Can't decide HV-20 or XH-A1 - Page 2 - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

srm006 · 03-04-07, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the reply...

Is the XH-A1 only truly necessary if I plan on working in HD? I know it has plenty of manual controls and settings... but if I just decide to shoot in SD, will I regret getting the XH-A1? or will it still be noticeably better than the GL2??

it would probably be great to have the XLR imputs-- but I don't I don't know if that's gonna be worth $2500 more than the HV20 to me.

toni1 · 04-04-07, 01:33 PM

I doubt that footage of HX-A1 downconverted from hd to sd will give better result than GL2 in SD

It all depends on who you are shooting for and importance of footage

1-If you are semi professional or even professional and most users you edit for are (use and throw ) and far from moving to hd display , then I would keep GL2 and buy HV20 equivalent small easy camcorder

2- If the footage are ? historicaly ? important to keep for future re use with a lot of low light shooting conditions then the A1 is important (if not then solution1)

DarkDTSHD · 05-04-07, 06:34 AM

As one of the other's mentioned I too think it comes down to your useage. You mentioned it would only be for "home movies". Which I'm guessing will also mean you'll be using it on vacations? If so I'd go with the HV20.

While the A1 isn't HUGE it's not really small enough to put in your travel bag. And over time I'm not sure you'd be willing to carry around a camcorder with the A1's dimensions for casual use. If you're doing indie films or documentaries on a budget then I'd definitely go for the A1.

With the A1 you have a lot more control and it uses Canon's L-series lens (their "elite" line of lenses...also available in their DSLR lens line).

I'd like to see the HV20 go head-to-head with the upcoming JVC HD7. To see if the JVC is worth the extra $500 USD. It's feature set does look interesting.

I too am in the market for probably the HV20 and am vaguely entertaining the idea of the A1...but it's the dimensions that might be the deal breaker for me...as I'm more of a photographer too. So in my travels I would have a DSLR/lenses/flash/accessories, laptop and a HD camcorder. Hmmmm...Not sure I'd be able to squeeze in an A1 in my Lowepro backpack. And I don't have a wife to make carry the A1 around for me.

Love to see more video clips taken using the A1. Need more convincing. There's only 4 clips available right now. How about some dance or some kind of sports footage? Something with vibrant colors.

Thanks.

G-Style · 09-05-07, 06:15 PM

hello everybody. this is my first post (yah). im having the same inner battle myself between the xh-a1 and the hv-20. i have been looking at several different clips from several different post. and im still stuck.

the differnece breaker for me is that i plan on buying a mac also to edit all that hd video. and the price of the hv-20 ($950) compaired to the price of the A1 (close to $4k) will likely make the decision for me, but i need something thats capable of doing low budget commercials and music videos. i already have the client list available, im just making my decision now......its very hard though.

wuzabeeb · 09-05-07, 07:29 PM

I've ot BOTH camcorders.. the XH A1 is just about the most incredible camcorder on the market for HDV ..get's remarkably close to my XL H1 ..apart from the lens .. gorgeous low light..amazing still pics .. SUPER fast focus .. very sharp pictures for a fixed lens ... price? US$3,300 with a $250 rebate making it a lot less than you think.
The HV-20 ...incredibly good 'progressive' mode...remember not to move the camera when shooting at low frame rates ...let your subject do the moving.
Low light .. OK .. not as good as the XH A1 ... and the HV-20 zoom and focus controls albeit fine...are small for big fingers..but then the IR remote has a zoom function as well ...so you could use that.
Compared to my HC3 .. the HV-20 gives sharper pictures all the time ...but the low light is only comparable.
XH A1 is thebest value for money camcorder that I've ever bought ...and it totally blows away my old Sony Z1U.

toni1 · 09-05-07, 07:41 PM

Agree with wuzabeeb, Have seen nice footage of HV20 incredibly nice footage of HX-A1. If I had semi pro stuff to do with music and so and the budget for that I'll buy myself HX-A1 right away

wuzabeeb · 09-05-07, 09:57 PM

Hi .. just to prove... I'm uploading some HV20 and XHA1 stuff at the moment.
BTW .. I've just noticed that in the night mode (crescent moon indicator on screen) of the HV20 .. if you push the joystick and go to EXP and pull it down to -5 or -6 ..nearly all the noise goes away, but the picture looks just as good, slightly darker ... actually more realistic .. but NO noise!

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03-04-07, 11:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
srm006 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Washington DC, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the reply... Is the XH-A1 only truly necessary if I plan on working in HD? I know it has plenty of manual controls and settings... but if I just decide to shoot in SD, will I regret getting the XH-A1? or will it still be noticeably better than the GL2?? it would probably be great to have the XLR imputs-- but I don't I don't know if that's gonna be worth $2500 more than the HV20 to me.

04-04-07, 01:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I doubt that footage of HX-A1 downconverted from hd to sd will give better result than GL2 in SD It all depends on who you are shooting for and importance of footage 1-If you are semi professional or even professional and most users you edit for are (use and throw ) and far from moving to hd display , then I would keep GL2 and buy HV20 equivalent small easy camcorder 2- If the footage are ? historicaly ? important to keep for future re use with a lot of low light shooting conditions then the A1 is important (if not then solution1)

05-04-07, 06:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
DarkDTSHD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As one of the other's mentioned I too think it comes down to your useage. You mentioned it would only be for "home movies". Which I'm guessing will also mean you'll be using it on vacations? If so I'd go with the HV20. While the A1 isn't HUGE it's not really small enough to put in your travel bag. And over time I'm not sure you'd be willing to carry around a camcorder with the A1's dimensions for casual use. If you're doing indie films or documentaries on a budget then I'd definitely go for the A1. With the A1 you have a lot more control and it uses Canon's L-series lens (their "elite" line of lenses...also available in their DSLR lens line). I'd like to see the HV20 go head-to-head with the upcoming JVC HD7. To see if the JVC is worth the extra $500 USD. It's feature set does look interesting. I too am in the market for probably the HV20 and am vaguely entertaining the idea of the A1...but it's the dimensions that might be the deal breaker for me...as I'm more of a photographer too. So in my travels I would have a DSLR/lenses/flash/accessories, laptop and a HD camcorder. Hmmmm...Not sure I'd be able to squeeze in an A1 in my Lowepro backpack. And I don't have a wife to make carry the A1 around for me. Love to see more video clips taken using the A1. Need more convincing. There's only 4 clips available right now. How about some dance or some kind of sports footage? Something with vibrant colors. Thanks.

09-05-07, 06:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
G-Style Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hello everybody. this is my first post (yah). im having the same inner battle myself between the xh-a1 and the hv-20. i have been looking at several different clips from several different post. and im still stuck. the differnece breaker for me is that i plan on buying a mac also to edit all that hd video. and the price of the hv-20 ($950) compaired to the price of the A1 (close to $4k) will likely make the decision for me, but i need something thats capable of doing low budget commercials and music videos. i already have the client list available, im just making my decision now......its very hard though.

09-05-07, 07:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've ot BOTH camcorders.. the XH A1 is just about the most incredible camcorder on the market for HDV ..get's remarkably close to my XL H1 ..apart from the lens .. gorgeous low light..amazing still pics .. SUPER fast focus .. very sharp pictures for a fixed lens ... price? US$3,300 with a $250 rebate making it a lot less than you think. The HV-20 ...incredibly good 'progressive' mode...remember not to move the camera when shooting at low frame rates ...let your subject do the moving. Low light .. OK .. not as good as the XH A1 ... and the HV-20 zoom and focus controls albeit fine...are small for big fingers..but then the IR remote has a zoom function as well ...so you could use that. Compared to my HC3 .. the HV-20 gives sharper pictures all the time ...but the low light is only comparable. XH A1 is thebest value for money camcorder that I've ever bought ...and it totally blows away my old Sony Z1U.

09-05-07, 07:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Agree with wuzabeeb, Have seen nice footage of HV20 incredibly nice footage of HX-A1. If I had semi pro stuff to do with music and so and the budget for that I'll buy myself HX-A1 right away

09-05-07, 09:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi .. just to prove... I'm uploading some HV20 and XHA1 stuff at the moment. BTW .. I've just noticed that in the night mode (crescent moon indicator on screen) of the HV20 .. if you push the joystick and go to EXP and pull it down to -5 or -6 ..nearly all the noise goes away, but the picture looks just as good, slightly darker ... actually more realistic .. but NO noise!