AboutTroy Smith Expertise I can answer questions on professional or amateur filmmaking and questions on Final Cut Pro, video cameras, lighting, sound recording, scriptwriting, storytelling, directing, producing, editing, multi-camera productions, shooting sports, picture to video, using DTE hard drives, using video cameras and editing in a very creative way and some 16mm filmmaking. I can't answer too many questions on 35mm filmmaking.
Experience I have been a professional filmmaker since 1995 and a film teacher since 2000. I am publishing a textbook for beginning filmmakers called "the New Filmmaker's Adventure". I have experience in the area of low-budget feature filmmaking, Iam the co-owner of the production company called Imminent Entertainment LLC, I have worked on hundreds of videos, TV shows, multi-camera events and low budget, professional productions, corporate and consumer videos, Final Cut Pro, scriptwriting, directing, videography and cinematography, sound, lighting, editing, and producing.
Organizations Independent Feature Project - Chicago
Education/Credentials Western Michigan University '95 BS in film production Magna cum Laude
Maine Media Workshops '02-07
Expert: Troy Smith Date: 6/17/2008 Subject: Which camcorder ?
Question My son is a student (22 years old) here in the UK, and as a way of earning money to pay for his studies, he is looking to start up his own wedding video production company. He also makes his own short films, and has been asked to make some pop videos by local bands.
He is looking to purchase a camera which would be suitable for covering the things mentioned above, but as a student obviously has a limited budget.
He has been looking at purchasing either a Canon XH-A1, a Sony HVR-V1 or a Pansonic AG-HVX200.
Can you advise which of these in your opinion would be the best purchase, and why ?
Cheers.
Answer I am very partial to the HVX200 - it is an amazing camera. The Canon is very good but you often pay more for Canon's than they are really worth. Sony is a solid model, but again, the Panasonic is the way to go, in my opinion. It has the variable shutter rate and and many different options on it (too many to list). I have been researching all of these cameras for a while now, and there just seems to be so much to do with the Panasonic. Of course, a different professional will tell you something else, but so many people have made great remarks (and movies) on the Panasonic.
On a separate note, when you buy a camera, a great place to buy from is www.BHphotovideo.com. I buy all my equipment from them because they are almost always the lowest price for a legitimate sale and they are speedy and reliable. If you find cheaper prices on stuff, make sure that it is from a reputable company. There are MANY companies on the web that will sell for a "lower" price and then try to sell you all of these additions. If you don't buy those additions, the camera suddenly becomes "out of stock." Or, my personal favorite, you go through the whole ordering process and then the last thing they tell you is that shipping and handling will be $300! Just a heads up from someone who has bought tons of equipment.
