Which to choose

[Psychosomatic]

Hello, i'm relatively new at the whole filmmaking scene so please bear with me if i seem to be a complete idiot at all this.

I am hoping to start filmmaking pretty soon, mainly for the summer.
I have saved up a load of money and have decided to choose to either go to this private film school i have my eyes on or work on my own and just learn from experience. Before i invest all the money i would spend on the film school on film equipment i decided to in the meantime buy a relatively cheap camera and test out my filmmaking skills during the summer, and then from that decide what i want to do.

All this really doesn't matter, i'm mainly just asking for your advice on 3 different camcorders. I've been looking at the Canon HV20, the Sony HDR-SR7 and the SR10.
I have come to a point where i am extremely confused. I decided for the time being my budget for the camera would be £500 (roughly $1000), i found a uk website which is selling the HV20 for £499, but i also found a US site (newegg.com) selling it for $800, which is a lot cheaper. I'm just wondering whether it matters, i know about the whole NTSC and PAL thing but it shouldn't it be able to play on my computer, and later on if i decided to submit a film to a festival there is always software out there to convert the framerate, am i right?

With the SR7 and the SR10, for some reason the SR10 is a lot cheaper than the SR7. And again i can get the SR7 for $1000 but it's the NTSC version.
Has anyone had experience with any of these cameras?
Anyone got advice for me?

I can't find anywhere that will let me test the cameras near where i live.

[redsox_mark]

1) PAL vs NTSC: Yes you can convert in software, though that can impact the quality. In high def format "NTSC" will play fine on any UK HTDV, and a PC is no problem. Still, I'd rather get a PAL model. If you are going to be a film maker, you may want 24p or 25p progressive (more film like)... 25p from a PAL model is easier/better supported than 24p from a NTSC model (which needs 3:2 pulldown).

2) The models you list. The SR10 is cheaper as it is a cutdown version of the new SR11, I would dismiss the SR10, as you want all the features you can get (including an external mic input). I would go for the HV20, as you are obviously going to be doing extensive editing, and HDV is easier to edit (less demands on the PC, better software support). One of the main advantages with a HDD cam (like the SR7) is when you are not editing; the ability to select specific clips etc, speed of copying them to the PC. But if you are creating a movie, you need to spend a lot of time editing, and these advantages become irrelevant.

[redsox_mark]

Also note if you import from abroad, you may be liable to pay VAT and Duty, which may offset any savings you make.

[Psychosomatic]

Alright, thanks for the info.
I'm going for the HV20 and i've been looking on ebay for cheaper prices.

I've been bidding for awhile now, the ones that are PAL all end up going up to like £470 - £500, most of them used. One was a year old, used regularlly and it sold for £480. And they are from normal people who have so-so feedback.
Whereas there is a bunch of shops selling brand new NTSC models for £420. Buy it now, and they are selling in the UK so there would be no tax or anything.

So i'm just wondering, is the disadvantages with 24p and NTSC worth it if i can get the camera £80 cheaper?

Thanks again.

[redsox_mark]

It's a personal choice... I'd rather have the PAL model in general, but if the choice is a used PAL model for £500 or a new NTSC for £420, I'd take the NTSC one.