Ok, Holy cow, i know there are probably alot of topics posted like this. But I really need a new camera. a 3CCD one. I was hoping for a GL2, but I really dont even have the money for that, it's like $4000 in Canada... I have been looking into the Panasonic PV-DV953. I have seen it at futureshop (I havent even been able to find any GL2's in stores) and It seems like it might be ok. Does anyone own, or know much about this camera? How does it compare to the GL2. Or should I even try looking into a GL1? Are there any other good 3 chippers out there at a good price? What about aperture control and all that other stuff? What are all the manual controls of the PV-DV953? Ahhh. I am flippin out. I need a new cam.... heh, thanks.

agh. any comments on the panasonic PV-DV953... please...

I posted this in a similar topic:

Lots of guys here will disagree with me, and that's cool, it's all a matter of opinion anyway.

I staunchly recommend a used GL1. The money you save will be substantial and you can use that money for lots of other things, particularly good mics and a Studio1 Audio adapter (even though with the GL1 all you really need is a plain Vanilla XLR-to-Minijack adapter).

You will be sacrificing audio control on the camera, but you get some of the control back with a Studio1. (I personally use a regular, $18.00 adapter and I think my films have great audio, mostly because I have a nice Azden mic... It's more a matter of mic placement and proper audio technique than anything else, anyway.)
The video on the GL2 is SLIGHTLY higher quality than the GL1, but I'll be damned if I can notice the difference.

Seriously, you could get a cheap-ass Sony handicam digital camcorder like my friend and make awesome movies like he does. It's much less important what kind of cam you get as much as your talent and technique. This may sound like bull, but my friend has invested about $200 in his films. I've invested thousands. His movies are hands down waaay better than mine. So don't sweat so much over bucking up an extra thousand or two if you don't have it. Just buy what's in your price range. ANd if you can afford a brand new GL2, consider getting a used GL1 and some nice audio equipment and maybe a Glidecam and perhaps Halo when it comes out for PC.


Hope that helps!

a used GL1 would be nice yeah, thanks i actually read that reply in another post. Problem is, I dont know where to find a used GL1. I dont want one off ebay. Heck. it will still be expensive wont it. Plus i was hoping to get a camera somehwrw where i can get some sort of monthly payment plan....

Be FREAKING CAREFUL with those monthly payment plans. You can get way in over your head with those things. My friend had to file for bankruptcy when he was NINETEEN FRICKIN YEARS OLD.
You can get a GL1 for less than a grand on Ebay sometimes. If even that is too much money (and I totally understand if it is, a thousand bucks is an assload of money for most of us...) then just get a nice Sony handicam or something. As long as it's digital and has an external mic jack, most sub-thousand-dollar cams are pretty much the same. The only difference are the features and the lens quality. Get one with a good optical zoom, NOT digital - digital zoom is worthless. And get a BIG one if you can, nice and big and chunky, and buy a good shoulder mount. Maybe even put some weight on the shoulder mount. I have a big metal bar duct-taped to the back of my shoulder mount to balance it and give it some extra weight. Invest the cash you save in a good mic and an xlr-to-minijack adapter and you're golden, man.

Be FREAKING CAREFUL with those monthly payment plans. You can get way in over your head with those things. My friend had to file for bankruptcy when he was NINETEEN FRICKIN YEARS OLD.
You can get a GL1 for less than a grand on Ebay sometimes. If even that is too much money (and I totally understand if it is, a thousand bucks is an assload of money for most of us...) then just get a nice Sony handicam or something. As long as it's digital and has an external mic jack, most sub-thousand-dollar cams are pretty much the same. The only difference are the features and the lens quality. Get one with a good optical zoom, NOT digital - digital zoom is worthless. And get a BIG one if you can, nice and big and chunky, and buy a good shoulder mount. Maybe even put some weight on the shoulder mount. I have a big metal bar duct-taped to the back of my shoulder mount to balance it and give it some extra weight. Invest the cash you save in a good mic and an xlr-to-minijack adapter and you're golden, man.

If you don't have a lot of cash just go to Wal-Mart or Sears and look at what they have. Whatever feels best in your hand is probably the best. Look for lots of individual controls... Menu-driven controls are sort of a pain in the ass.

If you really want to do the monthly payment thing, you can always buy it with a credit card. Or go to Sears and get a Sears card. But like I said, man, be careful with that ****. I've already promised myself I'm NEVER going to buy ANYTHING on credit.

yeah. I will try to look into a used GL1 somewhere. Also though, I'm in Canada. i dunno if I will be able to find one for under $1000 here. I definatly want a good 3CCD cam though, I dont want a cheap wal-mart cam, I already have a cheap JVC dv camera. thanks for the info though