User feedback on Canon XH-A1 - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

rbrtpetersen · 24-04-07, 11:58 PM

I would like some specific feedback from users of the Canon XH-A1.
1. Does the camcorder have motor noise like the GL-1, that is clearly recorded when using the internal microphone? My GL-1 has a whining noise that can be clearly heard; I sent it back to the factory and they said it was normal.
2. Does the Canon XH-A1 us the same "flimsy" tape transport as the GL-1?

wuzabeeb · 10-05-07, 08:05 PM

Hi,
My XH A1 does not have a whining noise when using the internal microphone, however, when I plugged an EXTERNAL Sony Stereo Electret in to the input mic socket, the mount for the microphone was very tight, and THAT allowed pickup of motor noise as a vibration to the external mic. The INTERNAL mic is obviously mounted on sufficiently good isolation to not pickup the vibration .. and it's probably got rumble filters on it too.

The deck mechanism seems pretty good to me ... it looks like my XL H1 mech to be honest.

Apart from that .. the pictures are absolutely stunningly good, especially when compared to my Sony Z1U.

I can thoroughly recommend this camcorder as being the best value that I've seen, and also the sharpest pictures, expecially with the intelligent auto focus which is just amazing.

rbrtpetersen · 10-05-07, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the feedback. What is the diameter, or model number of your sony shotgun? Also, I would appreciate any feedback on how well the heads do; do they need cleaned often? Thanks again. I am leaning towards this camera, but may wait to see what the new Sony camera looks like. I hear that it will have 1/2 inch CCD's and will use memory cards similar, but supposedly cheaper, than the Panasonic P2 cards.

wuzabeeb · 10-05-07, 08:54 PM

Yes.. I saw the Sony camcorder at NAB2007 ...where I bought my Canon XA H1 ... from side by side comparison .. apart from the compression codec at 35 MB/sec option .. the Canon has an equivalent noise to the 1/2" XDCAM HD from my investigations under similar circumstances. My own use calls for 60 minute or 80 minute tapes / hard drive recording for concerts ...so the Sony EX looks like a MUCH more expensive option with less record time .. at the moment. When memory prices get lower .. who knows.. also I needed my camcorder now ... and have had an awesome experience with the XL H1 .. so pleased with the user presets and still capture features..that the XH A1 seems to be my natural choice for a second camera.
Having been a loyal Sony man for the last 20 years .. it's a break that I had to consider seriously. Things could change a lot in the next year or so, as the market finally wakes up to HD .... I was shooting HDV on an HDR-FX1 3 years ago!
The REAL advances are going to be in the I - frame compression ... the HDV codec is terrific until you get a lot of motion .... and sometimes a dithering auto-focus can add to the problem .... which is why I like the Canon XH A1 Intelligent Auto Focus over the Sony ... it's so quick and precise.

If you're not in a rush to buy, and have US$10k to spend .. then wait until Christmas .... ;-)

wuzabeeb · 10-05-07, 09:05 PM

Oops ..sorry ..the rest .. it wasn't a Sony shotgun ..justy a cheap stereo ECM ... too big for the on camera mic mount really ...so the vibration absorption rubbers probably were unable to work.
Regarding cleaning heads .. I've only had to do that onany of my HDV camcorders when I use a different manufacturer's tape. The lubricants are different on the tapes from different sources. I usually stick with one brand on a camera .. the Canon tapes are trouble free.. and so are the Sony ones. I used Panasonic ordinary DV tapes on my Sony HC1 for over a year and had no problems either.
Changed tapes from Sony HDV Master to Panasonic DV on my Z1U, and got dropouts within 5 minutes of recording. Ran the tape cleaner twice, then ran a Sony Tape on play through it for an hour ... and stuck with Sony on that Camcorder ever after ..no problems.
I would underline that there is nothing wrong with Panasonic tapes.. it was just changing to use them AFTER the camera had been running Sony HDV Master tapes for 6 months.
There are several notes on pro video and edit forums from various video people and editors who have experienced similar.

V best wishes

rbrtpetersen · 10-05-07, 09:45 PM

Thanks WUZABEEB! This was great infomation. I checked the size of the XH-A1 against my GL-1 and it is significantly larger. I had a lot of issues with my GL-1 that required factory service, and still have a stuck pixel, but I'm starting to believe that this Canon is more durable.

wuzabeeb · 10-05-07, 10:21 PM

I have to agree.. I stayed away from Canon because my friends with XL 1's had had reliability problems .. but my recent experience with my 3 Canon's has been superb .. this stuff is really well engineered now. The XH A1 is large due to the two XLR audio connectors and the very nice 82 mm fixed lens. However, it is extremely good to use, and once you get used to the zoom control being a bit close to the back, the manual iris ring, focus and zoom ring are just great to work with. Pixel wise, should be no problem nowadays ... they have pixel mapping software to fix any errant ones.
If it's too bad, their warranty will replace the CCD block.

V Best

24-04-07, 11:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
rbrtpetersen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Girard, Ohio Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	User feedback on Canon XH-A1 I would like some specific feedback from users of the Canon XH-A1. 1. Does the camcorder have motor noise like the GL-1, that is clearly recorded when using the internal microphone? My GL-1 has a whining noise that can be clearly heard; I sent it back to the factory and they said it was normal. 2. Does the Canon XH-A1 us the same "flimsy" tape transport as the GL-1?

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10-05-07, 08:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, My XH A1 does not have a whining noise when using the internal microphone, however, when I plugged an EXTERNAL Sony Stereo Electret in to the input mic socket, the mount for the microphone was very tight, and THAT allowed pickup of motor noise as a vibration to the external mic. The INTERNAL mic is obviously mounted on sufficiently good isolation to not pickup the vibration .. and it's probably got rumble filters on it too. The deck mechanism seems pretty good to me ... it looks like my XL H1 mech to be honest. Apart from that .. the pictures are absolutely stunningly good, especially when compared to my Sony Z1U. I can thoroughly recommend this camcorder as being the best value that I've seen, and also the sharpest pictures, expecially with the intelligent auto focus which is just amazing.

10-05-07, 08:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
rbrtpetersen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Girard, Ohio Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the feedback. What is the diameter, or model number of your sony shotgun? Also, I would appreciate any feedback on how well the heads do; do they need cleaned often? Thanks again. I am leaning towards this camera, but may wait to see what the new Sony camera looks like. I hear that it will have 1/2 inch CCD's and will use memory cards similar, but supposedly cheaper, than the Panasonic P2 cards.

10-05-07, 08:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes.. I saw the Sony camcorder at NAB2007 ...where I bought my Canon XA H1 ... from side by side comparison .. apart from the compression codec at 35 MB/sec option .. the Canon has an equivalent noise to the 1/2" XDCAM HD from my investigations under similar circumstances. My own use calls for 60 minute or 80 minute tapes / hard drive recording for concerts ...so the Sony EX looks like a MUCH more expensive option with less record time .. at the moment. When memory prices get lower .. who knows.. also I needed my camcorder now ... and have had an awesome experience with the XL H1 .. so pleased with the user presets and still capture features..that the XH A1 seems to be my natural choice for a second camera. Having been a loyal Sony man for the last 20 years .. it's a break that I had to consider seriously. Things could change a lot in the next year or so, as the market finally wakes up to HD .... I was shooting HDV on an HDR-FX1 3 years ago! The REAL advances are going to be in the I - frame compression ... the HDV codec is terrific until you get a lot of motion .... and sometimes a dithering auto-focus can add to the problem .... which is why I like the Canon XH A1 Intelligent Auto Focus over the Sony ... it's so quick and precise. If you're not in a rush to buy, and have US$10k to spend .. then wait until Christmas .... ;-)

10-05-07, 09:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oops ..sorry ..the rest .. it wasn't a Sony shotgun ..justy a cheap stereo ECM ... too big for the on camera mic mount really ...so the vibration absorption rubbers probably were unable to work. Regarding cleaning heads .. I've only had to do that onany of my HDV camcorders when I use a different manufacturer's tape. The lubricants are different on the tapes from different sources. I usually stick with one brand on a camera .. the Canon tapes are trouble free.. and so are the Sony ones. I used Panasonic ordinary DV tapes on my Sony HC1 for over a year and had no problems either. Changed tapes from Sony HDV Master to Panasonic DV on my Z1U, and got dropouts within 5 minutes of recording. Ran the tape cleaner twice, then ran a Sony Tape on play through it for an hour ... and stuck with Sony on that Camcorder ever after ..no problems. I would underline that there is nothing wrong with Panasonic tapes.. it was just changing to use them AFTER the camera had been running Sony HDV Master tapes for 6 months. There are several notes on pro video and edit forums from various video people and editors who have experienced similar. V best wishes

10-05-07, 09:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
rbrtpetersen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Girard, Ohio Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks WUZABEEB! This was great infomation. I checked the size of the XH-A1 against my GL-1 and it is significantly larger. I had a lot of issues with my GL-1 that required factory service, and still have a stuck pixel, but I'm starting to believe that this Canon is more durable.

10-05-07, 10:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
wuzabeeb Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bideford Devon UK Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have to agree.. I stayed away from Canon because my friends with XL 1's had had reliability problems .. but my recent experience with my 3 Canon's has been superb .. this stuff is really well engineered now. The XH A1 is large due to the two XLR audio connectors and the very nice 82 mm fixed lens. However, it is extremely good to use, and once you get used to the zoom control being a bit close to the back, the manual iris ring, focus and zoom ring are just great to work with. Pixel wise, should be no problem nowadays ... they have pixel mapping software to fix any errant ones. If it's too bad, their warranty will replace the CCD block. V Best