Canon's new XL H1S and XL H1A prosumer HD camcorders
By Paul Miller 
posted Apr 10th 2008 10:32AM
posted Apr 10th 2008 10:32AM
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Cool HD,and Pretty Video Camera,the button looks like the pilot's instrument panel.
Nice upgrades, but I still wouldn't bother with Canon when you can get true 24P/30P on other cameras in the same price range. I get GREAT footage from my XL2, but I'll probably migrate to HD with Panasonic.
Ditto.
Looks like my JVC GY-HD110U that I've had for a year and a half now...
Granted, it's only 720p (not 1080) and gets grainy in low-light, but shooting at 24p, I've gotten only compliments on how not-like-like-a-camcorder the well-lit footage turns out. If 'new' $5000+ cameras are still using HDV tapes, I see no reason to change now.
I don't have that much knowledge about HD video cameras but all those buttons not to mention the size of that thing gives out the 'don't fuck with me' message to other video recorders.
^^ what he said! ^^
If you mount it on a "real" video tripod, clip on a wireless mic system, and a DTE kit, you start to get real respect.
Who says money can't buy respect? :D
I still feel this series is halfway between a usable shoulder cam and a handicam-style machine. They don't fit comfortably on my shoulder, but it's still too awkward to hold out from your body by the handle and bottom or lens. The JVC's mentioned above seem much nicer for this task.
I wish Canon would make this less of a 'tweener - at least for my use it would be handy.
uggh. now I have to find $9G's to replace my old HL H1???
Sexy. Now I just need to scrounge up a few thousand dollars to upgrade from my XL2.
Fu*k its still 1440x1080. throw it in the bin. pick u your act canon you are well behind the competition here. i want your precious lenses on a proper 16:9 1920x1080 ccd! Is that so hard to ask for!!!!!!!!
Good camera work, steady shots and proper lighting will usually make up for the HDV pixel set. The XL-H1 had great resolution shooting uncompressed video. It's usually easier to complain about specs than it is to go out and shoot good video with perfectly workable equipment. $.02
Haw- way to innovate Canon! Look for new cameras from Sony and Panasonic(not to mention RED) to debut next week at NAB and further bury this dinosaur.
"uncompressed HD-SD1 output"
you mean SDI?
Looks amazing :)
So I just had this idea... Call me crazy but instead of loading camcorders with all those selection/menu/option buttons on the exterior, why not allow Final Cut Pro to directly interface with the camera settings? You could save a variety of presets to the onboard memory and make your selections on the fly. My guess is the price could then come down on the camcorder and with the savings, you could buy a MacBook Pro.
eh, I'll just stick with the HVX-200
That's one sexy beast!
I have a Canon XH-A1. You can't beat the L-series lens that comes with these "pro-sumer" Canons--amazing clarity and great flexibility. The 24F (faux 24p) works pretty well for most applications. The MiniDV tape is great for having and instant tape backup of your footage when used with a DTE solution. The Panasonic and Sony cams in the same price/feature range are also pretty good.
My next camera will be one that shoots 1080p (or higher) at true 24F. Maybe Red will have a prosumer model that pwns the Canon, Sony, and Panasonics?
For all you haters who think it has too many buttons, there is a fully automatic mode just for you in case you can't figure out how to use the manual settings for adjusting shutter, aperture, gain, focus, custom presets, white balance, and all the other stuff a serious video photographer needs.
I tend to use the 24F frame rate setting for all of my productions that go to web--fewer frames to compress, no raster tearing when de-interlacing, and a smooth, natural motion blur. Good cameras for the money.
i just hope they fix the lens chromatic aberration... was very ugly in the older model... :(
dammit and i just bought myself a XHA1! good thing its the same imaging system so its basically the same camera without the interchangeable lenses.. which would be a plus. So will this have the same look as the XLH1?
you'd think that with all the comments and reviews since the xl1 they would have attempted to change the body style. but no
and canon glass still comes out too warm for my taste. ill stick with my sony
Na...I'll stick with my H1. At the NAB last April 08, it didn't impressed me.
The Sony S270U is way lighter, Sharper, Clearer, SloMo, Full size DV/MiniDV plus SD card.
I shot the footage with H1S and the S270U. took the footage home.
The S2700U $7400. The S270U images Surpass the H1S.
The bells and wizzle on the H1S are useless. Everything are done in post anyway why waste the doe.
I'm selling my H1, any offer?