Some features of the canon A1

Noel Evans

Noel Evans

Mod V3 New and Improved
Staff member
Thought I would drop this here as its kind of interesting and many people dont visit the OTHER CAMERAS section.

But apart from the usual this cam has the fillowing shutter speeds when shooting 24f

1/3 seconds, 1/6 seconds, 1/12 seconds, 1/24 seconds, 1/48 seconds, 1/60 seconds, 1/75 seconds, 1/90 seconds, 1/100 seconds, 1/120 seconds, 1/150 seconds, 1/180 seconds, 1/210 seconds, 1/250 seconds, 1/300 seconds, 1/360 seconds, 1/420 seconds, 1/500 seconds, 1/600 seconds, 1/720 seconds, 1/840 seconds, 1/1000 seconds, 1/1200 seconds, 1/1400 seconds, 1/1700 seconds, 1/2000 seconds, 1/2300 seconds, 1/2600 seconds, 1/3000 seconds, 1/4000 seconds, 1/8000 seconds, 1/15000 seconds. 1/15000 ? What the ....you would need a 2k 3 metres away to light something...maybe still not enough? 1/3 cool man!

DUAL SPEED FOCUS-RING CTRL
(Focusing ring response) NORMAL and SLOW

Focus meter that tells you what the optimum focal length (distance) is based on your MF setting. Plus the Iris ring... sweet.

Forgive me for saying but this baby is jam packed full of fe atures that are actually useful. Will Panasonic respond? Heres hoping cause the market will only get better for everyone. :costumed-smiley-047
 
The only thing I found on a Canon A1 was an SLR still camera and this old Canon hi-8 videocamera.

e1_1.JPG
 
ncje said:
What the ....you would need a 2k 3 metres away to light something...maybe still not enough? 1/3 cool man!
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You'd most likely need an accessory light known as the Sun to use those shutter speeds. Although no one owns the Sun, it shows up fairly regularly for free usage.
 
I hate to say it, but as I've been sitting on the fence for a while about my next camera, but I have to say that I'm heavily leaning towards the XH A1. While HDV is not ideal for color correction, with the the right post workflow I have found it actually quite forgiving and in some cases has much more flexibility than does dv. I'm just amazed by some of the footage that the XL H1 has produced and if this camera can hold it's own against that camera the price really can't be beat.
 
scharkey I totally agree..... well Ive ordered mine so hopefully I can get some stuff up before others take the plunge, but as it is with these things Im hoping it delivers as expected. Elton sent me some XLh1 raw footage I took it through streamclip into fcp and on my 42inch plasma was just amazing, did 5 different versions of cc and it held up beautifully.
 
I read that focus and zoom will be via servo. I may be wrong, but if im right, wouldnt that suck, huh. I dont trust the source though.
 
Oh I have no doubt, the DVX focus is via servo as well. Personally, not a big deal, as I have yet to use the zoom other than to frame a shot, and the focus seems to be very nicely delt with on the A1 as you not only have LCD distance readouts but also repeatable focus and two types of sensitivity. Not bad canon.
 
As crazy as it sounds, as far as HDV goes, the A1 is probably going to be *even better* than the H1, because it will have finer incremental control of just about every aspect of the image. The lens will be improved, the processing...the works. The only thing that won't be better is the simple fact that you won't be able to change the lens, or be shoulder mounted. Believe it or not, I know that Canon monitors these boards even if they don't participate (yes, even DVXuser) and they have learned a lot about what people want improved and I think these little cameras are going to be serious contenders.

I predict the A1 will be the new DVX.
 
I agree Elton. The image control just has me giddy as a school girl, I really prefer to get the look in camera rather than in post, as I don't always have control of what is being done in post, so giving so much control over the image before compression will alow shooters to make some beautiful images. Granted it takes a little more pre setup time and lots of tests, but that's the fun part right.
 
I love the image control the H1 offers; and even though I enjoy cc I usually get very close to the exact look I want in-camera.

The Canon image control is actually very easy to master if you're even the slightest bit inclined to tweak. That said, if the new cameras are anything like the H1 (they will be) they'll also be super easy in auto-mode.
 
Elton said:
As crazy as it sounds, as far as HDV goes, the A1 is probably going to be *even better* than the H1, because it will have finer incremental control of just about every aspect of the image. The lens will be improved, the processing...the works. The only thing that won't be better is the simple fact that you won't be able to change the lens, or be shoulder mounted. Believe it or not, I know that Canon monitors these boards even if they don't participate (yes, even DVXuser) and they have learned a lot about what people want improved and I think these little cameras are going to be serious contenders.

I predict the A1 will be the new DVX.
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Wow. Strong prediction, Elton.

Has anyone mentioned the snap zoom and snap focus? I know that it's been a feature before, but if it's been refined on this camera it's going to be of great use. I think it sounds really neat, just kind of looking forward to that one to play with in the beginning.

I'm also interested in how soon we'll see an M2 for the A1. Saving all that freakin' money on the camera itself enables me to simply buy my own Cinematographer's package from Redrock for this cam which is exciting. I no longer have to wait for my company to do it!
 
Kholi said:
Wow. Strong prediction, Elton.
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Wouldn't you agree it's going to take something pretty special to beat what the A1's bringin' to the table at less than $4K?

I mean, just as the HVX is like a mini-Varicam, the A1 will be like a mini-Cinealta. A compact camera with an image that gets frighteningly close to HDCAM quality.
 
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Elton said:
Wouldn't you agree it's going to take something pretty special to beat what the A1's bringin' to the table at less than $4K?

I mean, just as the HVX is like a mini-Varicam, the A1 will be like a mini-Cinealta. A compact camera with an image that gets frighteningly close to HDCAM quality.
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With the DVX comes the DVX's Reputation. If the A1/G1 cams generate this same phenomena, great. In fact, I'd hope it does.

At the price point I can definitely see what you're gettin' at.
 
The nice thing about Canon is that they have no high-end video cameras to protect against the A1/G1. A lot of people think Panasonic will come out with an AVCHD version of the DVX but I don't think they will because it would eat into sales of the HVX. The HVX is Panasonic's HD baby. They wouldn't let that happen. If they did come out with an AVCHD camera, they will have to make it different than the HVX. They will probably de-feature it somehow like leave out XLRs, imaging tweaks or focus distance readout, etc.

The more I read about the A1 the more I love it. I LOVE the lens range. If you want to go even wider there is the 0.8x HD wide converter which takes you down to 26mm! The stock battery is also suppose to last 5 hours!

1724B001.jpg


So far the only bad things about the A1:

- Can't attach gear to lens for gear-driven follow focus (Instant Focus module physically in the way)
- Matte boxes will block Instant Focus sensor
- Wish the VF eyecup was larger like on a DVX or HVX to block out light
- Wish it was lighter like the GL2
 
tnle2 said:
The nice thing about Canon is that they have no high-end video cameras to protect against the A1/G1.
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Canon is establishing their entire HD line, and interestingly enough, I don't think they have a problem with the little cameras competing with the H1. The H1 hasn't sold a ton because of the price, and there will always be a select few that will choose it for it's major advantage--the lens options.

The reality is that Canon's learned from H1 users and from all the competing products and now they're getting serious about marketshare with the XH cams. They will make so much more $$ from this line then the H1 at it's current price point could ever dream of delivering.

It's very tempting to sell the H1 and get an A1 and maybe a G1 too. (I'm an SDI believer)
 
Another little-known advantage of the H1, and now the new cams is using Console software and a laptop in the field. or in studio. This gives you tapeless recording with full image control directly from the computer. If you've got a high-res laptop screen you can also use it as a high-def set monitor. (Kinda/Sorta...it's still best to have a real HD monitor if possible) It basically gives you DV/HDV rack capability, but with the extremely nice bonus of full remote control over the Canon camera itself. It will also let you preview footage in high res so you can be sure of focus without lugging around a big HD monitor.

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/XLH1/console_software.shtml
 
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Elton said:
Another little-known advantage of the H1, and now the new cams is using Console software and a laptop in the field. or in studio. This gives you tapeless recording with full image control directly from the computer. If you've got a high-res laptop screen you can also use it as a high-def set monitor. (Kinda/Sorta...it's still best to have a real HD monitor if possible) It basically gives you DV/HDV rack capability, but with the extremely nice bonus of full remote control over the Canon camera itself. It will also let you preview footage in high res so you can be sure of focus without lugging around a big HD monitor.

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/XLH1/console_software.shtml
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YES. I forgot about that as well. The new Console Software is so perfect. It's about time that something like that became available for the specific camera.

I definitely cannot wait to start using that. I've always thought I'd love to capture straight to Hard-Drive as opposed to moving to tape first. .Which is why I think p2 is great despite it's high price-tag.

Firestore's another option, but I can't afford that. As said before, I'd rather spend my extra on a Lens Adapter.
 
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