Member of the Month

GayWolf420
June, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

What camera should i get

profile picture
molasses_x
Posts: 9 - Karma: 56
i would have put this in media&arts if it wasn't dead sry


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?

≤ $500 ideally

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?

just photography, not much with video. only ever owned tiny little digital cameras from the 00s

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

nothing

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 want to film my friends and action sports like skiing, skateboarding, etc.
pretty casual use for sure since it's my first camera

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?

definitely something i can hand to my friends

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)

follow cams

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.

getting a new laptop soon for college so idk what i'll be editing on yet

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)

adobe premiere pro and after effects, extremely familiar, 9/10 with both


i really appreciate any insight :)
3 years ago
3 0
profile picture
CharlzHub
Posts: 1168 - Karma: 8,577
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1043069/Screen-Recording-2022-05-20-at-5-50-18-PM-mov
Get this
3 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CharlzHub
Posts: 1168 - Karma: 8,577
CharlzHubhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1043069/Screen-Recording-2022-05-20-at-5-50-18-PM-mov
Get this


Missed the sound on that one.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1043070/Subtropic
16:14
3 years ago
1 0
profile picture
GilsonSkis
Posts: 738 - Karma: 9,715
For follows, honestly GoPros are so easy to use now. Stabilization is so good now it's insane.

For a more diverse camera. I'd suggest a Lumix G7. Can pick them up used cheap. And lenses are cheaper on the micro 4/3 platform.

The Sony a6300 is similar price range. Better low light. Better autofocus. Larger and more expensive lenses. And utterly terrible menus in camera.
3 years ago
1 7
profile picture
molasses_x
Posts: 9 - Karma: 56
GilsonSkisFor follows, honestly GoPros are so easy to use now. Stabilization is so good now it's insane.

For a more diverse camera. I'd suggest a Lumix G7. Can pick them up used cheap. And lenses are cheaper on the micro 4/3 platform.

The Sony a6300 is similar price range. Better low light. Better autofocus. Larger and more expensive lenses. And utterly terrible menus in camera.


thanks gilson! i was looking at some cheap camcorder handycams too, do you think those would be a good option? i'm probably going to be filming more documentary style stuff with the camera than action shots/follows
3 years ago
0 0
profile picture
GilsonSkis
Posts: 738 - Karma: 9,715
Yeah camcorders are great for grab and go. Very simple to use. And realitivly versitile with the zoom ranges. Although they definitely have their limitations
3 years ago
0 0
profile picture
mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2317 - Karma: 21,132
I photograph with a Sony a6000 and phone, but for camcorder videos, I'm thinking of investing into a DJI Osmo Pocket 2.

My cousin uses one to film his ASMR haircut/shoeshine/walking vlogs, and I used his for a bit to take some nature bathing footy and liked the smooth tracking and immersive angle.

I also liked how low key the camera looks. It doesn't look like a camera at all, so people don't seem to even notice it or get camera shy at it. His content definitely improved when he got it because the people in his videos were more natural.

I've yet to use it for action photography though

**This post was edited on May 20th 2022 at 12:25:26pm
3 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Jems
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 101,914
for $500? a fuckin hvx200 is what you need sir. basically every HD skate edit and a big chunk of street cuts in contemporary skiing / snowboarding are using hvx / hpx. they’re pretty reliable and are easy to find. they look killer with opteka fisheyes which are very affordable. only issue with a p2 camera is the cards themselves which are a little pricey.



*do not buy a dslr they’re lame and have boof colors and no servo zoom*
3 years ago
3 2
profile picture
Jems
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 101,914
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1043095/You-re-Hired
3 years ago
3 0
profile picture
rojo.grande
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 12,753
Camcorder style jems nailed it. If u want a traditional camera, Sony a6000. It’s cheap enough, and you can deck them out w a scorpion handle and mic, maybe a fish but that’s not gonna be within ur price range. It’ll work wonders tho - they’re light asf and a really good cam to learn on
3 years ago
3 0
profile picture
rojo.grande
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 12,753
Also highlighting jems statement, if u go hvx you’re gonna need to find one w p2 cards and he’s right they ain’t fuckin cheap. If u wanna shoot straight to sd the a6000 will work for that. If u don’t mind p2 then jems is right on the money. Also you should factor in a fisheye cost if u want those style shots, it’s gonna run you 250+ at the cheapest.

**This post was edited on May 20th 2022 at 2:21:33pm
3 years ago
2 0
profile picture
molasses_x
Posts: 9 - Karma: 56
Jemsfor $500? a fuckin hvx200 is what you need sir. basically every HD skate edit and a big chunk of street cuts in contemporary skiing / snowboarding are using hvx / hpx. they’re pretty reliable and are easy to find. they look killer with opteka fisheyes which are very affordable. only issue with a p2 camera is the cards themselves which are a little pricey.



*do not buy a dslr they’re lame and have boof colors and no servo zoom*

lol where are you finding those for $500? looking and i can only find parts for that much, all the pre owned ones are $1k or more
3 years ago
1 0
profile picture
molasses_x
Posts: 9 - Karma: 56
Jemsfor $500? a fuckin hvx200 is what you need sir. basically every HD skate edit and a big chunk of street cuts in contemporary skiing / snowboarding are using hvx / hpx. they’re pretty reliable and are easy to find. they look killer with opteka fisheyes which are very affordable. only issue with a p2 camera is the cards themselves which are a little pricey.



*do not buy a dslr they’re lame and have boof colors and no servo zoom*


do you have any other camcorder suggestions if i can’t swing that? my main thing is being able to carry it around everywhere easily & also being able to hand it to my friends
3 years ago
0 0
profile picture
WoFlowz
Posts: 8220 - Karma: 64,866
molasses_xdo you have any other camcorder suggestions if i can’t swing that? my main thing is being able to carry it around everywhere easily & also being able to hand it to my friends


Cannon Vixia HF G20’s can be found on market place for 200-400$ Shoot HD and fit a 62mm opteka fish eye.

Panasonic camcorders are sick but everyone has one rn and for good reason but imo it’s starting to get played. Coming from someone who owns one
3 years ago
2 0
profile picture
WoFlowz
Posts: 8220 - Karma: 64,866
WoFlowzCannon Vixia HF G20’s can be found on market place for 200-400$ Shoot HD and fit a 62mm opteka fish eye.

Panasonic camcorders are sick but everyone has one rn and for good reason but imo it’s starting to get played. Coming from someone who owns one


Never mind the HF G20 fits a 58 I was thinking of the G40 my buddy has. Also it will give you similar footage too this https://youtu.be/ZTss1zNrEQA
3 years ago
2 0
profile picture
rojo.grande
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 12,753
WoFlowzCannon Vixia HF G20’s can be found on market place for 200-400$ Shoot HD and fit a 62mm opteka fish eye.

Panasonic camcorders are sick but everyone has one rn and for good reason but imo it’s starting to get played. Coming from someone who owns one


Vixia would be dope, OP pretty much any cam ur looking at around this style or range you’re gonna need to buy used for it to be in ur price range. If ur looking for something new grab a lil Sony dad cam for a few hundred. It’ll help you learn how to frame ur shots, work w basic camera settings, and especially let you practice editing. Really rn just be concerned with learning the basics around everything, then jump to a more powerful cam once you’re either happy with what you’ve got goin and or more confident in your skills/ technique as a filmer
3 years ago
1 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 3:57PM