Post edited 6:41 pm – February 21, 2010 by Jawflyer3

Right now I have a DVC30, I like it and all, but times, they are a changing. I need to catch up with HD, slow motion, and easy importing. I am looking at a bunch of cameras, but which one should I go with? I have fair bit film background, a decent computer with decent capabilities (but limited hard drive space at the moment, that can be fixed). My budget would be around $900 (hoping to sell off the DVC30 for around $800) Right now I kind of have my heart set on the 550D, but I hesitate with using a DSLR for filming. Here are all my options:

1. Canon 550D/T2i
this camera is about to be released and I think it would be super cool to shoot with. It has a ton of frame rates, a lot of manual controls and lenses, the 2 in 1 photo/video option, and is amazingly affordable (kit for $899). The only downsides to it are short continuous shooting time, possible poor cold weather performance/humidity performance, the possibility for multiple lenses ($$) and the fact that all of the options might be too advanced for me at the time (something I could learn with? I know a lot about film/photo, but there are other features that I would be a noob too)
 **here's the link to the video, incase going into HTML to post the video doesn't work http://vimeo.com/9299513 **

Sample video from the new Canon EOS 550D from James Miller on Vimeo.

2. Mulitiple Go-Pro HD's
These have great quality, great slow motion, and a great price, at $300 I could afford to buy multiple and use them with all the different mounts and positions, they travel super easily, and make for sick follow cams. I have been blown away by the USC ski team vid's that use just this and I know I am more than capable of copying the same quality of vid. Downsides are that I loose manual controls, zoom, etc, and it's a step backwards. Non-skiing shots might be less technical too.

3. Canon Hv 20/30/40
I hear nothing but great things from everyone about these, I would probably be able to pick one up fairly cheaply and use the money for add ons (lenses, mods, etc). The quality is good but it doesn't shoot 60p (only 60i, which i hear is a bitch to work with) and it records to miniDV tapes, and you have to install a firewire port. Some of the manual controls are also absent and focusing can be hard to do with these.

4. Panasonic HMC40
This is more of a pro camera right up my alleyway, great manual controls, multiple frame rates,  meant for filming (and can film for hours on end) but has 10.6 megapixel photo option, silent filming, and it has that camera look (with a handle because i wanna look prooooo). The only downside to this cam is that it cost's a shitload and I probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

I posted this over on NS and didn't get to much of the help I was looking for, so time to turn to the prooooss. Any advice, promotions, suggestions, and hook up's would be great. Thanks guys!

yes it's been a while since i originally posted this, but I am going to go with the t2i (550D), for the quality, price, limitless options to expand on and versatility I couldn't say no. Thanks for your input though!