Size comparison for the HMC150 and Canon XH-A1
 

I took a couple comparison pictures today comparing the HMC150 to the XH-A1. Before I recieved the HMC150 I was thinking it would be smaller than the A1, however it turns out to be just a little larger.

Jeff - thanks - interesting comparison.

Now that you have had more time with the Panasonic - what are the 5 main observations that come to mind? Image quality / build quality / audio performance / ergonomics / whatever....

The Canon is a sexier unit, no doubt about that. Seems that Panny is still using the same guys who designed the HVX200 on this one. The HVX was so stubby, bulky and ugly that we nicknamed ours the Bulldog. Wonder what would be a good name for the 150?

Great! Most helpful -- thanks for posting these, Jeff.

If possible, it would be nice to see side by side frame captures of outdoor shots, indoor shots, and nighttime shots. I don't care if a camera looks ugly or not, I only care if it can produce great images or not.


Bob Diaz

On a semi-related note, the requested scene files thread is open as well:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/panasonic...le-thread.html

Here are few captures out of Vegas 8.0c

Note: All testing was done with the HMC150 using the F3 spark scene file and the A1 was using the Vivid RGB scene file. AWB, AF, gain-manual, 1080i, Tv 60 - A1 and Shutter - 60 on the HMC150.

A few more captures. The fish are at 12db gain and the blue tint is accurate:

A few more camera comparison photos:

I have the A1 as well. Even though I think this cam is very poor in low light, it is very good in regular light.

I am puzzled by your frame images. I have never seen the Canon so bad. You should do the same test without the Vivid preset. It almost seems as if the sharpness is turned off and the colors are desaturated.

My images outside are super sharp and colorful outside.

Paul

Jeff,
I was really expecting a much larger difference in low light between these two. Can you post video samples as well? Also, can you use an A1 preset with NR on for the 12db shots, and maybe reduce the in camera charpening a bit? Thanks for your help. I have the A1 and would love to add this as my third cam... anyway... good stuff That A1 does look dead sexy though. Especially the shot of it standing up on the lens. It looks like a piece of special forces hardware. AWesome!

Bill

Paul:
I do know what you are saying. I thought the A1 images were below normal so I double checked all the settings and even re-entered the vivid RGB setting. Im positive it was correct and turned on. Some of the images I got that day looked good on the camera LCD but were really muddy and out of focus looking after I imported and looked at them. I threw those out as I knew they were not representative. This was a brand new A1, first use. I will try another one for a few comparison shots. Part of it was the less than ideal lighting conditions, but I would like to rule out any A1 camera setup or problem conditions.

I have made plenty of absolutely stunning A1 images in the past in the right light. I hope to do that soon with both of these cameras to see how they compare at their best. The bottom line is that these cameras are both excellent and very close in performance. I think all the pixel peeping I am doing is just making me paranoid where I can't even just look at a clip and enjoy the content anymore. I just see scan lines, CA, noise, etc.

Even if there's a settings error in the outdoor shots, I think we can safely say that the HMC-150 does so much better than the A1 under poor lighting. The noise lever differences in the stills was quite a bit.


Bob Diaz

Jeff - your pixel peeping comments resonate loudly for many of us.

Here is the scenario - you lose both cameras and can have only one - I show up with brand new sealed units - the 150 and the A1 - you can only have one of them for the next year.

Which do you want?

Rick,

I've been following this thread and it would be good to hear from Jeff...since he has both cameras.

I'd love NLE editing(I have the XH-A1).

However, I'm not going to spend $1,200-$2,500 to get there with some sort of external CPU when a card can do the trick. I'll buy another camera before I do that.

I love the Canon zoom capabilities among other capabilities of the Canon to include a great lens/colors.

Maybe the Canon has the edge when it comes to video/zoom capabilities and the Panasonic when it comes to NLE.

I'm interested in Jeff's response as well.

Jeff?

Roger - ditto.

Currently using the Canon Vixia HF 100 because of NLE - so easy on m Mac. The Vixia is too small / screen controls / slow auto focus.

Need to buy an entry level professional and am really trying to learn if Jeff has run into any show stoppers on the 150. I shoot Canon DSLR for still photography and love the results and build quality.

NLE is important but NOT if the 150 has issues - image quality, ergonomics, build quality.....

Jeff is in a unique position having both of the units I am so interested in.

I would take the HMC150 for sure. When you combine tapeless and better image quality, it's just a step up from the A1.

1. No show stoppers or problems at all yet except learning Panasonic controls. Before I updated Vegas to 8.0c, I had editing problems, none now.

2. I shoot Canon DSLRs too and really like Canon. The A1 functions like any canon camera where you turn a dial and get A, Tv, Av, M, etc. Unfortunately, no other pro video cameras use that convention.

3. The Canon has a little more detailed appearance to it and has a much greater depth of controls. Most of them are of little use, but more is better right? Example; the Canon has brightness, contrast, color, sharpness and 2 backlight settings for both the EVF and LCD. The Panasonic has 3 backlight settings for each.

4. Both seem equally tough and well built. The HMC150 dosen't have a tape transport mechanism or heads to get dirty.

5. The HMC150 leans more to the pro side than the A1 because the auto mode is a little less auto. You can set the parameters the camera uses for auto such as iris level, gain, etc.

Great - that is the way I've been leaning. We have been fixated with SONY tv for so many years - would not even look at much else. When our latest XBR started going on the blink after 4 years I decided to scope out other brands and LOVED the Panasonic 1080 flat panel.

Brand loyalty can start to get in the way of good decision making.

BTW - I'm from VB (many years ago) - we lived just across from Little Creek Amphibious Base off Shore Drive. I was active in the very early surfing years at the steel pier and loved to surf Dam Neck in the early morning hours.

Thanks

Well...now Im going to have to post some of the HMC150 surfing shots I took last week at the oceanfront break next to the inlet. Im off Shore Drive near Chicks Beach.

OMG - would you believe that I was on the construction crew that built the Lynnhaven Bridge!!! I life guarded at the Officers Beach at Little Creek and have been to Chicks many times. Also - what was that lil She Crab spot - Charly's??

I'll enjoy seeing the clips - and plan on getting the 150 ordered shortly.

Thanks again.