Is the XH A1 a viable progression for this purpose?

T

TheWakePlace.com

Well-known member
Hey Everyone

I have a question for you all that i have spent a couple of months looking for the answer to.

I have been filming with a Sony HDR HC3 and produced several films, some that have won awards, and created ww.thewakeplace.com. All the videos on this site we made with a HC3 and a load of color correction and post work. There are lots of videos on here too that were all HD and just converted to 480x270 for web use.

Its now time to move on from the HC3 and get something that has more manual controls and that are compatible with accessories like Matte Boxes and maybe 35mm adapters.

Is the XH A1 a good progression? As everyone does, they read many reviews on what camera to buy, but i don't think you ever get a real users view (as i think that people who review cameras, always have another camera in their minds when reviewing another one).

I need Manual focus, High Definition, matte box compatibility and obviously the best video quality i can get. Would the FX7 satisfy all these? Is there much difference in the video quality between the FX7 and XH A1?


Any insight will be much appreciated. . . . .

JP
 
TheWakePlace.com said:
I need Manual focus, High Definition, matte box compatibility and obviously the best video quality i can get. Would the FX7 satisfy all these? Is there much difference in the video quality between the FX7 and XH A1?
Click to expand...

The A1 has

-larger 1/3'' chip which means better low light response and shallower DOF
-XLR inputs with phantom power for professional microphones
-24F/30F progressive recording
-CCD chip technology which isn't affected by CMOS rolling shutter issue on an FX7
 
I think the A1 is a good choice. It is a great value.

I am primarily an editor, so I wanted a good camera to learn on. I am happy with the A1. I can definitely see wanting to upgrade in the future, but as a next step up for you it is a great choice.


If you are thinking of getting one with an adapter, you can look at this footage I shot with my A1 and a Letus.

I looked at the Sonys in this class, the V1U and the FX, but I ultimately picked the Canon for the image, the 24f performance and the overall value.

I always link to this video as an example of the raw image of the A1 (in the right hands)

Things I like about the camera:

Great picture quality
I like the Canon buttons and menus (everyone has different taste)
24f is nice as compared to Sony low end models.
Iris control on the lens barrel
Tape option for full rez backup (sometimes I need a hard copy)
Focus and Zoom preset (great for 35mm adapter use to reset your zoom and focus)

Things I miss:

I wish it had a tapeless option (I bought a Firestore)
LCD could be better.
I wish I could use magnify mode when rolling to check focus.
There are a few audio limitations that you can read about in reviews.
I would like to have undercrank and overcrank but I got Twixtor which works really well.

Good luck.

M
 
Thanks for replying back to me so fast.

I have pretty much decided before the posts were made on the XH, but with so much technology all claiming the top spot, its tricky to get an accurate picture anymore on what is good in the long run.

Does anyone know of a 35mm adapter tutorial. I keep hearing about flip units, but don't fully understand the process of what you need.

Thanks again

JP
 
If you read through the stickies in the 35mm adapter forum, you will understand the basics of the adapters. The new flip options just mean you can acquire an image right-side up.

If you are thinking of going this route, make sure to budget for a external HD monitor, support rods, and maybe a follow focus. It gets pricey. I just went through that process.

You are looking at potentially adding thousands of dollars to your A1 purchase when you go with an adapter. It may be worth it for you (it was for me) but you should know what you are getting into.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the cost - i had seen that some of the set-ups can get pricy! Not as much as a 35mm camera for real granted.

Must add thought, i have thought quite a bit on going straight to 16mm film. There are obvious added costs to this process too, but super 16 can be more satisfying that HD in some ways i think - especially for what im filming.
But im too much of a fan of watching footage back that night to see if i got the shot or not :)

Many thanks for all the advice. . . . .
 
I took a look at some of your wake board videos. You've got some gorgeous shots in there! I really liked the Florida Keys trip. For that kind of shoot does your camera just stay in the water housing the whole time?

Just a comment about 35mm adapters. Looking at the work you have at thewakeplace, I don't think a 35mm adapter is going to work for you. They have very shallow DOF, which makes focusing in a moving camera scenario very challenging. I think that at the very least you would need a dedicated focus puller, and even then you may be unhappy with the results.
 
Thanks for the compliment, i was pleased with lots of the shots that i got from the HC3, and yes i did leave it in the Housing all the time during all that footage in the Keys.

The reason for me moving camera is that i want to have more control over the cameras settings and when filming some outside shots a few months back, the noise around different colors was so bad.
I also want to shoot with a Matte Box and a few other accessories that the HC3 just doesn't have.

I was seriously looking at the FX7 - as its pretty much the same as mine in terms of end results, and i'd get my manual focus in there too. Sound isn't an issue, and if it does become one i'll use a complete external system.
Not meaning to turn this into a FX7 vs XH A1 (wow i've seen lots of them) but for the extra few hunderd $$$$ the A1 is packed with so much more than the FX7. Im really keen on the 24f mode on the A1 too.
 
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