Canon HX-A1 vs Sony HVR-V1E which is better?

Giovanni Bertani

Giovanni Bertani

Active member
As posted before. I am working on a documentary that will also include some underwater sequences.

So for us is also very important to have a decent low-light performance.

I've come to these two cameras as they are both in our budget:

Canon HX-A1 and Sony HVR-V1E

Anyone has tried both?

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Giovanni
 
A1 is faster (more sensitive), and doesn't suffer from the "wobbles", and less expensive. I don't know what the V1 offers that's better than what the A1 does.
 
It is sourced from progressive chips, true. But those chips are smaller (1/4") and are subject to the "wobble" effect, so even though the XHA1's chips are interlaced I'd still dare say they're going to deliver a better overall image in more circumstances.
 
So the real world performance is going to be better on the XH-A1.

Very interesting...

On question. I know that the XL H1 will be replaced soon. The XH-A1 is based o the same CCD. So can we expect a new model coming soon?

Ciao
 
So the real world performance is going to be better on the XH-A1.
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Depends on your particular usage. I've seen startlingly good footage from the V1. But in low light conditions the A1 will be much better, and in situations with vibration or unintended motion, the A1 will behave the way you'd expect whereas the V1 will exhibit the CMOS rolling-shutter artifacts. I'd trust the A1 more than the V1 in more circumstances.

I know that the XL H1 will be replaced soon
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Who says the XLH1 is going to be replaced soon? Canon typically has a very long life cycle on their products, and the H1 is less than 2 years old. The A1 is not even a year old, is it?

If Canon moves to new models, I'd expect them to be based on AVC-HD instead of HDV; Canon's already started introducing AVC-HD models.
 
Giovanni Bertani said:
So the real world performance is going to be better on the XH-A1.

Very interesting...

On question. I know that the XL H1 will be replaced soon. The XH-A1 is based o the same CCD. So can we expect a new model coming soon?

Ciao
Click to expand...

How do we know the H1 is being replaced soon? I am also about to buy the A1, but if there is a new model on the horizon then I may wait. I know that Canon has had approx 18 month product cycles on still photo gear, but I have no idea at this point what to expect from HDV product cycles.

Any one have any 'real' information, and not just rumour?
 
Canon's prosumer/professional video line has usually/historically had very long product life cycles. It was six years from the XL1 to the XL2, and four years from the GL2 to the XHA1 (and actually the GL2 is still actively on the market, so it hasn't technically been replaced yet).

Canon's smaller consumer side is much more frequent with updates, of course. And like they say in mutual funds, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

The one thing we do know (if we can base anything on past performance) is that when a new product shows up, there will be very little (if any) advance notice. Canon doesn't typically pre-announce products with a lot of run-up; they basically don't announce a product until it's maybe a month away from shipping.
 
Barry_Green said:
Canon's prosumer/professional video line has usually/historically had very long product life cycles. It was six years from the XL1 to the XL2, and four years from the GL2 to the XHA1 (and actually the GL2 is still actively on the market, so it hasn't technically been replaced yet).
Click to expand...

This is actually encouraging. Given that 'resolution' is pretty much fixed by the TV systems, its not like the megapixel race there has been in the still camera market place. So, hopefully any new gear has other worthwhile upgrades which typically can't be done quite as easily as just adding another couple of megapixels to a camer sensor. This does point towards longer product life. :)
 
Barry_Green said:
Depends on your particular usage. I've seen startlingly good footage from the V1. But in low light conditions the A1 will be much better, and in situations with vibration or unintended motion, the A1 will behave the way you'd expect whereas the V1 will exhibit the CMOS rolling-shutter artifacts. I'd trust the A1 more than the V1 in more circumstances.

Great. As I will shooting also underwater and in some caves this is very very important for me.

I only need a good underwater case and I know that Gates will be releasing one specific for the HX-A1

Thank you this is what I was really looking for a comparison!



For the XL H2 release here is what I was reading:

"Xl-H2 release date- very soon!"

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=88996

About the product life cycles... We are leaving in a transition period so maybe the traditional timing could change.

Cheers

Giovanni
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Giovanni Bertani said:
Barry_Green said:
Depends on your particular usage. I've seen startlingly good footage from the V1. But in low light conditions the A1 will be much better, and in situations with vibration or unintended motion, the A1 will behave the way you'd expect whereas the V1 will exhibit the CMOS rolling-shutter artifacts. I'd trust the A1 more than the V1 in more circumstances.

Great. As I will shooting also underwater and in some caves this is very very important for me.

I only need a good underwater case and I know that Gates will be releasing one specific for the HX-A1

Thank you this is what I was really looking for a comparison!



For the XL H2 release here is what I was reading:

"Xl-H2 release date- very soon!"

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=88996

About the product life cycles... We are leaving in a transition period so maybe the traditional timing could change.

Cheers

Giovanni
Click to expand...

That thread began as a rumor which was quickly proven false. Now it's just speculation on what features an XL-H2 would have.
Click to expand...
 
jade8472 said:
Giovanni Bertani said:
That thread began as a rumor which was quickly proven false. Now it's just speculation on what features an XL-H2 would have.
Click to expand...


Great so I feel more relaxed about buying the XH-A1.


I only need the confirmation about the Gates housing release date:

http://www.marinevisions.com/xha1.php

And I suppose that much of the final result will be dependent on the fine tuning the camera with the possible manual settings.

Right?

Thanks

Giovanni
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Giovanni Bertani said:
Great so I feel more relaxed about buying the XH-A1.
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But please understand -- Canon could surprise us all at any time. They could drop an XHA2 on us tomorrow. The point is -- nobody knows what these manufacturers will do. We can say that historically they've had a long product cycle, but that doesn't mean that they won't do something tomorrow that will surprise us all.

All you can do is examine today's offerings, pick the one that best suits your needs today, and go with it and don't worry about what comes out tomorrow or next month. There will always be a new product coming out -- always.
 
Barry_Green said:
If Canon moves to new models, I'd expect them to be based on AVC-HD instead of HDV; Canon's already started introducing AVC-HD models.
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Maybe, but there's been no pro AVC-HD camera yet, although I suppose it's inevitable. No manufacturer yet offers a model supporting the 24-Mbps data rate or 24p (except embedded without pulldown flags in a 60i stream).
 
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