Canon XH-A1 VS. Sony FX1 How to choose? « Videomaker Community Forums

Brother Mike Productions
Member

I went to a Camera shop and they told me that the Canon was better for indepent films because it can capture in 24 frames/sec and over all the picture quality is better. Then they told me it is possible to get a film look with the FX1. Even though it can not shoot in 24 frames/sec.

The question here is.... Is the Canon XH A1 worth the $700.00 more than the Sony FX1. I am stuck choosing. I am aleady spending $3,000 what another $700.00 to make sure I am saticfied or Just save that $700.00 and deal with it. Plus thats $700.00 extra to spend on oth cool stuff.

Posted 5 years ago #
hidef1080
Member

Don't mistake 24 frames with 24 progressive.
Both cameras are 1080 60i. Not 720p or 1080p.
Both cameras can shoot 24f and 30f but they use different ways of doing it -or so says Canon.
I know from use that the Sony Cineframe 24 is very jerky and not worth much but Cineframe 30 looks great.
I have not seen Canon's work so keep that in mind.

I have an FX1 and it is a really great camera HOWEVER if I were looking to buy today, I would lean towards the Canon only because it is newer. BUT I would get the FX1 if the price was right.
The bottom line is the Canon can not do anything that the FX1 can't do for the average user.

If you think you need 24p because you are thinking you want the film like look from video, you can get that in post.
If you really need 24p because you know you'll film out you may want to look into some other options.

You can shoot interlaced and film out too.

My two cents.

Posted 5 years ago #
Ken
Member

Based on reviews I've read, I can believe that the Canon image is sharper. Also, the Canon has both stereo miniplug and XLR mic inputs, while the Sony only has a stereo miniplug mic input. On the other hand, the Sony has a larger LCD monitor (a feature I really like).
Meanwhile, I'm wondering why only Panasonic and JVC seem to think progressive scan is a worthwhile feature. Ah, decisions, decisions .......

My one cent :)
Ken Hull

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

Here's a comparison of the two cameras, along with a few others...

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-XH-A1-XH-G1-XL-H1-Panasonic-AG-HVX200-Sony-HDR-FX1-Compared.htm

It looks like the Canon model has quite a few more features than the Sony model.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Thanks for the link, elderban, but that page is skewing data to make the canon look better than the sony.

For instance -

for SD audio they show sony: SD DV (12bit,16bit)
and for canon: SD DV: PCM 16 bits 48kHz/2 channels; 12 bit 32kHz/4 channels
Yet the same applies to both cameras!

Also for gain, they show nothing for the Sony !

etc...

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

There are others out there. I typed in "compare Canon XH-A1 sony hdr-fx1" on Google and got several.

The JVC GY-HD100 looks like it could be a contender as well.

Posted 5 years ago #
Brother Mike Productions
Member

You all bring up some great points. Thanks alot.

Lets take a vote: My decesion chages day to day :) but right now after all I have heard I am going to say I am going to save $700. and go with The FX1

Whats your votes?

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

Actually, the JVC GY-HD100 is only 720, not 1080.

And I think I am going to go with the XH-A1 myself because of the XLR inputs and a few other features that the FX-1 doesn't have.

You just need to figure out which one has the features for what you want to do. No need to spend an extra $700 if you don't need the extra features.

Posted 5 years ago #
hidef1080
Member

It is just too hard to say without knowing what it is you are looking for. What it is you want to do.

To me the FX1 makes sense because it does everything I need it to do. And then some.
I know I'll never film out for the "big screen" so all of the 24p stuff is worthless to me because everything I do needs 30 frames a second.
Only film runs at 24 frames a second. All NTSC is 30 frames and it's funny when people sweat over getting 24 when all they will do is burn a DVD which will run at 30 anyway.

When I've hooked up my camera to my LCD HD TV the images look outstanding in normal 1080i and when I've used Cineframe 30.
Don't let anyone tell you the FX1's images are anything less than real HD because they really are true hi-def.

Never having used the Canon, I can not say anything but do your research and get your information from FAIR and UNBIASED people and websites.
Before I got my FX1 I had people telling what I needed and what this camera could not do - AND THEY NEVER USED THE CAMERA!

My two cents again.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

And I think I am going to go with the XH-A1 myself because of the XLR inputs and a few other features that the FX-1 doesn't have.

I hope those "few other features" are worth over five hundred dollars, because you can get a Beachtek adapter for about $160 that will let the FX1 take XLR connections, plus it gives you easy to reach volume controls for each channel AND lets you use 1/8 or XLR for the right channel. I have a Beachtek for each of my three Sonys.

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

compusolver Wrote:
I hope those "few other features" are worth over five hundred dollars, because you can get a Beachtek adapter for about $160 that will let the FX1 take XLR connections, plus it gives you easy to reach volume controls for each channel AND lets you use 1/8 or XLR for the right channel. I have a Beachtek for each of my three Sonys.

I have one of those but have found they tend to make the camera bulkier and harder to use. That and sometimes I forgot to plug it in to the jack on the camera.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

sometimes I forgot to plug it in to the jack on the camera.

OUCH!
Thanks! I thought I was the only one who'd ever done that! X-D

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

Yeah...I did a ten minute interview segment at an event once and afterwards realized that had forgotten to plug it in. That was a bit embarrassing.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Headphones, headphones, headphones!!!

Which brings up another blunder opportunity - have you ever started to walk away with your phones on and nearly cause your tripod-mounted camera to crash to the floor?

My answer? "No comment!" X-D

Posted 5 years ago #
hidef1080
Member

^^^ Or when you forget to turn the mic on after you've started to film...

What a motley crew we are....

Posted 5 years ago #
jsmyth
Member

Thanks Guys,

I am struggling with this same decision and I am (at the moment) opting for the Canon.

My concerns were light level. 0.4 vs 1.0 LUX and zoom 20 vs 12.

While I want mainly wildlife photography - thus in the day light and at distance - I do find myself in shadows - thus low light. My problem started with the Fx1 vs FX7. I've had my hands on an FX7 and I love it. I didn't want to let go of that 20x. Not to mention the color and 'Sony'.

I've been a Sony guy since Betacam (still have a working one). I also have a consumer 'Optura' - a solid performer. So it is a mixed day for me -

The A1 gives me more mag at less LUX than the X1. [Sony, are you reading this?]

John

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

I found a site that has videos of each camera in action.

Here's a link to the XH-A1 in action:
http://dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=143

Here's the A1 in 24 frame mode...very nice video:
http://www.joesimonproductions.com/HD/goldintro.mov

Didn't see any FX1 action clips though.

Posted 5 years ago #
elderban
Member

Addendum:

I did find a XH-A1, V1U, FX1 low light comparison...

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=83844

Posted 5 years ago #