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Posted by Frank on 02/13/07 17:49
On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:53:11 -0500, in 'rec.video.production',
in article <Best HD Camera Under $5K>,
Bill <trash@chromehorse.net> wrote:
>I've just been informed that there may be budget in my department for an
>HD camera, but I have to make a quick decision about model-- like today.
> Quick recommendations anyone?
>
>- under $5K
>- XLR phantom powered microphone inputs
>- manual white balance, focus, aperture
>- good optical zoom
>- good image stabilization
>- MiniDV preferred
>- outputs HD or DV
>- NTSC (I'm in Canada)
>- excellent lense
Excellent lens on an under $5K camcorder?
>- good view screen for focus
Pardon my language, but they all tend to suck. An external monitor is
what's really needed.
>Offhand, considering my previous experience with high end Sony products,
>I like the Sony HVR-ZIU, even if the audio is compressed. Is there a
>similar model in the same price range that doesn't compress audio?
Not if you're talking HDV. Standard HDV audio is 2-channel stereo
MPEG-1 Layer II 16-bit 48 kHz lossy compressed at a 4:1 ratio at 192
kbps per channel (384 kbps total).
>Is the Canon XH A1 as good?
PQ is probably slightly better on the Canon (1440 by 1080 pixel CCDs
versus 960 by 1080 CCDs on the HVR-Z1U and maybe slightly better glass
on the XH A1 contribute to this), but I developed a silly personal
preference a few months ago. I decided that all high-def video
products must have either an HD-SDI and/or an HDMI jack, and neither
the Sony HVR-Z1U nor the Canon XH A1 offers this, although both have
analog component video out. Therefore, my personal under $5K 1080i HDV
camcorder choice today would be the Sony HVR-V1U (has HDMI - and 24p
if needed).
If I *had* to buy either the HVR-Z1U or the XH A1 today, it would be
the HVR-Z1U if primarily for field/location use and the XH A1 if
primarily for studio use (optional U.S. $600 Canon Console software
available). You gave no hint as to how the camcorder would be used.
50/60 Hz switchability, if needed, would be a non-issue since it's a
standard feature on the HVR-Z1U and is a U.S. $500 firmware upgrade
option on the XH A1.
>Yes, I have been browsing reviews on the web. Just wonder if I've
>missed anything I'll be sorry about later.
That's my two cents. Got to go meet a deadline now.
--
Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY
[Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.]
Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/
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