XH-A1/XL-H1 Multicam Test Shoot

Kholi,

I think DVCProHD codec is better than HDV.

But the Canon camera section signal is so much better than it makes up for the codec difference, and much more.

IMHO, yes, i agree 100% with you, this Canon's image is stellar.
 
Antoine - Yeah, DVCProdHD is better than HDV... but he's referring to the SDI out. You aren't forced to remain in HDV land with SDI-out. You can capture to lots of different codecs of choice.

Jay - ARe you stalking me? =P No really though. Firestore is an awesome go for the A1. I wouldn't have it ANY other way.
 
Barlow -

If you don't stop posting those beautiful images, I will buy second XH-A1. There's still time to put one more box under Christmas Tree :happy:
 
Kholi,

yeah, but to take advantage of other codecs, then i have to buy ther G1, a lot more money...

Even with HDV, i was able to cc to my taste without breaking the image at all.

Does the A1 have XLR inputs and timecode ( to HDV tape ) ?

BTW, i examined very closely the image, the noise is very subtle and the patern is "round" and constant. Very filmlike. Very subtle gradations. This is beautifull.
 
Antoine_Fabi said:
Kholi,

yeah, but to take advantage of other codecs, then i have to buy ther G1, a lot more money...

Even with HDV, i was able to cc to my taste without breaking the image at all.

Does the A1 have XLR inputs and timecode ( to HDV tape ) ?

BTW, i examined very closely the image, the noise is very subtle and the patern is "round" and constant. Very filmlike. Very subtle gradations. This is beautifull.
Click to expand...

I know. His thing was capturing via SDI to DVCProHD. It had nothing to do with the A1 at all.

There is definitely "noise" in the A1's image... but it's consistant. I've seen people do this same thing with the HVX but can't find the settings/workflow to achieve such a clean freaking image.
 
A1 does have XLR inputs, but there are a lot of restrictions on how they can be used as compared to what you're used to (DVX/HVX). They are both line or both mic, you can't have one internal and one external, you can't set both channels to the same input and then adjust the volume individually for both channels, etc.

Yes HDV has timecode.
 
Barry,

...but can i record audio from one input to both channels at the same volume ?

Kholi,

ooops, i thought it was recorded in HDV...where can i see images that have been recorded in HDV format ?
 
What you're seeing from Elton's tests are from the A1. Someone else was asking a question about the SDI out.
 
Barry_Green said:
A1 does have XLR inputs, but there are a lot of restrictions on how they can be used as compared to what you're used to (DVX/HVX). They are both line or both mic, you can't have one internal and one external, you can't set both channels to the same input and then adjust the volume individually for both channels, etc.

Yes HDV has timecode.
Click to expand...
Barry, why would canon limit the camera to either internal or external, and not provide a setting to route the onboard mic to one channel and external to another? Whats the problem with such a simple setup?
 
It's limited in a lot of ways. But I'd say that the price point probably dictated it. I mean, factor in that nobody else other than the DVX gives you any XLRs at this price point, and the Canon is giving you XLRs and high-def... so you can't expect everything.

The Canon is amazing at its price point, but as a camera it has a lot of limitations. But, then again, there's its price point... the prior Canon HDV camera costs $5,000 more than this one.
 
Kholi said:
What about with the addition of the wide-angle to get this kinda DOF you're speaking of when adding a 35mm adapter? The Wide-angle should be adequate, in some circumstances, for these same kinda DOF shots but at a distance? So that the frame's not as "compressed" Or is that incorrect?
Click to expand...

Any takers?
 
Canon already did the hard work by providing the xlr's and mic/line capability. Providing a simple toggle/option to route the built in audio signal to one channel and external to another seems like it would be a cheap/easy* and obvious use of the xlr's. Makes me think canon held back to differentiate their products within their own line more so than cutting costs.
 
Elton said:
It works with fairly tight framing, (CU's in this case) but a more open shot with shallow DOF would be tougher to pull off. (In tight spaces) In general, I think the A1's native DOF is more than adequate for narrative work. It's just that extra nice bokeh of 35mm with less optically compressed shots that's tough to pull off with 1/3" cameras.

All in all, it's certainly not necessary to use a 35mm adapter to get decent subject isolation.

One thing's for sure though, you will never get quite as sharp an image with a 35 adapter.
Click to expand...

That's what my question was referring to. He said it works with rather tight framing and how you could get less compress shots (scrunched frames I'm assuming) when you use a 35mm adapter.

I noticed that with my wide-angle (.6x) I could get closer but still throw the background out and have a bit more in frame horizontally at the same time. That's what I was asking about.
 
You can overcome the limitations partly, you can buy a portable audiomixer that gives you much more control and usability. If you use the Sound Devices SD 302 mixer you end up with superior preamps , very good sound control, and a better overall value than spending the 1200 $ more to the camera itself.

For the money you get a mean A1 camera you can make better, ad a firestore for tapeless work, ad a mixer and even then you are under the 5500$.
 
Kholi said:
I noticed that with my wide-angle (.6x) I could get closer but still throw the background out and have a bit more in frame horizontally at the same time. That's what I was asking about.
Click to expand...

I guess you can eke out a small measure of added "openness" in the frame this way, but my point was simply that there's only so far you can go with a small sensor camera.

That said, if you have the space to signifigantly move the camera back from the subject and keep the iris as open as possible, the 20x zoom can give you some nice shallow DOF.
 
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