Hi everyone :)
I would like to know which camcorder should I get to start in short-movies making :)
Should I start with an action-cam ?
A camera ?
A real camcorder ?
I also would like to know if you guys know good books about film art and cinematography: What do you think about "The Filmmaker’s Handbook" ?
Thanks guys ! :)
Budget?
The best way to get into filmmaking is to get on other film crews. Start as a PA or similar and work your way up. Getting a camera is actually a pretty poor way to start.
Let's say 600€/$.
Yeah but I want to start alone to try some things :)
I'll probably not start with real short-movies, but more like scenes with toys and other stuff.
Have you considered one of the current mobile phones such as Iphone or Samsung . A lot of people wanting to get into short movies are using these .
If you prefer a video-cam you should consider one that supports the latest format standard of 4K , and a video editor that can handle that too .
Hi ! Thank you for your help !
Well using my phone for filming is not very convenient on my opinion ^^
I'm considering buying an action cam, not sure if it's the best choice but looks very handy.
Go Pro !!
Well if I choose an action cam i'll probably go with the Sony HDR-AS200V or Sony FDR-X1000 :)
shareWhy don't you try a DSLR instead of a camcorder?
Malickian Protagonist
Get a DSLR like a Canon T3i or T5i. It should include an 18-55mm "kit" lens for about the price you mentioned and will give you manual exposure control, which is a must.
Unfortunately, to get really high quality images and sound, you're going to have to invest some more money in more things than just a camera. You're going to need to purchase a couple LED lights, with orange color gels to color-correct them to incandescent light if you're shooting indoors (around $200) and at least one video mic (I've heard good things about the Rode) with a long, maybe 20-foot, 1/8" mini cable to get the mic close to any actors speaking to capture close presence in the audio (around an additional $200).
Then, of course, editing software, to piece the shots together and do the sound mix. You'll probably be able to get by, at first, with basic editing software that comes with any PC or Mac, like Mac's iMovie.
Read books on PHOTOGRAPHY as well as filmmaking, since quality of the image is what you're concerned about and is why you're here on this board. Learn the basics of 2 and 3-point lighting, composition and depth-of-field. Then, in CINEMATOGRAPHY books, learn about using lighting to create different types of DRAMATIC effects, and how different camera ANGLES make a subject appear meek or powerful, for example.
Have fun and good luck!