PAVED Arts

• 1: News
• 2: Contact Us
  • 2.1: About Us
  • 2.3: Mandate
  • 2.4: Contact Us / Address
  • 2.5: Hours
  • 2.6: Sponsors
  • 2.7: Logo
  • 2.8: History
• 3: Gallery
  • 3.2: Previous Shows
• 4: Equipment
  • 4.1: Mobile Equipment
  • 4.2: Which Video Camera?
  • 4.3: Audio Suite
  • 4.4: Video Suite
  • 4.5: Digital Photo Suite
  • 4.6: Darkroom
  • 4.7: Equipment Calendar
  • 4.8: Facility Calendar
  • 4.9: Other Rental Companies
• 5: Facility
  • 5.1: Event Space
  • 5.2: Event Space Calendar
  • 5.3: Event Space Webcam
  • 5.4: Noise Jam
• 6: Workshops
  • 6.1: Upcoming Workshops
  • 6.2: Previous Workshops
  • 6.5: Dorkbot
• 7: Works Produced
  • 7.1: PAVED Works
  • 7.3: Outreach
  • 7.5: Production
  • 7.6: Events
  • 7.7: PAVED Tube
• 8: Membership
  • 8.1: How to get a Membership
  • 8.2: Membership Form
  • 8.3: Full Membership Policy
  • 8.4: Short Summary Policy
  • 8.5: Board of Directors
• 9: Archives
  • 9.2: Collections
• 10: Submissions
  • 10.1: Annual Submissions
  • 10.2: Submission Guidelines
  • 10.3: Floor Plan
  • 10.4: Members Production Fund
  • 10.5: Ladyshow Bursary
  • 10.6: Previous Production Programs
• 11: Volunteering
  • 11.1: Yellow Pages
• 12: Links
• 14: IH
  • 14.6: Print Workshop Signup
  • 14.7: Print Workshop Flyer

Which Video Camera?

If you are inexperienced with videography or have never used the particular cameras we use here at PAVED Arts, this page is an overview of each camera and which might be the best for you.

To rent any of these cameras - click this link.

The Guide Explained...

Camera Model:
Company and Model Number
(usually referred to by last
letter number combo)

Recording Format:
DV (Standard Definition Tape)
DVCAM (Standard Definition Archival Tape)
HDV (High Definition Tape)
XDCAM (Broadcast High Definition on SxS Memory Card)
AVCHD (Consumer High Definition on SDHC Memory Card)

Lense/Sensor Quality:
Fair/Good/Excellent

Experience Level:
Novice/Intermediate/Experienced

Rental Price:
Low/Medium/High



Camera Model: SONY HVR-TRV900
Recording Format: DV (Tape)
Lense/Sensor Quality: Fair/Good
Experience Level: Novice
Rental Price: Low



Camera Model: SONY HVR-FX7
Recording Format: HDV/DV/DVCAM (Tape)
Lense/Sensor Quality: Good/Good
Experience Level: Novice
Rental Price: Low



Camera Model: CANON XL-1S
Recording Format: DV
Lense/Sensor Quality: Excellent/Good (Tape)
Experience Level: Intermediate
Rental Price: Medium



Camera Model: SONY HVR-Z7U
Recording Format: HDV, DV, DVCAM (Tape/CF Memory Card)
Lense/Sensor Quality: Excellent/Good
Experience Level: Experienced
Rental Price: High


Camera Model: CANON EOS-7D
Recording Format: MPEG (CF Memory Card)
Lense/Sensor Quality: Excellent/Excellent
Experience Level: Experienced
Rental Price: Medium


Camera Model: SONY PMW-EX1
Recording Format: XDCAM (SxS Memory Card)
Lense/Sensor Quality: Excellent/Excellent
Experience Level: Experienced
Rental Price: High

High Definition Vs. Standard Definition

Should I shoot my project in SD or HD?

If your budget allows for shooting in HD and you want your project to have a long shelf life or distribute it through various means (screen it on TV etc) then shoot in an HD format. Your final video can always be downscaled to SD output for a dvd etc.

If you only want to make a DVD (rather than a Bluray disk) or you just want to upload your video to youtube or you just don't have the money for HD equipment, tapes, or hard drive storage space... shoot in SD. If you are shooting in SD, I highly recommend shooting in the 16:9 aspect ratio as few 4:3 ratio TV sets and projectors are being made anymore.

Keep in mind also that you will need a powerful modern computer usually running the latest editing software like we have in our edit suite to edit full HD. If you are using a format that relies on memory cards for storage, you'll need to dump the video off the cards when they get full (110min per 32gb SxS) and should have access to a laptop wherever you are to accomplish this.

This diagram (courtesy Wikipedia) shows the size difference between SD resolution (pink) and HD resolutions. In most cases you are doubling your available screen size. HD also as a larger variety of frame rates and the option of progressive (a series of still frames) or interlaced (alternating fields) scanning.