Jack, I can confirm the sudden price increase you saw at l.l.lozeau. Thankfully for me, I price matched the $3600 Can price at another Canadian retailer just hours before the price went up to $4500

However the xh a1s is available on sale at vistek.ca (great store) for $4000 Can (regular price is $4800 Can). I don't believe you will see the camera for sale in Canada for much less then $4000 anytime soon.

Canon XH A1S HDV Camcorder Kit Pro Camcorders 3238B001 HDV10 - Vistek Canada Product Detail

Hi Brad !
Lucky you are !!! I wish I could find the same price somewhere on internet. Vistek seems to be a very good web site to buy. Anyway, I am looking everyday for the prices and I think I'll wait another few months. Did you purchase the camcorder from Vistek or another shop in Canada ?

- Frank

Cons:

1. Tape based

2. HDV codec

3. slightly high image noise levels

4. low light sensitivity slightly low

5. factory warranty not as good as some, but probably not even an issue as the A1s improved the most fragile features

6. very small flip out viewfinder

7. focus is a little hard to get perfect because of the small viewfinder (and my aging eyes)

8. IAF can tend to ocassionally do a quick hunt, so manual focus has to be used in certain situations

9. no 60P or 720P

Except for those few cons, it's a great camera.

It is certainly the best tape based HDV camera available.

I find the XH A1 focus ring a bit jumpy sometimes, sometimes it's tricky to get it right on to the focus distance you want. Often I overshoot the focus distance I want by quite a way. I set the focus speed to slow and it didn't help. Maybe I'm just too ham fisted but my cameraman complained about it during our last film as well

I have a dvx100 and a xh-a1 and there is no comparison between the 2 when it comes to accurate focusing.
Correct manual focusing is very difficult with the xh-a1, the too small lcd doesn't help that much and the feedback you get from the distance meter in the viewfinder is a joke. I only wished the lcd was much bigger and had more resolution and that it was like the hvx200, square, keeping the camerainfo clutter out of the picture.

I find it pretty easy to nail the focus with my XH A1. Magnifying is not as good a tool as peaking. Switch that peaking on, zoom in, and adjust focus until you get peaking. With a little practice, you will know when you've hit critical focus. Use the viewfinder rather than LCD if you're in bright conditions. Don't forget you can hit the display button to get rid of all the picture settings on the LCD screen. Once I am dialed in, I often turn off all the LCD nonsense by hitting the display button on the side of the cam.

True, the focussing aids are good and as long as you got the time to set it up right it works. Only most of my work doesn't have the time to use those aids and I need to get it instantly right, then it can be a real pain. Getting rid of all lcd info feels like driving a f1 car at full speed and letting go the steering wheel :D I like to see what the camera is doing at all times.

Just so Noa, and I'll add a 'me too' to that as a run 'n' gunner. Shot a wedding last Saturday using the EX1 and omg what a difference over my Z1 - and it's all down to top-screen resolution. The EX1's screen is so sharp, so usable, and although not as bright as the Z1's screen in broad daylight, is an example to all as an unadorned focusing aid (especially so the XH-A1s).

tom.

I was going to say ... "the addition of audio limiters in the A1S are a big improvement for me"

But it depends on which Canon info you read. Here they call it "Auto Gain Control (AGC) limit, increased gain levels and fine tuning."

Canon Professional Network - Canon XH G1S and XH A1S

Here on Canons site there's no mention of AGC let alone limiters.

Professional Camcorders - High Definition Camcorders and Lenses - Standard Definition Camcorders - Software - High Definition Camcorder - XH A1S - Canon USA Consumer Products

Would some kind soul with an A1S, please look in the menu and see if there's anything there?

Confused of Sydney.

Here is the A1s manual in searchable PDF form:

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/3/030000...a1s-nim-en.pdf

Thanks Kelly, yes independent limiters only in manual mode, that display just above the audio levels. Interesting to study that manual with the PAL A1.

Cheers.

Thanks kelly, now I can study up before my A1s gets here in a few days!