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

stuff1 · 13-03-07, 07:02 PM

here's the deal. I'm an avid photographer and a passable videographer. My sole interest in video is basically what amounts to home movies albeit with a bit more style than those of my parents.

I usually at it with premiere Pro 2.0.

I am currently using a Sony TRV-900 3ccd DV camera. It's okay, but very noisy in low light (in my opinion). It's time for an upgrade.

I want to go HD. The two contenders at this point would be the XH-A1 or HV-20.

Clearly the HV-20 is smaller (easier to carry around) and about a third the price.

On the other hand, the XH-A1 sounds like an incredible camera. My big concern is, is the XH-A1 overkill? Or, will I decide six months from now that I really should've bought the better camera?

Any and all input would be welcome (including other models / options I hadn't considered)

note: I was at B&H last week looking at cameras. The salesman there talked me out of buying the XH-A1 that day because he said the price was due to fall within the next few weeks. You might want to keep that in mind if you're looking to buy one any time soon.

wuzabeeb · 14-03-07, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the interesting 'leak' about the XH A1 .. I'm just about to buy one.. presumably NAB will be where they announce the price drop..due to some upcoming competition that they've heard about ... my personal take on this, is that the Canon range is the only one to go for. Since shirking my 10 year loyalty to Sony by selling my Z1U ..and getting the XL H1 ..and recently the newer wide angle zoom lens.. I've got a whole new respect for the Canon products. The XL H1 just blows away anything the Z1U could do.. and the XH A1 will give you the same quality at a fraction of the price.. and remember.. it matches the Z1U in low light ...so there's nothing better out there in HDV unless you go to 'broadcast'. Even the XHCAM HD is barely any improvement in low light ... I've compared and decided to stay with the XL H1.
The HV-20 is capable of pretty amazing stuff.. makes my HC3 look awful .. I saw the HV - 20 at London's Videoforum last month ... nice and neat and a much higher resolution than its competitors.
I would pay the extra (at the new lower price) for the Canon .. if you're a photography person .. you'll appreciate the gorgeous pictures you get from a true 1440x1080 3 CCD camcorder ... the only one out there at that amazingly low price.

toni1 · 14-03-07, 11:45 PM

Have seen footage of A1, wont hesitate buying this or Sony FX7 even with the extra size compared to smaller cams.
Depend on budget ofcourse and use

TheoO · 20-03-07, 04:00 AM

umm I`m thinking to buy that hv20 cam

and btw is cmos sensor better than 3ccd or will it give you the same contrast /vivid colors?

toni1 · 20-03-07, 02:54 PM

I dont think you are not mixing up with sony hc7, the one to be compared with canon hv20

I beleive that FX7 is more prosumer product with very good low light and incredible footage in daylight even compared to Sony FX1 wich was quiet good already and also has a lot of other features;

Portability and price are the only two factors that would let me hasitate

toni1 · 20-03-07, 02:57 PM

FX7 is to compare to HX-A1 and I don't have a clear idea wich is the best of these 2

toni1 · 27-03-07, 10:20 PM

Upon camcorderinfo new review of hv20, the big gap beween HXA1 and HV20 :
HV20 can only compare to A1 at normal day light, A1 is very much better lowlight but is bigger and much more expensive

markius · 31-03-07, 04:53 PM

hello stuff1, I think it only depends what you want to do with the cam. as you say you want it for home videos. hv20 should be enough. Image quality will be good.
I would only go for xh a1 because of manual controls. BTW, there will be jvc hd7 which seems to be between hv20 and xh a1.

ok take care!

srm006 · 03-04-07, 11:39 AM

Does anyone know how the GL2 is expected to compare to the HV-20?

I am an amateur/student filmmaker, and I have been using a GL2 for 3 years already. It's an absolutely amazing camera and has held up great.

I've been planning on upgrading though because I plan to start some more-professional projects.

It seems like the HV-20 is already going to be a better camera than the GL2, not only because of the HD, but all the overall specs just seem better-- am I missing something here?

I assume that if I get the XH-A1, I wouldn't regret it... but at $2500 MORE than the HV20, I feel like maybe I should just start with something "smaller" and better. I can already see myself with the HV20 saying "I wish I'd bought the XH-A1 so I would have THIS and THAT" ...but, I could also buy 3 HV20s for the price of 1 XH-A1.... so that's another thing to think about...

I do want professional looking videos... and I know that's worth the extra money... but not seeing them in action along side each other just makes me worry... it is a big chunk of change. :/

toni1 · 03-04-07, 01:56 PM

GL2 over HV20 in low light inside quality if both on normal dvd resolution
HV20 over Gl2 in outside high light if both on high def resolution

If you want to move to high def then HX-A1 is the good competitor since its good making hd in low light

If low light is not a probleme for you then go for hv20

Another factor to take in account is sound is it important for you (concert for example) or not

13-03-07, 07:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
stuff1 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: northern,nj Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can't decide HV-20 or XH-A1 here's the deal. I'm an avid photographer and a passable videographer. My sole interest in video is basically what amounts to home movies albeit with a bit more style than those of my parents. I usually at it with premiere Pro 2.0. I am currently using a Sony TRV-900 3ccd DV camera. It's okay, but very noisy in low light (in my opinion). It's time for an upgrade. I want to go HD. The two contenders at this point would be the XH-A1 or HV-20. Clearly the HV-20 is smaller (easier to carry around) and about a third the price. On the other hand, the XH-A1 sounds like an incredible camera. My big concern is, is the XH-A1 overkill? Or, will I decide six months from now that I really should've bought the better camera? Any and all input would be welcome (including other models / options I hadn't considered) note: I was at B&H last week looking at cameras. The salesman there talked me out of buying the XH-A1 that day because he said the price was due to fall within the next few weeks. You might want to keep that in mind if you're looking to buy one any time soon.

20-03-07, 04:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheoO Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: cagz Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can't decide HV-20 or XH-A1 umm I`m thinking to buy that hv20 cam and btw is cmos sensor better than 3ccd or will it give you the same contrast /vivid colors?

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14-03-07, 12:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the interesting 'leak' about the XH A1 .. I'm just about to buy one.. presumably NAB will be where they announce the price drop..due to some upcoming competition that they've heard about ... my personal take on this, is that the Canon range is the only one to go for. Since shirking my 10 year loyalty to Sony by selling my Z1U ..and getting the XL H1 ..and recently the newer wide angle zoom lens.. I've got a whole new respect for the Canon products. The XL H1 just blows away anything the Z1U could do.. and the XH A1 will give you the same quality at a fraction of the price.. and remember.. it matches the Z1U in low light ...so there's nothing better out there in HDV unless you go to 'broadcast'. Even the XHCAM HD is barely any improvement in low light ... I've compared and decided to stay with the XL H1. The HV-20 is capable of pretty amazing stuff.. makes my HC3 look awful .. I saw the HV - 20 at London's Videoforum last month ... nice and neat and a much higher resolution than its competitors. I would pay the extra (at the new lower price) for the Canon .. if you're a photography person .. you'll appreciate the gorgeous pictures you get from a true 1440x1080 3 CCD camcorder ... the only one out there at that amazingly low price.

14-03-07, 11:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Have seen footage of A1, wont hesitate buying this or Sony FX7 even with the extra size compared to smaller cams. Depend on budget ofcourse and use

20-03-07, 02:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I dont think you are not mixing up with sony hc7, the one to be compared with canon hv20 I beleive that FX7 is more prosumer product with very good low light and incredible footage in daylight even compared to Sony FX1 wich was quiet good already and also has a lot of other features; Portability and price are the only two factors that would let me hasitate

20-03-07, 02:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	FX7 is to compare to HX-A1 and I don't have a clear idea wich is the best of these 2

27-03-07, 10:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Upon camcorderinfo new review of hv20, the big gap beween HXA1 and HV20 : HV20 can only compare to A1 at normal day light, A1 is very much better lowlight but is bigger and much more expensive

31-03-07, 04:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
markius Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: BCN Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hello stuff1, I think it only depends what you want to do with the cam. as you say you want it for home videos. hv20 should be enough. Image quality will be good. I would only go for xh a1 because of manual controls. BTW, there will be jvc hd7 which seems to be between hv20 and xh a1. ok take care!

03-04-07, 11:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
srm006 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Washington DC, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Does anyone know how the GL2 is expected to compare to the HV-20? I am an amateur/student filmmaker, and I have been using a GL2 for 3 years already. It's an absolutely amazing camera and has held up great. I've been planning on upgrading though because I plan to start some more-professional projects. It seems like the HV-20 is already going to be a better camera than the GL2, not only because of the HD, but all the overall specs just seem better-- am I missing something here? I assume that if I get the XH-A1, I wouldn't regret it... but at $2500 MORE than the HV20, I feel like maybe I should just start with something "smaller" and better. I can already see myself with the HV20 saying "I wish I'd bought the XH-A1 so I would have THIS and THAT" ...but, I could also buy 3 HV20s for the price of 1 XH-A1.... so that's another thing to think about... I do want professional looking videos... and I know that's worth the extra money... but not seeing them in action along side each other just makes me worry... it is a big chunk of change. :/

03-04-07, 01:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	GL2 over HV20 in low light inside quality if both on normal dvd resolution HV20 over Gl2 in outside high light if both on high def resolution If you want to move to high def then HX-A1 is the good competitor since its good making hd in low light If low light is not a probleme for you then go for hv20 Another factor to take in account is sound is it important for you (concert for example) or not