XH-A1 and HVX200 comparison?

T

Tibby

Well-known member
Wasn't there supposed to be an HVX200 and XH-A1 comparison article happening at some point? I was curious because I haven't heard anything. Did I miss something?
 
Jarred has been a bit busy doing other things, yes -- like launching RedUser.net etc. But he told me today that it's nearly ready.
 
It has one major mistake: zoom range on A1/G1 is 4.5-90mm, not 5.4-108. I think it was pointed some time ago.
 
strancali said:
The article is finally up and the HVX is the clear winner to me. I guess my next purchase in a few months will be the HVX. Thanks Barry for a great article!!


HVX vs. the Canon XHA1
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/xha1/
Click to expand...

Was there a competition somewhere? I missed that. It's like going to the Olympics by bus or train, both get you there, you'all need to pack, but your comfort depends on the drivers skills, the traffic and the good cofee stops during the ride.
 
strancali said:
The article is finally up and the HVX is the clear winner to me. I guess my next purchase in a few months will be the HVX. Thanks Barry for a great article!!


HVX vs. the Canon XHA1
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/xha1/
Click to expand...

It's only a clear winner IF you need the features it has over the Canon. The Canon could be the "clear winner" if you need to record an hour to tape or if you need the lower price tag.

I was more impressed with the Canon than I thought I would be, definitely. I think the HVX is the better product, but as someone pointed out in the comments, my usage doesn't match with their usage, and for their usage the Canon would be the better product for them.

The good thing is that they're two very different tools, at different price points. As I said in the article, someone who's aiming for an XHA1 isn't likely going to be looking for the HVX, and someone who's looking for the HVX isn't going to be tempted away by the XHA1. Different products at different price points.
 
xray said:
Was there a competition somewhere? I missed that. It's like going to the Olympics by bus or train, both get you there, you'all need to pack, but your comfort depends on the drivers skills, the traffic and the good cofee stops during the ride.
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Thank you xray, that's exactly right. These are very different tools at different price points.

Unfortunately, the "competition" comes in based on that each customer has a limited supply of funds, so they usually can only choose one. So yes, both cameras do end up "competing" for the customer's dollars.

I just think it's good that they're so different -- it should make the choice easy and obvious for most customers.
 
In being different they share the same. Both get you there.

Its just that the packed passenger on the bus is lighter, he does not need to carry the extra's like portable drives and laptop computers. The difference in travelling is more coffeestops or less, but with good driver skills the train and bus arrive both the same time, the same place.

And you know the Olympics: the winner is the one that passes the line fist, but the athletes are all very fast and good. In the end the differences are minimal.
 
xray said:
Was there a competition somewhere? I missed that. It's like going to the Olympics by bus or train, both get you there, you'all need to pack, but your comfort depends on the drivers skills, the traffic and the good cofee stops during the ride.
Click to expand...

What i meant by "clear winner" was just for me. I've been debating between the two cameras. I guess my mind was already made up in favor of the HVX but i wanted Barry's opinions on the two. It all comes down to affordability . I think the A1 is a great camera but its not for me. Like i said, i made a big mistake when i purchased the XL2 when it first came out. This time i just want to be cautious and i respect Barry's opinions.
 
Barry_Green said:
Unfortunately, the "competition" comes in based on that each customer has a limited supply of funds, so they usually can only choose one. So yes, both cameras do end up "competing" for the customer's dollars.
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You will be surprised to see HVX customers buying Canon A1 too. The costs on camera are basically the same to me, its the costs in editing, archiving and assistant y/n that is making the bank. Take for the shoot the gear you need that day. Time is money.

What's $ 2.000 anyway?
 
xray said:
You will be surprised to see HVX customers buying Canon A1 too. The costs on camera are basically the same to me, its the costs in editing, archiving and assistant y/n that is making the bank. Take for the shoot the gear you need that day. Time is money.

What's $ 2.000 anyway?
Click to expand...

You know, that's a pretty good point that I haven't thought of.
HDV = more required processing power to edit, and possibly more time to edit
DVCPRO HD = more space required for footage, but less power required and possibly less time.

Whether or not the time spent in the editing room is more or not, would effect overall profits. There is having to capture tape vs. just offloading a card. Offloading a card (for me) is a much quicker, more efficient and streamlined workflow. I was reminded of that when I had to capture 3 hours of mini dv tape for my father for some flight training videos his work was filming. Of course, that pont is kind of moot when many people are editing DVCPRO HD footage on an NLE that requires them to convert footage before using it. Either to .mov with FCP or to .avi's with a Premiere Pro or Vegas and a 3rd party combo (except for the new raylight which now allows one to put mxf's straight onto the vegas timeline).

One might want to factor in potential extra costs in post production with each cam as well. Extra costs in time and money vs. your preferred or required workflow.

For me, tapeless is THE workflow (just for me). I made sure when I bought the HVX's that I got an NLE and a system that allowed me to take full advantage of the benefits (for me) of a tapeless workflow. That was the most important thing to me in choosing my system/nle. I didn't see much point in going tapeless if I couldn't take full advantage of the workflow and the time I wouldn't be spending in the editing room. So I got EDIUS and a moderately powerful laptop with a pcmcia slot and sd card slot.

Again, this is just my preference. I am not saying one is better than the other. I am just saying that I prefer the tapeless workflow of the HVX. I prefer the long term benefits that it will offer, and I am willing to accept its potential shortcomings in the short term.

(Jason)
 
One thing to bring in is that computers are all fast today and storage is cheaper every day. The A1 is like the digital cams from Canon. Video and photography are growing together. For them, it's like another EOS cam. What is important is that shooting today with a Canon EOS 400D (a cam that is aimed to consumers) shoots images like a pro if you know what to do.

It also has a 'green point' we do it all for you in automode'. But if you leave that and you are educated in image shooting, you can create professional looking images with it. The power is there. And to enter the subject again the same is with these small digicams. Outside in bright light and with close to medium shots the HVX shines. It does. But for other work, fast inside shoots and wide landscape shoots the A1 shines. Both get you there.
 
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