Looking for buying advice from those with experience with "ex1r" and xf300

[blake2404]

Hey, my budget might be increasing for the camera and need your take on how these cams compare.

Will be using it for all kinds of types of gigs. Music vids, wddings, events, film projects.

Also suggest another in the same price range if you like although i am Looking for full raster hd for theatrical blow up purposes, so keep that in mind.

Was also looking at the fs100/af100 interchangeable lens cams, but the fs100 seems to be missing some key features and the af1oo seems just as bad as hdslr's with aliasing/moire.

Your thought on those too is welcome also.

Thanks

 

[cowpunk52]

I've used both, and was in the market last summer for either an EX1r or the XF300. I settled on the XF300 - and it's been one of the most remarkable workhorse cameras I've ever used. I've used it for narratives, documentaries, broadcast television, events & music videos - and it's never missed a beat.

Directly comparing the Sony & Canon models, I was most drawn to the lens, codec, recording media, ergonomics, LCD & overall build quality of the XF300 over the EX1r. The lens is bar none the best lens I've ever used on fixed lens video camera, with an enormous range and extremely fast aperture (faster than the EX1r's through the zoom range) and diffraction is only slightly perceptible when you're smaller than f/6.7 when shooting 1080 - and that's quite a feat for a 1/3" sensor camcorder! I've found diffraction to be a non-issue for normal HD viewing down to f/8. The 50Mbps 4:2:2 codec is extremely robust, and fully approved for HD acquisition by the BBC (and therefore nearly any network) without the need for an external recorder. CF cards are much cheaper than their SxS counterparts, and easier to purchase at nearly any electronics store when I'm away on location. Buttons and dials are arranged logically and located where I'm accustomed to having them, having done a lot of shooting with larger shoulder-mount ENG rigs (although some aspects of the menu system take time to get used to - but that's true for any camera, I've found). The camera is also quite well balanced, and I'm able to shoot comfortably for much longer handheld without a shoulder rig than I could with the EX1 models. The LCD is gorgeous, huge (4"), crisp and clear. And to my hands, the body feels more substantial and rugged.

I do wish it was as sensitive as the EX1r, but it is about a stop less bright - and that's the only thing I feel is superior in the Sony cam to the Canon. However, in-camera NR of the XF300 performs remarkably well, and higher gain values give a pleasing grain that both cleans up well and doesn't destroy the image. I'm comfortable going up to 12db with no problem, and the image is surprisingly clean to 10.5db. Also, I find the dynamic range of the XF cams to be superior to the EX1r, especially in shadow detail.

This is all my personal opinion, YMMV.