XH A1 vs Consumer Camcorder Differences

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DanielKoons

New member
I am sure this has been asked a lot, but I ran through 30 pages of the XH A1 forum and could not find what I was looking for.

I am wanting to get into Video. More as a hobby, but I am serious about it. I am a professional photographer and understand the difference and need for the features of a pro camera. I full can comprehend the difference between an "Advanced Point and Shoot" and a DSLR, but I am having a hard time rapping my mind around the difference between an HF10/HG10/HV30 type and a XHA1.

I understand the controls, I have used them both to a good degree, but it does come down to money. I can buy 2 HF10, and bluray burner and be cheaper than one XHA1.

I need some one to help me get the difference into my mind. My main need for the video will most likely be contained to weddings for money, and short films for fun. (I have a 1080p and I do want HD, so another alternative of used XL1 is mostly out unless, I can be convinced.)

Again thank you for any input you can give me.
 
1) Fully manual control: iris, gain, shutterspeed, neutral density filter. Consumer camera will let you control one or the other, never all. This inhibits your ability to control your image.
2) XLR inputs with phantom power for professional microphone + line in for external mixers.
3) Ability to manually white balance and store WB settings, full image control option in camera.
4) Professional form factor. Paying clients don't want to see you show up with an HF10, no matter how good an image it produces.

The bottom line is control, control, control. Image don't make a camera, the ability to modify the camera to get that image does. If you can't control iris, shutterspeed or gain, you'll end up with crap image every time. Same principle between a "Point and shoot" still camera and a DSLR really. You can probably buy point and shoot with more megapixels and still end up with worse image than a professional DSLR.
 
There's just a world of difference between an XH-A1 and a consumer camcorder.

Like Huy mentioned, with the A1 you have full manual control of the camera, and he only really scratched the surface there. With custom presets you control black level, knee, sharpening, noise reduction, and a lot more.

Also, the HF10 just won't give you anywhere near the performance of an A1 in low light conditions. That would be a real problem for shooting typical indoor wedding receptions. The AVCHD compression of the HF10 doesn't perform quite as well at the MPEG2 compression of the A1 either.

An HF10 can be a great little camera for personal stuff, but it's just nothing akin to a professional level workhorse camcorder.

I love my little DMC-FZ8. It's a great little camera for taking quick pictures of the grandkids and such, but I wouldn't try to get a job photographing a wedding with it.
 
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Lol thats you Jade? I never realized that was you.

There is no substitute for being able to reach out on the fly and make adjustments. You can get some fantastic images from a consumer cam, yes. But there will be times (many of them) when you need complete control. And quick actions to get those controls.

Also think about this. You go to shoot a wedding for money with this palmcorder or something, and uncle roy has a better camera he is using free of charge to the bride and groom. Not only do you get the power of a professional camera, but people almost lay down the red carpet when you show up with the xha1 in hand. Seriously, no kidding. Every event I have filmed with the DVX100b or XH A1, I get treated differently, and get front row.


Sure Image in the camera is important, you get that with XH A1, no sweat, but your image to your clients is very important as well.
 
If you're doing weddings, you'll want manual control over gain and the built in ND filters, ability to white balance quickly on the fly, easy access to aperture/zoom/focus and efficient management of audio levels on the camera. You'll likely end up with a 1 or 2 channel UHF lavalier system, and you'll want XLR inputs for that. Add in the magic of the customized presets that can be loaded into the cam, and you've got a very affordable imaging package.

We test and shoot with two HV20s, an XH-A1, Sony EX1, and HPX500. The XH-A1 compares very favourably, and for various reasons is my number one pick (along with the HVX200) for 35mm adapter use based on edge to edge sharpness and extremely low chromatic aberration when used with our flipped Brevis rig. Canon's HDV encoding is excellent and the tape workflow works well if you're shooting longer periods by yourself.
 
Xha1

Xha1

Dennis,

I have wanted to ask you a question. Since you use both the A1 and HVX, do you ever have a problem with flickering using the Brevis and the HVX together? I too use an adapter with vibrating screen and no matter what I set the HVX to, I see the footage flickering around the edges (even when I zoomed plenty far onto the screen).
 
Hi Daniel-

I'm a commercial still shooter here and I also do video. As well, I'm the guy on Elite Video's DVD instructionals on most all of the still and vid cams available. I just bought the Xh-A1. The MV-20 is the best of the crop on the palm-sized HD cams.
Problem is, in low-light, it goes all pixely. Sure, in controlled lighting situations, the MV-20 can produce an excellent picture. Thing is, you can't control the lighting with video like you can with stills. To excel the A1, you have to spend a lot more money. If you do weddings, it is the camera to get. As stated above, it commands respect. There is no way you would walk into a wedding with a consumer Digital camera. When I look at payback on my equipment, the video cams always earn their keep quicker too. I bought my A1 this week, and by next week, it will be half paid for. It's a pat hand... get one!
 
I agree totally with the guys above, it's all about having a camera that you can control with the most important being IRIS & Colour Temp. Also a nice long zoom coupled with 1/3" or bigger imager means lower DOF - something a consumer cam will never give you.
Furthermore, I use a DVX, XH-A1 & JVC HD-200 shooting weddings full-time and no other prosumer camera says roll out the red carpet like the JVC. This is true here in Sydney where you often have to compete for a good vantage point amongst wedding guests toting big-ass Canon & Nikon DSLRs.

Hey Huy Vu, how did you change your user ID?

Cheers,
 
if you are a professional photographer and you want to also do weddings w/short's on the side then i really think the XH-A1 for example will complement your skills. the HV20 was a great camera for me. i bought it after my XH-A1 and was ASTOUNDED at how good a picture that it took. but the rub was that i always had to carry a little LED light around with me so that I could "freeze" the exposure and have some manual control over my shots. it was a pain in the butt. but the video was AWESOME. that said, there is no way that I would use it or any of the other fabulous canon "consumer" HDV cams for anything that I really wanted to use my skills for. there just isn't many manual controls. it's like a canon didgital ELPH vs. a Canon 40D. great pics from both but no match in tweakability. you, being a photographer should really appreciate the manual controls of the pro jobbies. if you are short on funds, and really want to make a short film, then by all means the HV20/HV30 will with some ingenuity will make a real decent entry. perhaps, it might actually be a good idea until you get the proper film skills and want to graduate up another notch. that would also be a possible route. elph....40D? HG10/HV20/HV30...XH-A1. it's really up to you and how much time AND money you want to invest.
 
TK, no flicker should be evident particularly at 1/48s or 1/60s. If there is, make sure you're using manual aperture, gain and shutter speed so the camera is not changing exposure on you. If you're already doing that, something is not right with your adapter...likely excessive oscillation amplitude.
 
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