Which is the better camera?

[Brian Keith Moody]

Greetings! I’ve narrowed my camera purchase choice down to two: the JVC GY-HD110U and the Canon XH-A1? I'll be shooting narrative fiction. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

[Alex Humphrey]

Originally Posted by Brian Keith Moody

Greetings! I’ve narrowed my camera purchase choice down to two: the JVC GY-HD110U and the Canon XH-A1? I'll be shooting narrative fiction. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

What do you want them for? I got my JVC HD110 for indie film work since that's what I went to college for. However my part time gig is sports, and my Sony 3 chip DV has been in the shop for 10 weeks now, probably never get out knowing how Sony stocks parts. So my JVC has been doing double duty on Baseball and next is soccer. Shooting 720p 30fps at 1/100th of a second. Good results. Manual focus only. Soccer might be FAR more challenging. (to control focus on a pan/zoom etc) even at f16. So if you are thinking sports etc.. get the cheaper Canon. Canon has a real nice 24f setting that everyone seems to like. Get the look and feel of film. Nice camera. Havn't used it, but the results and the reviews are great. Some day I might get one. My JVC HD110 is more suited for cinema obviously, and that's why I got it, and it does a good job (though more expensive) for more video like work. Got the Varizoom Fuji zoom controller ($450) instead of the LANC for my Sony that was only $300. For focus control on the tripod it will be anothe $550 or so. Canon can use the LANC control for zooming and focusing, and since it has an auto focus, it would be cheaper and better to use for sports etc.

For cinema? I prefer the JVC. Also 24p is NOT the only answer. Many HD shows, (American Chopper) are shot on Panasonic Varicams at 720p at 30fps around 1/60th of a second shutter. No idea how that looks in the European market however. The JVC does 24p, 30p in HDV, but you probably already knew that.

[Brian Keith Moody]

Thanks for your thoughts, Alex. The camera will be used for indie Work, straight-to-video movies.

[Brian Luce]

Originally Posted by Brian Keith Moody

Greetings! I’ve narrowed my camera purchase choice down to two: the JVC GY-HD110U and the Canon XH-A1? I'll be shooting narrative fiction. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

The HD100 will create a more "Pro" feel to your set, if that's important to you. The images are similar, more alike than different, but I believe they're at different price points--although B&H sometimes sells B-stock Hd100's with warranty at a comparable price.

In my mind, both cameras are the front runners in terms of bang for the buck.