Decent 24p HD camcorder for under $1k?

24p... what do you mean by that?

24p or 24 fps or 23.98 or 29.97??

Might be helpful for us to understand what you are actually trying to do and why you think this is ABSOLUTE even for the money you are throwing at it.

What you are asking is this:

What can I buy in a Digital SLR with fully manual functions and removable lenses for $250?

1K... you mean Euros?

I'd open that up to under $6k -- with a good book or two thrown in.

CaptM

You answer my $250 question and I'll answer yours.

Make sure you SAY 24 frames per second. Do you know what 24pA is?

You'll x out a lot of cameras that way... but again, price yourself out of your limited cash.

CaptM

If all you have is $1000 USD and you want true 24pA (which is what you described: i.e. anything else 24p is 29.97 over 60 fields-in DV anyway...) I would look for something used, cause there is no camera that does true 24 frames progressive for that price new, and still tough to find used. Like the Cap'n said, raise your budget to a few more thousand and maybe you'll find something...

Red...

I was even avoiding telling him about 24pA because he refuses to work with cadences... and refuses to see how they can be helpful... and refuses to see how you can remove cadences 24p or 24pA.

No no no... what he really wants is a solid state camera (P2) that will record true/no cadence/no fooling/24 frames per second.

OH... I know... he really wants a FILM camera!!! No tape involved there.

CaptM

HAHAHA... thanks for editing that post - wasn't what you originally wrote, was it???

Enlighten you?

Try google.

CaptM

Try the HPX170 also from Panasonic... due out in September. Just about $5k. You'll love it!!!! Still P2... but look at what you are ASKING!!!

Honest!!!

CaptM

Well... again, let's re-evaluate what you want to do!!

You NEED HD?
You NEED 24 fps shooting?
You NEED solid state?

Is that really absolute? Why not a DVX? You can find a cheap used one for 3k. Heck, I'll sell you MINE!

CaptM

Chris... (male female)

This you??? http://www.bedrock-studios.com/demolarge.htm

If it is, do NOT settle for some 1k camera. If you have spirit like that and want to start 'film' you need to up your entry fee.

You'll get some more respect from the better filmers here.

1K is the HS kid entry point they can get their parents to shell out. HV20 is a good camera there.

CaptM

Chris,

If that was you on the demo Cap'n posted, what are you thinking about...! You are a talented animator and you will need good equipment to get the job done. Listen to the Cap, he speaks wisely.

On that note, my company actually has 3 HV20s, and they shoot nicely, but you have very limited control. For instance, you can't have manual iris and manual focus at the same time. It's one or the other.

But VIMEO has a bunch of videos and testimonials to the camera, and some people have done some amazing things with it. One guy used the lens from a broken Razor cell phone and made a depth of field adapter for his HV20. You should see the footage.

That all being said, you are not going to get 24 fps cheap. And is it not 24 anyway. It is 23.98, as previously stated. If you get something that shoots 24pA, you can do a pulldown removal and you will have 24 frames left with no interlacing and no decomp/recomp of any frames.

The internet is not fluffy if you know how to search. You will get way more information from the right web search than anyone here is willing to post in a single day... or even a week.

Seriously. Do some research on 24p, 24pA, and tapeless video.

Canon Vixia HV30
shoots 24p with a cinema mode.
800.00

Panasonic HMC150.

Available next month.

Street about $3200.00.

Shoot 24 mbps AVCHD to SD cards. (The web site says 21, but I believe it's 24).

Records in a full range of HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/30p, 1080/24p; 720/60p, 720/30p, 720/24p