Hello there! This is my first post!

I've been out of university for a year now, and now have money to spend on things. The last camcorder I had was when I was still a Junior High School student, it was a Sony Hi-8 camcorder and I absolutely loved it. Me and my friends made loads of silly movies with it.

Then I always dreamt of having a big expensive looking camera.

I'm thinking of getting back into making some videos now, and the scary thing is I think I can afford the XH-A1.

I've been reading online for quite a while now, but it seem to me that most of you are professionals! I.e. you make a living out of your camcorder, which makes me hard to justify buying an expensive camcorder rather than something like the HV20.

I've sure I can master all the controls on the XH-A1, but I'm just wondering are there anyone out there who's not a pro who owns a Xh-A1? And how you feel about it? And why didn't you go for a HX20 instead?

I personally just like the idea of having a big camera, it gives out a sense of professionalism I think.

Thanks for the great web site!

I know people using the A1 for non-professional work. I think it can be used for non-professional work but if you really need all that is provided with it. If you are only thinking of buying it for the looks than it will be a mistake. There are couple of reasons why people won't buy A1 for non-professional work.
1-They don't need such a sofisticated equipment
2-it is expensive
3-they also intent to use it as their family camcorder and want to use it in their vacations, family gatherings, trips etc.. which will be very hard with a large camcorder like A1 compared to a small handycam like HV20.

If I were in your shoes, I would buy an HV20 and a 35mm adapter to use with it. It will give the professional look you want and your videos will look more like film.

__________________
I want a Red One but I will settle for a Red Scarlett

If you only "think" you can afford it, you probably can't <G>

On top of the camera, add in the cost of a second, hi-cap battery (about $80-100).

Some sort of external microphone (I picked up an AT835ST for $500 -- though the XH A1 mount is 25mm and that microphone is only 21mm; had to put a stray piece of rubber strip around the shaft).

A decent tripod rated for 5+ lbs with a fluid head (Manfrotto 501 head and some compatible massive tripod -- I discovered, after getting it home, that there was another set of leg extensions on it; with legs fully extended, I could crank the center column up so far, the camera would be in my upstairs neighbor's rug) $400

Maybe a video light (I bought one, but don't expect much use -- need more batteries as it is rated for only an hour with the same battery that drives the A1 for 2.5 hours) $80+

Carrying case $250 (for the aluminum Canon case -- though when I bought the A1, there was a $200 rebate so the case sort of cancels out).

IOWs: Allocate another $1000 - $1500 for accessories. {I'm even considering adding the GlideCam 4000 -- though holding a 5+lb camera on top of another 5lb support for more than a few seconds is going to be painful... AND I'VE YET TO DO ANY "KEEPER" FOOTAGE -- the camera is too much to fly across country with, for a niece's HS graduation, so I took my old Optura 40}

Do you have an HDTV? (Another $1500, mine is due to arrive in a week)
HD-DVD or BluRay player? (I'm holding out for a dual-mode player around Christmas) Compatible burner? (Probably has to wait for me to upgrade [ie, new] computer to a fast core2duo).

HV20 wasn't on the market at the time, and didn't offer enough to justify it over my Optura 40... If the O-40 dies, the HV20 /is/ the only candidate to replace it, as a travel camera.

Which could be a detriment too -- I'm afraid to see what looks I get next January at FURther CONfusion... Bad enough my Optura 40, shotgun, and $80 Sunpak tripod had some of the con-staff thinking I was one of their official camera operators. Setting up a $4000 rig is really going draw attention.

I could easily see some officious types asking for shooting permits where smaller cameras don't get hassled {"They're just tourists, but you don't look like a tourist"}

Thank you all very much for your replies, and sorry for my late late reply.

vsansal: I think you're quite right that a 35mm adapter would be much more useful than a big camera, I guess even with a XH A1 the sensor is too small to give a shallow DoF.

And wulfaed: Wow, that's a lot of money. I don't have a HDTV either, but I'm sure I would hove one sometime in the future, as to the editing. Hmm, HD does seem very processor intensive, I'm currently on a MacBook Pro Core Dual. It'll probably handle the editing okay, but not fast and fun like SD I guess.

You have all really convinced me not to get a XH A1, however I think the mian problem I see with thte current line of small cams is that none of them seem that well designed. None of them are designed well like a GS400 of the HDR-HC1, with HD I thought a focus ring would be essential. I've tried the HV20 in the shop, and it had a terrible zoom control, and felt quite awkward to hold.

Right now I'm thinking maybe I should skip the whole HD thing altogether and go for a GS400, it'll probably give me more controls to learn on. Although the HV20 seems to give really good footage and 24p sounds kind of fun. But GS400 looks like a better built camera with better controls. Man I'm so confused now. If only Panasonic would bring out a HDV GS400 with 24p then I'm sure everyone would be happy!

By the way wulfraed are you a professional shooter? If not what made you buy the XH A1?

I'm a bit of a "control freak" (oooh, what does that button do?) Even if I do tend to do most shooting in an auto (not "easy") mode. I also have a small BOSS digital recorder/mixer, a Marantz/Superscope CD recorder, and accessories...

Part of what I was thinking is that I could tape the convention variety show using HD 16:9 -- that ratio should let me get the full stage without having overhead light rack audience in the scene.

I could then use editor keyframe animation to do pan&scan to follow the action across the screen for 4:3 format (this was before I ordered the HDTV -- I may just down convert to SD 16:9 and let my father suffer with letterboxing on his TV). Would have enough data in the HD to even fake a zoom-in by cropping in the editor.

Just to add one more opinion, I have just gone through the same process of evaluation of the "mid-level" high def camcorders against the Sony fx7 and Canon A1. In the end, I chose to spend the extra money on the A1.

I would characterize myself as an avid enthusiast. I was into digital video relatively early and have been playing with video editing for about 10 years. I have about 60 hours of video, mostly home stuff, travel, children’s softball/soccer games, school plays, etc. I distribute DVDs to others with content that I create; but I have never done this for money. I selected the A1 on the basis of the quality of the video, the build quality of the unit and the ability to control the video to adapt to difficult shooting conditions. I have a lot of video that I have taken in the past in poor conditions and now regret not having had the controls needed to improve the footage. Thus, in the end, I look at the additional cost for the A1 applied to another 200 hours of tape and, from that perspective; it is a pretty good buy. I do wish it was lighter.

Hello Joe

This is an answer from an amateur. If you can afford the A1 go for it.
It is true that the cost will not be limited to 4000$ but some of the investment listed by Wulfread you will have to do anyway.
My argument are the following:
1- Today you cannot go for SD it is not future proof.
2- Three CCD or CMOS is the way to go as they are so much better than the single one.

the main argument against the HV20 is that most of you're investments will not be useful anymore the day you decide to upgrade.

In my case I have an HC1 and intend to buy an A1. Unfortunately the Rode Mic I bought, the batteries and the lens attachments will not be useful anymore and my tripod is limited.

By going the A1 route you know that the accessories will be useful when you will upgrade to an XL-HI or any of the next step material.

Good luck

For construction quality and control "feel" the XH-A1 is in a Professional league where the HV20 totally feels like 100% consumer. For video quality the HV20 produces video like a Professional, IMO. Some "Pros" use the HV20 as a 2nd and 3rd cam for the XH-A1.

But if I was on vacation in a very public place the HV20's small size would also give that Professional video quality without people giving you a funning look. I have the DVC30 and it's smaller than the XH-A1 and it would standout in a crowd.

...Angelo