An ode to the A1 at DVinfo.net

Matthew Nayman · February 18th, 2007, 01:35 PM

I have been up for the last 3 days shooting the first half of my short film, "FARE" on a Canon A1 with the Redrock M2 and some Nikon lenses. The film takes place in a moving taxi-cab at night and in a downtown urban center (in the middle of winter).

Anyway, we have 3 more days of shooting, then a month of editing and sound, so don't expect any footage anytime soon (well, maybe a taste next week).

I am not writing this to gloat, but simply to sing the praises of the XHA1. The lowlight performance, even through the M2 adapter is great. We have not used any GAIN at all with only minimal (in car 9" kino banks) and with a 1.4 nikon lens set.

The camera also holds up well to the -20 weather and the hustle bustle of our set.

The images it produces are so Sharp and filmic that I have fooled some folks into thinking it was 35mm and I could not be happier with it.

Basically, if you don't own an XHA1, buy one. Amazing camera. I wasn't sure, but now i am sold.

Matt

Evan C. King · February 18th, 2007, 01:49 PM

Where'd you get your equipment from? Do you rent those lights or buy them?
Also I can't wait to see some grabs or footage! A lot of the digital shorts I've seen that were made in by people from Toronto look like crap. Looking forward to seeing the progress of a good one.

Bill Pryor · February 18th, 2007, 02:47 PM

Most all rental houses have the small Kinos.

I found the XH A1 very good in low light too, much better than I expected. I thought the M2 would eat a lot more light, however. That's nice to know, because I have a lot of old Nikkor lenses and have been thinking about the M2 or one of the others, eventually.

Matthew Nayman · February 19th, 2007, 11:08 AM

Yeah Bill, I thought we would have more problems too, but apparently the XHA1 and M2 is fine for night stuff (with some lighting)

Insung Hwang · February 19th, 2007, 06:29 PM

How are you dealing with the flipped image? Do you have a solution, or are you just 'dealing' with it. If so, is this something you get used to?

Bill Pryor · February 19th, 2007, 09:21 PM

I used to shoot stills with a 4X5 view camera, so I like to think I could deal with an upside down image...but you don't have to follow action with a still camera, so I think I might want a monitor that flips.

Bill Pryor · February 20th, 2007, 03:53 PM

The Letus 35 is one of the inexpensive adapters that has the image flip function built in, just like the really pricey one. You might check it out.

Insung Hwang · February 21st, 2007, 04:34 PM

Wow, good to know. I thought they all had the flip-image problem (aside from the Mini35). Thanks!

Matthew Nayman · February 22nd, 2007, 11:15 AM

I use a varizoom componenet SWIT monitor, mounted upside down, and then flip using cineform (as I capture it flips).

No biggie.

Bill Pryor · February 22nd, 2007, 11:58 AM

That's a good idea--a small LCD monitor mounted upside down. Simple solution.

Matthew Nayman · February 22nd, 2007, 05:28 PM

yup. Although, make sur eyour monitor at least has 800X400 lines, otherwise focusing is not really possible.

Most only have 932X240

It's the horizontal lines which make it possible to focus. Fulll 851X480 is perfect.

The SWIT 8" has enough (via component) the Marshall 8" component (or SDI) has enough, and several chinese imports (Xernarc, Lilliput) make high-pixel count monitors.

Samsung is introducing a full 1080p monitor which should be interesting.

Panasonic makes one, but it costs like $6000

The Varizoom Swit can be found on BHphotovideo.com for about $1000 and can be powered off any brand battery (buy your camera specific mount) and there you go. Is a great monitor (Even shows overscan and can flip the image 180 degress for right-side-up viewing)

February 18th, 2007, 01:35 PM	#1
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	An ode to the A1 I have been up for the last 3 days shooting the first half of my short film, "FARE" on a Canon A1 with the Redrock M2 and some Nikon lenses. The film takes place in a moving taxi-cab at night and in a downtown urban center (in the middle of winter). Anyway, we have 3 more days of shooting, then a month of editing and sound, so don't expect any footage anytime soon (well, maybe a taste next week). I am not writing this to gloat, but simply to sing the praises of the XHA1. The lowlight performance, even through the M2 adapter is great. We have not used any GAIN at all with only minimal (in car 9" kino banks) and with a 1.4 nikon lens set. The camera also holds up well to the -20 weather and the hustle bustle of our set. The images it produces are so Sharp and filmic that I have fooled some folks into thinking it was 35mm and I could not be happier with it. Basically, if you don't own an XHA1, buy one. Amazing camera. I wasn't sure, but now i am sold. Matt

February 19th, 2007, 06:29 PM	#5
Insung Hwang Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	Flipped Image How are you dealing with the flipped image? Do you have a solution, or are you just 'dealing' with it. If so, is this something you get used to?

February 18th, 2007, 01:49 PM	#2
Evan C. King Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 532	Where'd you get your equipment from? Do you rent those lights or buy them? Also I can't wait to see some grabs or footage! A lot of the digital shorts I've seen that were made in by people from Toronto look like crap. Looking forward to seeing the progress of a good one.

February 18th, 2007, 02:47 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Most all rental houses have the small Kinos. I found the XH A1 very good in low light too, much better than I expected. I thought the M2 would eat a lot more light, however. That's nice to know, because I have a lot of old Nikkor lenses and have been thinking about the M2 or one of the others, eventually.

February 19th, 2007, 11:08 AM	#4
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Yeah Bill, I thought we would have more problems too, but apparently the XHA1 and M2 is fine for night stuff (with some lighting)

February 19th, 2007, 09:21 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I used to shoot stills with a 4X5 view camera, so I like to think I could deal with an upside down image...but you don't have to follow action with a still camera, so I think I might want a monitor that flips.

February 20th, 2007, 03:53 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	The Letus 35 is one of the inexpensive adapters that has the image flip function built in, just like the really pricey one. You might check it out.

February 21st, 2007, 04:34 PM	#8
Insung Hwang Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	Wow, good to know. I thought they all had the flip-image problem (aside from the Mini35). Thanks!

February 22nd, 2007, 11:15 AM	#9
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	I use a varizoom componenet SWIT monitor, mounted upside down, and then flip using cineform (as I capture it flips). No biggie.

February 22nd, 2007, 11:58 AM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	That's a good idea--a small LCD monitor mounted upside down. Simple solution.

February 22nd, 2007, 05:28 PM	#11
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	yup. Although, make sur eyour monitor at least has 800X400 lines, otherwise focusing is not really possible. Most only have 932X240 It's the horizontal lines which make it possible to focus. Fulll 851X480 is perfect. The SWIT 8" has enough (via component) the Marshall 8" component (or SDI) has enough, and several chinese imports (Xernarc, Lilliput) make high-pixel count monitors. Samsung is introducing a full 1080p monitor which should be interesting. Panasonic makes one, but it costs like $6000 The Varizoom Swit can be found on BHphotovideo.com for about $1000 and can be powered off any brand battery (buy your camera specific mount) and there you go. Is a great monitor (Even shows overscan and can flip the image 180 degress for right-side-up viewing)