Question for the pros

Wetfish

First of all, don't listen to any of us.

Now that is clear I'd first put together a list of goals and budget.

1. You say a semipro look. As in the housing has to look semi-pro or the image? Do you intend to go "professional" and in what sense of the word? Broadcast? Dive shop? Do you just want images you can sell (which would encompass anything from cellphones to 35mm film if the clip is rare enough)?

2. The good cameras allow manual control for all aspects as Mike V said, but the better cameras give you extra control like knee, gain and blacks etc. Sure a lot can be done in post but again that depends if you are going into video as deeply as to worry about that.

3. You'll find that as you grow, your demands for features also grows. But that takes time and usually by then the product cycle is at an end.

So to end, instead of asking for broad recommendations, if you first decide your goals and budget, it would be easier to then recommend a system that fits those criteria. Otherwise you get muddled with low to high end options which is makes your decision making a lot more difficult.

 

Drew,

 

1. The quality of video is what I want to look semipro.

2. My goal is to broadcast my work on a local station and would like to also sell footage.

3. Budget ranges from $2000 - $3000 US

 

I saw some footage Wagsy shot with his A1 that looked good.

However, if the HC-7 delivers a better quality, then I make could use the carmera; which is in the budget.

 

My next question is, how does the housing impact

the quality?

 

Remeber, Dive Safe

3. Budget ranges from $2000 - $3000 US

 

My next question is, how does the housing impact the quality?

The HC7 has a 3.2MP(gross) CMOS Sensor - 2.2MP actual for video. The A1 uses the HC1 sensor which is 2.9MP(gross) - 1.9MP actual. So it'll be better by whatever percentage that is. Afaik they use the same lens.

 

The housing impacts quality in several ways. The primary one is probably the optics, the better housings have better ports and optics. But you pay dearly for them in some cases. W/A ports for some housings can be half again as much - or more than the housing costs.

 

Another housing consideration is control functions - does it have controls for all the functions you'll routinely use. At a minimum on/off, stdby/rec, zoom, focus/focus lock, mode, white balance - are probably a start. Depending on the camcorder selected there are optional controls that may be useful.

 

A third aspect for me(although there will likely be disagreement here) is ergonomics. I'm a big fan of electronic housings since they put all(most) of the commonly used controls in one central place. I prefer not to have to reach all over the housing for various control knobs to access all the functions. Otoh, Gates and Ikelite do sell a lot of mechanical housings.

 

With the HC7 at $1400 it's going to be tougher to find a housing within your budget. Possibly look at Ocean Images, USVH, TopDawg, Ikelite or Equinox. Most will have some tradeoff in the features/controls they can provide.

 

First of all, don't listen to any of us.

Drew's right, we probably all have some sort of bias. Mine happens to be electronic controls...and Sony products.

My next question is, how does the housing impact

the quality?

 

The housing will only negatively impact the imagery if it does not have the required features to allow full manipulation of the camera. For the camera to be manipulated correctly the shooter has to have an idea of what they are doing. The camera does not make the shooter better.

 

Granted that today we have some pretty good cams available who's default settings still allow for very nice imagery. Underwater video is so much more rewarding IMHO when you know that your fully manual shot hits the sweet spot just so. It does take a while and can be hugely frustrating but well worth the effort in the long run.

 

My 2c

Mark.

Drew,

 

1. The quality of video is what I want to look semipro.

2. My goal is to broadcast my work on a local station and would like to also sell footage.

3. Budget ranges from $2000 - $3000 US

 

I saw some footage Wagsy shot with his A1 that looked good.

However, if the HC-7 delivers a better quality, then I make could use the carmera; which is in the budget.

 

My next question is, how does the housing impact

the quality?

 

Wetfish

1. The "pro" look is often more to do with how its shot vs what its shot with. Steady camerawork, exposed correctly, in focus, the 'right' camera angles(ie composition) etc are more important.

2. Any HDV camera is now considered "broadcast" quality. However there's acceptable vs really good looking.

3. That's pretty low to get into HD for reasons explained later.

 

It's best not to worry about specs (which calls for measurebating somewhat). Often old wisdoms lose out to better engineering. Best to go out and get some actual shots to compare. With the range you want, any big store should have them. Just buy a tape shoot and bring it home to compare on the big screen.

 

I think the biggest factor in affecting the quality of the image is the optics. Distortion, lower resolution, flat colors all can make nice subjects look boring and bad.

 

Good luck

Not sure who said it first but the bottom line is not so much the cam these days, as they are all pretty darn close in image quality, but it is the videographer behind the cam who has the image, composition and feeling for what works and what doesn't.

Steve B)

Wetfish, let's say you decide on a camera such as the HC3 or HC7 and draw up a short list of housing options, be it Ocean Images, USVH, TopDawg, Ikelite or Equinox at the lower end, as sjspeck said, or pricier options such as Gates/Amphibico/L&M/Sea&Sea...

 

I would say a very important piece of research to do is to really understand what sort of port/lens the housing is giving you in front of your camera and how it's working, as this will be the main aspect of the housing that affects the image quality.

 

Some housings will give you just a plain flat port, which will limit your field of view but give good macro. Others may give you a dome port, which should give you the same field of view as you get topside. Others may give you an actual lens, which works to increase your angle of view. Some might be glass, some might be coated plastic, which might be easier for you to damage. Some will be cheap to repair/replace, some might be $$$. Some might vignette on full wide (black corners), others won't. Get your head around this issue just as much as the issue of controls.

WOW this post has been gong off.

 

Been abit busy editing here....HDV/DV16.9/DV4.3 all mixed up together...it's turning out very well indeed. There is no way I could do this with Premiere.

 

The little cameras on auto in sunny condtions or with lights on up close on things will give you a great picture but you need those manual controls to take even better shots. They shoot hot and like to kick up the db gain all the time and speed the shutter up instead of going for a higher the fstop when on auto.

 

Wetfish, what ever you end up with, keep us informed and show us some footage.

I was doing some research on a topside location yesterday, Just some quick shots for idea's. It was very overcast..The A1 on Auto looked a bit well..Rubbish So I switched all to manual and it was a lot better...Then the sun started to peak through and WOW what a difference.. So manual wins, as we have all stated before, hands down..I'm sure 'auto' would have been fine if sunny, but to have the option is a blessing.

 

Wags..I love you man...Keep promoting the Edius revolution... ALL HAIL EDIUS...

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

Nah, Final Cut Pro Studio wins hands down. ;-)

Steve B)

Wagsy you're a walking talking advert for EDIUS!! Honestly though from what you've said I'd go out and by it tomorrow if my old rust bucket of a PC would run it.

 

Maybe when I've build a new one out of some old rope, solder and sticky back plastic I'll give it a go!

 

Cheers, Simon