What camera to get? Budget $1,100 - $1,800

I shoot HVX-200 for a client of mine.
P2 720pn

She wants to buy a small hand held for herself to have while shes out and about.

She would like this new camera to match the HVX-200 if possible.

I know we are asking for a lot but what are some options you guys like?

I want HD quality and our budget is not pro.
What are some suggestions you guys have
Thanks in advanced.

some cameras she is looking at
Cannon HF-10
Panasonic HS-9
Sony SR-12
Panasonic AG-HSC1U no headphone jack kinda sucks

And Used Sony HDV HU1 or Z1

Open to any other cameras you guys may like

Luie,

The cameras your client likes & / or has used are in the $5,000 range. She is probably a bit spoiled by them. She will not get 3-Chip imagery for a 1-Chip budget. Under a few shooting conditions maybe pull a decent image...but low light conditions - forget about it.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

The HV20 is a good little camera which sits nicely next to the XHA1. It's also got a much more saturated "out of the box" picture than the A1 or H1 if that's one of the things she likes about the HVX.
Shoots in 25p too, like it's big brothers. I've been very impressed by some of the stuff i've seen come out of this camera.

She could then buy an XLR adapter and decent mic. Possibly a tripod too.

1800 should cover it.

Quality video at a Bargain price!

The HVX-200 is the cheapest camera that shoots DVCPRO HD. Any camera she gets that is HD will either shoot HDV or AVCHD...and may have issues mixing well with the HVX-200. The HVX-200 IS the B-camera to the higher end Varicam and HPX-500, 2000 and 3000.

The HV20 would be a decent choice, as it can shoot 24F, which you can convert to 23.98. But it will be 1080i and not 720p. And it's 1080 is 1440x1080 where the HVXs 1080 is 1280x1080.

Panasonic makes several good 3-chip AVCHD cameras, but they shoot 1080i ONLY...no 24p setting. And the only HDV camera that shoots 720p is the JVC.


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How about a HV30 only a thousand bucks at Samys.

If she wants handheld in that price range HDV is your best bet. I would go with the HV30, 24f 30P, and 60i. Plus workflow wise you will have instant archiving and it will be much easier for her to just hand you off tapes than having her come in with the camera and wait for footage to transfer(then backing up), like you would if she went with a avchd camera.