I really want a professional camcorder?

I really want a professional camcorder, like the kind they use in movies. But, I don't have enough money to get one, do you know any cheap ones, or have any ideas? thanks :)



If you REALLY want a professional camcorder, then you will be looking for:





Lens diameter larger than 40mm-43mm


XLR audio-in connections





After you meet these two criteria, everything else is in the camcorder including larger imaging chips, manual audio control and lots of other manual controls that are easy to get to on the outside of the camcorder will follow.





Many movie studios continue to capture to film (CineAlta, Panavision, Arris, Varicam - among others), so you probably don't want those.





The digital camcorders used are commonly the Red One or the Silicon Imaging (SI) line. If you know you don't have enough money to get one, it is likely your computer is not fast enough to handle the digital video editing requirements these ultra-high definiton cameras capture.





Then there's a range of camcorders the pros use - from the Sony professional series, the JVC GY series, the Panasonic pro-grade cams and the Canon professional series. They start at around $2,000 and go up from there.





Video is only a part of the equation - audio plays a large part, too. The least expensive camcorders with a mic jack (1/8" - 3.5mm stereo) are the Canon HV30 and Sony HDR-HC9. Do these fit your budget?




you can probably get a real nice Betacam setup on eBay for under $1000. Unlike consumer cameras, pro camcorders are not intended to be used for playback, so you will need a player to match. And accessories can be quite pricey, batteries for example can run $200 - $500 each.