What camera should I get?

Q. I'm looking for a point and shoot camera that I can use above and under water. I'm not completely sure to what depth under water but I would love to use it while scuba diving which I'm guessing would require a housing? High res is important.

Links would help immensely with any option(s) listed. Thanks!

A. Lots of info on waterproof cameras out there.
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/digital-cameras/new-waterproof-cameras_roundup.html
http://www.waterproof-camera.org/

Popular Photography � April 2013
Sony Cyber-shot TF1 - $198 (need reviews)
Fujifilm FinePix XP60 - $198
Pentax WG-3 GPS - $297
Nikon Coolpix AW110 - $347
Olympus Stylus TG-2 - $379
Panasonic Lumix TS5 - $399
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=sony_dsctf1&products=fujifilm_xp60&products=pentax_optiowg2gps&products=nikon_cpaw110&products=oly_tg2&products=panasonic_dmcts5
http://snapsort.com/compare/Fujifilm-FinePix-XP60-vs-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TF1

Original Question

I need a new digital camera!!!!?

Q. I really need a new digital camera! It needs to take good to decent photos and I would like it to be water proof. My budget is from 100-150 or a little higher depending on how much I like the camera. If you have a recommendation please leave a link to the camera below. I also wanted to ask what camera brand is better than the others I know Kodak is terrible then there's Sony, canon, Nikon which are the most familiar to me. I know there are the goods and the bads of each brand but in general which is the best for digital cameras. Thank you for your time best answer gets 10 points !!!!! �

A. Popular Photography's April 2013 edition covers waterproof cameras. They make the following suggestions:

Sony Cyber-shot TF1 - $198 (need reviews)
Fujifilm FinePix XP60 - $198
Pentax WG-3 GPS - $297
Nikon Coolpix AW110 - $347
Olympus Stylus TG-2 - $379
Panasonic Lumix TS5 - $399
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=sony_dsctf1&products=fujifilm_xp60&products=pentax_optiowg2gps&products=nikon_cpaw110&products=oly_tg2&products=panasonic_dmcts5
http://snapsort.com/compare/Fujifilm-FinePix-XP60-vs-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TF1

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Sony digital camera( DSC-TX30/B)....this camera good or no? please tell........?

Q.

A. Here is a review
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-tx30
Within the category of immersible compact cameras, its image quality is probably among the best in the studio test, although that is not a category with spectacularly great image quality. In the real world comparison tests it seems to have fallen a bit below the competition.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2013-waterproof-roundup/14
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2013-waterproof-roundup/15
It is the lightest and most compact within that class. However, it is not a very easy camera to handle for actual diving.

With any compact camera you should use a wriststrap, and all the more so when handling these water resistant cameras in the water. with no floatation attached, they will sink.

For diving the Canon D20 has an advantage with the best ergonomics. Image quality is good for its class with least noise reduction smudging or highlight clipping. The Nikon AW110 is a very good overall performer for its class in image quality and has least chromatic aberration. The Olympus TG-2 gains an advantage in low light with its f2 lens. For video with real time sound, its sound gets terrible when immersed in water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBFwthdyXRQ
The Pentax WG-3 also has an f2 lens, but its images were rather dull in this test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnxn_Ng-1U8
The Panasonic TS5 seems to produce some nice images, and it has the best video options, but its autofocus is sluggish.

A peculiar thing about the Nikon AW110 is that they package it with a neckstrap and advise against using a neckstrap in the water for safety reasons. An aftermarket wriststrap should be purchased for it.

Original Question

What camera should I get?

Q. I'm looking for a point and shoot camera that I can use above and under water. I'm not completely sure to what depth under water but I would love to use it while scuba diving which I'm guessing would require a housing? High res is important.

Links would help immensely with any option(s) listed. Thanks!

A. Lots of info on waterproof cameras out there.
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/digital-cameras/new-waterproof-cameras_roundup.html
http://www.waterproof-camera.org/

Popular Photography � April 2013
Sony Cyber-shot TF1 - $198 (need reviews)
Fujifilm FinePix XP60 - $198
Pentax WG-3 GPS - $297
Nikon Coolpix AW110 - $347
Olympus Stylus TG-2 - $379
Panasonic Lumix TS5 - $399
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=sony_dsctf1&products=fujifilm_xp60&products=pentax_optiowg2gps&products=nikon_cpaw110&products=oly_tg2&products=panasonic_dmcts5
http://snapsort.com/compare/Fujifilm-FinePix-XP60-vs-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TF1

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Professional camcorder 2013?

Q. Hi several years ago, HVR-Z1U was my main camera but since this one is too old and still need to use by film, I wanted to buy professional camcorder. I'm going to buy it in B&H but not sure which one is good choice. the price will be between $2000~3500. Can you show me the recent professional camcorder?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2|0

A. Film cameras us film. Once the film is exposed, , in a dark place, the film is removed from the camera and sent in a light-tight container for chemical processing. For editing, a splicer is used. Or, individual frames are scanned (one by on) and digitized for use in a computer editing system. Typically, film cameras do not record audio. Sound is recorded externally.

The Sony HVR-Z1 is a digital camcorder. It record high quality, low compression DV and HDV video to miniDV tape. It is a digital video camcorder. There is no film involved. The Z1 has a built-in mic and also XLR connectors for external mics. It has a 72mm diameter lens and a 3CCD imaging chip that is 1/3".

My definition of "professional camcorder":
Lens diameter 70mm or larger.
Imaging chip is 3CCD or 3CMOS, 1/3 inch or larger.
XLR audio inputs.
Your Z1 meets all these requirements.

In your price range, we have:
* Sony HDR-FX1000 (it is the prosumer sibling to the Z1; uses miniDV tape; has only a 3.5mm stereo audio-in connecter - add a BeachTek or juicedLink XLR adapter is needed).

* The Sony HVR-Z5 (replaced the Z1), PMW160, HXRNX5, all the NEX and NX series camcorders are outside your budget.

* The Canon XF300 series is outside your budget.

* The Panasonic AG-AC series camcorders that meet the above criteria are outside your budget.

* The JVC GY-HM600 might fit your budget.

I think you are better of sticking with the Z1 - unless it is broken.

Original Question

Best filming camera to film movies?

Q. Hi! In 2015, some school mates and I are planning to shoot a remake of The Breakfast Club. It will be the 30 year anniversary and we are excited to start. Anyways, I am looking for a great filming camera for movies. I know it'll be pricey but I seem to get 0 help when I just google it. I also want to know how to make the footage have an 80s feel, quality wise. I will be using the camera that any of you suggest for a number of years and films to come, and I would also appreciate if you have any movie editing software? Thank you!

A. I am guessing you are looking to use some digital camera to film. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a professional movie camera, please ignore rest of my answer.

Most of us know that most compact cameras, or smart-phones like iPhones, are not good at video recording. If light is good, they do an okay job. When light is dull, they are almost unusable. Same is true for most consumer SLR cameras with kit lenses. So what do we do to take high quality High-Definition videos? Should we use an HD camcoder or a pocket camcorder like Sony Bloggie or UltraHD?

Most compact cameras don't do a good job in low light- for still images or for videos. If you zoom in, the shake becomes too obvious. Most DSLRs will do a little better as light level goes down but many of them will not auto focus during videos (because of the mirror which needs to be flipped for focusing). You can bypass this with a mirrorless camera which can auto focus, like Panasonic G or GF series but with Auto focus, you lose the control over which part of the frame, or on which person to focus on. If you have 3 persons in a frame, your Auto-Focus will not know which one you want to focus on. Why not? Silly, it is Auto-focus! It focuses by itself!! That is the reason you never see a professional movie or videos done with Autofocus.

Now read an article here which can give you nice tips:
http://photography-with-any-camera.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-recording-with-dslr-is-it-worth-it.html

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Is the Panasonic DMC-GF3Kdigital camera?

Q. A good camera for the 4/3 compact digital camera, for casual use or should I consider the Sony NEX-6L/B be a better choice for someone who only takes photos occasionally. an the accessories for a camera such as this, for this type of use, or something better on the market in 2013.

A. It doesn't matter if you takes pictures occasionally or all the time. All cameras have the ability to take good pictures. It's the user's responsibility to make the pictures look good. That depends a lot on his ability.

Both Panasonic and Sony make good cameras. You shouldn't have any problem with any. If you are most concerned about portability, look at the Pentax Q system. It's enough to fit in your hand and still maintain an interchangeable lens system. Pentax, if you're not familiar with it, has very good optical quality.

Original Question

Good digital cameras for around 100 bucks?

Q. Any recommendations for a camera around this price range? One that takes really good pictures, well as good as it gets for that price range. Thanks
Well it sounds like I would be better off saving my money for something better. I do not wanna spend 100 dollars on something that I will be more than likely be unsatisfied with. So I guess my next question is how much is a nice camera that's not outrageously expensive

A. Well, here is my two cents. Don't buy new. Buy from a highly reviewed seller on Ebay and buy Panasonic.
The older cameras (2011-2013) are just as good as any for an amateur photographer. I would suggest
a Lumix Brand DMC-ZS10, ZS19.. or even ZS3 or TZ5, these are nice cameras. Stay away from the thin and lightweight cameras they tend to brake much sooner. Camera shops see less of Lumix Cameras and
is what I suggest. If you want HD Videos then you will need to get a newer model. Hope this helps.

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Best filming camera to film movies?

Q. Hi! In 2015, some school mates and I are planning to shoot a remake of The Breakfast Club. It will be the 30 year anniversary and we are excited to start. Anyways, I am looking for a great filming camera for movies. I know it'll be pricey but I seem to get 0 help when I just google it. I also want to know how to make the footage have an 80s feel, quality wise. I will be using the camera that any of you suggest for a number of years and films to come, and I would also appreciate if you have any movie editing software? Thank you!

A. I am guessing you are looking to use some digital camera to film. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a professional movie camera, please ignore rest of my answer.

Most of us know that most compact cameras, or smart-phones like iPhones, are not good at video recording. If light is good, they do an okay job. When light is dull, they are almost unusable. Same is true for most consumer SLR cameras with kit lenses. So what do we do to take high quality High-Definition videos? Should we use an HD camcoder or a pocket camcorder like Sony Bloggie or UltraHD?

Most compact cameras don't do a good job in low light- for still images or for videos. If you zoom in, the shake becomes too obvious. Most DSLRs will do a little better as light level goes down but many of them will not auto focus during videos (because of the mirror which needs to be flipped for focusing). You can bypass this with a mirrorless camera which can auto focus, like Panasonic G or GF series but with Auto focus, you lose the control over which part of the frame, or on which person to focus on. If you have 3 persons in a frame, your Auto-Focus will not know which one you want to focus on. Why not? Silly, it is Auto-focus! It focuses by itself!! That is the reason you never see a professional movie or videos done with Autofocus.

Now read an article here which can give you nice tips:
http://photography-with-any-camera.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-recording-with-dslr-is-it-worth-it.html

Original Question

How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

Q. My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

A. Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

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Whats a good digital camera?

Q. I'm looking for a new camera that's around $100 or $120 I know that's not a lot but does anyone know a really nice digital camera please...?

A. Choose any Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Pentax, Panasonic or Sony. All 2012 and 2013 digital camera models are very powerful. Go to a store and put your hands on different cameras. See which cameras are within your budget and feel good. Any camera you buy will not disappoint you as long as you use it in good light. Most under $150 cameras will not work well in shooting fast moving objects indoor or taking photos in dull light. For that you will need to spend more than $500.
Now besides the camera, you can learn some basic photography lessons and get the most out of your powerful camera. Search the Internet and learn about Exposure Compensation, Multiple shots (fps), Timer, Bracketing, proper use of flash. Also use tripod and take photos with low ISO for stationary objects or for landscapes.
If you train yourself, any camera will help you get nice photos in most situations.
Good luck.

Original Question

Is the Panasonic DMC-GF3Kdigital camera?

Q. A good camera for the 4/3 compact digital camera, for casual use or should I consider the Sony NEX-6L/B be a better choice for someone who only takes photos occasionally. an the accessories for a camera such as this, for this type of use, or something better on the market in 2013.

A. It doesn't matter if you takes pictures occasionally or all the time. All cameras have the ability to take good pictures. It's the user's responsibility to make the pictures look good. That depends a lot on his ability.

Both Panasonic and Sony make good cameras. You shouldn't have any problem with any. If you are most concerned about portability, look at the Pentax Q system. It's enough to fit in your hand and still maintain an interchangeable lens system. Pentax, if you're not familiar with it, has very good optical quality.

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I need help finding spy glasses?

Q. I need some spy glasses that record video and audio.

Right now I am having problems finding some that record more than 2 hours. I need at least 8, but the longer the better. I don't care If i have to change batteries. I just cant plug it in every 2 hours and let it charge.

I found some that go off a DVR but I can not figure out how that works. Do the glasses plug into them? Do they last longer? Can you change batteries in that.

A. You probably want a set of glasses that have batteries but don't actually record ( saving power).. but transmit wirelessly to a nearby DVR ( just records the signal from glasses.. like a walkman or cell phone in your pocket. just a separate device to record - DVR= digital video recorder)

Better yet, if you can manage it, get something not in glasses, as they can be obvious. Only the really good glasses look like "normal" glasses. Many of the cheaper ones look a little "off" and could raise suspicion.
There are many examples of tiny microphones and 'button cams', that look like part of your clothing, or part of a bookbag / knapsack/ briefcase/ purse, coat, belt, etc.
Then you can wire all the devices together, and use a good battery to power all of it.

Electronics like these can have a very high failure rate, so stick with big names ( sony, panasonic, LG, Canon).. OR deal with a very trusted vendor who will allow full refund returns or exchanges for at least 3 months. The big names fail a lot less often, and will honor a warranty. Local or online vendors that know they may have to give you a full refund will be less likely to sell you garbage. .. STILL, test these things out at least a few times before it counts. Get the idea of angles , focus / distance, sound echoes, record time, battery time.. and differences from different temps, wind, rain, indoor/outdoor with background noise like pc fans, indoor wi-fi and radio interference, air conditioners or heaters ( em and noise).

Make sure you have expandable memory - usually SD cards, or micro SD cards. Hard disks are bulky, and the shock-resistant ones (or don't move at all)...are expensive.
If you control the environment, then you can avoid a lot of trouble and have a fixed-position computer or DVR device with direct power. No worries about extra memory or changes in the environment.

For example only.. this seems to be a pretty good button cam with HD resolution; but the seller has very limited return/refund policies
http://stuntcams.com/shop/button-camera-covert-1280x960-p-202.html

Another interesting set of good-looking spy glasses, but read the review for shortcomings.. and no, the batteries aren't changeable. Either you need to cut and hack a bit to modify the unit making the batteries 'replaceable', or buy multiple devices, one for each 2-hour window.
http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/04/03/inventio-hd-spy-glasses/

Most places that really do this professionally will put their own gear together, or import it directly from SE Asia. Buying the parts and making it work is a lot cheaper than buying a kit. If you have the know-how, you can also re-use the parts in another form later, and fix anything that goes bad, rather than trashing or returning the whole device.

Original Question

Is the Panasonic DMC-GF3Kdigital camera?

Q. A good camera for the 4/3 compact digital camera, for casual use or should I consider the Sony NEX-6L/B be a better choice for someone who only takes photos occasionally. an the accessories for a camera such as this, for this type of use, or something better on the market in 2013.

A. It doesn't matter if you takes pictures occasionally or all the time. All cameras have the ability to take good pictures. It's the user's responsibility to make the pictures look good. That depends a lot on his ability.

Both Panasonic and Sony make good cameras. You shouldn't have any problem with any. If you are most concerned about portability, look at the Pentax Q system. It's enough to fit in your hand and still maintain an interchangeable lens system. Pentax, if you're not familiar with it, has very good optical quality.

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Best filming camera to film movies?

Q. Hi! In 2015, some school mates and I are planning to shoot a remake of The Breakfast Club. It will be the 30 year anniversary and we are excited to start. Anyways, I am looking for a great filming camera for movies. I know it'll be pricey but I seem to get 0 help when I just google it. I also want to know how to make the footage have an 80s feel, quality wise. I will be using the camera that any of you suggest for a number of years and films to come, and I would also appreciate if you have any movie editing software? Thank you!

A. I am guessing you are looking to use some digital camera to film. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a professional movie camera, please ignore rest of my answer.

Most of us know that most compact cameras, or smart-phones like iPhones, are not good at video recording. If light is good, they do an okay job. When light is dull, they are almost unusable. Same is true for most consumer SLR cameras with kit lenses. So what do we do to take high quality High-Definition videos? Should we use an HD camcoder or a pocket camcorder like Sony Bloggie or UltraHD?

Most compact cameras don't do a good job in low light- for still images or for videos. If you zoom in, the shake becomes too obvious. Most DSLRs will do a little better as light level goes down but many of them will not auto focus during videos (because of the mirror which needs to be flipped for focusing). You can bypass this with a mirrorless camera which can auto focus, like Panasonic G or GF series but with Auto focus, you lose the control over which part of the frame, or on which person to focus on. If you have 3 persons in a frame, your Auto-Focus will not know which one you want to focus on. Why not? Silly, it is Auto-focus! It focuses by itself!! That is the reason you never see a professional movie or videos done with Autofocus.

Now read an article here which can give you nice tips:
http://photography-with-any-camera.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-recording-with-dslr-is-it-worth-it.html

Original Question

How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

Q. My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

A. Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

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How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

Q. My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

A. Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

Original Question

If you collect all three stamps at McDonalds for their monopoly contest, do you automatically win that prize?

Q. I've been playing the McDonald's monopoly thing and have almost collected all of one color and I want to know if you definitely win that prize.

A. Ah, the McDonald's Monopoly game... chasing after that one color stamp to win the big prize. If only it was that simple.

First of all, if you like McDonald's and you are happy about winning a food prize, its ok to play. Here's how it breaks down:•Medium Fries ($1.75) – Odds 1 in 9, or 11.1% chance you win.
• Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese ($3.60) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• Small McCafe or Smoothie ($2.40) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• McFlurry ($2.55) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• Breakfast Sandwich ($2.65) — Odds 1 in 22, or 4.6% chance you win

The other instant prizes (winning a DVD rental from a Red Box) to headphones are tougher. The DVD is 1 in 101 and the odds go up from there.

Now for the challenge - getting the properties. The truth is that whatever property group you need, one space is much, much, much more difficult to get than the others. Take the Red group (Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky) which gives you one of 40 plane tickets - the odds of getting Indiana or Illinois are around 1 in 10. The odds of getting Kentucky Ave., however, is 1 in 15 million.

Here is a list of the odds for all of the properties (plus the toughest one of each set to obtain):
BROWN: Mediterranean Ave, odds 1 in 30 million wins $1,000.
• LIGHT BLUE: Vermont Ave, odds 1 in 40 million, wins $5,000.
• PINK: Virginia Ave, odds 1 in 200 million, wins $10,000
• ORANGE: Tennessee Ave, odds 1 in 602 million, wins Super Bowl tickets.
• RED: Kentucky Ave, odds 1 in 15 million, wins one of 40 plane tickets for two.
• YELLOW: Ventnor Ave, odds 1 in 300 million, wins $20,000
• GREEN: Pennsylvania Ave, odds 1 in 40 million, wins one of 15 Fiat cars.
• BLUE: Boardwalk, 1 in 602 million, wins $1,000,000 in $50,000 annual payments.
• RAILROADS: Short Line railroad, 1 in 150 million, wins a year's supply of gas.

Do you see the challenge? It's not getting two of the three properties, it's getting the extremely scarce third one.

Here, btw, are the odds for winning the non-food prizes:
40 point MyCoke Reward (or medium Coke) - 1 in 151
$5 McDonald's Arch card - 1 in 21,518
EA Sports $10 promo code - 1 in 161
$10 Shell Gift Card - 1 in 60,250
Hasbro Monopoly Board Game - 1 in 60,250
$25 Shell Gift Card - 1 in 86,071
Shutterfly 8x8 PhotoBook - 1 in 302
EA Sports Game - 1 in 35,441
$50 - 1 in 60,250
ur Beats Earphones - 1 in 4,061,000
$100 - 1 in 105,701
Panasonic Lumix TS20 Digital Still camera - 1 in 1,506,202
Beats by Dr. Dre Phil Speaker - 1 in 4,016,601
Headphones - 1 in 301,245,030
Panasonic Viera 50-inch Plasma HDTV - 1 in 10,401,541
$5,000 - 1 in 40,166,041
EA Sports NFL Game Experience - 1 in 10,041,541
Beaches Resorts Vacation - 4,634,539
Ace Hardware $7,500 Home Fix-Up - 1 in 31,710,004
NFL Pro Bowl Experience - 30,124,503
2013 Fiat 500 Hatchback - 1 in 60,249,006
2013 Fiat 500 Cabrio - 1 in 60,249,006
$20,000 - 1 in 200,830,020
$100,000 - 1 in 301,245,030

So the morale of the story is if you want to win Medium Fries, you have a good chance of going away happy; otherwise, don't count on anything else.

Original Question

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Best Digital Camera in 2013?

Q. I'm looking for a digital camera with the following:

* Awesome, detailed shots for both amateur and professional photography use
* Fast, extreme action modes with instant, non-blurry shots (no delay unless optional)
* Full 1080p Quality Video with Excellent Sound and no buzzing/noises
* Great Image Stabilization
* Lovely Zoom with little to no shaking and annoying sounds
* Ability to record beautifully in both low light and very bright settings
* Easiness to learn, maintain, and adjust to
* Durable and lasts for maybe 20 years

A lifetime warranty for a camera product would be nice, but I doubt it exists. I've looked at the newest Canon Rebel (zoom/sound issues), Nikon D7100 (seems too stiff in certain settings), some Panasonic models, etc. I am on a budget and want to record high quality music videos and shorts, and take fancy pictures with the camera I am seeking. I want to spend no more than maybe $650 on my ideal product. What are your suggestions and knowledge of expertise?

A. I have a dream that someday anyone who decides to take up photography as a hobby will first know and understand this: "It isn't the camera its the photographer."

A person with zero knowledge of light, composition and exposure will be unable to use any camera in any mode other than Program or Auto, allowing the camera to determine ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Even then, zero knowledge of just composition will usually produce mere snapshots.

In 42 years I have never owned a camera that made really good pictures.

In 42 years I have never owned a camera that made really bad pictures.

However, in those 42 years I have used a camera to make some really good pictures and some really bad pictures. The camera is just a tool and gets neither credit nor blame for my results good or bad. That's all on me.

Buy the least expensive DSLR you can find. Read & study the Owner's Manual. Then enroll in photography classes. Take notes. Practice. Make changes to aperture or shutter speed or ISO only when you understand why you're making them and what the results will be.

A 20 year old digital camera will be as useless as a 20 year old computer is today.

In many states a "lifetime" warranty is considered 7 years. Some high-end lenses (translate as a lens costing a few thousand dollars) have a 5 year warranty. Most DSLR bodies have a 1 year warranty.

Original Question

Whats a good digital camera?

Q. I'm looking for a new camera that's around $100 or $120 I know that's not a lot but does anyone know a really nice digital camera please...?

A. Choose any Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Pentax, Panasonic or Sony. All 2012 and 2013 digital camera models are very powerful. Go to a store and put your hands on different cameras. See which cameras are within your budget and feel good. Any camera you buy will not disappoint you as long as you use it in good light. Most under $150 cameras will not work well in shooting fast moving objects indoor or taking photos in dull light. For that you will need to spend more than $500.
Now besides the camera, you can learn some basic photography lessons and get the most out of your powerful camera. Search the Internet and learn about Exposure Compensation, Multiple shots (fps), Timer, Bracketing, proper use of flash. Also use tripod and take photos with low ISO for stationary objects or for landscapes.
If you train yourself, any camera will help you get nice photos in most situations.
Good luck.

Original Question

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How long before this camera is considered obsolete?

Q. My son is a high school senior. Next year he wants to go to community college and live at home (at least that is reasonably affordable) instead of going away to school. He wants to take an expensive major however. Video production. We have been able to save about $5,000 towards his education. We are not wealthy people. The rest will have to come from loans and maybe a grant or scholarship.
We are looking at some "entry level" pro cameras in the $1500-1800 range. That's about 1/3 of our savings for his education.
Models include these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definition.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/745707-REG/Sony_HXR_MC2000U_HXR_MC2000U_Shoulder_Mount_AVCHD.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878341-REG/Panasonic_hmc40kit_AG_HMC40_AVCCAM_HD_Camcorder.html
and
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749467-REG/Canon_4922B002_XA10_HD_Professional_Camcorder.html

My concern is he starts September 2013 so these products may not even be available by then or others will be available. We hope he graduates May 2015. He tells us when he graduates he will maybe find a freelance job or shoot local cable news, build up some experience, maybe after 2 years go for a B.A. at least part time.
Is anything we buy him in 2013 (summer) going to be any use to him as a working professional in 2015 (summer)? So let's say you are a class of 2012 graduate with an AAS in video production. The camera you purchased in the summer of 2010 when you first started, do you still use it professionally? Can you make anything doing freelance news videos, PR videos or local account commercials with this equipment?
We're going to do everything we can to help him. No doubt he will still be living at home in the summer of 2015. By then he's going to have a student loan to pay off. We have a 2005 Hyundai Accent that we are going to give him for college. I hope that thing still runs when it is 10 years old and he isn't making car payments on top of that. The thing has 120,000 miles on it but runs really well. I just fear when he graduates he's going to be in deep debt and have limited employment. I may be wrong. What do you think? Thanks.

A. Hi "Upwardly Mobile":

Fellow Contributor "L" covered most of the bases quite well, but the only point he didn't underscore is that MOST good video & film production programs at community colleges HAVE the cameras, lights, mikes, tripods, and other gear that the students will learn on & use.

When I went to a local (but nationally prominent) university with a Broadcast/Film Dept., portable video was still fairly new, but all the film cameras, tripods, & light kits were supplied by the Department for students to "check out" as-needed for class projects.

And most video production students start out with Studio Production techniques (where it's easier for groups to learn 3-point lighting, camera setup & tripod/dolly operation, shot composition, audio techniques & mixing, etc.). No need for portable field gear there.

For field production & Electronic News Gathering, a good college will have a fair number of camcorders for students to use & check out (if needed for outside-of-class projects).

The same is true for Editing Software & computer workstations. Some college programs might be economizing and making students supply their own laptops for this, but all the major software companies offer Academic Editions of their normally-expensive edit suites at discounted prices. And of course, nowadays, apps like iMovie (Mac) and Movie Maker (PC) come "free" as part of the operating system and can accomplish what older (and expensive) software used to do, as far as basic editing.

As "L" mentioned, do a bit of "homework" yourself by contacting the community college's department head & instructors for your son's chosen major. Tour the facilities (studio and edit suites) and ask about the "equipment room" for student project gear. See what textbooks (a major expense) are required, and whether computer/laptop & software expense will be part of what's expected of your son. Only if there's little-or-no camcorder gear (or no hands-on studio cameras) would I recommend buying anything like the models from B+H that you listed.

Almost every cable TV & freelance video job I've had over the past 30 years has "supplied" (rented or company-owned) the cameras & grip gear I needed. I bring my own gear only when it's a "favor" or when what I have is better-suited to the task, or they want a "director with gear". My point being, your son doesn't need to own =any= camera gear to make a living freelancing. A good camera operator can stay busy in almost any part of the country, with just his/her skills. (Same for sound mixers & boom/wireless mike operators.)

hope this helps, and hope it saves you some money,
--Dennis C.
 

Original Question

If you collect all three stamps at McDonalds for their monopoly contest, do you automatically win that prize?

Q. I've been playing the McDonald's monopoly thing and have almost collected all of one color and I want to know if you definitely win that prize.

A. Ah, the McDonald's Monopoly game... chasing after that one color stamp to win the big prize. If only it was that simple.

First of all, if you like McDonald's and you are happy about winning a food prize, its ok to play. Here's how it breaks down:•Medium Fries ($1.75) – Odds 1 in 9, or 11.1% chance you win.
• Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese ($3.60) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• Small McCafe or Smoothie ($2.40) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• McFlurry ($2.55) – Odds 1 in 44, or 2.3% chance you win.
• Breakfast Sandwich ($2.65) — Odds 1 in 22, or 4.6% chance you win

The other instant prizes (winning a DVD rental from a Red Box) to headphones are tougher. The DVD is 1 in 101 and the odds go up from there.

Now for the challenge - getting the properties. The truth is that whatever property group you need, one space is much, much, much more difficult to get than the others. Take the Red group (Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky) which gives you one of 40 plane tickets - the odds of getting Indiana or Illinois are around 1 in 10. The odds of getting Kentucky Ave., however, is 1 in 15 million.

Here is a list of the odds for all of the properties (plus the toughest one of each set to obtain):
BROWN: Mediterranean Ave, odds 1 in 30 million wins $1,000.
• LIGHT BLUE: Vermont Ave, odds 1 in 40 million, wins $5,000.
• PINK: Virginia Ave, odds 1 in 200 million, wins $10,000
• ORANGE: Tennessee Ave, odds 1 in 602 million, wins Super Bowl tickets.
• RED: Kentucky Ave, odds 1 in 15 million, wins one of 40 plane tickets for two.
• YELLOW: Ventnor Ave, odds 1 in 300 million, wins $20,000
• GREEN: Pennsylvania Ave, odds 1 in 40 million, wins one of 15 Fiat cars.
• BLUE: Boardwalk, 1 in 602 million, wins $1,000,000 in $50,000 annual payments.
• RAILROADS: Short Line railroad, 1 in 150 million, wins a year's supply of gas.

Do you see the challenge? It's not getting two of the three properties, it's getting the extremely scarce third one.

Here, btw, are the odds for winning the non-food prizes:
40 point MyCoke Reward (or medium Coke) - 1 in 151
$5 McDonald's Arch card - 1 in 21,518
EA Sports $10 promo code - 1 in 161
$10 Shell Gift Card - 1 in 60,250
Hasbro Monopoly Board Game - 1 in 60,250
$25 Shell Gift Card - 1 in 86,071
Shutterfly 8x8 PhotoBook - 1 in 302
EA Sports Game - 1 in 35,441
$50 - 1 in 60,250
ur Beats Earphones - 1 in 4,061,000
$100 - 1 in 105,701
Panasonic Lumix TS20 Digital Still camera - 1 in 1,506,202
Beats by Dr. Dre Phil Speaker - 1 in 4,016,601
Headphones - 1 in 301,245,030
Panasonic Viera 50-inch Plasma HDTV - 1 in 10,401,541
$5,000 - 1 in 40,166,041
EA Sports NFL Game Experience - 1 in 10,041,541
Beaches Resorts Vacation - 4,634,539
Ace Hardware $7,500 Home Fix-Up - 1 in 31,710,004
NFL Pro Bowl Experience - 30,124,503
2013 Fiat 500 Hatchback - 1 in 60,249,006
2013 Fiat 500 Cabrio - 1 in 60,249,006
$20,000 - 1 in 200,830,020
$100,000 - 1 in 301,245,030

So the morale of the story is if you want to win Medium Fries, you have a good chance of going away happy; otherwise, don't count on anything else.

Original Question

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