DVXA/B vs XL2 vs XH A1

B

btangonan

Active member
Hi Folks,

I'm looking to purchase a camera for independent film making and I would love to get some advice from all of you knowledgeable people.

Here are my options:

1) Used DVXA for 1700 (45 hours w/ case)
2) Used DVXB for 2350 (6 hours w/ UV filter and case)
3) Used XL2 for 2250 (75 hours)
4) New DVXB for 2500+ (depending on retailer)
5) New Xh A1 for ~$3500

Use of camera: Primary for short films in 16:9 to be submitted to online film contests. As I become more experienced, I'd like to consider festival submissions and the eventual feature length film.

Major factors for me: Cost, quality of 16:9 footage, low-light performance, longevity (SD vs HD). I know the DVX's are amazing cameras, however I'm concerned about the ~30% loss in resolution when filming 16:9. The XL2 has native 16:9 chips, but doesn't perform as well under low light (not to mention it doesn't have an LCD screen). The Xh A1 costs more, but I might be willing to wait and save in order to have HD (since that will be the norm in the near future) as well as the 16:9 native chips.

It's so tempting to just grab the deal on the DVXA, but then I start thinking about how much happier I'd be with the DVXB. THEN I say to myself, "Well heck, if I'm gonna dish out ~$2500 on a used or new DVXB, I might as well wait and buy the xh a1." At which point I've DOUBLED what I would be spending.
 
Get the DVXA. You list cost as your #1 factor. The DVXA is a better camera than the original DVX100, and a film shot on an original DVX100 won the "best cinematography" award at Sundance.

If you've got the money, any of those choices are okay choices. But if you don't have the money, why spend more than you have to, when you could get all that you need for $1700?
 
Much is made of the XH-A1, but nearly every time I see footage posted here, it has noticeable fringing/aberration. The DVX footage always looks pristine, but of course, is mere SD. Is it the 20x zoom on the A1 that results in these issues?
 
My choices would be
1. DVX100b used
2. DVX100b new
3. HX-A1 new
4. DVX100a used
5. XL2 new, used, or gold plated
Since I already own the “A” I might take on the challenge of the HX-A1’s fringing/aberrations… with a nice 35mm adapter.
oops, I forgot about the cost issue
 
Some questions you have to ask yourself:

Are you editing yourself? Do you have a powerful enough PC to edit HDV? Because if not, the Xh-a1 is not merely a 3100 dollars investment. But it is, in my view, the best option for quality. Here are my 2 cents:

Xh-a1- Best, quality wise. Same sensor as the XL-H1, as well as same stock lens, but not interchangeable. A feature shot with the XL-h1 was sold for more than 2 million USD for theatrical distribution. This says something about the chips quality of the camcorder. Cons: to extract the best from it you need a powerful computer, and that's an additional 3 000 USD investment. You can, of course, shoot HDV then downconvert to DV, and keep the footage for future mastering, or just shoot plain DV. If shooting DV, your advantage to, say, the XL 2 is very little.

XL-2- Native 16/9 CCD's, progressive scan and clean footage. Interchangeable lens. This camera, in the right hands, can produce stunning pictures. However, no external LCD, heavy (which mostly requires higher end supporting gear, like steadicam, mounts, etc, which means extra $).

DVX 100 B- Progressive scan, Panasonic Cinegamma and look ( I love it), lightweight and proven. Last revision with better looking picture than the DVX100a (less noise). No native 16/9.

DVX100a- I own this one. Shot commercials that were broadcasted over here. Love the cinegamma. But it is noisy. Noisier than the original DVX, which I owned. Between the original DVX and the DVX100a, I would go original DVX.

If I were you, my decision would be obvious. I would get the A1. I could edit in DV SD for web, still, and keep an HDV master if I didn't have the money for HDV editing.

You're not thinking on immediately making money with this or broadcast or sd delivery, and you're thinking filmmaking, so HD is the way. You may be thinking WEB now, but its always nice to have the possibility to go to other media with the best possible quality...
 
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