Canon, dah dah dah dah.
Some really nice cameras. Back in the day when I wanting to get a good PAL camera I was tempted to put in extra cash for the XL2, but in the end I went for the Panasonic DVX100BE – which I do not regret.
So here are the Canon cameras I post up this week.
XH G1 | |||||||||||
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XL H1S | |||||||||||
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5D Mark II | |||||||||||
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Next Week RED are sure to announce updates on Pricing and Availability of the EPIC and Scarlet range so I will be taking up the RED parade then and hopefully have great news. Awesome times.
Now here is an interesting thing; a Stills camera shooting movie – good HD movie – wow. And, no – not like the movie feature on some point and shooters. In terms of taking pictures – still pictures – this is a damn good camera. But it’s ability to film video was a game breaker. ha ha ha – film video.
I have not had the pleasure of using this camera – for stills or video, but I did edit a short spoof that was shot with this camera. What I loved about the footage was the shorter depth of field that I am used to and the richer colors. What I did not enjoy too much was the encoding used – I seemed to struggle with filters even after converting to ProRes, hmmm.
$2,699.00
Nice price, but if you want to get good stuff from this baby you need a really good lens.
| Effective Pixel Resolution | about 21.1 MP1920 x 1080 HD Video |
| Color Space | 4:2:0 |
| Sensor | Single CMOS sensor 35mm |
| FrameRates | 30p/25p |
Continuing with Canon this week and what is possibly their best HDV Camcorder offering – the XL H1S. As far as Digitial Video Cameras go; it is quite beautiful. Well maybe the eye-piece is a bit of an eye-sore, lol.
$8,999.00
| Effective Pixel Resolution | 1440 x 1080 about 1.67 MP |
| Color Space | 4:2:2 when using HD or SD-SDI |
| Sensor | 3 – 1/3″ Native 16:9 CCDs (1440 x 1080) |
| FrameRates | 60i/50i, 24F, 30F |
| Zoom | 20X |
Agggg, I want to write about the RED, but next week there will be announcements from RED – hopefully about EPIC and Scarlet.
So, instead, this week I will flash some awesome Canon Cameras. The XH G1, XL H1S and of course the 5DMarkII. If you want to know why I am doing this even though I have not had the privilege of using most of these cameras then check out the Intro.
And now – the Canon XH G1 ….
Canon XH G1 High Definition Camcorder
$6,999.00
Hmm, More expensive that the Panasonic HVX200A, I wonder why? I thought the HVX was better.
| Effective Pixel Resolution | 1440 x 1080 about 1.67 MP |
| Color Space | 4:2:2 when using HD or SD-SDI |
| Sensor | 3 – 1/3″ Native 16:9 CCDs (1440 x 1080) |
| FrameRates | 50i or 60i |
| Zoom | 20X |
Well, at least they don’t hide the fact that the resolution is not quite 1920 x 1080.
I like the 20x zoom, but not the fact that they seem to push the Auto Focus feature – I mean why?
I had the opportunity to spend some time at a shoot where the ArriFlex D21 was the chosen weapon. I also spend a good while chatting to the Visual Effects guys providing PreViz for the Director, but best of all was spending time with the Cameraman; Justin – very cool. Justin was one of those guys that was more interesting in the image than the number of Mega Pixels – that was for the Data Guys 
. He also had some interesting things to say about the RED One that he had used – but more of that next week, for now – the ArriFlex …
These cameras, just like the RED One, just don’t have the same visual impact as when armed with a suitable rocket launcher of a lens. So here is my terrible mobile phone picture taken of me when I was on set. lol
| Effective Pixel Resolution |
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| Color Space | 4:2:2 YCbCr 10 bit (4:4:4 in dual link HD-SDI mode) |
| Sensor | Full 35mm |
| FrameRates | Variable frames (up to 60fps in HD 422 mode) |
| Aperture | 23.760 x 13.365 mm/0.9354″ x 0.5262″ in HD Mode 23.760 x 17.820 mm/0.9354″ x 0.7016″ max. in Data Mode & Mscope™ |
It’s not the best looking camera; hard edges and strange angles – but the same can be said of RED’s cameras although they seems to have cooler look about them. The D21′s see quite bulky especially when there is a huge lens attached.
Some great links:
Full Camera Specs
Here’s the line up of cool, hot, awesome, sexy Panasonic cameras – woot woot! Just a refresher why I am doing this: some people show off women, cars or houses; but I want to show off fantastic cameras and later – editing tools….
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AJ-HPX2700 | |||||||||||
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AJ-HPX3000 | |||||||||||
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AJ-HVX200A | |||||||||||
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Next Week: ArriCam
Ending this week in Super-duper Panasonic Cameras it the one camera I could possibly afford, also the one camera I opt to hire whenever I need too, also the one camera that is always reserved by someone else – everywhere, dammit.
Anyway, I really like this camera – apart from the fact that it would the most logical path in upgrading my current DVX100BE. The HVX200A is truly a Camcorder – but a fantastic one at that. P2, 1080p, great glass, 4:2:2 – ok; maybe if there was a 2/3″ sensor and not the 1/3″ it would seriously rock.
Although I have to say that I am in two minds about the HVX200A and the HPX170 which does not have a DV mechanism yet seems identical to the HVX200A in every other way (in terms of specs). Interesting that Panasonic describes the HVX200A as a Handheld Camcorder and the HPX170 as an HD Camcorder.
I have always wanted to get my hands on the original HVX200 because of it’s relatively 4:2:2 color space but apparently there was a lot of noise in the image, I understand that the HVX200A has solved that.
HVX200A: $6,310.00
HPX170 : $5,695.00
Well, lets see this one take a stroll:
| Effective Pixel Resolution | 540×960 with pixel-shifting for an effective native 1080 |
| Color Space | 4:2:2 |
| Sensor | 1.1MP 16:9 3-Chip 1/3 inch |
| FrameRates | Variable frames (12 to 60fps) |
| Zoom | 13X |
I am not sure where they get 1.1 Million Effective pixels when the actual resolution is 540×960 pixels. That will probably lead me to film – at most times – 720p with this camera. The Sony EX3 has a 1/2″ sensor which could make that a better option – but the price is just a touch out of reach.
Some great links:
HVX200A The Product Site
HPX170 The Product Site
HVX-200A: A First Look
Continuing with Panasonic and their cool camera, we find ourselves with the HPX3000, she is another P2 solid state shoulder mount camera – not the prettiest of the bunch but very useful.
This one has 5 P2 slots, offering a lot of minutes of HD footage, although those cards can be expensive. The product site for this baby uses the example of 5 16GB P2 cards: “for up to 100 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 at 1080/24p, 200 minutes in AVC-Intra 50 at 1080/24p, 160 minutes in other AVC-Intra 50 formats, and 80 minutes in other AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD formats” I wonder if it can support 64GB cards, are there 64GB cards? Sooo how much does this one go for? The price of a small flat …
$48,000.00 (although they appear to have a kind of trade in deal)
Well, lets see this one strut:
| Effective Pixel Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Color Space | 10bit 4:2:2 |
| Sensor | 2.2MP 3-Chip 2/3 inch |
| Frame Rates | 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i and 60i |
Some great links:
The Product Site
The Panasonic VariCam Camcorders are really awesome cameras. Still, I do not understand the use of the term camcorder; tell me that the $200 hobby camera is a Camcorder but not this professional HD camera – how about a Cinecam? Or maybe HD Digital Camera System? I mean this baby commands respect – as well as the HPX3700 – imagine telling the high profile actor, “We will be using the HPX2700 Camcorder” – “ummmm, can I bail?”
$39,950.00 (although they appear to have a kind of trade in deal)
Well, lets see this one strut:
| Effective Pixel Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels (720p – 1080p switchable) |
| Color Space | 10bit 4:2:2 |
| Sensor | 2.2MP 3-Chip 2/3 inch |
| Frame Rates | Variable frames (1 to 60fps) and 23.98/24psf output (via HD-SDI) when in 1080 |
Some great links:
The Product Site
Continuing this week on the Camera catwalk I take some glances at Panasonic cameras. I love the Panasonic AG-DVX100BE that I have owed for a few years – it have been my trusted work horse, and a good one at that – kudos to Panasonic for such a reliable product.
But they have much better cameras – much more expensive cameras. Cameras that I will not be able to afford (yet a touch *cheaper* that Sony), here we go ….
Continue Reading…
