Should I buy an A1 for my indie movie?

J

Jim Duggins

Active member
I want to shoot low-budget movies that look like film, so do I need 24p with progressive scan and native 16:9? What about a 35mm adaptor?

I was recommended the Canon XHA1 over the Panasonic DVX100b in another thread here and at DVinfo.net, because it is HD for only an extra $600 and thus "future-proofed" for roughly 4 years. I've got a tight $6k budget for the camera and all accessories.

The A1 looks great in the hi-res test films I saw on zudeo.com. My primary concerns with the A1 are the reportedly weak LCD and the ergonomics (heavy and badly weighted in center).

Any help would be appreciated!
 
do I think you need 24p, a 16x9 sensor and a 35mm adapter? ummmmmmmmm..... sure! buy it!, wait, no. rent it.
shrug.gif
 
A1: $3500
35mm adapter & decent set of lense: At least $1000-1500
Marshall Monitor: $1300
You just broke the bank. And that's not counting follow focus, audio gear, lighting, actors, etc.

If you want to make a film, skip the adapter & get accessories. 35mm adapters aren't high on the "must have" lists when it comes to making a film. Better to rent them (most places I've seen rent M2 for $100-125 a day). If you just want to own equipments to learn how to make films, then go ahead and buy.
 
If I were you,,,,,get the camera,,,a good mic. Try it out. Make something before you break the bank. Find a sound guy with some stuff, maybe someone with some lights. Save some of your money. A Canon A1 or a DVX100 in your hands will be a good start.
 
good stories ALWAYS trump good hardware.

Do not buy a new SD camera -- they are now available plentifully, and cheap, used. Choose amongst cameras from the VX2000 on up.

Yes the XHA1's ergonomics are awful, and its weight distribution is bad -- and yes it can produce excellent images. And yes its probably the best overall value in HD hardware.

If you're short of cash, write or get a great script and meet people with great gear and get them as ethusiastic as you are about the the story you want to tell.

Meet and inspire people with money who maybe want to be a part of your adventure.

When starting out, buy only as much hardware as you need to own to learn -- and then later profit from.
 
I agree. The A1 is an amazing camera. And let me tell you something, it barely needs a 35mm adapter it has the best DOF I have seen from any HDV camera out there, with a beautiful bokeh. The latitude is also amazing and the infinity of image controls are just awesome...you can get just about any look you want...even the dvx100 look if you like it! (who does not)
 
Jim Duggins said:
I've got an imac 2ghz duo core, 1 gig ram, 160 gig HD with a 17" monitor. I'm new to editing and want to build an edit suite...

I plan to get Final Cut Pro. What else do I need? Do I need a second monitor for dual screen? Special keyboard? External hard drive? Converters?

I will have about $1,000 left in my budget after purchasing final cut. This is my edit budget, not my $6,000 camera equipment budget.
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks for the advice! I'm going with the A1. After the external HD (I'm getting a mini-stack 2), what else do I need for my edit set-up? Magic Bullet--is that cool or unnecessary?

How would I hook up a standard television monitor to my iMac so I can view my project?
 
I'm going with the A1. I've worked with other people who had all the gear before and all they do is overcharge (if being paid) or slack (if not). I need to get self-sufficient or I'll always be held hostage by people whose priorities are different than my own. That said (and knowing I'm undertaking a monumental task!), I'm only trying to buy the bare minimum amount of stuff I need. I'll get all the important stuff from B&H, except for a few cheap misc. minor thingies off of eBay).

Please look over my list and tell me if it's good or not, anything I may be missing... I live in a state with very little sunshine/hot weather so do I really need a circular polarizer except during the height of summer?


Canon A1 = $3500

Bogen 351MVB2 Tripod (503 fluid head) = $500

Audio-Technica AT897 Shotgun Mic (+ Rode SM-3 shockmount, K-Tek KE89CC boompole, Rycote 14cm Medium Hole Softie, XLR cables) = $600

Tiffen UV filter = $31

Hoodman H-300 Camcorder Hood with H-3C Magnifier = $30

Kata CC-193 Shoulder Case = $120
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Smith-Victor K33B Attache Tungsten Light Kit - consists of: 3 700-SG Quartz Lights 600W, 3 Lamps, 3 4-Leaf Barndoors, 3 Stands and 650 Attache Case - 1800 Total Watts = $440[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SpiderBrace 2 Shoulder Mount = $70[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Misc. Vivid and Diffusion Filters ($44), 3x Filter Holders ($120), Lens Cleaner Pen ($10), Head Cleaner ($12) = approx. $200[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]((end B&H cart))[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sony HD ($8.60 per) and SD Excellence ($4.90 per) blank tapes[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Elite Video A1 Training DVD = $35[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rush Hamden's Digital Filmmaking Training Course DVDs = $357[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Misc. Books: Rebel's Guide to Making Killer Action Movies, 5 C's of Cinematography, etc. = approx. $100 @ Amazon[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I've gone about a grand over my original $6k estimate, but within reason. My B&H shopping cart is $5,500 after S&H.[/FONT]
 
Why not buy just the camera at B&H and the rest elsewhere? (ie.Newegg,Ebay,etc.)

Do you really need all those filters right now? One simple UV filter is the only necessity I can think off.

And do you really need the [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rush Hamden's Digital Filmmaking Training Course DVDs = $357 ?

B&H might be the most trusted site thanks to word of mouth but its also the most expensive.
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[/FONT]
 
Go to the book store and get a digital filmaking book. $20. Get the camera and a good mic. Maybe the tripod. Forget all the lights , DVDs and filters, (UV for sure). You will have your hands full just learning the camera.

Don't try to buy it all at once.
 
your motivation is right but if you dont have a good story or if you dont know how to shot a good story then in a year youll be selling all that stuff for half price
 
I've shot before over the past decade, just not often--I've got raw talent but not all the technical knowledge--relying on others was my weakness that kept me from doing more stuff and doing it the way I wanted.

I'm not trying to win awards or festivals or get picked up by the majors (at least at first!), just do some cheap, fun b-movies... Trial by fire. Sink or swim. Not a "get rich quick" scheme or anything, I have other income, so this investment isn't going to break me (although believe me, it does hurt!). Just want to prove something to myself--that I can do this. If I flop, I flop...

I don't believe in renting if I intend to get substantial multiple uses spread out over time from the equipment--that cuts into my budget and limits when and where I can shoot. I intend to shoot 3-4 weeks on each film with a lot of interiors, so under $650 to own decent lights and filters doesn't seem out of line. Where I live, it's not really convenient to rent, anyway. Only one place around and they charge a fortune and don't have all the stuff. Gotta drive 70 miles to find any competing rental places.

I agree every movie stands or falls on the strength of the script first and foremost, then on the execution of it. B-movies are a little more forgiving if you screw up, so long as you are "close enough."

I appreciate all the concern, guys. However, my mind is made up, so please let me know if I'm buying the right stuff or not to get the job done. I want to order it this week.
 
With the power of post+cc any other filter other than a UV and possibly ND are useless imo. Don't get all those books, get 1-2 good ones and maybe grab the hollywood camera work dvds, they're reviewed on this site.
 
Hazard said:
Do you really need all those filters right now? One simple UV filter is the only necessity I can think off.
Click to expand...

I meant gels. They are listed as "filters" on B&H but are gels. Confusing! Yes, I need them--the vivid colors for sure to create comic book style dramatic lighting. I'm only getting one lens filter--a Tiffen UV.

Hazard said:
And do you really need the [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rush Hamden's Digital Filmmaking Training Course DVDs = $357 ?[/FONT]
Click to expand...
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

Um, maybe... I'm lacking in a lot of technical knowledge but am a fast learner and have (what I hope is) natural talent and a strong motivation to gain and use this knowledge ASAP.

Hazard said:
Why not buy just the camera at B&H and the rest elsewhere? (ie.Newegg,Ebay,etc.)

B&H might be the most trusted site thanks to word of mouth but its also the most expensive.
Click to expand...
[/FONT]

I have heard horror stories about other sites selling gray market cameras, reconditioned cameras as new, or pulling all kinds of cheap rip-offs, so I'm leery of not using B&H, which I've used before with no trouble and has great word-of-mouth... I haven't found B&H to be the most expensive, though I have found cheaper places. I am afraid to buy anything major on eBay whether used or new--it's a crapshoot.

I found the A1 for $3,200 new at Digital Foto and would love to save $300 over B&H. Is that place safe to order from? They had 6,000 mostly 4 out of 5 star reviews on epinions or pricegrabber or wherever I found them and only 20 negatives...
 
If you get just the A1 first and play around with it, you can still work with the footage without Final Cut Pro, just some free utilities. Import footage with HDVXDV, m2t files play with VLC if you change the suffix to .mpg, you can even do simple editing in your Quicktime Pro Player. Toast Titanium 8 recognizes the A1 in SD mode and automatically converts A1 HDV footage to DVD. As you get to know the camera better, you'll discover what else you need and will have more time to consider your options and find good deals. And if you read Stu Maschwitz's Rebels Guide, he shows how to do more with less or next to nothing! He also recommends not doing any mastering in NLE's like Final Cut Pro!
 
Jim Duggins said:
I found the A1 for $3,200 new at Digital Foto and would love to save $300 over B&H. Is that place safe to order from? They had 6,000 mostly 4 out of 5 star reviews on epinions or pricegrabber or wherever I found them and only 20 negatives...
Click to expand...

There was a thread here back when the A1 was first released about Digital Foto. They're not an authorized Canon dealer so you won't get the warranty.
 
jade8472 said:
There was a thread here back when the A1 was first released about Digital Foto. They're not an authorized Canon dealer so you won't get the warranty.
Click to expand...

Damn. Thanks for the heads-up! :(

I tried checking around a bunch of "authorized" dealers like Zotz, ZGC, Abel, etc., and B&H was the only one that said it was in stock and how much it was, except for Tapeworks, who wanted $4k for it!
 
jade8472 said:
There was a thread here back when the A1 was first released about Digital Foto. They're not an authorized Canon dealer so you won't get the warranty.
Click to expand...


digitalfotoclub.com is not an authorized XL/XH dealer. However, I think you're wrong about the warranty issue. I bought my XH A1 from digitalfotoclub, registered my camera with Canon, and got my XL/XH members club card with full warranty.

In the case of Canon, it appears the main advantage of using an authorized dealer is that they are more likely to take care of you personally in the first couple of weeks with a direct store replacement if you have problems. If you buy a camera with a problem from an unauthorized dealer, you might have to deal immediately with Canon - which will likely be slower than simply having your dealer send you a replacement.

And for whatever its worth, digitalfotoclub packaged my camera very securely and shipped it out fast. No crappy sales calls or pressure to buy filters or batteries or junk either.
 
Thanks for the clarification. I actually don't know how the warranty issue works out. Due to a time cruntch I ended up buying my A1 from Adorama, which isn't an authorized dealer either. But I registered the warranty card that came with the camera and it went through fine. So I'm in a gray area at the moment about whether I'm actually cover in case of damage; let's just hope that day never come.
 
B & H Photo has some hidden deals that can save you money. Depending on how you do your search on their website, some prices can be cheaper on the same equipment. Who knows why? Also look for package deals. We found a shotgun mike on their site but on a different search, the same mike came up with an XLR cable ($19) and shockmount ($69) at the same price as the mike alone.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top