Video Cameras used professionally.

[7cs]

I know a few people here are working in video production. I won't say what camera I use till later but recently I decided it is a bit limited for action sports shooting. What I'm looking for is what you use and why you like it, what makes it worth using and what problems there might be with it. I'm not a professional but I have quite an investment in camera equipment at this point and before I spend any more money I wanted to consider more options. I do shoot HD now and I'd obviously like to stick with it, and I hate to say it but I think there are a few less expensive cameras out there that would do the job better than what I'm using..

[Tippster]

StandardDef Panasonic 610 with Anton Bauer Hytron battery, Anton Bauer Ultralight, and Lectrosonics UCR210D receiver. All wrapped in a Porta-Brace camera jacket = total weight of about 24lbs. To keep me from turning into a cripple I have a Sachtler Aluminium Hot Pod with a Video 18III head. This won't get upgraded until it falls apart, but I don't mind.

I shoot news, so this setup is pretty good for me. The camera was tweaked really well by our engineer - nice and warm tones, not too harsh in skin detail. I like it.

That said, I wish I would get one of the 3/4" chip Sony HighDef XDCams once they come out, but my company will likely stay with Panny and get the HighDef P2 cameras instead.