Lens Control Question for A1 users

E

Evro

Well-known member
Hi folks,

I already own an XL2 and now considering buying an A1 however, I want to know from existing A1 owners who have used other cameras (XL2 or DVX) tell me what the tacktile feeling & responsiveness of the lens controls is like; (by the way, I'm not a fan of the XL2 lens controls).

1) Does the zoom ring have that same sluggish feel as the XL2 or is it more like a DVX zoom ring? (to date, for me, nothing beats the DVX zoom ring)

2) What's the responsiveness of the focus & iris rings like?

3) Are there any other general (negative or positive) comments you can make about the physical handling of the camera?

I'm only realy interested in camera control - I already know that the A1 has the best image out of all the cams in it's price range.

:dankk2:
 
beziermask said:
Hi folks,



1) Does the zoom ring have that same sluggish feel as the XL2 or is it more like a DVX zoom ring? (to date, for me, nothing beats the DVX zoom ring)
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It's slightly better but the sluggish feel is still there. No where close to a DVX zoom.

beziermask said:
2) What's the responsiveness of the focus & iris rings like?
Click to expand...

These are fine. Focus still isn't as smooth but much better.

beziermask said:
3) Are there any other general (negative or positive) comments you can make about the physical handling of the camera?
Click to expand...

It's more front heavy than I would like which doesn't make for the most stable hand held shot.
 
The iris control is fine. The zoom is OK. The focus is good at the tele end, but incredibly sensitive at the wide end.
 
I happy with the focus control but don't use the zoom on the lens as much since I don't like the response it has. Now the iris control is to sensitive and not always responding as quick as I would like. It is something that as I use the camera more that it will becomes a habit on how I use it. To me it is nothing like the controls on the XL2 which I have never like.
 
DerrickTempleton said:
in Barry's article where he compares the xha1 to the HVX, he talks a lot about these issues.
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Hey Derrick, what article is that??

After attending the launch of the HVX in Australia last year (2006) which was presented by Barry Green & then trying to make an informed choice, I decided that the whole proprietary solid state capture system and the still VERY expensive P2 cards, the HVX is just not feasible for the wedding & event business. Although I've always prefered the out of the box image from Panasonic cams over Canons & Sonys, Panasonic have alienated the events businesses with this camera and now they're about to loose a large chunk of the independent film makers & cinematographers with the introduction of the new Sony PDW EX.

A HDV version of the DVX would have been a no brainer for my business' step-up to HD, but then Panasonic had to go and stuff things up by doing their own thing. The DVX in my opinion is the greatest prosumer DV camera ever!!

As far as the A1 goes - as long as the manual lens controls are better than the XL series it's the best compromise for the moment.

Cheers,
moudanie
 
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