Former XH-A1 user needs preset help

J

jeff9329

Well-known member
I am a Canon XH-A1 user who is learning the Panasonic control system on my HMC150.

I am wondering if someone who is familiar with the XH-A1 knows how to match the HMC150 to the Canon Vivid RGB preset.

Thanks
 
we have a A1 at my work, so i'm gonna have to try and find a matching scene file as well for when i get my 150, so i'm in the same boat as you. the 150 has barely been in public hands for less than a week so it might take a little bit.
 
hey jeff maybe you could answer this question for me. I'm currently using the canon a1 and love it but how does the hmc compare to the canon, in terms of sharpness, low light and res. thanks for your reply.
 
reem12 said:
hey jeff maybe you could answer this question for me. I'm currently using the canon a1 and love it but how does the hmc compare to the canon, in terms of sharpness, low light and res. thanks for your reply.
Click to expand...

I need to use the camera a little more before I can report with any confidence on the sharpness, low light & resolution. I have only shot about a hour of footage so far.

Generally speaking, the footage looks just as crisp and clear as the A1 on a 51" monitor. I also think the scene modes should be able to replicate the A1 presets. It seems that at very low light the +12db gain appears to have quite a bit less noise. I really need to figure this thing out more to give solid answers.

I am also testing the sound capture of the camera. I will have to get back to you on this important aspect too. It certainly trumps the A1 on the sound control features, but I haven't tested the performance yet. I am currently getting low levels from the onboard mics when using AGC. Probably user error, but very frustrating.

What I can tell you is (compared to an A1):

  1. Tapeless is a huge advantage. Once you try it and see the ease of use getting to the NLE, you are sold.
  2. The AVCHD codec really is a big improvement. It's not just marketing hype. There is much less noise and artifacts. The video is very smooth and has very little strobing no matter how you shoot.
  3. The AVCHD codec is much more CPU intensive than HDV. A fast Quad core is mandatory. However, you don't have to sit through capturing footage, so total time spent may be less.
  4. Oh yeah, the newest VLC (9.2) plays the clips but is a little buggy.
  5. The camera is a little lighter than an A1, and better balanced/easier for hand held shooting.
  6. It looks better than the pictures, very professional.
  7. The supplied battery is very physically small and will end up causing you to buy the larger ($165) battery immediately if for nothing more than perception of capacity.
  8. The quality/stiffness/plastic feeling of a few control buttons is not as good as the A1.
  9. I didn't really notice the wide end of the lens (28mm) being that much wider than the A1, and I didn't really notice the 13X being all that much shorter either (I didn't bother trying the digital zoom yet).
  10. The display seems a little darker than the A1 display even on the highest of the three levels available.
  11. The Auto mode can be customized to an extent for your own idea of auto.
Overall, seems like a great camera so far, just much different controls to get used to for an A1 user.
 
So, how are you editing in Vegas Pro 8.0c?

Is it able to do it direct or do you have to transcode or are you using something else?
 
Jeff,

That's exactly the kind of comparison I needed. I'll be selling my Macbook Pro (I have an 8 core Mac Pro for editing) and if I sell my A1, I'll be able to pick up an HMC150. I just need to know that the differences are solidly there. My main reason is that I like the ergonomics of Panasonic better than Canon (for video) and tapeless is becoming a huge advantage if I can have it.

I'll have to ponder some more,

Kegan
 
ESTEBEVERDE said:
So, how are you editing in Vegas Pro 8.0c?

Is it able to do it direct or do you have to transcode or are you using something else?
Click to expand...

Este:

Vegas 8.0c directly imports the files with no modification. It really plays nicely with AVCHD.

8.0c has a lot of possible ways to render. I have used Vegas to render the AVCHD back to 1440X1080i HDV to author HD-DVD test footage discs in Ulead MF6+. I know, this is crazy, but HDV is not 1920, and it still looks good. Im gonna burn some Blu-Ray later in the week just to make sure it works okay.

Until I found the latest version of VLC I was bummed because I had no way to preview footage. Get VLC 9.2.

Kegan:

It's a bummer that all these high end cameras are never available for a hands on look. I was just so excited I took a chance and got one. Waiting would also be prudent so the price can hopefully fall.

I had been waiting for an A1 update for the last year. It just seemed time and I wanted to go tapeless. The A1 it still the best available HDV tape camera at its price point and its best images are so good, nothing will be much better. To me (so far) the HMC150 is pretty much a tapeless A1 with a little better low light. I am going to have to do a actual side by side shoot and compare the footage to really tell which one has better IQ. But to do that. I have to get help to create a vivid RGB setting (my favorite) for the HMC150.

Jeff
 
thanks jeff,
this answer alot for me, and if your saying this cam is not nescesarily ahead of the canon a1 in terms of image quality then i can probably just hold on to my a1 and purchase the hpx170 for the much improved quality of both these cams while getting my tapless solution also.
 
A tapeless A1 is all I would really need for my purposes. This would make shooting events, conferences, even studio stuff that much faster! This is the affordable tapeless solution I've been looking for and if it produces slightly better images than my A1, fantastic. The A1 is enough for me anyway, so the HMC150 should be perfect. Time to sell my A1.

-Kegan
 
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