1st Prosumer Camera: XH-G1, FS100, or EX1?

[Brett Sherman]

EX1 is a workhorse. While I also shoot with Canon DSLRs and absolutely love the quality of image it produces. However, when I want a "no drama" camera that delivers excellent quality - I reach for the EX1.

EX1 and EX3 only differ in ergonomics. Quality is identical. Yeah you can change lenses on the EX3, but does anyone actually do it? You'd have to spend $5,000 on another lens. The EX1 is also SO MUCH easier to travel with on airlines. And it's hard enough to travel with any camera.

[Bradford Holt]

I wholeheartedly recommend the EX1. So many companies shoot on it, that even if I'm not using it myself, I'm renting it to other people. As far as the rolling shutter - yeah you get it on whip pans, but it doesn't even bother anyone because the screen is blurred anyway. I've shot PLENTY of action sports with it and it looks great. I've shot tons of reality with the EX-3 (more uncomfortable than a proper ENG camera but works nonetheless).

If this is for un-scripted reality/documentary/news style work - you can't go wrong with the EX1. If you plan on doing multi-camera shoots or will work with other people that have EX-3s, get the EX-3. It's a bump up in price, but you can't jam sync with the EX1. If a one-man-band - EX1 all the way.

One other benefit to the EX3 is the interchangeable lenses, which, as others pointed out - lenses are super expensive. HOWEVER, if you get an adaptimax mount for it, you can hook up regular 35mm lenses and get a 5.4x telephoto conversion. So you get yourself a cheap Nikon 300 lens and hook it up to the EX-3 via the adaptimax, it turns it into a 1600mm focal length and now you're shooting a close up of the moon.

[Enrique Orozco Robles]

for me, one of the greatest advantages of the EX3 over the EX1 is the SUPERB viewfinder... only for this I choose the EX3.... best bang for the money ... period.

[Jack Zhang]

Well, the EX3 isn't really suited to my size restrictions so I'm going to have to go with the EX1. I am a one-man band so I'm not really a multi-cam shoot person.

By June of next year, it's pretty certain prices will go down on new EX1Rs, right?

[Robert Turchick]

I only saw the XF300 briefly mentioned so I'll put my opinion out there. When i was doing research came across a few side by sides with the ex1r that helped me make my choice. Shooting the same material, the 300 seemed better at capturing detail especially with movement. Since getting the 300, I've cut several projects together with mixture of ex1r and 300. May just be the ex1r operator but I find the 300 a bit cleaner and better color reproduction.

Just my two cents but I absolutely love the 300. Had it not come out when it did I would be an EX1r owner.

[Jack Zhang]

1/3'' is the only drawback. I shoot way too much in situations with low light and the bigger sensors certainly aid there. The EX1R out of the box certainly isn't going to look accurate without tweaking the picture profile, and that's what I intend to do once I get it.

[Robert Turchick]

I think you'd be rather shocked at how the XF performs in low light. It's virtually identical to the ex1r ... even with the difference in sensor size. Canons done something really right with the 300.

But in any case, you sound sold on the EX and will say you're won't have any regrets. They both have strengths and weaknesses but are very close. I'm curious to see Panny's new hvx250. Might be another serious contender in the top end cameras in this size and price point! No doubt they've been watching what Sony and Canon have been doing!

[Jack Zhang]

Anyone expect a "Big" thing to come out of NAB from the major players? 1080p60? Global Shutters? Because that would put my choice of the EX1R in jeopardy.

[Buba Kastorski]

there are always expectations from upcoming NAB, but global shutter 1080p, if it's coming, will be definitely in different price category than EX1

[Jack Zhang]

So no one expects "affordable 1080p60" in the form of new codecs and/or recorders? No new affordable ENG-based 1080p60 headends would be coming soon? (minus the FS100) That would better solidify a EX1R purchase. I'm just not sure to spend on the EX1 if something comes out of the blue that changes everything comes from NAB...

[Lee Mullen]

Hello,

Has anybody considered the new Panasonic AG-AC160?

http://www.vidmuze.com/wp-content/up...60-800x499.jpg

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Robert Turchick

I'm curious to see Panny's new hvx250. Might be another serious contender in the top end cameras in this size and price point!

It's certainly better than previous Panasonic contenders at this price point, but (as discussed in another thread) the lens control (iris and focus) is always via servos, never direct linkage as with the EX1 and XF300. That means continuously rotating wheels, no direct scale read out, lag on operation etc.

The lens operation of the XF300/EX1 has raised the bar in this respect, and this must be a negative point against the HVX250.

(Jalan - same comments about lens apply with the 160, which is also only AVC-HD - but which is cheaper.)

[Jack Zhang]

To the HPX250 argument: My workflow is primarily MPEG-2 based and not DVCPRO HD or AVC-I based. I've also used a HPX300 and the noise at 6db isn't any better than a single chip Canon.

If no groundbreaking 1080p60 prosumer camera comes out, (I'm not a fan of NXCAM's mediocre bitrate for 1080p60) I may just pull the trigger on a EX1R + Nanoflash combo (Yes, I know about the rebate, but I live in Canada so it doesn't apply)