Camera / mic opinions

Spade · Post by **Spade** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 5:59 pm

Hi guys,

Me and a group of mates have just started producing our first film. We are ready to start fiming any time soon, so we have ordered a Sony DCR HC18E mini DV camera. Do u think that this is a good choice of camera considering out budget was Ã‚Â£350? We also need a zoom mic to go with it, any suggestions?

Cheers

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 12:14 am

i dont know about any specific mic, but look around bhphoto.com for some really good deals on them

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 5:29 am

take a look at this one. I just got it and I love it, great sound quality. I don't know if B&H ships overseas, but I'm sure you can find a uk site that will sell it at a discount as well.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... o_itemInfo

Spade · Post by **Spade** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:14 am

Ok, nice 1. I'll try and find a UK site that'll import the same mic for me. What are your views on the camera though?

Syras · Post by **Syras** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:18 am

also its a boom mic not a zoom mic

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:49 am

Here's some stuff on microphones that I've experienced:

The built in mircophones are okay, give a reasonable focus to what is being filmed, but can pick up camera motor noise, as well as clumbsy handling oif the camera.

A plug-in hand-held or boom microphone starts to become a 2 man job, and as this extends away from the camera, you have to be quite focused on what you're filming and what sounds you're picking up. A multi-directional microphone is going to be great at something like a carnival, where you want to hear everything around you, whereas a uni-directional microphone is better for picking out sound from an actor, especially when there's background noise interfering.

MP3 recorders are great! BUT making your recording synchronise with the video footage can be a touch tricky,especially if you're using a lower end editing program like Moviemaker 2.

If you are using an external sound recorder, use of clapper-boards really helps. You can pick up the clack sound, and match that with the visual of the board being snapped.

You can make boom microphones quite easily. In fact I think there's a tutorial on how to make one here in the forum, so look under the sound section (Where this post belongs, and will be moved to in a moment, as it's turned into a Microphone topic, more than a camera topic)!

Spade · Post by **Spade** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:54 am

Thanx for the advice. There are also zoom mics (Sony sell a wide range of them) which zoom into the sounds you want to hear, blocking out the background noise.