Ha! "Quite inaccurate"? I'll decide for myself what is un-usable thanks.

Not sure why the hostility. I'm just illustrating that there are many opinions about this. Your first post came across as quite definitive, not opinionated.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound hostile! (although after being up all night and only having 2 hours sleep me even saying "fancy a cup of tea...?" can sound hostile!)
I only really meant that smaller apertures are un-usable TO ME and I've seen plenty of footage shot on the larger numbers from other members,yourself included Steven,that is VERY pleasing on the eye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaAC48myZM4 - that's the kind of thing I shoot.

Sorry again Steven for the misunderstanding, Phil

if you're in the position of closing up the iris to 9.5, you're probably also in the position of applying the ND filters. at -3 gain, i have not yet been in a such a bright environment that i would ever shut down the iris. if i'm in that bright light, i'm usually using a polarizer anyway.

just to add to the discussion....

Phil, absolutely no problem. I'm just sensitive to the fact that there are many impressionable newbies on this board and we have a responsibility to ensure that we are putting everything we say in the proper context.

Anyway, I appreciate you putting the record straight.

Well I miss some information about the editing proces with this camera
Questions like:
How does it edit the HDV on the PC connected to the sucking procespower.
Does the editing going smooth like DV or more stiff with HDV.
Is it diffrence between editing in 24f or 50i connected to the above questions.
I know the pc has do some hard work with editing Mpeg2 compression but how hard ?? 2X 3X what.

I am happy with my A1. After the brief cultural shock caused by the wealth of settings control over the XH-A1 (I came from being a XL1-GL1 user with far less control to deal with). And my happiness level increasing as time goes by.

Accidental post...

I love my A1. Although I haven't had time to create my own presets, I downloaded and use the presets offered by the members of this forum, for which I thank- Right now I am using Steven D.'s preset which has given me some awesome results. Thanks Steven! I also used other forum-user presets to match the DVX100 with ease.

No other camera offers a lens like the A1 in the price range. I'll deal with boo boo's like no OIS button, in exchange for a nice iris ring and a killer image. Overall, I am very pleased with the XH-A1.

Same here.

...and here!
It's really giving me some stunning images. Now everyone at work wants to sell their cameras and go out and buy one. I think for the price you can't beat it.

sand in lens
 

I love this cam, I can make nice images with it, I can't lose the 20x lens BUT...Although I do have lenses aged 20+ that have no problems, my XHA1 makes crunching sounds when turning the focus or iris wheel on the lens.

There is sand inside, and I am always very carefull (believe me, it is like new) with it when I am outside or during transport. So, there is sand/dirt in the lens or servo after 1 month use. That's bad design.

Wanna buy mine?

Yes? .....come back in ten years ;-) (or more ?)

I LOVE MY A1 !

Raymond, that red ring around the lens signifies that the lens is a luxury lens. It is both dust and waterproof if my memory serves me correctly.

Don

I've had mine a whole week now and have used it every day.

Yes, I do have too much time on my hands.

Anyway, the more I play with it and learn about it the more I like it.

It'll probably take me another six months or so to be expert with this camera but I'm already 'competent' enough to use it 'on the fly' with quite acceptable results.