SDI connection for broadcast
 

I am looking for a camera for professional use in TV movies and musical videos that works excellent with available light and low light situations. I've been pointed toward the Canon XH G1 because of the SDI connection. In order to use the SDI connection I can't record to tape right? If that is so, if I record with the SDI conection to a Macbook do I need a software?

Honestly the HX G1 / G1s are cameras out of my budget. Could the XH A1s do the work for TV movies / music videos? Should I consider other brands like Sony or Panasonic?

The last video we produce has two version one shot with a XL2 and a second one shot with a Cybershot and edited in Final Cut. The one we did with the Cybershot was broadcasted in comercial TV.

Here is the link for the Cybershot version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5k7TWL34GiM

XL2 version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pw6BLE8ndk

I appreciate your helpful advice in what camera should I buy, thanks!

Live capture to SDI is a very expensive proposition. One of the biggest problems is to capture live HD-SDI, without intermediate compression, you'll need a very large array of very fast hard drives. It's not impossible, but, not very practical for portability. Probably the best solution is to capture with some intermediate compression. This is a design being offered by HDV To HD-SDI Video Converters Professional Video Equipment HDMI To HD-SDI Television Studio Equipment. Check out Flash XDR and nano-flash.

You can capture to tape, for example HDCam or even HDCam SR, but you'd need a very expensive deck to do it. The SRW-1 portable SR deck is about £75,000 I think!
Steve