XH A1 vs. V1U
- Thread starter thl815
- Start date
Stas_Tagios
Well-known member
Having shot tv shows with both cameras, I can honestly say I preferred the Canon to the Sony in terms of usability/functionality, though both cameras produce similar imagery. The Sony is lighter and so easier to handhold for a longer time, but the Canon feels more solidly built, is more customizable (with regards to image and operability) and it has an iris ring (as opposed to the Sony's iris dial), which makes smooth stop changes much easier to achieve. The Canon has 1/3" CCDs, which yield a shallower depth-of-field and a stop more sensitivity than the Sony's 1/4" CMOS chips. The Canon's lens is wider at its wide end than the Sony, which is helpful for shooting in cramped quarters.
The Canon does have some quirks, however, including its 24f mode, which can only play back in Canon cameras, and not Sony or other HDV decks. So you'd probably need to get a cheap Canon HDV camera (like the HV30) as a feeder for your NLE. Also, you cannot pull focus while you zoom. In other words, turning the focus ring during a zoom will have no effect. Strange. The camera's audio controls don't allow you use the camera mike at the same time as an external mike, which can be annoying in some situations.
After some brief testing of both cameras last year, I selected the Canon over the Sony to shoot a doc series for Showtime, despite its quirks. Now, however, there are more options in choosing and HDV camera. I'd seriously consider the Sony Z7u, which has a fully manual interchangeable lens that's fantastic for the camera's price range. If the Z7 had been out last year, I would have used it instead of the Canon. There's also Sony's memory card HD camera, the EX1, which from most reports, produces stunning imagery. The Z7 and EX1 are pricier than the XH-A1 and V1 by a good chunk of change, but if they're within your budget, they deserve serious consideration.
The Canon does have some quirks, however, including its 24f mode, which can only play back in Canon cameras, and not Sony or other HDV decks. So you'd probably need to get a cheap Canon HDV camera (like the HV30) as a feeder for your NLE. Also, you cannot pull focus while you zoom. In other words, turning the focus ring during a zoom will have no effect. Strange. The camera's audio controls don't allow you use the camera mike at the same time as an external mike, which can be annoying in some situations.
After some brief testing of both cameras last year, I selected the Canon over the Sony to shoot a doc series for Showtime, despite its quirks. Now, however, there are more options in choosing and HDV camera. I'd seriously consider the Sony Z7u, which has a fully manual interchangeable lens that's fantastic for the camera's price range. If the Z7 had been out last year, I would have used it instead of the Canon. There's also Sony's memory card HD camera, the EX1, which from most reports, produces stunning imagery. The Z7 and EX1 are pricier than the XH-A1 and V1 by a good chunk of change, but if they're within your budget, they deserve serious consideration.
Are you the dude that made that upcoming documentary i=on Showtime, what was it? something like "Why am I still not married?"
Stas_Tagios
Well-known member
Yup. It's called "I Can't Believe I'm Still Single," airing every Sunday on Showtime, at 11:30 pm (and 8:30 if you're on the west coast and get Showtime East), and also available On Demand.
Drew Ott
Wish I were banned.
I've been capturing with the XHA1 as a deck since the camera first came out. The issue with it is that hypothetically, you can't be editing and shooting at the same time.
Say you were shooting a feature and you wanted to keep a rough edit throughout the production. You couldn't start capturing your tapes right after you shot because you still need to use the camera to shoot. Buying something like the HV10/20/30 allows you to keep shooting, and you can also use it as a B-camera.
Some will tell you that capturing with the XHA1 will wear out its tape heads, which sounds true in theory, but I don't buy into that theory.
Say you were shooting a feature and you wanted to keep a rough edit throughout the production. You couldn't start capturing your tapes right after you shot because you still need to use the camera to shoot. Buying something like the HV10/20/30 allows you to keep shooting, and you can also use it as a B-camera.
Some will tell you that capturing with the XHA1 will wear out its tape heads, which sounds true in theory, but I don't buy into that theory.
Stas_Tagios
Well-known member
The more tape you run through the camera, the faster the heads will wear out. That's why it's better to have a deck or cheap camera dedicated strictly for digitizing and playing back footage, and keep your $3000 camera strictly for shooting. Occasional playback on your production camera is fine, but for the heavy-duty use of digitizing, get a deck or HV30.
thl you can use another cam as a deck, but dont think you need to fork out the extra $ if you dont have it. It will be fine.
Ive shot on the V1 beside the A1, in real world. When it came to color timing, the V1 wouldnt let me do that much, if I pushed one part of the image especially in the mids to black the image became blocky garbage.
Ive shot on the V1 beside the A1, in real world. When it came to color timing, the V1 wouldnt let me do that much, if I pushed one part of the image especially in the mids to black the image became blocky garbage.