Canon XH A1s HDV Camcorder from 2008

Here is my latest camcorder which is going to be a replacement for my Sony HDR-FX1. Somebody wants to buy that one, and I've been looking for an improved prosumer camcorder with an A to D converter. I now had an excuse to buy a new prosumer cam!
Why didn't I buy one of those new-fangled AVC cams??? I'll tell you:
1) AVCHD is HARD TO EDIT WITHOUT HUGE CONVERSION TIMES!
2) Intermediate files from AVC are HUGE and cannot be recreated without original file structure from the memory card
3) The quality is not as high as HDV
4) The HDV codec stands up better to post-processing and effects
5) HDV is a LOT faster to work with on the computer than native AVC
6) I backup everything to tape, so this is one less conversion step
7) HDV cannot be corrupted by camera or user error when recording to tape

Clearly, there are many benefits to sticking with HDV. Don't jump into the AVC world until you know what's involved!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• canon
• xh-a1s
• xh
• a1s
• hdv
• camcorder
• prosumer
• hd
• camera
• digital
• 1080i
• 30p
• 24p
• 30f
• 24f
• minidv
• mini
• dv
• video
• tape
• recording
• pro
• film
• documentary
• eng
• news
• tv
• production

[tonysshadow]

Great Review!...Im a complete novice and old school vhs video cam user. Im desparately lost. It seems to me that most reviews just never reach the mark. Your review was jam up and jelly tight showing actual true to life use. The sunshine, the detail at zoom, the colors closer to true, have all been issues that seem to never be shown. I even liked your demonstration of the of the smooth zoom with image adjustment. It would have been great to see a campfire night shot. or moonlight shot.

[RetroPCDOS]

AVCHD is superior format in terms of codec effeciency and recording hardware. But really depends on your workstation and cheaper AVCHD consumer level camcorders use cheaper encoding chips and don't capture true HD from the sensor as they use a SD CMOS sensor and upconvert the signal. You have to spent 2k to get a decent HD camcorder or $600 and up on a good use one that use 1/3 CMOS that captures full HD. XDCAM the way to go for pro use.

[Tshowweb]

@old64goat okey. you got lucky i have to stay with a $20 dollar camera

[old64goat]

Hi Bryan, Nice camera, too rich for my blood.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you get so many high quality cameras & camcorders?

No wonder you have such great quality videos.

Well I will have to stay with my cheap $100 digital cameras...LOL.

I enjoy your videos.

Bill

[CameramanLink]

@AgentJuly19903 Clearly that's impossible as the FX1 didn't exist when I was 7! In the video, regarding the FX1, I said "it's been with me ever since '07 [the year 2007]." Do people not say this when referring to years anymore? because it's not that hard to hear on the recording to get it confused.

[AgentJuly19903]

@CameramanLink I though u said that u had the FX1 since u were 7.

[CameramanLink]

@GanEdenAustralia I can see that. It does have a nice and wide lens with the right kind of handle for shooting "skate style" as I call it.

[CameramanLink]

@suckmadeck No, I said I had it since '07 (2007).

[GanEdenAustralia]

@CameramanLink Think I'll sell my FX1 also. Still seems to be a market for them, espcially the skaters lol

[suckmadeck]

@CameramanLink you said in the video that you had the fx1 for 7 years