What is a good step up from the XHA1? - Page 2 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders

Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders
Canon XH G1S / G1 (with SDI), Canon XH A1S / A1 (without SDI).

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 23rd, 2011, 11:23 AM   #16
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8,425
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Bill, I don't know about the EX1 much, great camera, but the batteries and cards are quite expensive, I thought. Nice chips though. Used I thought they were still expensive, but I would snatch one up if I had the chance.
__________________
"The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."
Jeff Harper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 30th, 2011, 01:34 PM   #17
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 477
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Janka View Post
Have you looked at the Panasonic HMC-150?
I would second this one. It is an improvement in low light performance. Currently I use two HMC150's, switched from my XHA1. Still have the XH, and use it in multi-cam shoots. Matching them has not been a problem for me.
Steve Wolla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 30th, 2011, 02:39 PM   #18
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Conway, NH
Posts: 574
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Steve,

You mean to say that the HMC150 is a better cam than the XH-A1 in low light? Do you mean it's brighter, or cleaner, or both? I'm actually looking at an amazing deal on a HVX200a.
Bill Edmunds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 16th, 2011, 10:42 PM   #19
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Zimmerman, Minnesota
Posts: 89
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

I am in the same situation. What to buy to replace my XH-A1's. They are getting old. I am really looking at the new Panasonic AG-AC130. It is to come out in November I believe. It has a 22x lens and can record to two cards at once, nice to have a back-up. The camera seems very promising. I have never bought a Panasonic camera before, so that would be a change for me.
Jeffrey Fuchs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 23rd, 2011, 07:31 PM   #20
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 477
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Edmunds View Post
Steve,

You mean to say that the HMC150 is a better cam than the XH-A1 in low light? Do you mean it's brighter, or cleaner, or both? I'm actually looking at an amazing deal on a HVX200a.
My apollogies for not seeing this earlier....
In my case it seems a little brigter and a lot less "noise" in very low light situations.
I believe the HVX 200a has the same chip set as the HMC150.
Steve Wolla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 23rd, 2011, 08:15 PM   #21
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8,425
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

There are a lot of experienced shooters with much more skill than me that like the HMC150, and who tout it for low light ability.

But I got to say I've shot with it along side other cams, and I thought it was bad in low light.

I have an occasional shooter who is very skilled with his HMC150, and same thing; the footage in a church is absolutely abysmal in low light compared to the FX1000.

I owned the HMC-150. Mine was nearly new, I got it for $2400 less than six months after it came out. I sold it less than a month later. It looked sick to me compared to the FX1000, but that is just me. The HMC-150 can without question produce gorgeous images, and I suppose I never learned to use it properly. I don't know. I saw people debating the issue and I couldn't get past what I saw with my own eyes.

The XH-A1s that I've rented were equally poor in low light if not even worse. But all this is subjective, I suppose. Mark VonLanken uses the HMC150, and he's forgot more than I'll ever know about video. I still don't understand it though.

I came into the business using the Sony PD150/170 and VX2000-2100 cameras and I find that those cameras still shape my idea of what is acceptable in low light. You turned them on, and they performed flawlessly even in auto, they were phenomenal, as many of us know.

At any rate I shoot with the GH2 and while not a real video camera, at least I have the ability to shoot great images in low light again, which is great.
__________________
"The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."
Jeff Harper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 5th, 2011, 09:25 AM   #22
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Surprise Arizona
Posts: 297
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Possible alternative could be the AG-AC130 with SD Cards and a fantastic 22x lens. The only problem I see is the CMOS chips.
Greg Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 5th, 2011, 06:26 PM   #23
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cusco, Peru
Posts: 375
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Harper View Post
Bill, I don't know about the EX1 much, great camera, but the batteries and cards are quite expensive, I thought. Nice chips though. Used I thought they were still expensive, but I would snatch one up if I had the chance.

I just made the jump from my A1 to an EX1r this weekend. While I've got a LONG way to go to get used to it -- it seems FAR more capable than my A1 and equally more complex though familiarity has a lot to do with complexity -- it is a fabulous camera.

Batteries are expensive -- look for about $250 for a big 4-4 1/2 hour battery.

The cards, however, are not bad at all. While the original owner of my camera included 16gb and a 32gb SxS cards -- both probably worth over $1000 together -- I use a simple $60 adapter that uses the same SDHC cards that I use on my Canon 60D DSLR. So far, it's worked flawlessly.

While I got an incredible deal on a barely used EX1r, it still cost about twice as much as my A1 did when I bought it used a couple of years ago.

I haven't really tested it's lowlight capabilities yet at high gain. -9 looked a little grainy, but still a lot better than the A1. I read this afternoon that it's pretty good even at -18, but I haven't tried that yet.

Perhaps the best part is the incredible EVF. I can hold it with one hand and accurately focus with the other just using the EVF and the peaking function. Try doing that with the A1! The fold-out viewscreen is equally useful when it's on a tripod. (Don't have a rig to use with it yet.)

I was about to go for an EX1 when this EX1r became available. I really like the HDMI connection for a quick view on any TV including many hotel televisions. The EVF has proved to be more than worth the difference. Haven't used the recording cache function yet, but I know there are situations where it will be useful for me. If anyone's considering these two, watch Doug Jensen's 40-minute piece on Vimeo explaining the differences between the two to see if it's worth it for you.

This is one upgrade that I definitely am feeling good about, but even though I read everything I could about the EX1 for a couple of months while considering the purchase, there's still going to be a pretty decent learning curve for me. No buyer's remorse here with the EX1r.

Looks like I've got a lot of A1 gear that I'll be selling soon. :)
Phil Murray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 5th, 2011, 08:21 PM   #24
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 3,014
Re: What is a good step up from the XHA1?

FYI ... The Vortex Media DVD on the EX1 has an extra section that includes the EX1R. It's well worth the money and will get you up to speed fast. I had to shoot a music video 2 weeks after I got mine and the DVD made that possible.
Les Wilson is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:31 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network