Hi--


I really enjoyed your excellent review of Mini DV camcorders. It was quite helpful, as I am currently in the
process of purchasing one (I am leaning towards the Sony VX 2000).

I have two questions, and if you have time to answer them I will be extrememly appreciative.

First is there an external (ambient) mic that you would recommend? I need it for recording dialogues
between actors. What do you use for recording audio tracks?

No easy answer...
Three types of mics stereo-ambient (on-camera/off-camera); mono-shotgun
(on-camera/off-camera); lavalier (close-to/on speaker). The VX-2000
on-camera mic is very good, as is the 822 Audio Technica; the Sennheiser
MKE-300 is a popular cheap short-shotgun for on-camera or boom use;
the Azden wireless Lavalier sets are cheap ($150) and useable. I'm
not familiar with better, more expensive mics. People often suppliment the
camera recording tracks with cheap Mini-Disk recorders (use synch info,
like saying aloud the track/take numbers, and a clap to help synch.).

Second I am involved with shooting some short films (previously I worked in 16mm, but I am moving out of
film and into video due to cost, editing, and audio recording considerations) and I am trying to achieve a
"film" look with video.

You were with me, until the last part - many low-end producers are doing
this... But this is video, and will not look like film (in some ways it
is better, since it permits smooth and sharp showwing of motion, and
all of its technical characteristics can be modified easily during editing
[sharpening, color/contrast/brightness-changing, local-area modifications,
overlays, etc.]).

By "film" look what I am referring to is something that looks and feels more like cinema and less like TV,
particularly in terms of depth of field.

If you limit this to DOF, forcing a camera with a good lens to use a wide
stop, and shooting close will give you some out-of-focus background, if it
is far enough back...

Do you have any suggestions as to which cameras / brands are more likely to provide this type of asthetic
quality? Is their any editing software on the market that does this?

Accept video for what it can do particularly well, and work within that
medium without trying to make it another, is what I would advise...
"Film-look" for video just looks silly - but you can limit DOF (with some
effort) and move more slowly than is usual with video if you want.
You can also adjust the look of the color and contrasts. I would avoid
PS-mode shooting and added grain/dust/scratches/frame-wiggle that
just spoil video's advantages without looking like film except in a hokey
way...


I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

Regards,

Benjamin Zuckerman
benzuckerman@yahoo.com
Buenos Aires, Argentina

No problem - have fun wirth it!
(Another video advantage you can shoot LOTS, and reuse stock!)