Canon Camcorders Xha1s
Canon XHA1s or Panasonic AG-HMC150?
I have been saving this summer and have chalked about about 3500 dollars. I am looking to buy a more professional camera then the one I have now (Canon Vixia HF-200) but am torn between the Canon XHA1s and the Panasonic AG-HMC150. I am also selling my Macbook pro to get a new iMac with a quad core processor so I will be able to edit with ease. I know the hmc150 is almost 2 years old now and the Canon is less then a year old. Should that effect my decision, considering the advancements in technology? Also the xha1s shoots on mini dv tapes while the hmc150 on sd cards. I think I like the idea of sd cards more, but do I lose quality with sd cards? Please help me make my decision! Any other camera ideas in this price range would be appreciated. Final question, is it a bad idea to also look into some of the newer dslr cameras like the 7D? Or should I stick with real camcorders….? Thanks!
If the video captured to miniDV tape (DV and HDV format) were the same format that the HMC150 captures, I could understand the dillmma – but it is not. The HMC captures AVCHD compressed MTS files.
DV/HDV video’s data stream (bitrate) is 25 mbps. The best AVCHD can do from the HMC150 is 24 mbps – more compression = reduced bit rate = more discarded video data = reduced video quality.
Also, if you do not re-use the miniDV tape (the special HD tape is not necessary), then the tape is the archive. With SD cards, what is your video archive process?
The DSLRs are interesting – they have the same issues with video archive… and add in their poor audio control issues… but they do have a better lens selection.
I would have the XHA1 on the short list for sure – but drop the Panny… and investigate the DSLR.
Generally, the DSLRs save to a less compressed h.264 stream, so it is up there with HDV. For the audio, you can capture with an external device (like a Zoom H4) and sync with the video then mute the audio captured by the camera. Final Cut makes that pretty easy to do.
The Sony HDR-FX1000 miniDV tape) and JVC GY-HM100 (SD cards) are worth looking into…
Talking Tech – Canon’s XH A1s camcorder
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Vasst Training DVD: Inside the Canon XHA1 and XHG1 Camcorders – by Donald and Daniel Berube, & Douglas S. Eagle $53.95 Inside the Canon XHA1 and XHG1, by Donald Berube, Daniel Berube, and Douglas S. Eagle Join Don and Dan Berube, well known digital filmmakers and Canon camcorder specialists, and Douglas Spotted Eagle, HDV Guru and author of the best-selling book, HDV: What You NEED to Know, as they examine the features, capabilities, and challenges of the Canon XH A1 and XH G1 camcorders. Don and Dan take viewers … |
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IEEE 1394(4-pin to 4-pin) cable (Replace sony VMC-IL4415) for Canon camcorder $3.99 IEEE 1394(4-pin to 4-pin) cable (Replace sony VMC-IL4415) for Canon camcorder . 4-pin to 4-pin IEEE 1394 iLink FireWire Cable dv out to laptopConnect and transfer home movie from your digital camcorder to Notebook computer.You will need a Firewire port on your computer, also known as a DV port or IEEE 1394, to use this cable. This is NOT a USB cable.This DV cable will connect your laptop (notebook… |
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Canon XH-A1S Camcorder Memory Card 2GB Standard Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card $8.95 2GB Standard Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card… |
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Marshall Electronics V-LCD70XP-HDMIPT 7 Small Portable Field / Camera-Top LCD Monitor With HDMI Loop-Through (with Canon BP-900 Battery Mount) Includes FREE HD-Toys 10 Articulating Monitor Arm ($99.95 Value) $979.95 The V-LCD70XP-HDMIPT is the world’s first camera-top monitor with integrated HDMI loop-through. This highly-desired feature allows the camera operator to pass-through the HDMI video input from the V-LCD70XP-HDMIPT to another monitor for a client, director, focus puller or crew/talent member to view on-location. This handy “all-in-one” solution bypasses the need for HDMI splitters, additional power… |