Canon SX1 v. GH1

DonalDuc said:
I've both :) SX1 & GH1.

BOTH are excellent cameras, making fine movies - 1920x1080 .. SX1 with 43 Mbps, GH1 with 17 Mbps.
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cool DonalDuc,

can you possibly COMPARE the two feature by feature. Cameras in this class
are exciting: LOW cost, and usually have like one COOL feature that's new to
any cam. you obviously like it enuf to get it plus gh1. { which has its downsides
too }

the SX1 downsides are No lens changes etc. what is your opinion? anyway
to hack manual controls for video? anyway to get shallow DOF? etc?
Is the codec really nice and similar to canon mk2?

thanks
 
not to many useful reviews out there.

the USER reviews usually stumble on the fact the video is JERKY. some realize this is of course that full HD is a bear to play on most computers - lol

{ not the cams fault. but still a barrier for them to get to REALLY analyzing the footage.}
 
sunburst said:
Is the codec really nice and similar to canon mk2?
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I think video SX1 = video 5DMkII - both are 43 Mbps.
Differences are sensor (no big difference) and lenses - makes differences of course.

If you see pictures made with both, there may be a difference, but printed A4 you cannot say, if made with SX1 or (6x so expensive) 5DMkII.

SX1 has articulating display (hehe, 5DMkII has not) - and full frame sensor makes not the big difference, becaus 1920x1080 = 2 Mpixel ... 21.5 Mpixel are "useless", even SX1's 10 Mpixel.

20x zoom (SX1) is more then you can get with 5DMkII :)
I never would buy a Canon 5DMkII (I have enough Canon DSLRs :-) ) - even not with update for manual controls.

Hehe, this is curse of cameras with unusable viewer and no articulating display

Rapidfire-1-432x400.jpg
 
actually I do not think that the price for the GH1 will drop significantly in the next few months. I mean regarding the price for the canon 5d mkII, you don't see a real drop for months, or am I completely wrong?
 
DonalDuc said:
I think video SX1 = video 5DMkII - both are 43 Mbps.
Differences are sensor (no big difference) and full frame sensor makes not the big difference, becaus 1920x1080 = 2 Mpixel ... 21.5 Mpixel are "useless", even SX1's 10 Mpixel.
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This is totally incorrect. What makes the 5DMk II video so good is the full frame sensor. The fact that they record at the same "quality", like megapixels in a picture mode, makes no real difference, but rather it is the lens and the sensor that make all the difference! The fact that the 5d Mk II has a fullframe sensor is part of why it has such good DOF and low light performance, the other factor being the ability to use fast prime lenses. You cannot do this on an SX1. They are not just not in the same league, they are not even playing the same game. I suggest you take a look at this article, it is geared toward stills but the same thing applies to video...a cell phone that shoots 1080p will never be "better" than say a GH1 or HVX at 720p, I don't care what codec it is using. Likewise a consumer camera or cell at say, 12 megapixels, will never be better than a DSLR at 8 megapixels...it just doesn't work that way. Why? The sensor! (and the glass.)

http://gizmodo.com/5155942/giz-explains-why-more-megapixels-isnt-always-more-better
 
Finster said:
Interesting. Does the SX1 have manual aperture & shutter speed & ISO in video mode???
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I'm not sure how much control you have while shooting video. Has full manual control with photos. But there is a hack around that supposedly gives you "Override Camera parameters - Exposures from 64s to 1/60,000s with flash sync. Full manual or priority control over exposure, aperture, ISO and focus." See http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK
 
@rubberbandito. If you need something short-term then I don't see any reason why not the SX1 or... . I think we all know what the better camera is but if your circumstances dictate a low budget alternative then maybe this is the answer for now. The fund raising videos you described probably don't need the kind of production values the Gh1 can deliver. Nice but not necessary. Just another 2 cents worth.
 
Hey Nighthawk, sent you pm: but for the public here is the jist

I pulled the trigger on the SX1. I just can't wait for GH1 anymore. I think the SX1 will be a fine camera for what I am working with, web videos for charities. See http://lamanchamedia.org
Later in the fall, when I get back, I will likely get a Gh1 and either sell the little SX1 or keep it as a second cam.

Accessories for the SX1
Several goodies from Lensmate http://lensmateonline.com/newsite/SX10SX1.html
58mm adapter with several Hoya Filters and Raynox Macro Lens
Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser MZW400 Wind-muff and XLR Adapter Kit for the MKE400
Olympus LS10 Recorder
Sign Video XLR Pro adapter
Manfrotto 701HDV Pro Fluid Video Mini Head
Induro Tripod and Manfrotto Fluid Monopod
Several audio technica lav mics and a wirless uhf one
 
rubberbandito said:
I'm not sure how much control you have while shooting video. Has full manual control with photos. But there is a hack around that supposedly gives you "Override Camera parameters - Exposures from 64s to 1/60,000s with flash sync. Full manual or priority control over exposure, aperture, ISO and focus." See http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK
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WOW there's some serious hacking going on over there. I don't know why we cant find out about the video though. that would make this cam SWEET.

"wheres Tramm Hudson when u need him -lol"
 
Wow impressive hacking. Please can you try and persuade those geeks to have a go at the GH1 instead, it's a much better camera. :)
 
G dash D this thread again? The GH1 will probably be better for green screen because it has a bigger sensor would be my guess, unless the codec somehow really messes things up.
 
I started this thread. I bought this camera and it is no good, going back. I saw some early footage that looked good, but much of the rest is bad. Seems to me that up close to stuff this camera handles well, but with panoramic shots its just all grain and noise. Its really quite bad compared to a little HV30.
 
rubberbandito said:
I started this thread. I bought this camera and it is no good, going back. I saw some early footage that looked good, but much of the rest is bad. Seems to me that up close to stuff this camera handles well, but with panoramic shots its just all grain and noise. Its really quite bad compared to a little HV30.
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WOW! thanks for update. shi*, i thought maybe with the codec and glass,

it would be good for run and gun B camera for me. also MORE depth of focus
is good for screen work.

well poo poo the devil, its back to the gh1 - lol.

{ currently as much available as scarlet }
 
That is my opinion after using it and trying everything to get it to work better. Honestly, the .mov files probably are amazing outputed from the cam via a hdmi to a hd tv but they can't be edited in the same quality from what i can understand. i really don't get that.

regarding a B cam. I think the Sanyo Xacti HD2000 is a better choice then the SX1. It shoots in 1080 60p at 24mbps in mpeg4 avc (easily editable in sony vegas unlike .mov files, you need all this proxy workaround crap). Camcorderinfo.com ranks them #2 and this guy Jan van der Meer, a pro videographer loves this little cam. His website has a lot of info on it.

Guess what other cam he loves: the GH1. He has some cool writeups on both on this website http://www.global-dvc.org/default.asp

I would like to own both cameras. GH1 as a main camera on the tripod. And the little Xacti on all kinds of weird mounts, boom polls, latched on a car, etc. It even has two very cheap options for going underwater with it. I'm super impressed by all the GH1 footage coming out but also impressed by the Xacti though I think the GH1 is way better with DOF. But for a B cam this one would be much better then the SX1 in my opinion. Though I don't own the Xacti, just going on what I have seen and read.
 
I'm looking at the sx1 till the Red is in. I saw some nice stills from the camera, but no great footage yet. Anyone have links to quality shots from the SX1?
 
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