Another A1 owner from the North! =) at DVinfo.net

Michael Y Wong · December 4th, 2006, 01:20 PM

You guys are terrible influences ;) after reading and watching all the A1 footage on this forum for the past month or so you guys have sold me on the A1, I was considering an older FX1 since I am familar with Sony but oh well!

Sadly my fully loaded HC1 is now officially demoted to my outdoors/B cam/merlin cam where & my new A1 will now be my primary workhorse. It will be nifty to do some low light testing, especially since I have a wedding this weekend that will be horriblely lit @ the Old Mill (I've shot there b4 with my HC1 and it was TOUGH).

Going to play around the A1 and throw it on my Merlin to see how well it balances! (Will post some footage later for those interested)!! Oh and compared to the Sony V1 that I played with a while ago, the Canon A1 is built like a TANK. Will definately need a full week to explore all the options with this badboy!

Matt, get ready for some 2 camera shoots :)

Edit:
Attached is a $h!tty pic (taken with my HC1) of the A1 camera with the Sony 10/20 light + the Rode VM (Yes the A1 has both line XLR + line in!... AWESOME) + Merlin. I will more then likely be using Merlin shooting with the HC1, i have played around with the Merlin with the A1 it feels like a totally different animal.

Bill Pryor · December 4th, 2006, 01:27 PM

The A1 is the first non-Sony camera I've bought since 1985.

Philip Williams · December 4th, 2006, 04:38 PM

Congrats on the new cam. You won't be dissapointed in the low light capabilities.

Matthew Nayman · December 4th, 2006, 05:22 PM

Hey Mike... you've come to the dark side... of... err... cameras...

Go Canon!
P.S. We neede to hook up this week and test out my A1 and M2 on your editing system. And we can do 2 camera shoots now! Hurrah

Dave Lammey · December 4th, 2006, 06:25 PM

Michael: how did you attach the Rode Videomic, as I thought that it had a built-in shockmount, and the A1 has that shotgun holder on the side so I didn't think the Rode would fit on there ...

Cody Lucido · December 4th, 2006, 07:47 PM

If you get your Merlin balanced with the A1, could you post your cookbook settings? Thanks in advance.

Michael Y Wong · December 5th, 2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cody Lucido

If you get your Merlin balanced with the A1, could you post your cookbook settings? Thanks in advance.

Definately will take some time this Sunday to balance it, wow I'm the first XH-A1 user to throw it on the merlin?

Danny, I basically just removed the windshield and slid the mic right thru the XH-A1's mic mount, tightened the mount and put the windshield back on the VM. I'll take a picture later but nevertheless its just a temorpoary solution, as I plan to pick up a jrod (hopefully with 2 shoe adapters) that will allow for a more flexible mounting solution for a video light, rode VM + wireless reciever.

Rafael Lopes · December 5th, 2006, 12:32 PM

Congratulations. Mine just arrived today I simply love it. I was more impressed with it during the 2 hours I tested it today than I was during one year shooting with the FX1.

Evan C. King · December 5th, 2006, 03:43 PM

Michael and Matthew I hope to join you guys soon in the canadian A1 owners club!

Matthew Nayman · December 5th, 2006, 03:45 PM

Cool Evan, we should all hook up for some 3 camera shoots :P

Bill Pryor · December 5th, 2006, 04:30 PM

So that's where all the A1s are going--to Canada.

Matthew Nayman · December 5th, 2006, 07:32 PM

Ha ha :)

Bill, we had to wait a month while all you 'Mericans got your hands on em ;)

Honestly, I dont see how anyone can buy a Z1 ever again... this cam just blows everything I have used out of the water at this price point

Bill Pryor · December 6th, 2006, 09:30 AM

I like it a lot, but I wouldn't slam the Z1. Except for the lack of 24f and the nice lens, it's cool. However, right out of the box, shooting 24f, with the cinegamma 1 slightly tweaked, the Canon is pretty damn spectacular.

Matthew Nayman · December 6th, 2006, 10:34 AM

Well, to be fair, the Z1 is basically a first generation HDV camera. I notice more artifacting on motion and the form-factor is much more plasticy and un-appealing. I mean, sure, I would never tell someone they are dumb for buying sony, and I don't choose by brand, I choose by quality, but this camera is literally the best cam i have used for under 10,000

Bill Pryor · December 6th, 2006, 10:41 AM

I've been buying Sony cameras for a long time (first was a BVW300 in the Betacam SP days, then a DSR500 and DSR250) and have used many different ones, including the Z1. This Canon XH A1 is my first departure from Sony in years. The things that sold me on the Canon over the Sony were the lens and the 24F. I was pleasantly surprised that right out of the box (well, almost--minor tweaking) I like the look of it much better. It definitely has a less-videoish look. However, we had a film at our festival here this year, "Mojave Phone Booth," that was shot with a Z1, and it had a really great look. I think you can make any camera work for you, some are just easier than others.

December 4th, 2006, 01:20 PM	#1
Michael Y Wong Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada! Posts: 353	Another A1 owner from the North! =) You guys are terrible influences ;) after reading and watching all the A1 footage on this forum for the past month or so you guys have sold me on the A1, I was considering an older FX1 since I am familar with Sony but oh well! Sadly my fully loaded HC1 is now officially demoted to my outdoors/B cam/merlin cam where & my new A1 will now be my primary workhorse. It will be nifty to do some low light testing, especially since I have a wedding this weekend that will be horriblely lit @ the Old Mill (I've shot there b4 with my HC1 and it was TOUGH). Going to play around the A1 and throw it on my Merlin to see how well it balances! (Will post some footage later for those interested)!! Oh and compared to the Sony V1 that I played with a while ago, the Canon A1 is built like a TANK. Will definately need a full week to explore all the options with this badboy! Matt, get ready for some 2 camera shoots :) Edit: Attached is a $h!tty pic (taken with my HC1) of the A1 camera with the Sony 10/20 light + the Rode VM (Yes the A1 has both line XLR + line in!... AWESOME) + Merlin. I will more then likely be using Merlin shooting with the HC1, i have played around with the Merlin with the A1 it feels like a totally different animal. Attached Thumbnails __________________ dreaming hobbyist + storyteller www.michaelywong.com Last edited by Michael Y Wong; December 4th, 2006 at 03:10 PM.

December 4th, 2006, 07:47 PM	#6
Cody Lucido Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 206	Merlin Settings... If you get your Merlin balanced with the A1, could you post your cookbook settings? Thanks in advance. __________________ www.CodemanStudios.com

December 4th, 2006, 01:27 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	The A1 is the first non-Sony camera I've bought since 1985.

December 4th, 2006, 04:38 PM	#3
Philip Williams Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Snellville, Georgia Posts: 614	Congrats on the new cam. You won't be dissapointed in the low light capabilities.

December 4th, 2006, 05:22 PM	#4
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Hey Mike... you've come to the dark side... of... err... cameras... Go Canon! P.S. We neede to hook up this week and test out my A1 and M2 on your editing system. And we can do 2 camera shoots now! Hurrah

December 4th, 2006, 06:25 PM	#5
Dave Lammey Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Simsbury, CT Posts: 247	Michael: how did you attach the Rode Videomic, as I thought that it had a built-in shockmount, and the A1 has that shotgun holder on the side so I didn't think the Rode would fit on there ...

December 5th, 2006, 12:32 PM	#8
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Congratulations. Mine just arrived today I simply love it. I was more impressed with it during the 2 hours I tested it today than I was during one year shooting with the FX1.

December 5th, 2006, 03:43 PM	#9
Evan C. King Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 532	Michael and Matthew I hope to join you guys soon in the canadian A1 owners club!

December 5th, 2006, 03:45 PM	#10
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Cool Evan, we should all hook up for some 3 camera shoots :P

December 5th, 2006, 04:30 PM	#11
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	So that's where all the A1s are going--to Canada.

December 5th, 2006, 07:32 PM	#12
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Ha ha :) Bill, we had to wait a month while all you 'Mericans got your hands on em ;) Honestly, I dont see how anyone can buy a Z1 ever again... this cam just blows everything I have used out of the water at this price point

December 6th, 2006, 09:30 AM	#13
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I like it a lot, but I wouldn't slam the Z1. Except for the lack of 24f and the nice lens, it's cool. However, right out of the box, shooting 24f, with the cinegamma 1 slightly tweaked, the Canon is pretty damn spectacular.

December 6th, 2006, 10:34 AM	#14
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Well, to be fair, the Z1 is basically a first generation HDV camera. I notice more artifacting on motion and the form-factor is much more plasticy and un-appealing. I mean, sure, I would never tell someone they are dumb for buying sony, and I don't choose by brand, I choose by quality, but this camera is literally the best cam i have used for under 10,000

December 6th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#15
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I've been buying Sony cameras for a long time (first was a BVW300 in the Betacam SP days, then a DSR500 and DSR250) and have used many different ones, including the Z1. This Canon XH A1 is my first departure from Sony in years. The things that sold me on the Canon over the Sony were the lens and the 24F. I was pleasantly surprised that right out of the box (well, almost--minor tweaking) I like the look of it much better. It definitely has a less-videoish look. However, we had a film at our festival here this year, "Mojave Phone Booth," that was shot with a Z1, and it had a really great look. I think you can make any camera work for you, some are just easier than others.