First day on set with A1
 

I got my A1 on Friday and used it on a gig I did today.

Backstory: I recently sold my XL1s and had been renting an XL2.

While the XL2 was a major advance from the XL1s, the A1 is IMO an equally large advancement over the XL2. The SD 16:9 is jaw droppingly beautiful. The new Auto Focus is the best EVER. Peak and Magnify rock and B&W viewfinder is a great touch. I found myself using the flip out LCD more than the eyepiece.

The iris control on the lens is how all new cameras should be. This thing is a little dense brick and feels well constructed. The mini toggles are retro cool.

The only negative are the funky mix of rubber they use for the eyepiece is a dust stickum, and the crappy control switches under the LCD fold out.

If you where thinking about going HDV and still having incredible DV, this camera is a good choice.

Being an XL2 owner, I am curious... how does the SD look compared to XL2?

mathew,
I just got an H1 and sold my XL2. I shot an interview on Friday and a wedding on Sunday with the H1(same image as the A1). the clients wanted Sd in 4:3 (kind of like taking a Ferrari to a donkey race). I didn't do any a/b testing with the two cameras, but the sd in the H1 looks better than the XL2.
I would do a side by side test, but the XL2 is all packed, sealed and ready to go to Canada. The A1 sounds like a great camera.
Bruce S. Yarock
www.yarock.com

Wiggle lightly on the built-in microphone. Does it feel tight and firmly secured? Or does it feel a bit loose as mine?

Only other complaint about the construction is the zoom rocker is flimsy.

Hey Bruce,

Yeah, I am debating selling my XL2 and 3X lens... I had an offer of $3500 canadian... I dunno, I love the XL2... don't want to say goodbye... :(

Unfortunately I do not have a side by side as I was renting the XL2.

The XL2 had great SD, especially compared to my original XL1s. I would say that the A1 shoots SD a bit better than the XL2 becasue of the higher quality HD "L" lens and the better image processing of the higher resolution chips.

If you are not planning on shooting HDV, you can't go wrong with the XL2, but if you want SD that is a notch better AND HDV plus the other great innovations like Instant Focus and Iris Ring, you might be ready to make the change.

OH, I am definatly buying an A1, already have $1000 down on reserve... just don't know whether to keep the XL2 as a B camera or not.

I think if you are shooting SD, you could easily use the XL2 as a "B" camera. Although, the longer you keep it, the more it goes down in value.

my thoughs exactly.. I also need to reaplce the tripod threads, as they have worn down and only the higher ones are good, the bottom thread ripped off :P

The built-in mic is rubber mounted and is supposed to move, I think. Poke the ring between the body and the mic and you'll feel that it's soft.

Chuck

This is correct.

Originally Posted by Chuck Fadely
The built-in mic is rubber mounted and is supposed to move, I think. Poke the ring between the body and the mic and you'll feel that it's soft.

This is correct. - Dave Perry

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Yes but is there a gap between the mic and the rubber? On mine, the mic droops under its own weight just enough that you can fit a piece of paper between the mic and rubber at the top. I'm okay with it like this if it doesn't loosen up any more. But if a threaded fastener is coming loose, it's something that will have to be fixed at some point, not necessarily right away. Thanks for the responses.

Yes it droops. We need the official accessory little blue pill .... back ordered, though.... Canon part # mic1viagra...

Ha ha ha... what about Cialis?