HMC 150 vs XH A1
- Thread starter PaPa
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Humanoid Typhoon
Well-known member
Still thinking about this swap from the A1. I just haven't seen any HMC150 footage that looked as great as some of the A1 stuff (like dsjecta's nature stuff). It's great in its own right but doesn't really compare (in good light). Low light is another story but I'm not shooting in low light all the time.
If you already have and are shooting with the A1, it's not that tough a call, stick with the A1 for now. I wouldn't do it just for a swap. The A1 has it's strengths and the HMC-150 also has it's own strengths.
I switched from the A1 because I needed another camera and got the HMC-150. Then, it was too much trouble shooting with two very different cameras, so I was lucky enough to sell the A1 before the A1s was available.
It's also a big change in controls coming from the A1 to Panasonic. I would wait until you actually need a new camera.
As for the sound, the A1 and the HMC-150 are very similar (very good for on-camera recording) in sound quality in manual using an XLR source. For AGC (which the HMC dosent have) and onboard mics, the A1 wins easily. The A1 is a more novice friendly camera IMO.
ecking
Veteran
I said the same thing as Barry more than 10 mins before he did and answered your follow up question in that post before you even typed it and you didn't even bother to read it. Wow, this place sometimes.
You're right. I don't know how I missed your post, as I thought I read all the way through this thread before quoting Barry. My mistake.
Humanoid Typhoon
Well-known member
Thanks for the reply. I've needed a "better" low light camera months ago
. Been seeing some great footage recently. I actually met someone today who was shooting a TV show with one and got to play around with it. Pretty simple stuff, I would say the A1 was harder to figure everything out. Then again, I was using DVX100a's before I got my A1.I'm just waiting for the workflow for FCP to be a bit more refined before adding this to our wedding workflow.
There's a thread over at DVinfo: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/panasoni...35437-size-comparison-hmc150-canon-xh-a1.html
You'll of course have to be a member to view it.
Allen Ellis
Well-known member
There is, actually - there's a real good comparison somewhere on this forum with lots of photos. I'm pretty sure I saw it on this forum, at least. Maybe do a search on dvinfo.net, as well.
*edit*
Gymnut808 beat me to it!
*edit*
Gymnut808 beat me to it!
MadHMC150
DVXuser Sponsor
Weight for HMC150
3.7 lbs (1.7kg)
4.3 lbs (1.98kg) with Battery
Weight for XH-A1
4.5 lb (2 kg)
I grabbed the pics from the link:
I love the Panny.
3.7 lbs (1.7kg)
4.3 lbs (1.98kg) with Battery
Weight for XH-A1
4.5 lb (2 kg)
I grabbed the pics from the link:
I love the Panny.
Attachments
I very nearly sold my XHA for an HMC151, but when push came to shove i decided to hang on to the Canon for a bit longer. The main reason's being:
Cost. It wasn't going to cost much, but it was a main consideration with a tax bill looming.
FCP support for AVCHD has not yet arrived, natively at least.
I like the longer lens on the A1
I can achieve something very similar to the Panalook on my A1.
The HMC has been around a year and will likely be upgraded soon.
Canon may yet bring out a tapeless camera that will blow the EX1/HMC etc away.
Having said all that, i'm still tempted to switch because i'm fed up with tapes, and am looking forward to going tapeless ASAP.
Cost. It wasn't going to cost much, but it was a main consideration with a tax bill looming.
FCP support for AVCHD has not yet arrived, natively at least.
I like the longer lens on the A1
I can achieve something very similar to the Panalook on my A1.
The HMC has been around a year and will likely be upgraded soon.
Canon may yet bring out a tapeless camera that will blow the EX1/HMC etc away.
Having said all that, i'm still tempted to switch because i'm fed up with tapes, and am looking forward to going tapeless ASAP.
Allen Ellis
Well-known member
What makes you say that? AFAIK it came out Sep 2008, and generally cameras take years to see an update. In my mind that makes it a great time to buy the HMC.
I had a chance to speak with a Canon rep at a video shop in LA (Birns and Sawyer) and asked him when Canon would release their version of a cam like the HMC150. He said that Canon's curent plans ( for next couple years) would remain tape based. So....I would not hold your breath waiting on Canon to go tapeless. That evolution may take a while and be more based on the 5D's technology. At least that was what was suggested at that time.
BTW I also have an XHA1, love it and will not part with it, it's so good for an HDV cam.
However, I also have the HMC150 and find myself using it more and more. It's truly a revolution in terms of bang for the buck and clearly beats the Canon in this category, which the XHA1 used to be the standard bearer. Lighter weight, easier to handle, does 720/60p, extremely versatile, not HDV, etc....how can one not just love that HMC.
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TigerFX,
You're absolutely right. It was "announced" a year ago. my mistake. And i agree it's a great time to buy the camera.
I had it in my hands last week, and apart from feeling a bit plasticky after my A1, i warmed to the camera immediately.
Sewolla
Re Canon going tapeless. I find getting info out of these people like finding out what Apple has in store. Even their own employers are in the dark. But if you're correct, it makes a switch to the HMC worth doing sooner rather than later. I've come to the conclusion that going tapeless is going to seriously streamline my workflow and save me a lot of time and money. However, at the moment i'm 3/4 of the way through a job shot on my A1 so until i finish it (and get paid for it) a new camera is out of the question.
You're absolutely right. It was "announced" a year ago. my mistake. And i agree it's a great time to buy the camera.
I had it in my hands last week, and apart from feeling a bit plasticky after my A1, i warmed to the camera immediately.
Sewolla
Re Canon going tapeless. I find getting info out of these people like finding out what Apple has in store. Even their own employers are in the dark. But if you're correct, it makes a switch to the HMC worth doing sooner rather than later. I've come to the conclusion that going tapeless is going to seriously streamline my workflow and save me a lot of time and money. However, at the moment i'm 3/4 of the way through a job shot on my A1 so until i finish it (and get paid for it) a new camera is out of the question.
I spoke with a Canon Senior Video Tech Specialist (dunno what that means, but sounds important) at the MacWorld FCPUG SuperMeet and he told me (unofficially) that Canon is working on their own tapeless solution.
With the HMC150 selling extremely well (sold out across the board until a few days ago), the GY-HM100 released soon, I'd hope that Canon comes out the the tapeless equivalent of the A1 at NAB 2009.
DavidNJ
Carbonite Member
The HMC-150 is an excellent camera and when recording 720p24 has better compression than the Canon 5DM2, which is second only to AVC Intra 100, and then by a whisker.
However, Panasonic will move the HPX 300 sensors and recording package to the small format, my guess is as the HPX200, very soon. I am expecting an NAB announcement.
The HMC150 will either be upgraded then or later in the year. Given the sensor scan issues (skew) in p24 modes, my guess would be the HMC150 successor in the fall. If they up the record rate to the Canons 40Mb/s, it may be absolutely amazing.
IMHO, you would never buy an A1 instead of an HMC150, but you would wait and see what's available later this year if you had an A1.
Brad_C
Active member
This is interesting to listen to.
My take on it is this: if Canon were to bring out a solid state cam, it wouldn't be for another year. They just revised the A1 fall of last year, so it was just "enough" of a change to keep it somewhat competitive. (at least to the HDVers). When they do bring out a solid state cam, be ready to pay for it. The one thing that makes the Panasonic HMC150 so great is that unlike the P2 series, the HMC is affordable and is very impressive for its pricepoint. Not to mention SD cards are genius, cheap, and readily available just about everywhere. I would expect the solid state "A1" to be up near HVX/EX1 price territory and I highly doubt it will use something as cheap ($) as SD cards. I don't know why but I also get the feeling that Canon won't even mess with 720p, which would be a shame. I bet they go for full blown 1080/60p (and 24, 30) and leave it at that.
I'm not saying that HVX's, EX1's, or a solid state A1 would be bad. Not at all. I just don't see anything that Canon would do that would be in the same range as the HMC150. I could see Sony doing it before Canon. If the FX1000 would have been some sort of solid state cam (not just the flash adapter), I would have been battling in my head over it. As of now, the HMC150 is the clear winner and will be for a while. I used to be a Canon fan, cut and dry. Now I'm a Panny fan and I don't even have mine yet. Messing with Von Lanken's 150 and seeing test footage sealed the deal.
Again, this is just my .02 :thumbup:
Have a good one,
-Brad
My take on it is this: if Canon were to bring out a solid state cam, it wouldn't be for another year. They just revised the A1 fall of last year, so it was just "enough" of a change to keep it somewhat competitive. (at least to the HDVers). When they do bring out a solid state cam, be ready to pay for it. The one thing that makes the Panasonic HMC150 so great is that unlike the P2 series, the HMC is affordable and is very impressive for its pricepoint. Not to mention SD cards are genius, cheap, and readily available just about everywhere. I would expect the solid state "A1" to be up near HVX/EX1 price territory and I highly doubt it will use something as cheap ($) as SD cards. I don't know why but I also get the feeling that Canon won't even mess with 720p, which would be a shame. I bet they go for full blown 1080/60p (and 24, 30) and leave it at that.
I'm not saying that HVX's, EX1's, or a solid state A1 would be bad. Not at all. I just don't see anything that Canon would do that would be in the same range as the HMC150. I could see Sony doing it before Canon. If the FX1000 would have been some sort of solid state cam (not just the flash adapter), I would have been battling in my head over it. As of now, the HMC150 is the clear winner and will be for a while. I used to be a Canon fan, cut and dry. Now I'm a Panny fan and I don't even have mine yet. Messing with Von Lanken's 150 and seeing test footage sealed the deal.
Again, this is just my .02 :thumbup:
Have a good one,
-Brad
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