is the Canon XHA1 still a good camera?
 

I am in need of replacing my PD-150. I am looking at the Canon XHA1. I shoot wedding and Theater, so I need manual controls on the camera. is this camera too old? I have seen them for around $1200. I can spend too much over that. Any advice?

Re: Looking for a Used Video Camera
 

Hi, Anthony! I still have my XH-A1 and it works just fine. It's sad that technology moves so fast that a camera that's really only a few "model years" old might be considered "too old." I do, though, think that the movement's being driven by new media--namely chips instead of tape. Even then, you could buy a Datavideo DN-60 card recorder, and just keep on using the 'A1. Frankly, I still have my XL2 in my inventory, and I'm able to find things to do with it; and the glass on both cameras is as good as it gets.

Good luck with whatever choice you make!

~TRW

Re: Looking for a Used Video Camera
 

Buying another camera is much like buying a car! You see it, the specs look right so you buy it..it's a sorta personal choice more than anything else and one model might be loved by one and despised by another. All main manufacturer cameras are essntial a good buy..if they were not they wouldn't be out there!!

I do a LOT of footage every month so MiniDV is expensive for me and cards were the way to go..you might not use a lot of tape ...everyone is different ..I saved close to $1000 a year switching to card purely on tape cost.

If you can, try a couple, compare specs and then decide.

Chris

Re: Looking for a Used Video Camera
 

The Canon XHA1 is a good camera and with a $1200 budget, about the only others would be the Sony Z1 or FX1. The FX1 does not have XLR inputs as well as a few other handy features, but the same chips and image.

I don't think the XHA1 has an hours meter like you have on your PD150, so there is no way of knowing how much the camera has been used, and since it is tape based, a costly expense would be repairing or replacing the heads and drum. The Z1 does have an hour meter.

Keep in mind that your PD150 is somewhat of a low light champ, especially in mini-DV and cameras like the XHA1 and Z1 are not as light sensitive as the PD150.