What do I buy, the Panasonic HVX200A, or the Canon XL H1A?

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45thronin

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What do I buy, the Panasonic HVX200A, or the Canon XL H1A?

I'm stumped! But I do know it has come down to these two cameras. I'm filming my first short this year, and using the G35 with Nikon lenses as a compliment. I am hearing rave reviews about the HVX200A, but am partial to Canon equipment (because of quality).


But I'm stumped. HELP!!!!!
 
Hi JesterJJZ, good point.

Well, their are several reasons why I want to go with the Canon, quality, flexibility lens wise, and Canon lens. However, I'm hearing time and time again about the Panasonic HVX200A's image quality, and overall usage.

While I'm looking to shoot my short this year, I'm also going to be shooting a documentary. So the camera should get a good amount of use.

To answer your question, what I'm looking for from a camera? Flexibility, usability, quality, and something that will allow me to use it without needing to half to upgrade every year. I don't know if that helps. I must say that I am new to the equipment side of things. I just started my production company recently. My background is writing, acting, and direction. The production end is new to me.
 
Hey Jester, I checked out your site. Did you shoot those videos? Both were EXCELLENT! I really enjoyed the "Change" video, very well done! Excellent! What did you use to shoot that? I storyboard everything, did you storyboard that? Or just improve?

I loved the lighting in "Change", very well done!!!! Did you do the lighting yourself?

Correction, I just saw the credits. Nice!

Another update, ... VERY well edited! Wow!
 
Hey man thanks. I guess I'm one of those "do-it-yourself-ers." Nah, I have a good team I work with. My first "pro" camera was an XL-1, really loved that thing. Then I got the DVX. As much as I liked the formfactor and handling of the Canon, the Panasonics just have that something extra in image quality that Canon can't match. I've been completely sold on Panny since then. Never used an H1A, I shoot HVX now, love it. H1A may be a great cam, but you certainly can't go wrong with an HVX. The workflow is VERY different, but once you get used to it, it's awesome. With the new cards coming out, the HVX is a much more attractive camera even for the longform and doc stuff.
 
Two reasons why I went with HVX over Canon:
1). "filmic" look - the 200a seriously looks like super 16 with the right settings
2). 4:2:2 color space vs. 4:2:0 for HDV

The only concern I would have is if you're shooting long form, but as Jester said the price of the cards is coming down, and you can always go with a Firestore
 
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