Is XH-A1 the DVX killer?
- Thread starter stinkpot
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Barry_Green
Moderator
The main appeal to the XHA1 is that it offers HD at the same price as the DVX offers SD-only. Which isn't strictly true; the DVX has a rebate which brings it to about $3000 street, and the Canon is about $3700 street, but still...
There are some things the DVX does better than the Canon, like audio and manual zoom and such. For someone who needs a strictly 4:3 standard-def camcorder, perhaps the DVX remains viable, but I would think it would need a bit more of a price reduction to truly differentiate itself away from the Canon.
The Canon is a great value, it delivers a nice sharp picture and a 20x zoom, and it's only a little more than the DVX. The footage doesn't have that Panasonic CineGamma or CineMatrix look, instead it looks more like a high-def XL2. But it's cheap and it's probably the best of the HDV camcorders. If you want high-def, and you for whatever reason can't make an HVX work for you (i.e. you need to record an hour at a time or whatever), the Canon makes for a pretty compelling little camera.
There are some things the DVX does better than the Canon, like audio and manual zoom and such. For someone who needs a strictly 4:3 standard-def camcorder, perhaps the DVX remains viable, but I would think it would need a bit more of a price reduction to truly differentiate itself away from the Canon.
The Canon is a great value, it delivers a nice sharp picture and a 20x zoom, and it's only a little more than the DVX. The footage doesn't have that Panasonic CineGamma or CineMatrix look, instead it looks more like a high-def XL2. But it's cheap and it's probably the best of the HDV camcorders. If you want high-def, and you for whatever reason can't make an HVX work for you (i.e. you need to record an hour at a time or whatever), the Canon makes for a pretty compelling little camera.
DammitJanet
Well-known member
I have to agree with Barry on this one. Having had the pleasure of using both the A1 and the DVX, I can say that both are very viable options for indies. To the DVX's credit, it has a rep for being a workhorse and a damn fine camera overall, not to mention a fine track record. As for the A1, I think the pros far outweigh the cons and that for the money, it's really the way to go when looking to the future. I certainly wouldn't call the A1 a "DVX-Killer" (I'm not a fan of "killer app" type terms in general), but as Barry said, the DVX will probably have to go through another significant price drop to really be seen as a heavy competitor.
Nik Manning
Well-known member
Actually I agree that the A1 is a DVX killer but it is also a Sony FX1 killer and a Sony Z1U killer and a Sony V1u Killer. DVX has been out for years it didn't get killed it is retiring.
xray
Well-known member
In an SD world (mostly all Europe) the DVX is a briljant cam, I see them in action watching tv (you know you watch the cams you see..) in press and news events, broadcast, youth tv, and so on. It's just the 4:3 that is outdated.
However the news in the Netherlands starts tomorrow new year in widescreen 16:9 SD. HD is far away, but widescreen takes over, and internet TV and special channel tv.
If you buy the A1 now, together with other tools and equipment, you always can buy the HVXb-200 later on... But for now, the A1 gives a lot for the money, the price difference with the DVX in Germany is only 100E. That is an easy choice.
However the news in the Netherlands starts tomorrow new year in widescreen 16:9 SD. HD is far away, but widescreen takes over, and internet TV and special channel tv.
If you buy the A1 now, together with other tools and equipment, you always can buy the HVXb-200 later on... But for now, the A1 gives a lot for the money, the price difference with the DVX in Germany is only 100E. That is an easy choice.
Barry_Green
Moderator
In practical terms, it doesn't make a bit of difference; 24F moves like 24P and it avoids all interlacing.stinkpot said:
It does create some complications in post, in that 24F on tape can only be played by a Canon HDV camcorder -- no other HDV camcorder or deck can play it. And not all editing software supports it; FCP prior to 5.1.2 doesn't support it, for example. I believe most modern apps support 24F, although I'm not sure about Avid.
xray
Well-known member
Thats right. There is no 24F 25F taperecorder. If you don't want or can't use the cam itself, you can buy a small extra palmcorder to feed the tape in the editing. It's a litlle slow, but is has a lens as bonus. You can shoot on a Firestore disk and edit or copy from harddisk.
Fcp prior to 5.1.2 did not support 720/25P either.
Fcp prior to 5.1.2 did not support 720/25P either.
t-h-e-w-h-o
Well-known member
stinkpot said:
return your dvx or sell it. This cam forces the dvx to retire. Everything thats been said so far is true, and i love(ed) my dvx, but its time has come. This camera has more pros than cons and truely helps the dvx go to a happy retirement old folks home.
Stu Siegal
Well-known member
Don't toss the dvx just yet. If it was good enough to win best cinematography for "November", you'll probably be able to get an OK image out of it 
LuckyStudio 13
The Tapeless One
The dvx price is just going to go down down down. If i own a dvx100b (which i did, but sold it months ago), I will be very very wary.
Panasonic will just have to retire the DVX100b or face losing the market share.
Imagine, at NAB 2007, if panasonic is either going to make a HD DVX100 or give it 16x9 SD. If so, your 100b will tremendously depreciate in value.
The XH-A1 is possibly the best HDV camera out there today. The "look" customization is unbelievable. GO here and check out this footage. This is from the little HV10 one CMOS camera. Now just imagine what the Canon XH-A1 with 3ccd can do.
http://usa.canon.com/app/html/See_The_Difference/index.shtml
Panasonic will just have to retire the DVX100b or face losing the market share.
Imagine, at NAB 2007, if panasonic is either going to make a HD DVX100 or give it 16x9 SD. If so, your 100b will tremendously depreciate in value.
The XH-A1 is possibly the best HDV camera out there today. The "look" customization is unbelievable. GO here and check out this footage. This is from the little HV10 one CMOS camera. Now just imagine what the Canon XH-A1 with 3ccd can do.
http://usa.canon.com/app/html/See_The_Difference/index.shtml
t-h-e-w-h-o
Well-known member
Dxmetal said:
the man speaks the truth
Barry_Green
Moderator
Look, the XHA1 is the best of the HDV camcorders, I'll grant that. But Tommy Mack of EVS just said not too long ago that even with all the HDV camcorders out there, the DVX is still their best-selling camera.
Is Panasonic in a rush to replace it? Probably not, if it's still outselling every HDV camera on the market! I think it's probably going to slow down as more competitive models come out, yes, but they're still plenty of them selling and will probably continue to do so for quite some time, based on actual sales and not on someone's wish.
And besides, if someone *really* wants to root for the DVX dying off, may I suggest that DVXUser is not the right forum for those harboring those sentiments?
So, if we could please tone down the "slaying" and "killing" and "wiping out" talk, it would be appreciated, as well as be more in line with reality.
Is Panasonic in a rush to replace it? Probably not, if it's still outselling every HDV camera on the market! I think it's probably going to slow down as more competitive models come out, yes, but they're still plenty of them selling and will probably continue to do so for quite some time, based on actual sales and not on someone's wish.
And besides, if someone *really* wants to root for the DVX dying off, may I suggest that DVXUser is not the right forum for those harboring those sentiments?
So, if we could please tone down the "slaying" and "killing" and "wiping out" talk, it would be appreciated, as well as be more in line with reality.
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