchase, perhaps I should invest in a second hand
>VHS/SVHS/Beta camera with similar facilities to the XL-1 (interchangeable
>lenses, manual focus, shutter and apeture, 3 ccd ), and use the DC30 to get
>the footage back into the computer.
>
>Unfortunately, my knowlege of analog camcorders is pretty dire (with regards
>to specification levels, and second hand pricing).... so my questions are
>
>1) Is this a good idea, or should I just save a bit more, and get the XL-1
>2) If it is a good idea, what would be the kind of analog model to aim for
>(and price)

Neither...
I feel like a broken record (y'no..., those big black
disks that skipped a lot...;-) sometimes, but, "You can
find critical reviews of many Mini-DV camcorders on my web
page, under the 'I babble' index." There are comparison
frame-grabs, descriptions of the motion-video (the stills
don't reveal all...), and descriptions of sound noise and
tonal balance. Most good 3-chippers give you some
manual control of shutter, gain, and aperture, though
most combine some of the functions, alas; the 1-chippers
generally are limited to "lock-and-shift" manual
exposure control, with no options for aperture. The picture
is better with Mini-DV 3-chippers, also, and these are
better than most affordable analogue cameras. With the
lack of generation losses and dropout problems, I would
put the money in a good Mini-DV camera, especially
since you have the FireWire connection.
Try the VX-2000 (with the Canon WD-58 .7X),
and you will be VERY happy you didn't waste money on
a big VHS/SVHS/BETA clunker...! ;-) Until you spend
REAL bucks on analogue gear (and then struggle with
drop-outs, generation losses, tape expense, weight,
size, maintainence, etc.), you will not easily equal
the picture and sound quality of a VX-2000. Heck, save
money, and buy one of my also-excellent VX-1000s
(these have been industry-standards for years, and are
still up there with the best Mini-DVs in image and
sound quality, maybe short the VX-2000 and variants
like the more expensive PD150 and DSR-250 [same lens
and CCDs, though...]).