Upgrade Canon XL1 to XH-A1 at DVinfo.net

Tony Nguyen · April 13th, 2007, 08:36 PM

Hey everyone,

I just recently bought a canon XL1 and I'm already thinking about upgrading to an XH-A1. Its a big step but is it worth it? What will I lose if I upgrade to XH-A1? Or what benefits will I gain besides it being able to record in 24f+, 60i, and HD?

Maybe this can help, I would like to use my cameras for short films and music videos. But lately, all I've been doing is recording camping trips and events at my church. Not to metion, I'm a college student studying film. So budget my is a little tight but I'm able to afford one. Somehow, I'm a little bit not satisfied with the XL1's performace, quality wise.

If anyone can share their experieces with both cameras, that would be PERFECT! And thank you in advance!

Evan C. King · April 13th, 2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

What will I lose if I upgrade to XH-A1?

Interchangable lenses.

Quote:

Or what benefits will I gain besides it being able to record in 24f+, 60i, and HD?

I million man, there's really now point in listing them, look around the boards. The XL1 is like an 8 year old camera by now all the new customizations, control and tweakability that canon has since discovered have been put into the A1.

Tony Nguyen · April 17th, 2007, 11:58 AM

How about and XL2? Is it anymore better than the XL1? I know the picture quality is a bit better than the XL1. Read that in the other thread. Is it really worth the upgrade?

I'm really interested in the XH-A1 though, but money money money.

Thanks for the post and your input.

Anyone else got experience with this?

Nick Royer · April 17th, 2007, 03:09 PM

I think you should buy an XL2. They are a ton better than the XL1. I just bought an XL2 today and I could have bought an A1, but I think that the XL2 is so much better. The ONLY advantages the A1 gives you is that it is HDV. But keep in mind that HDV is not officially high definition, and you get allot less of a camera in order to get HDV. Plus, HD DVD and BluRay Players are not commonly available in most homes in the United States, so why invest in a technology that you can't use to the full potential. Buy the XL2, it's just to good to pass up.

Don Palomaki · April 17th, 2007, 06:46 PM

Sit down, work out your budget - what can you afford?

If you can afford either camcorder, then work you your requirements: what capabilities will you expect to need over the lnext several years. Consider the camcorder capabilities, form factor, weight, ergonomics. Is there some specific capability you need for your course work?

I.e., make it a business decision. But if this is mainly a hobby, buy what make you feel good at the end of the day.

Justine Haupt · April 29th, 2007, 10:46 AM

If you never shoot in a controlled production environment and/or shoot more on the go, than the A1 I think might make a lot of sense for being compact and future-ready.

BUT, I have an XL2 and wouldn't give it up for anything. I've operated the XL1, and they don't compare to the XL2s at all -- it's a completely different camera that just looks the same.

Gary Siu · May 3rd, 2007, 04:11 AM

Just my two cents. Got an XL2 while at NAB this year. I'm quite impressed and amazed at how different it is (quality wise) over the XL1s (anyone interested in buying it?? haha). The only downfall I would say is it's a bit heavier (noticable), but the new features definately outweigh the weigh gain. As Nike would say, "Just do it!"

Tony Nguyen · June 4th, 2007, 02:25 AM

Waiting for delievery! Went with all of your advices. What would I do without DVinfo.net? Time to post up my XL1 ("sorry babe, I found a new love").

Thanks everyone for your input!

Gary Siu · June 4th, 2007, 03:32 AM

Congrats Tony! Just remember, "Out of the Box" the XL2 won't blow you away, but tweek the many, many features of this camera and you'll be amazed at how different you can make your footage look! Good luck! (It's almost TOO much)

Gary Siu · June 4th, 2007, 03:35 AM

By the way, it's a tough gig to sell a mint condition XL1s with all the accessories (MA-200, 14x manual and 16x auto lens) let alone a XL1 these days (Been trying to sell mine, and I have all the original boxes!). "Guess that's the price we pay for progress and technology!"

April 13th, 2007, 08:36 PM	#1
Tony Nguyen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 107	Upgrade Canon XL1 to XH-A1 Hey everyone, I just recently bought a canon XL1 and I'm already thinking about upgrading to an XH-A1. Its a big step but is it worth it? What will I lose if I upgrade to XH-A1? Or what benefits will I gain besides it being able to record in 24f+, 60i, and HD? Maybe this can help, I would like to use my cameras for short films and music videos. But lately, all I've been doing is recording camping trips and events at my church. Not to metion, I'm a college student studying film. So budget my is a little tight but I'm able to afford one. Somehow, I'm a little bit not satisfied with the XL1's performace, quality wise. If anyone can share their experieces with both cameras, that would be PERFECT! And thank you in advance!

April 17th, 2007, 03:09 PM	#4
Nick Royer Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 133	I think you should buy an XL2. They are a ton better than the XL1. I just bought an XL2 today and I could have bought an A1, but I think that the XL2 is so much better. The ONLY advantages the A1 gives you is that it is HDV. But keep in mind that HDV is not officially high definition, and you get allot less of a camera in order to get HDV. Plus, HD DVD and BluRay Players are not commonly available in most homes in the United States, so why invest in a technology that you can't use to the full potential. Buy the XL2, it's just to good to pass up. __________________ Sincerely, Nick Royer

April 17th, 2007, 06:46 PM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	Sit down, work out your budget - what can you afford? If you can afford either camcorder, then work you your requirements: what capabilities will you expect to need over the lnext several years. Consider the camcorder capabilities, form factor, weight, ergonomics. Is there some specific capability you need for your course work? I.e., make it a business decision. But if this is mainly a hobby, buy what make you feel good at the end of the day. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 29th, 2007, 10:46 AM	#6
Justine Haupt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 208	If you never shoot in a controlled production environment and/or shoot more on the go, than the A1 I think might make a lot of sense for being compact and future-ready. BUT, I have an XL2 and wouldn't give it up for anything. I've operated the XL1, and they don't compare to the XL2s at all -- it's a completely different camera that just looks the same. __________________ ~Justine "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" -Arthur O'Shaunessey (as quoted by Willy Wonka)

May 3rd, 2007, 04:11 AM	#7
Gary Siu Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, BC Posts: 90	Third person to agree, get a XL2! Just my two cents. Got an XL2 while at NAB this year. I'm quite impressed and amazed at how different it is (quality wise) over the XL1s (anyone interested in buying it?? haha). The only downfall I would say is it's a bit heavier (noticable), but the new features definately outweigh the weigh gain. As Nike would say, "Just do it!"

April 17th, 2007, 11:58 AM	#3
Tony Nguyen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 107	How about and XL2? Is it anymore better than the XL1? I know the picture quality is a bit better than the XL1. Read that in the other thread. Is it really worth the upgrade? I'm really interested in the XH-A1 though, but money money money. Thanks for the post and your input. Anyone else got experience with this?

June 4th, 2007, 02:25 AM	#8
Tony Nguyen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 107	just bought the XL2 Waiting for delievery! Went with all of your advices. What would I do without DVinfo.net? Time to post up my XL1 ("sorry babe, I found a new love"). Thanks everyone for your input!

June 4th, 2007, 03:32 AM	#9
Gary Siu Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, BC Posts: 90	Congrats Tony! Just remember, "Out of the Box" the XL2 won't blow you away, but tweek the many, many features of this camera and you'll be amazed at how different you can make your footage look! Good luck! (It's almost TOO much)

June 4th, 2007, 03:35 AM	#10
Gary Siu Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, BC Posts: 90	By the way, it's a tough gig to sell a mint condition XL1s with all the accessories (MA-200, 14x manual and 16x auto lens) let alone a XL1 these days (Been trying to sell mine, and I have all the original boxes!). "Guess that's the price we pay for progress and technology!"