I'm going back and forth on this decision, and I just can't seem to make up my mind. Since I've been following these forums for a while, I thought I'd ask y'all what made you decide to choose one over the other (yup, this is a cross post).

From what I've seen, read, and held (@ B&H) these cams are pretty close, but here are the advantages I think one has over the other:

A1
-Better Low Light Performance
-Slightly Better Lens (always loved Canon lenses)
-Ability to shoot PAL & NTSC (after factory conversion - I do work in Europe sometimes)
-Slightly Better Depth of Field
-$300 less than V1u (can go towards PAL convert)

V1u
-Larger LCD Finder
-Lack of Smear (CMOS)
-Better Audio Processing
-I do like Sony products

So if there is anything that I am missing that you would add to either column, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jason

Jason, I am moving your thread to Open DV Discussion. We do not allow cross posting at DVINFO because we want all responses in one thread to help those who are searching for information later on.

Thanks for your understanding,

Greg Boston

its $500 difference isnt it, at least at B&H it is?

Jason,

I'm in the same situation and possibly my remarks will make things even muddier, but here are, in addition to the differences you already noted, some other differences (based on hearsay, so I may be wrong):

Canon A1:
+ better OIS
+ faster IAF
+ better custom profiles, more tuning capabilities
+ separate IRIS ring on the lens

Sony V1:
+ lighter in weight
+ compatible with my current Sony batteries, offsetting the price difference
+ HDVSplit supports Sony, but not Canon
- Current 25P issues

The Canon A1 customization capability is simply AMAZING. I have not used the V1 myself so its not fair for me to comment or give advice on it.

Again, it all depends on what you want to use the camera for (wedding, narrative, documentary ...etc).

Moved from Open DV (thanks Greg!) to General HD / HDV.

I'm going back and forth on this decision, and I just can't seem to make up my mind.

Jason, my advice is to take a short trip across the river into Manhattan and visit either B&H or Abel Cine where these camcorders are (or soon will be) on display for you to touch and try. The right one for you is the one which feels best in your hands. The one which appeals to you the most, is the right one for you. Nothing else matters nearly so much as this.

Why don't you check them out for yourself, and tell us what your own impressions are? Thanks in advance,

Or if you can wait till NAB. Something is telling me that Panasonic is going to replace the dvx100b :) just a gut feeling though, no concrete evidence.

I'll bet a cuppa coffee you won't see a replacement for the DVX100b at NAB this year. How about an HVX200 that records HDV to tape for those who don't want the P2 hassle?

But back to the subject at hand...I still don't see the V1 as being in the same category camera as the XH A1. True, the CMOS chips are supposedly going to look better than the same size CCDs would look, but when you compare a 1/4" chip camera to a 1/3" chip camera you also need to look at low light performance, depth of field issues and how the wide shots look. Wide shots from smaller chip cameras always look softer to me than the same shots from bigger chip cameras.

This is not to dis the Sony, but I would take the Z1 over the V1 easily, and I preferred the A1 over the Z1, which is why I bought it. For me 24P(F) is nice, all other things being equal. But I would not want to drop down in chip size to get it. If I had stayed with Sony, it would be the Z1 for sure (and it's a very nice camera; I've shot with it quite a bit).

Or if you can wait till NAB.If you're waiting, you're not creating. If you have something to shoot now, then now is always the right time to buy. Waiting for NAB means waiting for new product announcements... and then more waiting for those announcements to turn into actual shipping products... and then more waiting for the first user reports to come in... and by that time, you're back to the same point where you might as well wait for the next NAB. A pointless cycle if there ever was one. The gear that's been out for well over a year is more than adequate for just about anything you'd want to shoot. I'd never tell anyone to wait for NAB anymore.

Chris nails it: ''If you have something to shoot now, then now is always the right time to buy.''.

Get on board, there's a helluva lot to learn and tomorrow you'll be another day behind.

tom.

A1
-wide angle

V1u
-smaller and lighter
-availability of histogram while shooting
-IMO: better ergonomics

(This being said, I chose the A1 for the better low-light capability...)

check this thread for a list of features comparison between these two cameras
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=82181

For me, already having the FX1, I like the idea of the V1U, because it:

Shares the same Infolithium battery system

Provides a form factor closer to my VX2000 in terms of size. For some situations the A1, as the FX-1, will be obtrusive.

Produces a dang good picture.

Seems to provide a wider exposure latitude.

Will let me experiment with 30p and 24p output to see what all the fuss is about.

I have come to expect rugged dependability out of my Sony's, and expect that will continue.

Chris Hurd is right, in both accounts. I also rubbed my palms over a chance to test out a V1U. In the end, I got a canon as I needed it to get work done. Since I do mostly corporate video, either of those camera's would do well for me.

I also have older canon gear, and I seldomly change my brand of beer... uh, I mean camera. Though I have strayed from the narrow way and picked up a Sony HC1, I've come back to the canon product due to familiarity in handling, and interchangeable accessories. I feel happy with my purchase and I can move on get work done. You may feel the same sticking with a Sony product.

One of the first side by side video and still comparsions of those cams.
http://www.fxsupport.de/15.html (unfortunately it is in German)

One thing is sure, Sony is so much noisier than Canon and not as sensitve in low light that was to be expected.

Cheers,
T

One major strike against the Canon A1 for me is the lack of a dedicated playback deck. It is simply not professional to capture tapes from the camera itself (or HV10) in front of clients.

I know you can always record to a hard drive recorder, but I still can't believe Canon has not released a playback deck to coincide with the release of the A1.

One major strike against the Canon A1 for me is the lack of a dedicated playback deck. It is simply not professional to capture tapes from the camera itself (or HV10) in front of clients.

I know you can always record to a hard drive recorder, but I still can't believe Canon has not released a playback deck to coincide with the release of the A1.

The deck issue only applies to people who are going to shoot in the frame modes. I for one like the crisp look of the A1's 60i, so I plan on buying a sony deck to capture most of my work. If I ever shoot 24f, or 30f then I have my HV10.

I just completed a shoot with an A1 and a V1u, they matched up quite nice with their 30 frame rates, the V1u appeared a tad softer to me, and the V1's low light performance was worse then I expected. Coming from the PD170 the A1 and V1's low light performance were bad in comparison, however I couldn't see myself purchasing a camera that is any worse in low light than my A1. I am happy with my purchase.

Again the footage from both cameras was still pretty comparable in my opinion. But if you're an event shooter or you require more light, I'd say shoot for the A1.

*e

Not a tough decision at all. The preproduction V1 cams showd in England Germany, Netherlands and the USA had a problem -as noted- with the 24P and 25P. The reviewers told the world that they will come up with the final results after Sony 'repaired' those issues. I read that in many magazines online and offline. I am still waiting.

So for now the A1 is the only one to keep an eye on. Did you saw the updates on this V1 25p issue? Where?

Not a tough decision at all. The preproduction V1 cams showd in England Germany, Netherlands and the USA had a problem -as noted- with the 24P and 25P. The reviewers told the world that they will come up with the final results after Sony 'repaired' those issues. I read that in many magazines online and offline. I am still waiting.

So for now the A1 is the only one to keep an eye on. Did you saw the updates on this V1 25p issue? Where?

Raymond,

My V1e is currently being fixed. It is a firmware update being performed under Prime Support. All shipping cams will have the updated firmware as all dealers' cams are being fixed also.

The V1 is a stunning camera and in my opinion you'd have to spend much more to get more. It's just my opinion as there are a lot of XH-A1 owners that are very happy but I chose the V1 'cause it ticked more boxes than the Canon. The camera's a so closely matched it really comes down to which factors are important to you in a camera.

I preferred the V1E's:
Picture quality
Colour reproduction
Massive LCD
Monitoring tools (Histogram, Peaking and Zebras all on at same time)
Smaller, lighter form factor and better ergonomics
I can use all my PD150 accessories including batteries (quite a cost involved!)
Sony 2 year Prime Support package.

TT

Hi Tony,
Good to hear that Sony is working on the problem, if it's fixed, I give it another look, you know "first see ~ than believe", I think the Sony has a lot to offer, but in the main part: picture quality, 24P, 25P and lowlight quality I prefer the Canon A1 on this moment.

That does not sound good at al.

When I get my camera back I'll be posting footage of the new 25P.

If the problems exist like those in that review model my camera will be returned and I shall have a full refund. As European users we should not expect lower quality products than the other regions are being provided with. Until I see the issue reported by DVuser myself I would urge some caution however.

TT

One has to remember that these marching ants type artefacts can easily be caused by the viewing device. Edge sharpening on consumer HD TVs can be quite severe. I have also noticed much more edge and halo on my Dell's component input compared to the DVI input so this problem might not be indicative of the V1E 25P fix.

Fingers crossed! :)