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Canon XH-A1 vs. GL2

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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
There's like a $300 dollar price difference between the two...but the XH-A1 is hd, is the hd really worth it or should I go for the GL2?
Apr 17 2007 9:14PM
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Rajna
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 90
i thought there was alot more price difference between the two than $300?
ive heard the Gl2s dont do very well in low light so it kinda depends of what kind of filming your doing
Apr 17 2007 9:32PM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Well...for the deals I found them at it is about a $400 price difference so...
Apr 17 2007 9:41PM
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leckett1
Posts: 6476 - Karma: 294
gl2's are useless in low light. canon makes amazing cameras for daylight...best in the class id have to say...but they really arent very great at low light in any of their cameras really. \

now ask yourself this: will you be editing in HD? what program will you be using? as far as i know, the only real HD video editing programs are on mac's. premiere pro only supports NTSC, which is what any minidv or hi8 shoots in.
Apr 18 2007 9:27AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
yeah dude make sure you have the Hard Drive to support something that is HD! And make sure your editing software supports HDV/HD video.
Apr 18 2007 11:20AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
If you're lookin at the deals you found on the side of google, try again. They are almost always scams. Check reseller ratings before you buy ANYTHING. I'd look at some other cameras also. I've had the vx1000 and the vx2100 and I love them both. The 21 is alot better in low light but the 1000 has some incredible colors. What experience do you have with these cameras?
Apr 18 2007 12:10PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
check bandhphoto.com i usually find the best deals for cams and stuff on there!
Apr 18 2007 12:12PM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Hmmmmmm...what editing software supports HD for PCs then?
Apr 18 2007 10:36PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
1. Its not HD
2. its better than a GL2
3. I am positive you do not have a computer fast enough to run HDV footage.
Apr 19 2007 12:09AM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Yeah...most likely...so whats a decent priced (meaning $900-1800) 3CCD camera thats better than the GL2?
Apr 19 2007 12:21AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
you thought you could get a XH-A1 for $2200?? haha yeah right
Apr 19 2007 12:22AM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Uhhhh...where'd you get that from?
Apr 19 2007 12:59AM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Does this site look legit...it has the XH-A1 for 1000 without any accessories and the GL2 for 700 without any accessories. The site is www.expresscameras.com
Apr 19 2007 1:44AM
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leckett1
Posts: 6476 - Karma: 294
not legit. thats way too cheap. gl2s retail for about $2499.99 (correct me if im wrong but its close) and theyre selling it for 700? i question the legitimacy of that... even a trv900 is more than 700 on ebay
Apr 19 2007 10:15AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
dude are you kidding me? there are tons of sites that advertise these prices, i think i see a thread once a day linked to those sites. They're not legit, and or they will just sell you the camera body. If you spend 1000 you'll be lucky to get a nice handycam!
Apr 19 2007 11:02AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
bhphoto.com
Apr 19 2007 11:35AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
The XH-A1 films in 1080i compared to the gl2 which does not.
Apr 19 2007 11:37AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
for the price you should look at the GR-HD1
Apr 19 2007 11:38AM
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Lukey_1080
Posts: 618 - Karma: 679
yeah it all depends on what kind of video you want to make.

If you want that clear and crisp look of HDish stuff, then you should go with a 1080i cam(HD)

If you want something that will produce more Film like and warm colors, try something that has a fps or 24p option, which the gl2 has.
Apr 19 2007 12:27PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
Like I said. RESELLER RATINGS Don't buy anything without looking the site up first. You're not going to find a new gl2 for $700.
Apr 19 2007 12:34PM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
you can make most HD look like film in post production alone.
Apr 19 2007 12:39PM
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xnick11
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 171
the XH-A1 is a real nice camera.My home mountain has one and I set it up for one of the guys one day cause he doesn't know how to use it and films auto,actually all of the guys who work their and use that film with it in auto.

But anyways you wouldn't be able to find that camera for that cheap,their like 4,000.

Gl2 are around 1,500.If you want to stay in your price range and want to film fisheye a lot then get the gl2.

If you still wanna stay in your price range and not film as much fish eye shots then I would go with a panasonic dvc-30.The only reason I wouldn't buy one of these is because the thread size on them is small and their is really only 2 kinds of fisheyes that will work good for it.
Apr 19 2007 5:06PM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
you can get an XH-A1 for less than 4, they are $3500 new on bhphoto.com with free shipping and no tax.
Apr 19 2007 5:47PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
eeh not really

you can kind of mimic it, but HDV is restricted to interlaced footage. the Sony FX1, Canon XH-A1, they all shoot in interlaced only, which isnt real HD. Real HD has to be progressive, like the Pani HVX.

and the GL2 does not shoot 24p or any sort of progressive framerate. It shoots 60i, and frame mode, which is just 60i but interlaced a little differently.

I think your best bet is the GL2, mainly because HDV is kind of a waste of money IMO unless you are shooting a broadcast style vid and have an incredibly fast computer.

DO NOT BUY FROM ANY SITE THAT DISPLAYS PRICES THAT CHEAP>/b>
I cannot stress this enough, it is a fucking scam it wont work. Buy from B&H or try a legit seller on ebay. You will not find either for under $2000 (GL2 maybe on ebay, but just barely)
Apr 19 2007 7:34PM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Ok cool I think if I buy it from anywhere Ill buy it from that bhphoto.com place...haha I guess that site I was looking at was bullshit...I was thinking I could get an XH-A1 for 1000. Hmmm time to reconsider cameras...
Apr 19 2007 11:28PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
My FX1 shoots in HDV but also has 24 P and Cine 30....yeah great combo
Apr 20 2007 12:04AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I thought the FX1 only shot cine24? not 24p?
Apr 20 2007 12:41AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
oh my bad yeah its cine 24, but its odd because i was reading through the manual and it calls it 24p. but in the picture profile on the camera it calls it cine 24
Apr 20 2007 1:11AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
No the only Sony cam I know of that shoots 24p (other than cinealtas and XDcams) is one of the new HDV cams (I dont remember the name) and the Z1U
Apr 20 2007 1:47AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,684
what's the difference between 24p and cine24

Apr 20 2007 2:23AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
24p: almost true full frame by frame animation

cine24: interlaced video to mimic the look of 24p.

cine24 suckssss
Apr 20 2007 3:14AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
you can render to progressive
Apr 20 2007 3:58AM
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leckett1
Posts: 6476 - Karma: 294
it gets a little choppy if you do that
Apr 20 2007 9:59AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
and you lose resolution.
besides, I doubt this guy knows how to TRUELY deinterlace, not just add the effect in FCP, because that isnt really deinterlacing.
Apr 20 2007 1:34PM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,634
i think i would go with the GL-2 or the vx2100 but thats not an option

iu think HD files are too big and hard to deal with...i have heard
Apr 22 2007 11:31AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
no it dosent, only if your computer cant handle it, get a mac
Apr 22 2007 12:39PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
Shows how much you know.
Apr 22 2007 2:02PM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
I think I might get 2 of my friends to pitch in some money and get the vx2100...I've heard its a really nice camera in low light and everywhere else
Apr 22 2007 3:27PM
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snocompton
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 269
canon's HD blows compared to sony's or JVC. they just dont have there shit together like other companys do.
Apr 22 2007 9:24PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
Don't get your friends to pitch in. Borrow the money from them and pay them back. It'd be a huge pain to always have it going back and forth. The vx21 is a good choice though. I have it and I like it alot. I might sell mine too. I need summer money and can always get a new one for next year. I'm more into photography now anyway.
Apr 22 2007 9:42PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
Alright heres the bottom line.  I used to have a cannon gl2, well i actually still have it but am trying to sell it. 
Its a good camera if your just looking to film for fun and not proffesionally.

Currently i have  Sony HVR V1U.  It is an HDV, and Tanaka was actually wrong about HDV's shooting only in interlaced.  I dont get where he got that from since the V1U shoots in 24p, 30p, and 60i.  
I personally always shoot in 24p, duh.  

So HDV is wayyyyyyyyy better then any gl2.
Personally the HVR V1U is a little above what you are looking for i bet, and the same with that cannon.  I have a mac with 3 gigs of ram just so i can run this hdv camera on it.

Hope that helped clear up some mistakes said earlier

Apr 23 2007 10:32PM
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
its the HVR V1U.  I got it.  and its an HDV and doesnt shoot in interlaced liked you said it did.  Most people say its the best camera out right now for under 15 grand...


Oh if you really want to get serious just get the RED camera.  Its pretty sick and wont run on any computer, haha.
Apr 23 2007 10:34PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
how can it be HDV then if it actually shoots progressive? wouldnt that be HD instead?
Apr 23 2007 11:32PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
yesterday i hooked my HDR-FX1 and was playing back the Raw Footage that i shot in Tahoe compared to my friends Panny P2. The FX1 actually looked better as far as color, but that could also have to do with how my friend shot with his HVX200. But from what i could tell i really couldnt see much difference between the two. The FX1 shoots alot better than alot of people give it credit for. As do all sony HDV cameras. But sony has also created a Hard Drive for their Cams more specfically the V1U i think it was. But works with all Sony Cameras and HDV Cams.

Click for larger image

i'm not 100 percent sure, but i'm pretty sure using this hard drive it would enable a Sony HDV cam to get full HD quality. Again i'm not sure on that, but thats what someone at B and H said. It links in via FireWire
Apr 24 2007 1:42AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
dooooooooooooooooope!!!^
Apr 24 2007 2:36AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
They've had these for a while but they are in the 1000+ range. Sick idea though. I would kill for one. I hate capturing on my sony heads...
Apr 24 2007 7:17PM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
well worth the money
Apr 24 2007 8:23PM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
yeah well worth it, they're like 1400 or something. but its 60 gigs, the P2 cards run about a grand apeice for a 8 gig last time i checked.
Apr 24 2007 11:59PM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Good point...I think I'll just save up a couple hundred more dollars then I'll be able to buy it on my own
Apr 25 2007 1:17AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I'd still rather have the P2 cards though, since the HVX shoots variable frame rates! Native 60p is the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit
Apr 25 2007 1:34AM
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Jeff_Lo
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 263
yes but some of us cant afford those and arent able to upgrade as often!
Apr 25 2007 2:43AM
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