Canon Unveils New Prosumer HDV Line: XH G1 and XH A1

As of now this cam is on my "git list" unless Panasonic brings the noise (not video noise I hope) with this ACV Camera. Sony's trying to bring it with their 3 CMOS chip camera, who knows what will happen by the time all these new cams come out. Of course if I had the money and storage space I'd buy Red.

-Nate
 
Well, after intially buying a bit into the A1 hype, I'm cooling very, very rapidly.

Why? The persistent and very credible reports of atrocious low-light performance. For the latest, check out the reports pouring out of IBC. NOISE, pure noise even at -6db. It totally falls apart on interiors. Looks like a great camera... for bright sunlight. Performance that is so dramatically poor in anything but bright light, disqualifies the camera. Folks - you can't shoot interiors with this camera! Not unless you flood it with light a la a Universal production on steroids.

Back to the drawing board, Canon!

So unless Canon can fix it before release (*totally* unlikely considering it's supposed to be out in retail in a month!), I'm scratching it off my X-mas list.

Too bad. The DVX100b is getting long in the tooth. Hopefully Panny's got something up their sleeve. Canon can go back to sleep.
 
OldCorpse said:
Folks - you can't shoot interiors with this camera! Not unless you flood it with light a la a Universal production on steroids.
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One thinks you may be overstating the matter a bit, especially based on rumors.
 
[SIZE=+0]Why would the Canon A1 have worse low light capabilities and noise if it uses the exact image chip (Digic Dv II image processor) as the canon Xl H1? From what iv'e seen the Canon xl h1 has superior lowlight performance and low noise levels compared to most hdv-hd camcorders. I believe people are taking to much from a few rumors.[/SIZE]

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/articles/xhpressrelease.php
 
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"maybe Canon is protecting the XL-H1 owners?"

Yea, but then that would probably really hurt sales for the canon a1. It wouldn't be the best marketing move since i imagine they want to sell as many Canon a1's as possible.
 
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Okay... I'd all but written my cheque for the A1, and now I'm also worried about the 'noise' rumours.

How many sources do we have for this? Is it just Mikko's post, or are there others?
 
Grr :) after practically a year and half waiting for the 'perfect' HDV camera, I'd be pretty gutted if the A1 doesn't deliver... Z1 was interlaced video crap, HD100 was frustratingly close but problematic (crap glass, split screen), HVX was low-res and tied to crappy P2 cards (impractical for me), XL-H1 was a dream but just too expensive ........ So come on A1, please be my/our poor man's H1 ;)

Even the new Sony V1E, with supposedly native progressive chips, is already ringing alarm bells with it's piddly 1/4in chips ...

Why do they make this so difficult?
 
how big are the chips in the Z1?

I like the looks of the Sony V1e. What do you think 24p with 1/4 chips will look like?
 
Unless canon goes out of there way to downgrade the Canon 1a it should have the exact image because it uses the same image card and similar glass. It would't make sense for this camcorder to have poor lowlight and noise unless they tweaked around the image card (same one from canon xlh1) to purposely get worse results. I believe when it is all said and done the Canon 1a will be the Xl H1's little brother (same image, similar glass but with a fixed lense and fewer outputs), but we will have to wait and see though. Personally, i am going to wait until mid-late November to make a decision on whether to by the Canon 1a (after reviews) or to buy the Hvx200. If Canon 1a delivers what it is suppose to (image, features comparable to xl-h1) then it will more then likely be my next camcorder and first hd camcorder.
 
I hope you're right, db20... I don't see why it should be worse, I really don't.

Was it definitely stated (by Canon themselves) that the A1/G1 used the same CCD block as the H1? I'm trying to find the source now...

Z1/FX1 both used the usual 3x1/3"CCD setup ... Same as the VX1000/PD150/VX2000/XL1/XL1s/PD170/VX2100/DVX/XL2. The XM1/2 used 3x1/4" CCDs, and were notably inferior to the XL1/2 in low light ... (although remarkably close in good light).

Sony obviously have some recent cams which use CMOS sensors (A1/HC1/3), but they are all crap in low-light. These use Single 1/3" CMOS sensors... I can only think that the FX7/V1s are using 3xCMOS sensors as Sony's chips can't pull a decent low-light image from a single CMOS. 3x1/3" CMOS would sound v interesting indeed, but 3x1/4"...? grr... time will tell, but one word comes to mind- compromises, compromises, compromises....
 
Epicedium:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/articles/xhpressrelease.php

Also, here are some more sites that go in-depth about the canon 1a posted on dvinfo by Chris hurd

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72315.

"Both XH series camcorders share a lot of Canon technology in common with the older, larger XL H1. All three camcorders (XL H1, XH G1 and XH A1) utilize the same 1/3rd-inch 16:9 CCD block, as well as the same DIGIC DV II digital signal processor and 30F and 24F Frame modes in addition to standard 60i recording. "

"A new noise reduction system, combined with a new gamma system, helps to reduce noise in monotone and shadow areas."
 
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Okay, was just double-checking and making sure I'm not smoking crack-- this (as you all know full well, I'm sure) IS official:-
The XL H1, XH G1 and XH A1 share the same DSP and CCD block (Digic DV II digital signal processor, and three 1/3rd-inch 1.67mp CCDs in native 16:9 shape with 1440 x 1080 effective pixels).
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I'd be shocked if low-light ended up being crap.
 
[SIZE=+0]Basically, if you were satisfied with Canon xl-h1 lowlight performance and noise (from what i saw i was impressed) then you should be more then happy with the canon a1 performance in those areas based on shared technology. [/SIZE]
 
It just goes to show that you need to see one for yourself or wait for footage (hopefully raw .m2t's) to be posted. Just wait 'til Kaku gets one--his H1 clips came out nearly a year ago and were quite indicative of the real performance of the camera.

I'll be checking it out and posting footage as soon as my local dealer gets one.

All this said, I can't imagine that Canon would kill the golden goose with sub-H1 low-light performance. We'll just have to sit tight and wait another month or so.
 
Elton said:
It just goes to show that you need to see one for yourself or wait for footage (hopefully raw .m2t's) to be posted. Just wait 'til Kaku gets one--his H1 clips came out nearly a year ago and were quite indicative of the real performance of the camera.

I'll be checking it out and posting footage as soon as my local dealer gets one.

All this said, I can't imagine that Canon would kill the golden goose with sub-H1 low-light performance. We'll just have to sit tight and wait another month or so.
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yea but then they would be hard pressed to sell another XLH1. if optically it was the same. Interchangeable lenses just isnt that big of a selling factor. to justify an additional 3K$ . IT may have more hinderences than we think.
 
The XL-H1 obviously has its limited audience where interchangeable (and actually affordable) lenses has a strong appeal. This is the primary dividing line between the H1 and its lower cost siblings.

I don't think Canon's worried about cannibalizing H1 sales. The H1 will have its niche but they will make a killing with the A1 if it delivers the same basic image quality as the H1.
 
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