I got this email question from Stan:
Please help me purchase the right video equipment starting with the Canon HV – 20 video camera.
What else do I need?
Stan
Hi Stan,
You need three items.
First a tripod and/or a monpod. You can buy either at Best Buy for 20 to 30 dollars. If you buy a tripod, get one that has a bubble on it so you tell if the tripod is level.
Second is a directional microphone with an XLR connector. The XLR connector has three prongs in it. The XLR cable is "balanced" meaning it prevents buzzing from electrical interference such as flourescent lights. You do NOT want an ON/OFF switch. That's just one more thing that can go wrong when shooting. I use a Shure SM 57 microphone which is a pretty good all purpose mic which you can buy for about $99 on line. You'll also need to get an XLR cable. You can get those in the online stores or Radio Shack for about $20.
Finally you need an adaptor to connect the XLR cable to your camera. The only audio input to the Canon HV20 is through the microphone miniplug. You can get a XLR to miniplug adaptor (Hosa MIT 156) from B and H Photo for about $20 dollars. Here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423360-REG/Hosa_MIT156_MIT_156_Low_to_High.html
Some nice to haves:
An inexpensive tripod is good for steady shots. But if you want to pan smoothly (move the camera left or right) or tilt smoothly (point the camera up or down) it may be a little jerky. If you need that type of smoothness when you're shooting, look into a tripod with a better "head" (the part the camera sits on). I use a tripod and head from Manfrotto. It has a smooth pan and tilt and allows me to level the tripod head without changing the length of the legs. This is a real timesaver in situations where you have to set up quickly.
The $20 XLR to mini plug adaptor is great for microphones, but it has a few drawbacks. You can't take a line level audio feed without the audio sounding distorted. Line level audio often comes from Public Address systems. This is why I use a BeachTek adaptor. It is a small box you attach under your camera with one or two XLR inputs and a mini plug cable that you plug into your camera's microphone jack. On the box is a switch for mic and line level. For the Canon HV20 you'd want the Beachtek DXA-2S available here: http://www.beachtek.com/dxa2s.html
Additional batteries and a charger. Get the larger capacity batteries. National Camera Exchange sells Promaster Batteries (PNB-2L14) that last much longer than the standard batteries that come with the camera. You can charge your battery in the camera, but consider getting a charger so you can recharge a battery while you're shooting. National Camera Exchange sells the chargers too (Canon CB-2LW).
A small light - the HV20 has a built in light which is good in a pinch, but consider getting a light that you can put on the top of the camera. I have a larger light kit, so I don't have one of these for the HV20. But if you stop in at National Camera Exchange they can probably recommend a good light.
Mike