As for the HV30/40.  I have the Canon HG10 and its an amazing, well built piece of equipment.  It has never failed me in any way in terms of film quality, dependability, and overall usability.  I would however recommend one of the newer Canon cameras that use flash memory rather than tape (not sure if you like tape though?).  With the flash you wont have to worry about excessive shake that could damage the HDD, or the tape heads.

The big deciding factor is whether or not you are going to be looking to shoot stills at some point as well.  If you plan on only film then definitely go for one of the Canons, such as the VIXIA HF S11.  But if you ever think that you would want to take stills as well seriously consider going for an HDSLR - I wish I would have known this, but at the time when I got my HG10 DSLRS did not have HD Film on them.

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!

sure no problem

So i'm looking to make one of these bad boys as my next film project, I really like the film like look it gives footage as well as the use of depth of field. I have a couple of SLR lenses laying around my house (a nikon 35-70 1:3.3-4.5, a pentax 28-70 1:3.5-4.5 {both basically the same, macro lens?), and tokina 80-200 1:4{telephoto if i'm not mistaken}) but I'm kind of a noob, so i don't know which lens i should base my adapter on. I hear if you use nikons you can get converter rings, but i can't really credit that source. A couple of other questions i have are

should i go vibrating or static glass?

do any of you have any experience, plans, or are in possession of one?

I film with a Panny DVC 30. I too have looked a lot at the jag35's and thought that would be my last resort if i didn't build one. I really was planning on building one a) because its for the most part cheaper b) it will give me time to learn more about lens and the mechanics behind my filter c) i just like hands on projects. As for my tripod I have a 701 head on 190dbx legs for a tripod, I know it's not super beefy but i can upgrade my legs if i need to, and i was planning on making my own rail system because I wanted to customize it for some DIY add ons. I will use it for more independent projects and not to much skiing, however i might bust it out for a spring shot or two.

http://www.newschoolers.com/we.....id/517288/

what kind of camera do you have? and how does it do on the 701?

I have a Gl2 and maybe will upgrade to an XH-A1 soonish ( I hope), and i'm trying to decide on 701 or 501

I use a DVC 30, so its smaller than those two cameras, but it works great. A heavier camera might even make it even better to use. The thing I like about the 701 is that the top plate can be adjusted to balance the camera weight on the head, it doesn't just snap into a specific place. I think I will post a full review on NS sometime in the near future. 

I have a Gl2 and maybe will upgrade to an XH-A1 soonish ( I hope), and i'm trying to decide on 701 or 501

i ordered the 701 last week and filmed with it over the weekend. It was such a sick buy and such a smooth shot. But for long exposures shots or photography in general, i think it would be a bit overkill, and you should be fine with a tripod that is stable.