I don't get your post Victor. We've had manually controllable irises for very many years on Canon camcorders.

I don't get your post Victor. We've had manually controllable irises for very many years on Canon camcorders.

What Victor meant was probably a manual iris RING, which wasn't on the CAnon camcorders, exept for their 14x manual lens.

I wouldn't call it a "Manual" iris ring...

I am sure it is electronic with those stupid "Non existent" ends... however, it is in a better place than the click wheel on the XL2

I expect no better control from it than from the one on the body of the XLh1. However it's location will make it a lot more convenient and it may feel smoother. Still, in the end I expect the same outcome in the footage.

I don't get your post Victor. We've had manually controllable irises for very many years on Canon camcorders.

Tom, the posts after yours pretty much clarified what I meant, but I'd like to further stress that it is very convenient (for me, anyway) when the iris is controlled directly from the lens ring and not from the small click ring on a camcorder. On xl2 it is rather inconvenient, and on xl-h1 it's little better, but, in my opinion, not good enough.
Vic

Yes, I realised what you meant as the replies came in Victor. But having an aperture control ring around the lens is more historical convention than it is a photographic desirability in my view.

DSLRs have long since abandoned the aperture ring around the lens, and cameras like the Z1 have replaced it with a beautifully damped, knured alloy knob thet's excellently placed to 'roll' your thumb across to imperceptably change aperture.

tom.

I understand what you mean Tom, yet all the 35mm cinema lenses have manual ring for iris opening and for good reason. I also think, when it comes to professional, moving image acquisition, ARRI/ZEISS is much higher standard then DSLRs and Z1.
Vic

In January 2006, I was looking toward the Panasonic HVX200 but I thought the P2 cards was too expensive in my opinion. So, I waited until November and was looking at the Canon XH-A1 vs Sony FX-7. The price for the Sony FX-7 was basically $1000 cheaper than the Canon XH-A1, but I really like the features on the Canon XH-A1. I placed an order for the Canon XH-A1 last Friday and it came in stock on Monday and will arrive tomorrow. I can't wait until tomorrow, it will be a early Xmas for myself.

In January 2006, I was looking toward the Panasonic HVX200 but I thought the P2 cards was too expensive in my opinion. So, I waited until November and was looking at the Canon XH-A1 vs Sony FX-7. The price for the Sony FX-7 was basically $1000 cheaper than the Canon XH-A1, but I really like the features on the Canon XH-A1. I placed an order for the Canon XH-A1 last Friday and it came in stock on Monday and will arrive tomorrow. I can't wait until tomorrow, it will be a early Xmas for myself.
I wish you a good shooting times on that one Anthony...

Honestly, I was leaning toward the FX1 because it was cheaper but honestly 800 lines of res (Canon's 24f) versus 500 lines (Sony's 30CF) well I think we know where this is going. I've seen great thing's produced with both but if I ever do a screen from digital projection I would really prefer 800 LOR. Even if I'm just doing an HDDVD or something. The A1 has it all, (at least all that I would want) so I'm going for that one.

-Nate

Well that's it, I quit sitting on the fence and finally got the XH A1. I was going back and forth between the V1U and A1, and couldn't decide what I liked better: the color of the V1U image or the image detail in the A1. The whole dilemma was solved by a great price from Steve Nunez (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=82893).

Well that's it, I quit sitting on the fence and finally got the XH A1. I was going back and forth between the V1U and A1, and couldn't decide what I liked better: the color of the V1U image or the image detail in the A1. The whole dilemma was solved by a great price from Steve Nunez (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=82893).

Congrats! You won't be dissappointed. Sounds like you a got a great deal too.

Yeah, there's nothing to not like about the A1 (other than that you have to go to the menu to turn on and off the OIS, as you do with many other 1/3" chip cameras). Excellent price too.

Well that's it, I quit sitting on the fence and finally got the XH A1. I was going back and forth between the V1U and A1, and couldn't decide what I liked better: the color of the V1U image or the image detail in the A1. The whole dilemma was solved by a great price from Steve Nunez (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=82893).

Congrats you lucky bastich. Had I seen that price I would snatched it right from under you. Good work Michael, keeping an eye out for the best deals. I hope to see footage from you. I have yet to see any of Canon's 1080 footage so I hope you post some. Good looking out to you man and again congrats.

-Nate

Thanks guys, I'm off to some tropical islands through the middle of February. I'll make sure to post some footage.

Congrats Michael - I'd be buying the A1 as well (unless Sony comes up with a working fix for the 25p mode of the V1E).

i really wish if owners of the A1 could be able to upgrade to the G1 anytime !!!
SDI is cooland important when you need it, like shooting chroma at a studio !!!

But an A1 owner certainly *can* upgrade to a G1, at any time. Here are the steps:

1. Sell the A1.

2. Buy the G1.

I don't mean to be facetious, but that is the standard upgrade path and it's always available.

Or buy the G1 in the first place if you do a lot of studio work and need it.

Just had my first real play with a G1 at the Video Forum in London today, and must say I'm most impressed. Could do with a bigger side-screen, but the dedicated buttons, knobs and wheels really poke the V1 in the eye.

Hiyah Tom! Missed you at Earls Court! - And yes, the A1 is certainly beckoning me: "Buy me . . Buy me . . "

The controls are spectacular. Did it at Amsterdam and the IoV conference.

This PLUS what I just read, comparison with the DVX100a - I'm being sorely tempted. And it ISN'T just because HD is becoming the universal platform, it is quickly demonstrating just what EXTRA I could be getting. Oh, and it is also HD!

Hey Graham, why am I an 'Inner Circle' with 2k posts, while you're an 'Old Boot' with 2.3k?

There can be only one "Old Boot" on DV Info Net, and that's Graham.

Poll closes after 25 more votes (in other words, when we reach 400). The data has held consistently at roughly ten to one for A1 over G1 and I doubt we'll see much of a change.

if either canon or a third-party manufacturer suddenly released a truly mobile and affordable solution for uncompressed HD-SDI out, then the G1 would take off like a rocket. i think the need for camera advances is just about complete. the next briliant innovation won't even be in cameras but in output and storage. with the release of the G1, we have more camera than we can use with any degree of efficiency....there are so many efficiencies baked into these cameras, so few in terms of building mobile and affordable systems to use them to their maximum potential.