[Maced] Digital cameras and digital video cameras

[Martin Levins]

On 05/03/2008, at 10:18 PM, Brenda Sumner wrote:
> Hi everyone
>
> Any recommendations for digital cameras, mid range suitable for  
> students to use.
> Should they have viewfinder or just use LCD, and any fancy features.
> I would like to get at least 10 to leave some with departments and  
> some in library.

We've used Canon A series which we love for the following reasons:

good glass: the first consideration in a camera is how well it  
captures light

viewfinder: concentrate on framing rather than being distracted, LCD  
screens hard to read in bright sunlight. Downside is that a lot of  
viewfinders give you 85% of actual image, but that's what cropping  
tools are for ;-)

AA batteries: yu can get these everywhere. By all means use  
rechargables, but you can bet your life that the shot you need will  
occur when the batteres runut and you're nowhere near 240/12V to  
recharge, but there's a garage/corner store nearby that sells AAs

Good electronics: means more that n megapixels. We get good results  
blowing up a 3 MB image to A3 IF the glass is good. Good electronics  
also means that the image is taken when you press the shutter button,  
not 1 second later. Canon are fairly good here.

Compatibility with iLife: 'nuf said

> Also digital video cameras. We have some old Sony, which I like but  
> not sure of newer models.


Get:

Tape based as HDD based do horrible compressy things that mean post  
production opportunities are limited and you'll need a Quicktime 2  
plugin (although newest iMovie will import, albeit slowly)

One with a Mike jack so you can use an inexpensive external mike so  
you're not recording the cameraperson and motor noise as well as the  
talent

One with white balance so you don't get Martians when you wanted  
caucasians

Firewire interface (USB is slow, even though it says it's faster)

Also get a good tripod with a level, (unless you're really into  
vertigo) and some lighting, (at least some of those silvery thingies  
that people put on their windscreens) so you can get some light on  
your talent

I reckon this is really important, because:

What's the difference between erotic movies and porn?

Lighting

I think there's something in that for us all

Cheers
Martin