I have an XH-A1. I'm looking for a smaller camcorder I can take traveling (e.g., hiking). I want one that is easiest to match the video with the XH-A1, in instances where I use both. I also want one that either has decent audio, or the ability toi use an external mic.

Suggestions?

I would go a 7D or a 550D great image and you have a SLR as well

For my European vacation last year I took my Canon HV-20, a Sennheiser 100 series G3 xmit/rcvr/lav and Litepanels Micro light. If I go again, I will probably trade out the wireless lav kit for a small Rode Videomic shotgun.

Trouble with the 550D is it's big and bulky for hiking, especially if you want telephoto for close ups of the wildlife. Traditionally the HV series are the A1 backup - but AVCHD despite its other problems really is made for travel. I went for the HFS10 and the DM100 mic, full manual control, handy 1.7X tele option, excellent stills.

Trouble with the 550D is it's big and bulky for hiking, especially if you want telephoto for close ups of the wildlife. Traditionally the HV series are the A1 backup - but AVCHD despite its other problems really is made for travel. I went for the HFS10 and the DM100 mic, full manual control, handy 1.7X tele option, excellent stills.

Other than stills, what is the advantage of the HFS10 vs the HV40?

Hi Stephen,
Card. No need to carry or change tapes. Once you travel with a card camera, you can never go back. Also, don't underestimate the pre-record. Wild creatures have a way of waiting until you stop recording before they pop out of their holes for a brief look around, or before they jump out of the water. With pre-record, just press the record after they have appeared and disappeared, and there they are. The lack of viewfinder is the main bummer, later models have the VF, but no pre-record.

I've dragged a HV20 around the world for 5yrs now, great camera. The only accessories are a Shure A58WS-BK - Black Windscreen for Ball Mics A58WS-BLK - B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68629-REG/Shure_A58WS_BLK_A58WS_BK_Black_Windscreen.html#reviews) fitted over the mic and held down by a womens elastic pony tail holder. Looks ugh but it stops ALL wind .. I've done narration at the camera in a blizzard. Also an ND filter for all outdoor work and a UV for indoor.

I work out how much tape I'll need to take, then double it .. finding legit Pana tapes is very difficult in the 3rd world and just wastes time.

Cheers.

I've dragged a HV20 around the world for 5yrs now, great camera. The only accessories are a Shure A58WS-BK - Black Windscreen for Ball Mics A58WS-BLK - B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68629-REG/Shure_A58WS_BLK_A58WS_BK_Black_Windscreen.html#reviews) fitted over the mic and held down by a womens elastic pony tail holder. Looks ugh but it stops ALL wind .. I've done narration at the camera in a blizzard. Also an ND filter for all outdoor work and a UV for indoor.

I work out how much tape I'll need to take, then double it .. finding legit Pana tapes is very difficult in the 3rd world and just wastes time.

Cheers.

What brand ND filter do you use?

Do you use a wide angle or telephoto lens?

Steve, I prefer B+W multicoated filters, usually get 'em from BnH in NY. I also have a Canon WDH43 wide but rarely use it now. No tele, no time to fit 'em and they make the rig to big and heavy. I work very fast I'm more interested in the next sequence and detail for the narration. Oh I take a Sony UWP wireless rig for narration in loud environments like city traffic.

Because of the outrageous freight charges down here, I used to fill a BnH cart up but keep it under a grand otherwise there's 10% import tax charges.
Cheers.

Do you ever use a polarizier filter?

I did when I started out, like a lot of folk I got this one THK Photo Products, Inc. (http://www.thkphoto.com/products/moose/index.html) experimented with it then moved to shooting other things.

So I agree with Moose, polarizers are a still camera accessory to enhance scenic landscapes and nature shots and bring up the contrast. The viewer takes his time to evaluate and appreciate the picture and not be governed by the rate of the speed of the edited video.

But for video work they are good for cancelling reflections in glass windows and water and some nature/landscape work where you've got time to set the shot up. However soon as you pan the camera you lose the polarized effect.

When you start out, I'd combine getting various polarized type effects while learning basic colour correction in your NLE, then buy a polarizor if you want one.

For me a more usable filter for outdoor video work is this 'graduated ND'
B+W 72mm Graduated Neutral Density Gray 502 Filter 65063819 - (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10458-REG/B_W_65063819_72mm_Graduated_Neutral_Density.html#reviews) It drops the sky 2 stops so you get more detail on darker subjects on the ground.

Mmmm looks like they've discontinued the 43mm version? I use the B+W 502 on the A1 and I never screw 2 filters on together. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Based on a few experienced dslr guy's recommendations, I got one of the Singh Ray variable nd filters with some step down rings. I've always relied on the video camera's nd settings to take care of extreme light and on the dslrs, you can't simply shutter control the light in video mode. So to get dof or to limit light on any shot, the nd filters are the only way to go. The singh ray while freekin expensive, is a great deal when you consider how many filters you'd have to stack to equal it. I got the thin version which allows minimal vignetting on the wide lenses. I can tell you in AZ where the sun is intense all year round, this is the way to go on the dslrs. My hmc150's nd filters have done a great job.
Also of note, all my lenses get a UV protector filter the minute they are unboxed. It does help with the nasty haze we get here plus insures my lenses stay perfect.

I would go with HF S11, picture quality it is the same camcorder as HF S10, but better IS;
2010 HF S series are great, and I loved the 3,5" LCD, but the iPhone-like sliding menu is terrible;
HF S series is a very capable camcorder and even low light between two will intercut very well
HF S10 vs XH A1 vs EX1 on Vimeo

Or the new Canon XF100, just announced today:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/dv-info-net-announcements/484083-canon-introduces-xf105-xf100.html

This is certainly an interesting development!

Have any of you used the HF S21?

Hi Steven,

I have the XHA1s and also wanted a companion camera that I can take on hikes (travels) and be able to stay with the same media (miniDV) and have similar frame rates, etc. So I got the Canon HV40. I added the Canon DM50 microphone and also a LCD hood, which makes it easier to monitor in the sunny outdoors. I also added a lens hood to protect the front of the lens barrel as I’m out in the field. It has manual focus and now someone is marketing a focus-wheel knob for it. That may be worth looking into. I like the color that the HV40 produces and the ease of use.

Sample videos:
http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:Canon%20HV%2040/3f30b179

Dave

Have any of you used the HF S21?

That is an AVCHD camcorder, not an HDV camcorder. Two totally different animals.

That is an AVCHD camcorder, not an HDV camcorder. Two totally different animals.

Yes, I understand that. I'm willing to consider starting dowm the tapeless path, and as part of that consideration I'm interested in hearing from any one that may have experience with the XH A1 and HF S21, as well as other options people have suggested.

Like David I have the XHA1S and also use an HV40 for traveling. Last year I was in New York City shooting a video of the city while on vacation for two weeks. My XHA1S went down during day two (blown main fuse). I ended up going to B&H and buying an HV40 and finished the rest of the video with the HV40. I found it to be a great street camera and use it all the time now along with my XHA1S. I have the LCD hood, Canon DM50 mic and the Canon Wide-Converter WD-H43. I call it the mini Pitbull!

Scott

I have the Canon VIXIA HF200. It will record in 1440x1080 HDV mode so that it is compatible with the A1. I use it all the time as a companion to my A1. The picture quality is very good for such a small camera. It's not great in low light, but with enough light the images are very good.

And another vote for the HV20/30/40 series. Whilst I take the points made earlier about not messing with tapes when on the road, I prefer the HDV and tape format because:
1) tapes are their own archive - very important for me
2) unless you take a PC with something like a Blu-ray burner with you (which negates the size/weight advantage of the little cameras), you have to take enough cards to last the whole trip, which could be very much more expensive than tape. For example, on a recent 10-day holiday, I shot 10 hours and my companions 8 and 12. How much would 30 hours of SDHC cards cost?
3) One set of formats for both main (XH-A1) and lightweight cam - no odd compatibility niggles;
4) the card cameras are AVCHD, which is more difficult to import and edit than HDV. I know my system is getting a bit old now, but I shoot, edit (using Avid Liquid) and export (to Blu-ray) 25Mbps MPEG2 with very little transcoding;

Everyone has their own priorities, I know, but this is the way I find I work best at the moment. My views may change once we see what the XF100 can do ;-)

One more vote for the HV. If you want to stay tape, it's the best option. It also matches extremely well to the A1. I do have a two year old Canon HD tapeless camera that I used once as a b-camera and it did not match anywhere nearly as well. Could it be the difference between HDV and AVCHD? Dunno but it was what I was left with after I eliminated most everything else.

If you want to go tapeless, Canon make a bunch of units across a wide price range that you will likely be happy with.

Has anyone used both the HV-40 and the HSF-21?

One aspect to consider before you go tapeless is, if you have a library of valuable DV family tapes maybe keep your last tape camera in good condition to play ém.

ie: don't run it into the ground then go solid state. The other option is to copy them but it seems most ppl seem to keep putting that off till next week.

Cheers.