A1's shipping date postponed to the beginning of November, but G1's shipping date acutally got earlier.

is this delayed worldwide or just in japan?

This information is for Japan, but usually conflict worldwide I would imagine.

Whenever I hear such things I always want to defer my buying date by a few months too. Don't be first in line to be a prototype tester for the company.

Kaku,

Any idea why the delay? I'm guessing most people will assume they found a problem with the cameras, but what could possibly be fixed in one week?

It seems to me that it is change of strategy? Maybe they wanted to start selling in the world at the same time if they do start shipping in the beginning of November.

Actually, I was briefly informed that it was the manufacturing cause, mainly due to the high demand.

I had thought that the cameras for the US were shipped weeks ago and were waiting customs, so they should already be here (somewhere)...

Well, not quite I'm afraid. They're supposedly still at Canon.

I sent Canon support an email and got this word back from them:


Dear Mr. Graham:

Thank you for writing to us. We value you as a Canon customer and
appreciate the opportunity to assist you with available information on
the XH A1 camcorder.

We have been informed the estimated ship date to Canon Authorized
Dealers is Oct. 30, 2006 instead of today. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause.

We hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact
us again if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

Althea
Technical Support Representative

Does anybody know if that ship date means the date they are sent from the factory to the dealers, or the date they will be shipped from the dealer to the customer? It would be nice to know when the big dealers will have them in stock. I'd spend the money to fly to Chicago to see one if necessary.

Well, not quite I'm afraid. They're supposedly still at Canon.

I sent Canon support an email and got this word back from them:

If anything ever was on time I would have a freaking heart attack.

Same thing with this http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

it has been delayed like 3 times now.

I hate that crap.

When will the G1 launch compared to the A1? Two weeks later? Or are they released at the same day now? One thing I know for sure, is that these camera's are almost here and will likely be worth the wait.

About prototype testing, I do not expect many problems to occur. And if they occur, they will replace of fix your unit. And also do not expect Canon to fix things like CA or something in a later stadium. The flaws of the XL-H1 are also not fixed around a year after it's release.

So I cannot see why one would wait. Then you will be waiting forever. Why? If you wait let's say six months to be sure that all is well, Sony will announce the Z2 or Panasonic a new camcorder which will challenge you to wait again. Then it will be the same story all over again. So if I go for one of these two camcorders, I will buy it when it launches and not a day later.

I agree Floris, I have never understood that "wait and see" mentality when you are talking about technology that is in constant flux.

Sometimes, 'purchasing the perfect camera' is the only excuse we can come up with for not actually filming that movie we so badly wish we would just make.

Maybe. Though, I think that that if all you wanted to do is make a movie, you'd hire a DP with an HD camera package. That would be a lot cheaper than buying a $4k camera.

I had thought that the cameras for the US were shipped weeks ago and were waiting customs, so they should already be here (somewhere)...

Does anybody know if that ship date means the date they are sent from the factory to the dealers, or the date they will be shipped from the dealer to the customer? It would be nice to know when the big dealers will have them in stock. I'd spend the money to fly to Chicago to see one if necessary.

Quote from Canon USA: "We have been informed the estimated ship date to Canon Authorized
Dealers is Oct. 30, 2006 instead of today. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause."


My interpretation of the situation is that the machines are shipped from Japan (air freight or a boat) to probably one or two "warehouse" locations in USA (*maybe* one West Coast, and one East Coast but thats an educated guess) and then from there they are transported to each Canon authorised dealer by rail/road/air.

From Canon's statment, that sounds like the machines will start to depart to be transported to the actual Canon dealers in about 6 days time. So right now i'd imagine they are either in the country at the "large warehouses" or passing customs inspection or, if not, then at least they'll be physically arriving in the USA (via air freight or sea freight) in the next 2 or 3 days.

Sea freight from Japan (IF it's sea freight - it might be air freight) will take several weeks to arrive at USA, possibly about 4 weeks. Maybe longer if it's going sea freight to East Coast as it would have to go thru Panama Canal etc.

Summary: IMO machines to commence journey to actual Canon dealers all over USA on 30th Oct, and will arrive at most a few days after that, so should be available approx towards end of 1st week of November. (IMO).

Maybe. Though, I think that that if all you wanted to do is make a movie, you'd hire a DP with an HD camera package. That would be a lot cheaper than buying a $4k camera.

Getting way off topic here, but just wanted to point out that a quality DP with HD camera will probably go through 4 grand very, very quickly.

A guy with a Varicam package will go from $1200-$1500 a day, more or less.
But if you're talking about a guy with an HDV camera package, you might could do that for $800 or so per day.

A guy with a Varicam package will go from $1200-$1500 a day, more or less.
But if you're talking about a guy with an HDV camera package, you might could do that for $800 or so per day.

Even more off topic: What else would need to be included in that HDV package to go for $800 (other than artistic ability and tons of knowledge about the camera)?

Well, depending on where you are, and the specific camera...the camera might rent from $200-$300 a day, probably add another hundred for tripod and other accessories...wireless mic system? another 50 or so...Cameraman rates go from $300 at the low end to around $600 at the high end. The Z1 was renting for $250 last time I looked but probably has come down by now. It seems when a new camera like that is out, it'll rent at an inflated price, and then after a year or so it will drop to around $150. Of course everything varies by locale and work available. If a person isn't busy and you said you had 400 bucks a day to pay, he might take it. If there is a big chunk of shooting time, like 2 or 3 weeks, most people will give you a deal.

I'm planning on buying this camera, and inbetween projects I hope to rent it out to people locally. I live in Austin. I'm trying to figure out how I would find people who are looking to rent an A1. Anybody know how to advertise? I could rent myself, too over winter break or weekends, etc.

<snip>
I could rent myself, too over winter break or weekends, etc.

Make sure that's legal in your area.

Check with austinfilmtools.com - I believe they were looking for individuals with cameras to rent out... looks like a pretty good place. I've read some of Michael's articles, helpful info.

Don

Make sure that's legal in your area.

Hahaha.

I'll check that website. Thanks.

You can get camera guys and their equipment pretty cheap right now. Cheaper than you think.

That said, if you are really making something of quality, you need AC, sound guy (maybe two) grip and truck, etc. That's what seems to run up the budget.