Posted by Specs on 01/11/54 11:46

<yarock@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1145572628.544646.7380@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> <<The XL2 (and its cousins) have been described by many
> as a "video chainsaw in clown colors">>
>
> Even as an XL2 owner, got to admit that's funny.
> My dilemma is figuring out which camera to go with next. Some of my
> work is 2 cam, and my first thoughts were to get a second XL2. But
> then I realized that investing in another sd cam is kind of senseless.
> I rented a Z1 for the week end and was able to match up the Z1 (in sd)
> and the XL2 by tweaking both. Then on sunday I went out and shot some
> nature footage, came home and hooked the Z1 to my Sony hdtv...WOW!
> So my next thought was to get a Z1 or FX1 with a Beechtek box.But I've
> also been looking at the Canon XLH1 and the HVX . The HVX looks like
> it's got most everything, except changeable lenses and hd to tape. If I
> went with the HVX and used a firestore drive, I wouldn't have the
> safety net of tape backup.(I've had FS 4's fail on me a few times).
>
> So I have 2 issues to think about.
> 1-I have a couple of medium range projects that we started on the XL2.
> Do I sell the XL2 now, while I can still get $3200 for it, sell the XL2
> accessories seperately, or wait till I'm done with my current
> projects to sell the XL2?
> 2- Do I get an FX1 now to get my feet wet in hdv, or wait till the
> Panny HVX makes more sense, or pony up for the canon XLH1?
> From what I read on the forums, lots of people are going through the
> same dilemmas .
> Any ideas?
> Bruce Yarock
>
Bruce

I am going through those thought processes at the moment. With the speed of
development one could easily buy into an end of line.

I have demoed all of the cameras the Z1, HVX and XL-H1 and these are my
opinions. The Z1 is the best value for money by a long way and is an all
round good performer.

The HVX cannot by any fair minded person be considered HD. This is a SD
camera that happens to record in a HD format. The picture is soft, very
noisey and its very impractical. With the pace of change in the market by
the time one can purchase P2 cards that can record a usable length of
footage the camera will be obsolete. It is also very poor in anything other
than very good light.

The XL-H1 records the best picture of the three cameras but its big and
unweildy and twice the price of the Sony. And that's what is stopping me
rushing out to buy one although I am leaning towards it over the Sony. But
that lean is so slight. I might even have started to lean back towards the
Z1.

I hadn't even considered the FX1 which might be the bargain of the bunch.

I am going back to my dealer early next month to spend some real time with
the Z1 and XL-H1 before making the decision.

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