Oh look another n00b that wants to get into filming

Ok so I know its sort of a taboo thing asking "OMGZZZ wHitch camEra guYzzzzz?!1/?!?!?/1!" but I'm a little lost. Basically I got some money from graduation, and have always had a real appreciation for a good edit and cinematography, so I thought what the hay, lets use this money to start a new hobby. So basically I'm just looking for where to get started, because there is so much information out there its over whelming. I have very little experience with filming and editing, pretty much the only times Ive filmed where when friends wanted to hit a feature and had me hold the camera for them. My school offers a class on Final Cut, so I think Ill take that next semester. So if anyone want to help me take the plunge into filming, feel free. Heres the sticked questionnaire thing


1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future?

Right now I think that Id like to try to keep my budget down to under $600 I think, but what to I know, I'm the n00b here

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own?

again they just have showed me the basics that I needed to know for the short time I needed to use it

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

theres an old tri-pod in my parents closet, so not really anything

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)

I will be using this to shoot snowboarding mostly, skiing, nature, wakeboarding, and those sort of things.

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

They all have really nice cameras that they use on manual, so they will know how to use what ever I get Im sure. But back home none of my friend are into filming, so when I go home it would be good if they can use it. So I guess Id like to be point and shoot so I can learn the basics, but also have manual options so I can grow with it and learn the ropes

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)

In snowboarding it seems like a lot of the shots are from down low from cameras with top handles, sort of a skating feel to it, and I kind of like that, so I would be looking to one that I can add one of those to I guess. But other then that yeah a tripod and just holding it.

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great.
Mac Book Pro 13" with the 2.8 ghz processor

7) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)

Final cut pro, just learning, going to take a class on it through my school.


Honestly now that I think about it might be a little premature to jump into this since I dont have a lot of experience, but still help me out so if I do decide I want to after using friends cameras and stuff I'll at least have this as a resource.