51 camera choices

the more read ups I do on the Canon XHA1 the more I like this camera ...

Its got Time code sync, so you can jam timecode .. great when shooting 2 cameras or more ...

I also like the fact that you can have saved custom presets, knee, black strech, RGB Gamma .. these are fetures you only see on pro industrial cameras, Not Camcorders .. Fuckin awesome.

I just got to find one in this city so that I can test it ...

i am bring back this thread rather than starting a new.. wanted to hear if there are some new feedback on HD/HDV video equipment. i am considering the panasonic or the canon.. look forward to hearing from some video pros.

Got to this thread to late. We have the Canon XH-A1 and it is the sweetest camera I've ever seen. In my opinion there isn't a better HDV cam on the market. Far less body noise than it's Sony counterparts too. Though an external mic plugged into the built in XLR ports is the best way to go anyway. The sound is ok, but like any onboard mic, that's weak link. (Still way better than the FX-1)
If you want anything more than that then the Panny is about the only thing better.

Here is a great article comparing the 2 cams. Keep in mind the Panny is actually in a higher league than the Canon. But the fact it even stacks up speaks volumes about it.
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/xha1/

Have you looked at the Canon HV-20? It's a small handheld version, single chip, but still has tone of features and can shoot 24P. We were thinking of this as our secondary travel cam. (Opinions welcome.)

Is this the same Canon for only 1200 bucks USD?

http://www.bestpricecameras.com/prod...?prodid=674426

well I love Sony and everything I shoot with is Sony ..
Still cam .. DSC-R1
Video PD-170 and HVR-Z1U and the Z1U is cadillac easily my fav pro-sumer .. but if we're talking Pro .. there is only one ..

www.red.com

http://promo.topchoicecash.com/files...d%20camera.jpg

I ended up with a pair of HVX 200 (pana)
They're great camera, however the P@ cards and/or FS100 will bust your budget in comparision to say the Canon A1 or Sony FX series ...

Lance are you coming to montreal .. If so can you bring you Canon with you ? I haven't been able to find a rental unit here to give that camera a good trail run

If 6your posting the red .. and comapring it to HDV camcorders (which is what we're discussing here) then I'm ready to bet that you really don't understand the use of the red .. or it's history or lack off ....

I prefer the HDR-FX1. All around great camera.

Don't you dare be a prick to me .. I am not comparing the RED to the Sony Panny or Canon .... I already stated my opinion and I am Happy with Sony .. The RED is just a retarded cam and I had to throw a pic of it up to show the peeps .. ..sometimes you and your fucking know it all attitude about video camera's and video can get a little tedious .. we all know where you came from ... we all know you love to make posts regarding what YOU feel is the best camera to to what ..maybe you should try adding to them .."IN YOUR PERSONAL OPINION" to your posts ..because you actually don't have an engineering degree in these fields ..and everything you post is based on how YOU feel it performs .. .. seriously Vid .. give it a rest ... or open a camera store ..JMHO

cool thread. Im going hi def soon

Which is the most light sensitive. I've found that the FX1 is subpar in that department. What's better?

Unfortunately no Vid, not gonna be in Montreal, in the near future anyway. But next time I am your welcome to take it for a ride.

ElConquistador, that is a very good price but it seems to good to be true. But if you can get it at that then go for it.

Bob, from what I have researched the Z1U, has a better light sensitivity than the FX-1. Supposedly the Canon A1 is comparable to the Z1U in that area. (Take into account that I've only played with the Z1U once, and have never really had "real" filmmaking experience) Also the Canon has a 20X optical zoom which may or may not be important to you. All in all I still stand by the Canon as the best HDV option out there.

Just hit up a couple of higher end Camera shops and have them give you their recommendations and opinions. The bigger shops cater to high-end production companies and like nothing more than to show how much they know. (Just be careful of guys who are brand loyal, get a couple of unbiased opinions.)

I've been using an FX-1 with an external mic (the on-camera mic sucks bad). It is not as good in low light as say the standard def VX-2000/2100 series cams, but if you are filming hdv, why are you using low light anyway, unless you are filming documentary style in a dark bar or someplace like that?

I know that I now use double or triple the amount of light to light my sets now as I used to with standard def filming. And that really makes the images pop. All the cameras mentioned can produce a good image, if lit and handled properly. The technological competition is great for the industry as a whole, although as an individual producer I know that I am working harder to shoot the same scenes and longer on editing and encoding as technlogy advanced from SD to HDV.

Z1U is the workhorse - canon makes great cams - the red cam looks interesting - I like ice cream

nice posts here, thanks...

What matters to me personally is:
quality video meaning accurate colors, good zoom, quick AF and AF when panning.
weight: actual weight of camcorder as i mainly handhold..
options: different resolutions

canon...it only shoots 1080 format?
the panny.. how does it work with the P2 storage and how much does it weigh?

anyone tried the JVC GY HD110U ? it weighs little more than the Canon but has some nice features, any input?

like to stay with 3ccd quality..

Well I know different Cams handle colours differently, I've always like the way both Canons and Sony's look. I do know that you can set the Zoom speed on the A1, which is nice, plus it has other customizable functions, though I'd wager the others do as well. The A1 also has a quick zoom sensor on the side which has been pretty handy for me as I'm not at the level of manually doing everything just yet. (practicing though)

The Canon can shoot both HDV and SD. I only, played with the P2 cards once and was initially put off by them. But the fact that you can pull them out and stick em straight into your laptop is pretty cool. Though the Panny is a bit more boxy and clunky IMO.

i am looking at various HD options at the moment, like the pana vx200 alot but just seems to be somewhat complicated to get the content to the client. i dont think you can dump the HD back on mini dv tape, shipping a hdd is not imho a good solution...so how do you do this ?

hmmmm 12234

bump for the experts