Film making camera that is not to expensive?

im planning on getting into film making, so I've been looking for a great camera to help me out. Preferably, a professional camera but not anything that's going to pull my arm off and not to expensive. It will be used for independent filmmaking so I want it to have a great picture.|||Any camcorder - if used within the camcorders specifications - can provide good results.





Use the camcorder outside its specs and you will get poor results.





As well, someone with experience can use any camcorder and get compelling content. Someone with no experience can get the most expensive camcorder made and produce poor results.





That said, there are things common to prosumer and professional grade camcorders...





1) Mic jack. This lets you connect a microphone so the camcorder can be further away that the built-in mics can deal with. Consumer and prosumer use 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo jacks. Pro grade uses XLR connectors.





2) Manual audio control. Loud audio will overwhelm the auto-mic gain. An external mic alone will not fix this - You need to be able to control the level of the audio going in to the camcorder. Most consumer cams do not have manual audio control - those that do control the audio level from their menu. Prosumer and prograde have control on the outside of the camcorder - easy to get to and use.





3) Big lenses and imaging chips. Since you never know when you need to capture video, you need to be able to handle as many different lighting conditions as possible. Capturing video under good lighting conditions, any camcorder can do that. Low light conditions means big lenses to allow the lighting in and big imaging chips to capture that light. A starting point for prosumer lenses is 72mm diameter.





4) Cheap storage and video archive capability.





In the consumer camcorder environment, the closest you can get is the Canon HV40. The lenses and imaging chips are small like any other consumer cam, it is the least expensive camcorder with manual audio control. But it does DV and HDV and 24p and has a mic jack and uses miniDV tape.





In $ order: Canon GL2, Panasonic AG-DVX100b, Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, Canon XHA1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, Sony HVR-Z5, Canon GY-HM100, HVR-Z1, HVR-Z7... and they go up from here.|||Different things give you that great overall picture:





1) The glass in the lens.


2) The number / type / size of the receptors.


3) The compression of the video.





What you want, thinking along these lines that you posted, is a camera that is the best for the money.





The Canon XH-A1 is around $4000 (full retail, it can be had for less - check out B%26amp;H Photo Video). It is a great camera. It is light and usable.





The Panasonic AG-HMC150 is a version of the old AG-DVC 80 that I still own a couple of. It shoots wide screen and also runs about $4000 (again, full retail) - it too can be had for less.





Both of these units offer "Phantom Power" and XLR inputs for audio, so your camera can power up any microphones that you use with a cable (wireless microphones will require batteries).





If you seek a more consumer - with good picture quality - I recommend both Canon and Panasonic units. Several of which can be had for under $1500. These lower priced units have great picture, but you might require power for audio, as they offer mini audio inputs for the microphones.





I always use a tripod, and the units that I mention are not shoulder units, they are smaller and lighter than shoulder units are. If you desire to use them on your shoulder, a device can be made at home, or purchased in professional form that will allow them to be used shoulder carried.|||Get a Canon 5d MarkII. You'll be getting astonishing HD video with unbelievable low light capabilities AND 35mm film Depth of Field, with extensive manual control and sound recording capabilities, all while using some of the best camera lenses available.





Best part? It's only $3000! or $2300 if you already have a Canon Lens.





Or get a Canon 500d. Same thing, less manual control, no mic jack, only $800.