what should i be looking for in a camera?

[The_Rimmer]

Hey, i'm thinking of getting a new camera and i was wondering which one i should get or what should i be looking for in a camera?

[Alex]

Many Super-8 Film Cameras come with several features that are very useful in the Mini-DV world.

The Canon XL-1S basically uses every feature found on the Canon 1014XLS Super-8 camera that was made 20 years ago. (plus a couple more).

If you learn how to optimize all of the functions on a Super-8 Camera, you will have an advantage over those that just own a Mini-DV camera and don't even know what a Super-8 Camera is.

It would be like knowing how to multiply and divide with pen and paper while your competition only knows how to do it with a calculator.

A Super-8 Camera also can be used as a handy directors scope, or also as a DP scope, for communicating with others when determining staging, framing and perhaps lighting issues, and the Super-8 camera even be used for B-Roll footage for MOS shoots or for Music Videos.

So in conjunction with your use of Mini-DV cameras, learn how to handle a Super-8 camera.

[Filmmaker58]

These days I would go with a miniDV camera. You can firewire your footage directly into your computer and do professional post production with inexpensive programs like Sonic Foundry Vegas Video (www.sonicfoundry.com) and put your films on your own DVD's. Depending on your bankroll the new Panasonic DVX100 is the best out there (around 4 thousand), but a simple consumer camera will allow you to experiment and develop your filmmaking style. Most importantly, miniDV is cheap enough where you can MAKE FILMS.

[Alex]

I disagree with your theme. It seems the better computer editing systems get, the cheaper computer editing systems get, the MORE people say to limit your choice of camera.

If anything, the use of a stable digital editing platform should one to INCREASE their camera choices, not decrease them to just one format.