Canon A1 for Disneyworld??

Johnny Mac

Johnny Mac

Member
Hi everyone,

been reading along for abit now trying to decide if I should grab an A1 before our family Disneyworld trip this summer.

I have these initial concerns...

1) Shooting indoors and capturing Disneys "rendered" graphics at their different attractions. I see the A1 "presets" thread, and also believe before the trip I can sneak into a theater and play with the camera settings for the best results.

2) Anyone know if they have camera restrictions about say size? A friends XL1(?) was denied entry into an IRL race last year while I breezed right in with a handycam.

3) Looking at a waterjacket (petrol(sp?)) for the water rides, again, any known size limitations at Disneyworld? Are the watershields sufficient to resist the splashings inherit with a ride like that?

Thanks in advance for your help. Our last disney trip in 1999 and my 10yr old 8mm Canon failed, I think the wife pointed it to the sun or something, we encountered a dark band in the middle of the picture. I have limited footage from that trip and although I currently have a cheap handycam, I wouldn't mind picking up something better before I go. The oldest is 14 and the youngest 9, so the time seems right.

Hats off to the site and it's users, nice place with alot of information.

Have a great day and thanks again.

JM
 
Johnny Mac said:
Hi everyone,

been reading along for abit now trying to decide if I should grab an A1 before our family Disneyworld trip this summer.

I have these initial concerns...

1) Shooting indoors and capturing Disneys "rendered" graphics at their different attractions. I see the A1 "presets" thread, and also believe before the trip I can sneak into a theater and play with the camera settings for the best results.

2) Anyone know if they have camera restrictions about say size? A friends XL1(?) was denied entry into an IRL race last year while I breezed right in with a handycam.

3) Looking at a waterjacket (petrol(sp?)) for the water rides, again, any known size limitations at Disneyworld? Are the watershields sufficient to resist the splashings inherit with a ride like that?

Thanks in advance for your help. Our last disney trip in 1999 and my 10yr old 8mm Canon failed, I think the wife pointed it to the sun or something, we encountered a dark band in the middle of the picture. I have limited footage from that trip and although I currently have a cheap handycam, I wouldn't mind picking up something better before I go. The oldest is 14 and the youngest 9, so the time seems right.

Hats off to the site and it's users, nice place with alot of information.

Have a great day and thanks again.

JM
Click to expand...

Bring an HV20.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=481076&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
I took my HD100 through the DisneyWorld resorts, and got nothing but stares and comments. Forget about taking your camera on any of the water rides, unless it is in a sealed case. Those jackets are meant to protect from stray mists and raindrops, not waves of water. And if you should go to Epcot, be sure to catch the show inside the Merikesh Restaurant in Morrocco. The Belly dancer likes big cameras ;)
 
An HV20 would be easier to carry than the A1, certainly. But probably won't work quite as well in low light, and only has a 10x lens (the A1 has a 20x), and the OIS likely isn't as good (the A1's OIS is extremely impressive). If considering the HV20, consider instead an HV10, simply because of the size, and you won't need 24f and some other fancies of it for such a trip (though they'd be nice). Though there will be sound issues with the HV10. Dunno about sound on the HV20. A1 should be fine.

I should point out that while I've used an A1, I have never used an HV10 or HV20.

If you take an A1, when entering the park, take the lens shade off, and have nothing attached to the camera, it makes it look smaller.
 
HV20 has a mic input, so you can use whatever mic you want. Of course, adding a mic raises the camera's profile a bit.
 
Capt Quirk said:
I took my HD100 through the DisneyWorld resorts, and got nothing but stares and comments. Forget about taking your camera on any of the water rides, unless it is in a sealed case. Those jackets are meant to protect from stray mists and raindrops, not waves of water. And if you should go to Epcot, be sure to catch the show inside the Merikesh Restaurant in Morrocco. The Belly dancer likes big cameras ;)
Click to expand...

cool, thanks for the heads up on the waterrides (and the inpark tips)!! I figured by watching those exiting the water rides I'll have a fair gauge if I want to take an A1 on it.

and thank you for the cheaper camera suggestions too, but I already have a handycam (two actually) and will pass it down to the kids if I purchase an A1. Although I may entertain an equivelant model to the A1.
 
If you absolutely have to get on one of those rides with a camera, go to your local Drug store, and buy one of those $45 throw away video cams. It won't get the same picture, but you also won't be out of several grand when it gets soaked.
 
Hello Johnny,
Being that this is a family trip. I would take a smaller camera or less expensive camera to capture fun with the family. and only take my XHA1 out for paid projects or filmmaking. Don't get me wrong I am not saying the family is not worth the real good footage you can get from the A1 I would be very protective of an expensive camera like the A1.

Have fun on your trip.
 
Hey Cap.... I like the disposal camera idea... and the earlier attention factor was noted too...

Jap... you bring out an excellent point,, "the worrying"... will have to consider that

thanks to you both...
 
Use the big gun for the shows, the background scenery, then get a big locker for it, and use the secondary camera for the action shots? But then, you might as well bring a boom mic for dialogue, and some mics for BG ambient sounds. And it gets pretty bright down here, so maybe bring frames and cuciloris...
 
so checking out the HV20... could it be used as a playback deck for the A1?? I know the HV10 can, but I like the egronomics of the HV20 better..
 
Hey Cap,

I checked out the disposable video cameras at CVS, $29.99 for approx 20 mins of recording time. Not sure anyone really new the correct processing to DVD fee, but the last answer was $19.99. However, I also heard $59.00 as well as "it's included" (whcih was disproven on the pkg as "processing not included").

again, does anyone know if the HV20 will work as a playback deck for the A1??

thanks in advance

JM
 
Also the bomb search squad and security has gone up, if you bring alot of camera equipment or a high-profile cam, I would suspect you'd have trouble at least once.
 
I was there last July on the week of the 4th, and aside from the standard bag check at the entrance, I had no problems. As one guard was going through my camera bag, he pointed to my lens in a leather bag, and asked what it was. I told him a $3,000 lens, please be careful.
 
Johnny Mac said:
Hey Cap,

I checked out the disposable video cameras at CVS, $29.99 for approx 20 mins of recording time. Not sure anyone really new the correct processing to DVD fee, but the last answer was $19.99. However, I also heard $59.00 as well as "it's included" (whcih was disproven on the pkg as "processing not included").

again, does anyone know if the HV20 will work as a playback deck for the A1??

thanks in advance

JM
Click to expand...

Yes, it plays back both 24F and 30F from the A1/G1/H1, and for that very reason, many A1 owners are picking them for "deck" purposes, along with having a 24P b-cam. It would be a good purchase whether or not you get the A1 - and will be nothing but a compliment to it, if you do, saving the heads for shooting only. There are no other cameras or decks on the market that will play back 24F or 30F from the camera, save for the HV10, which does not shoot 24P - and doesn't appear to save that much in cash right now. For the purposes you're describing, I can't think of a real good reason to haul around the A1, and the aux gear that would entail - especially on a family vacation. If Disney was wanting an ad - that would be reason enough for me. Otherwise, I'd just bring this little cam - and approach it like it was a super 8 film camera, get a handle for the bottom for instance - or Mighty Wondercam's $50 stablizer, something to give a little more weight (which adds a cold shoe for a shotgun), but still keep it very portable. I'm just picturing my wife saying "you're bringing WHAT?" if I tried to bring all my gear on a vacation - lucky you if you can, but I'd get a quick smack across the head.
 
Last edited:
sweet... glad to hear the HV20 plays the A1 tapes for the exact reasons listed, saving the heads & b-camera purposes.....

I've had a little success in video production.. mostly for my childrens school... a friend has been letting me use his XL1 lately and it's motivating me to upgrade..... I will usually shoot an event with a couple of cameras, edit it, make a color jacket and sell the DVDs over the internet through my family site...

and I shoot alot just for fun too... below is a 3 camera shoot at christmas... this summer I expect to obtain the copyright to another song for a music video that I hope to release in HD...

thanks alot for taking the time to answer my questions... it's greatly appreciated..

JM

12mb, 2:45 minutes (I am Santa Claus)
http://my67.net/video/jm/runrunrudolph.wmv
 
Johnny Mac said:
sweet... glad to hear the HV20 plays the A1 tapes for the exact reasons listed, saving the heads & b-camera purposes.....

I've had a little success in video production.. mostly for my childrens school... a friend has been letting me use his XL1 lately and it's motivating me to upgrade..... I will usually shoot an event with a couple of cameras, edit it, make a color jacket and sell the DVDs over the internet through my family site...

and I shoot alot just for fun too... below is a 3 camera shoot at christmas... this summer I expect to obtain the copyright to another song for a music video that I hope to release in HD...

thanks alot for taking the time to answer my questions... it's greatly appreciated..

JM

12mb, 2:45 minutes (I am Santa Claus)
http://my67.net/video/jm/runrunrudolph.wmv
Click to expand...

I don't know where you're located or your proximity to a rental house, but for your purposes you might want to consider renting an A1/G1/H1 for the more important shoots for a little while, have the HV20 for shooting other things and being able to work with the A1/G1/H1 footage you shoot, between rental periods, in your NLE. It's a viable way to ease yourself into this, especially for your own projects like this video you're talking about, and if you find yourself getting booked for jobs more and more, and you're still renting gear, and you're wanting that rental fee in your pocket (when it's your gear, you'll still want to charge a "rental fee") - pretty much goes towards maintaining your purchase, that's the time to grab an A1/G1/H1 what have you - that is, unless money is no object, in which case that's your business and not mine. It really comes down to what your overall budget is, and if that is taking into account all the other things that you will need - as the camera is just the least of it.

As for the Disneyland thing - if it's a family thing, I'd almost assuredly take an HV20 over an A1, that's just me. Not that the family can't make for an interesting topic (my second feature documentary is going to be about my cute three 1/2 year old daughter, who just happens to have Asperger's), it's just that usually unless I'm being paid or it is a film I personally am making, I become just like any other video camera toting family loving papa - no light kit, support systems, dollies, nice tripods even, etc. - it just seems like overkill for the family - and it still is kind of overkill, since I always wear phones and can't not use a shotgun & a windjammer.

In another light, I would also consider the form factor of the HV20 - which while you will not be able to take it on a professional shoot in general, despite of what it potentially can deliver, may be capable of giving you shots in your videos/films that you may not be able to aquire with something with a larger footprint - even something as "small" (in my mind) as the A1. It will be so curious to see the types of documentaries that come out in the next few years, where the subjects shot by these cameras are certainly not going to expect the quality of the footage from that little camera, and therefore will likely be more in their element - some never before seen moments of life are certainly about to come our way, and with the resolution of the camera - perhaps to a theater near you, certainly depending on the filmmaker behind it.
 
Last edited:
What a great perspective.... and I'll be the first to admidt the A1 will be beyond my ability, at least to start with....

Money, attention, not really a worry for me.... if I take the A1 it will be stock with maybe just a few filters and an extra battery in my pocket... no shotgun mic, light, additional lens or tripod (maybe a monopod).

The stills I'm seeing from both cameras are pretty impressive... both have strong attributes too... I'll just have to give this some thought.. both cameras might be in my future and it may really only get down to which one first...

The mouse is calling...
 
Here's something else to chew on- the place is going to be packed, and lines are going to be long. You'll be standing there with 8 pounds of camera for upwards to an hour, with rude tourists banging into you and your investment. You don't dare set it down, because those old ladies in the Larks are blind, and have been running over your feet all day, just waiting for you to put your precioussses on the ground for them, and that pack of teens look suspicious, like they are just waiting for you to turn your back on your gear...
 
8lbs? The book says 4.5, but I guess a battery and tape will add a few...

yea, I'm aware it will be a ball and chain too.. and shady teenagers are the worst aren't they.. but spilled drinks are my biggest concern....

heres is a diddy I shot last year at the IRL race... with a $300 handycam no less...

73.5mb, warning girls flash you!!

http://my67.net/video/06IRLTOPLESS.wmv
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top