Sell my XHA1 to buy HPX170, a good idea?

If you are a professional and are making money with the setup you have, upgrading to an HVX or HPX would be an unwise business move. In this economy, I think people that are "upgrading just to upgrade" are wasting their money, especially if their clients seem happy with the end product they are producing with their current cameras.

BTW, just so you know, the HVX and HPX are not regarded very highly as "broadcast cameras" either by those who can afford to shoot film or on 2/3" chip cameras. The term "broadcast camera" has really lost all meaning anyway as there is material shot on your camera, the HVX and HPX that is broadcast daily on cable networks. Am I mistaken or is the "Crank 2" also shot on your camera? Most people who shoot with REDs, 2/3" cameras ot film regard all 1/3" and 1/4" cameras as toys anyway, but who cares? It's not the camera, it's what you can do wit the camera you have, your skills at lighting, composition, movement, etc. I have seen a lot of amazingly great footage shot on XH-A1s.

My advice is to save your money or invest it in something safe, like gold or silver. Video gear is like computer gear, outdated the day you buy it with poor re-sale value. The XH-A1 is a fine camera tht is totally capable of beautiful images. "Upgrading" to the Pannys for the type of work like it sounds like you shoot would be a monetary waste.

I would only advise buying new gear if you can pay for it solely with your job rentals for the gear to your clients within 6 months. I can, which is why I upgraded from the HVX to HPX170 recently, but if I was doing events or lower end work that didn't pay as much, I would have stuck with the HVX, it was definitely good enough for my clients.

Good luck,

Dan

Mannnnn Dan great advice got me thinking about a few purchases.

How you been?
 
Thank you all for your posts, I have sat on this idea of switching formats and cameras while taking your advice into account in order to let the excitement dust settle. Purchases can be emotional but advice and time usually remedy that problem. With that said I am considering the HPX-170 because of weight/no need for a firestore sitting on top of the camera while on a steadicam pilot. Also I do a lot of recording performances where light is low so I have been trying to find out which camera is better in low light... the XHA1 or the HPX170.
 
If you are a professional and are making money with the setup you have, upgrading to an HVX or HPX would be an unwise business move. In this economy, I think people that are "upgrading just to upgrade" are wasting their money, especially if their clients seem happy with the end product they are producing with their current cameras.

BTW, just so you know, the HVX and HPX are not regarded very highly as "broadcast cameras" either by those who can afford to shoot film or on 2/3" chip cameras. The term "broadcast camera" has really lost all meaning anyway as there is material shot on your camera, the HVX and HPX that is broadcast daily on cable networks. Am I mistaken or is the "Crank 2" also shot on your camera? Most people who shoot with REDs, 2/3" cameras ot film regard all 1/3" and 1/4" cameras as toys anyway, but who cares? It's not the camera, it's what you can do wit the camera you have, your skills at lighting, composition, movement, etc. I have seen a lot of amazingly great footage shot on XH-A1s.

My advice is to save your money or invest it in something safe, like gold or silver. Video gear is like computer gear, outdated the day you buy it with poor re-sale value. The XH-A1 is a fine camera tht is totally capable of beautiful images. "Upgrading" to the Pannys for the type of work like it sounds like you shoot would be a monetary waste.

I would only advise buying new gear if you can pay for it solely with your job rentals for the gear to your clients within 6 months. I can, which is why I upgraded from the HVX to HPX170 recently, but if I was doing events or lower end work that didn't pay as much, I would have stuck with the HVX, it was definitely good enough for my clients.

Good luck,

Dan
Another thing, has anyone tested the XH A1 and the HPX170 in low light? I have a fairly large amount of work from college auditions and performances that are generally on stage so low light is of great importance to me. One reason why I bought 2 XH A1s. Not being able to rent anywhere in my area I wanted to know if the HPX170 (even with 1/3" chips) would be a better performer in low light than the XH A1. I really am not looking for an excuse to sell the XHA1 but rather looking for the best solutions.
 
I am not really sure what the XA-H1 is rated. We rate the HPX170 at ISO 500 and the HVX200 at ISO 320 when shooting 24p with a 180 degree shutter.

Any DPs out there rated the XA-H1? It has small chips like the HVX/HPX, so I can't see it being rated any better than these two cameras.

Dan
 
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