Jordan Edwards Photo wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm in the market for a camcorder, and my budget is $2,000. Each of the four major brands have something at this price. I've eliminated the Canon XA10 because it looks too home movie-ish to me, and the JVC only shoots at the 35mm equivalent of 40mm at its widest focal length. So that leaves the Panasonic AC90 and Sony NX30. Has anyone used either or both of these cameras? If so, what is your impression?

I realize that most people shoot video with DSLRs, but I'm specifically looking for a camcorder to use for documentary and behind the scenes work.

Thanks,

Jordan

Painting with a mighty broad brush there aren't you?

Spend a few dollars more and get the 1/3" chip Panasonic AG-HMC150. Also, you might be well served to ask about in the forums on dvxuser.com

Best of luck.

C and J Photography wrote:
The panasonic is not producing better video with this than they produce with their $400 HC-V700. Are you really needing the camera look and feel that much? I can see this if you accept the fact that you are buying a $400 camera in a $1,500 dog and pony show costume. I would even buy ther expensive camera if it was justified by customer awe. Just saying the image quality you get from the $400 camera is as good as it gets for under $5,000 IMO.

3 @ 1/4.7" 2 mp sensors are not superior to 1 @ 1/2.33" 8 mp sensor running as a 2 mp sensor after bayer interpolation in my book.

Edit: If you are willing to buy the Panasonic camcorder you first asked about do step up an extra $500 and get the one mentioned in the above post instead.

+1

Jordan Edwards Photo wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm in the market for a camcorder, and my budget is $2,000. Each of the four major brands have something at this price. I've eliminated the Canon XA10 because it looks too home movie-ish to me, and the JVC only shoots at the 35mm equivalent of 40mm at its widest focal length. So that leaves the Panasonic AC90 and Sony NX30. Has anyone used either or both of these cameras? If so, what is your impression?

I realize that most people shoot video with DSLRs, but I'm specifically looking for a camcorder to use for documentary and behind the scenes work.

Thanks,

Jordan

You disqualified the Canon because of it's appearance? Really?

Jordan Edwards Photo wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm in the market for a camcorder, and my budget is $2,000. Each of the four major brands have something at this price. I've eliminated the Canon XA10 because it looks too home movie-ish to me, and the JVC only shoots at the 35mm equivalent of 40mm at its widest focal length. So that leaves the Panasonic AC90 and Sony NX30. Has anyone used either or both of these cameras? If so, what is your impression?

I realize that most people shoot video with DSLRs, but I'm specifically looking for a camcorder to use for documentary and behind the scenes work.

Thanks,

Jordan

What I shoot is AG-HPX300.
AG-HPX300_slant619 by FullMetalPhotographer, on Flickr

Used it will run between $3000-6000 depending on the setup.

For the price range you are looking at my guess is you might find a used Panasonic AG-AC130A AVCCAM HD Handheld Camcorder
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 … dheld.html

The big issue with Panasonic is the P2 cards which are very expensive. The card reader runs about $400.

Imageri by Tim Davis wrote:
You disqualified the Canon because of it's appearance? Really?

Agreed. I have the XA10 and there's nothing home movie-ish about it, maybe bad editors but a little time spent in a good NLE avoids that. The most people use a DSLR comment is pretty much wrong. Two different tools completely. Use the DSLR if you're a control freak that likes to manual focus on the go. Use a camcorder because you'd like to spend a little less time thinking about all the technical details. DOF gets clobbered but that's a price you pay for using an internal lens. GL

rfordphotos wrote:
sony vg20?

the NEX VG 20 has my vote too

C and J Photography wrote:
The panasonic is not producing better video with this than they produce with their $400 HC-V700. Are you really needing the camera look and feel that much? I can see this if you accept the fact that you are buying a $400 camera in a $1,500 dog and pony show costume. I would even buy ther expensive camera if it was justified by customer awe. Just saying the image quality you get from the $400 camera is as good as it gets for under $5,000 IMO.

3 @ 1/4.7" 2 mp sensors are not superior to 1 @ 1/2.33" 8 mp sensor running as a 2 mp sensor after bayer interpolation in my book.

Edit: If you are willing to buy the Panasonic camcorder you first asked about do step up an extra $500 and get the one mentioned in the above post instead.

+1

C and J Photography wrote:
The panasonic is not producing better video with this than they produce with their $400 HC-V700. Are you really needing the camera look and feel that much? I can see this if you accept the fact that you are buying a $400 camera in a $1,500 dog and pony show costume. I would even buy ther expensive camera if it was justified by customer awe. Just saying the image quality you get from the $400 camera is as good as it gets for under $5,000 IMO.

3 @ 1/4.7" 2 mp sensors are not superior to 1 @ 1/2.33" 8 mp sensor running as a 2 mp sensor after bayer interpolation in my book.

Edit: If you are willing to buy the Panasonic camcorder you first asked about do step up an extra $500 and get the one mentioned in the above post instead.

DSLR video is notorious for aliasing due to the line removal involved in making your glorious 1/2.33" 8 Mp sensor into a 2 MP sensor.  And there has always been a reason for three-chip cameras being superior in color rendition terms.  And some of us have heard the term "jello-cam" before. 

I'm not even going to get into the pain-in-the-ass factor of DSLR audio.

MN camera wrote:
DSLR video is notorious for aliasing due to the line removal involved in making your glorious 1/2.33" 8 Mp sensor into a 2 MP sensor.  And there has always been a reason for three-chip cameras being superior in color rendition terms.  And some of us have heard the term "jello-cam" before. 

I'm not even going to get into the pain-in-the-ass factor of DSLR audio.

The V700 is a very highly regarded VIDEO CAMERA...
3 chip systems are fast becoming obsolete. The benefit was bit rate from 3 sources and technology has overcome that.