I just saw a Canon ad in the Feb issue of National Geographic. Cameraman Jim Foster talks of his choice of camera for the TV series the Long Way Down where Ewan Mcgregor and a friend travels from Scotland through Africa on motorbikes.
His chose XL-H1 for the production
Quote: "Since the program was for the BBC, we had to find a way to get the very best picture"

Anyone seen it or heard anything else from the shoot?
The webpage is www.longwaydown.com

I noticed this as well in the National Geographic this month.

Forget to mention it here though! My compliments that you didn't.

It looks like the Canon XL-H1 is widely adopted at this moment.

Curious, I'm thought it was James Simak and Claudio von Planta who filmed Long Way Down.

Von Planta is quoted as saying he used the Sony V1 in this story/promo for Sennheiser:
http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/?-YW7GS2

Maybe that was just for the talking heads?

Canon H1 for the pretty shots?


Edit: oops, I see Jim Foster now on the main site. Cool job, he doubles as the Security Advisor.

Interesting that they used different cameras. I would have to say one problem I have with my H1 is the audio. When using the line in from a mixer, audio levels is just too low. My sound man had to change to a mixer that had mic out and we then used the mic in instead to get high enough sound levels.
This could be a reason for using the Sony.

Taking the H1 in and out of bags and backpacks is not too easy either due to the form factor. A A1 would be easier.
I have this problem when shooting ski movies, but it´s worth the hassel