I picked up a HV30 to use as a playback deck mainly, but will also try some stedicam work with it.

Has anyone compared the color settings to the A1's Is there a C Preset that works best for them.

I love my A1's but at times want the 3rd camera so hoping I can blend them together.

I have been doing exactly what you are trying to do:
HV30 as deck and glidecam attached.
for the colors, I use factory preset for both and color correction/matching in post, but in my eyes, HV30's color looks a tiny bit more saturated than A1, but I maybe wrong.

We shoot an HV20 / HV30 as a C-Cam quite frequently. Matches very well with both the A1 and XLH1 too. Never can get them exact but enough that it's very, very easy in post to match.

I mix A1's and an HV30 and you can match them pretty closely. However, I do most of the matching in post. I prefer to shoot my A1's without a preset, so I just match up exposures as best I can, and white balance presets. Then I adjust in post and they look pretty similar (clients won't be able to tell I don't think).

I agree that the HV30 seems a bit oversaturated. Are you using the VIVID setting on the HV30, Michael? I am, and I'm thinking of turning it off in favor of a more post-friendly image.

I also use a HV30 as B-cam next to my A1 and I learned that they are easy to match in post as long as I use the following Custom Settings on the HV30: Color -, Sharpness -, Contrast - and Brightness middle.

I also use a HV30 as B-cam next to my A1 and I learned that they are easy to match in post as long as I use the following Custom Settings on the HV30: Color -, Sharpness -, Contrast - and Brightness middle.

If manually controlling either the iris or shutter, that will work. If I let either of them float, the HV30 will be brighter than the A1. Brightness - brings it a lot closer to the A1. It should be noted that this experience is from shooting outside with late daylight, twilight and spotty exterior lighting at night. Balanced light or interior lighting might cause the HV30 to react differently.

I plan on shooting with both tomorrow and see what I can come up with.