Canon XL1s: Trading up to DVX 100

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Posterboy

New member
I've had a Canon XL1s for about a year now and have loved it the entire time. I used it mostly for news-gathering documentary style projects. I recently used it for a music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw_69CzQG_4 . When I made the music video, I ran into a few problems with the XL1. The first was that it doesn't have Balanced XLR inputs. This didn't matter for the music video because there was no recorded sound, but I'm getting ready to start another project where this will be a deal breaker. I also began to notice more and more the lack of 24p recording. I have some experience with the HVX 200 from another shoot and was extremely impressed with it. I don't have the budget for an HVX, but it made me consider selling my XL1 and getting a DVX. Is that a good move? my XL1 only has the 14X manual lens, which generally sells for less than the standard 16X auto lens. I'm willing to put in up to $500 to trade up. Can I do it for that much?

- thanks
 
I guess it really depends on how much you get out of your XL1s. You can get a used DVX-100a for under $2000 if you keep an eye on the marketplace here and on Craigslist. A lot of folks around here have adopted previously-owned DVX's that have been well cared-for.

As for the "good move," you've been shooting in SD thus far, so you aren't losing anything there. You add a very pretty 24p, but lose the interchangeable lens. Something to consider.

The lack of XLR ins can be solved with an XLR converter box, if that's your only gripe about your current camera. Avoid the MA-300 from Canon... it's noisy and of cheap build quality. But something from Beachtek would work nicely.
 
Thanks for the tip on the MA-300. I was actually wondering if it was a good product.

B & H sells a used DVX100A for $1800. I've seen a couple on ebay for $1600. I think I could reasonably get $1200 for my XL1s (is that reasonable?) Since the Beachtek units start around $300, it seems better to just put in $500-$600 and get Balanced XLR and 24p. I have never used a different lens. If I did find myself needing additional lenses, I would buy a REDROCK 35mm adapter to use with my Nikon still lenses.

So, another question which I'm sure has been asked before is: how does the video compare between the DVX and the XL1? Is it meaningful to compare the two since the DVX is shooting at 24p?

thanks again.
 
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