An Observation
 

The great thing about creativity is that there is no right and wrong.
Likewise for the creative tools we employ.
I wonder what the launch of these two cameras (XL-H1 and DVX200) would be like without the immediacy of the internet.

That said, I do find it interesting to see threads on the net for "HVX low on the waiting list support groups" and other sort of tongue-in-cheek threads...people worked up into a near frenzy that they may not have this camera for another couple of months, and yet the XL-H1 is sitting at places like B&H just waiting to be delivered to your door.

Somehow in the nether-world of the net, where virtually no one really has practical experience with either, one has become the holy grail while the other is like a red headed step child - using demand as an indicator.

Personally I wish I didn't have to make a decision this winter on transitioning our studios to HD. The XL2 does beautiful work and there are so many details to be ironed out in workflow and of course the reality of actual delivery of HD content.

My decision is driven by market presssure and the "advantage" of offering HD production when pitching content for broadcast. The only reasonable first step I can see is renting both and seeing which one fits most comfortably.

It would be nice though to fast forward 6 or 8 months and see the glitches of HDV decks and editing workflows ironed out so that their was a bit more balance between the two formats.

And then there's the promise of Red.

Actually as I ruminate on this, I may well end up reversing my usual trend. Over the years we've been one of the first places to get shipped and produce with the XL1 and Xl2 as well as one of the first to produce with the Mini35. I've always liked the cutting edge.

But this time, I think I might just rent for each project and see how things settle in.