3D - 2

Good, affordable entry-level prosumer DV camera?

As a film student, I'm looking for an entry-level, yet good quality prosumer DV camera. It must be 3CCD, use miniDV tapes, NTSC, and be able to shoot 16:9 (anamorphic of course) as well as the usual 4:3. I would like it to have a headphone jack and possibly the ability to plug in an external mic that uses 1/8" stereo or mono jack, RCA, and/or XLR (so I can have a boom mic handler). I am currently looking at the Canon GL2. Keep in mind my budget is under $2K and I might consider buying it used on ebay. Any advice is appreciated!

Public Comments

1. The list is pretty short... You found the GL2 - it was (and still is) a workhorse for some prosumers and pros... there is also the Sony PD170, Sony DCR-VX1000, VX2000 (I don't think you'll find a VX2100 at your price point) and *maybe* the Panasonic DVX100. For the camcorders that have a 1/8" audio-in jack; getting that to XLR will require an XLR adapter like those from juicedLink or BeachTek. For RCA, just use a 1/8" to RCA converter cable. All of the above camcorders will have better-than-consumer-cam low-light behavior... Have you considered the Canon HV30 at all? It does 24p and 30p (none of the previously listed cams does 30p - and only the Panny does 24p) and it does high definition and standard definition (though it is only a single CMOS), and I am pretty sure it has mic and headphone jacks. AND it will allow a few different mics and other accessories... (though it does not LOOK as cool/pro as the others and the manual controls won't be as easy to get to)... but like I said - not so good low-light bahavior.