Looking for Best DV Camcorder that Looks Like Film

I am currently in the process of upgrading my current piece-of-junk JVC
camera to a much more proffesional and expensive one. I am a prosumer
looking for the best camcorder out there on the market.

Basically, what I want is a camera that makes video look and feel the
most like film.

I have done research on many of the currently available models
including Canon's GL2 and XL2, several of JVC's and Panasonic's models,
and Sony's HDR-FX1 and DCR-VX2100. Even after much research, I am still
extremely puzzled about what to buy.

My price range is anything below $8000. As I said, I simply want the DV
camcorder currently on the market that will take video that looks and
feels the most like film.

I am also wondering about the new HD camcorder technology. Is it really
as good as it sounds? Does it truly take video in crystal-clear HD
1080i format? Is the video you film on these cameras able to be edited
by basic computer software (I use Vegas 5)? Is it only able to playback
on a 1080i input source?

Thanks very much and help would be much appreciated, even if you only
know the answer to one of my inquiries. If you've ever owned/tested a
one of the prosumer products currently on the market, please post with
your thoughts on the model.

 

With the addition of the Cineform codec, the HDV camera works very well on
Vegas 5.
http://www.vasst.com/HDV/hdvportal.htm has several resources for you to
check out.
As far as a camera purchase is concerned, I'd wait until after NAB (National
Association of Broadcasters - Las Vegas - mid-April) as rumour has it that
competition for the Sony camera will be announced from more than one vendor.

Mike

 

OK already. Seven identical posts.

 

Sorry, Eric. My computer kept giving me error messages, and I
accidentally sent it 7 times. Sorry.

 

If you want the film look... shoot film. Camera makers (Sony, Panasonic) claim
they have solved the film look issue but I am not convinced. You can send your
video off in the mail to get a film look. They do tricks with interlacing and
pull down and attempt to paint the video frames but... to my eye it still looks
like video.
If this video look issue could be solved the network soaps wouldn't have that
"soap" look.
Unfortunately... the public is getting used to the "video" look and in time it
won't be an issue.
What really looks strange to me is footage that you expect to have the video
look... instead be shot on film. Like TV news promos. For a while they were shot
on film for that "high end" look by big time directors.
This is not a direct answer to your question as I suppose there are prosumer
video cameras out there that are better than others for what you want. But the
trick may be in post and not the actual shooting.

 

Thanks, Dan. But there is no way my budget will support using a film
camcorder let alone buying all the film. It's okay if it doesn't look
exactly like film, just the closest.

 

If you will settle for "close" why do you want "exactly like" AND what
do you MEAN by "look like film" anyway? You want grainy, flicker, what?