Tag Archive for 'canon'

Canon HV20 Camcorder

Published by Administrator August 24th, 2007 in Digital Technology, HD Cameras, News bits and Video Production. 1 Comment

Although I’m not a big fan of “consumer” camcorders like Canon HV20, I’m always tempted to try them and see if they compare well to my preferred segment (that’s $3,000 to $8,000).

Canon HV20 CamcorderFirst off, the good news. It’s a small camera that you can fit virtually anywhere. It weighs less than a kilo (with battery), so you can CARRY it anywhere.


The sensor is a single CMOS sensor with over 2 million active pixels. That means a native support for 1080i format (1920×1080 pixels).

The bad news is its light sensitivity, mic inputs, and the battery life. Battery life can be extended by purchasing a better battery (BP-2L14) and you should definitely consider it if you’re shooting anything longer than an hour (which is most stuff).

DV.com’s Chuck Gloman has a more detailed review of the camera. Overall, he was impressed by the outdoors footage and the form factor. I’m still not convinced I’ll trade a small-factor Sony (like Sony HC3).

I’m considering switching from my web cam to this baby. Here’s a short guide on how to select a web cam.

Sony HDR-FX7

Published by Administrator January 19th, 2007 in Digital Technology, HD Cameras, News bits and Video Production. 4 Comments

It’s hard to keep up with SONY’s new cams for one very good reason - they are skipping numbers! I thought the successor to the very successful Sony FX1 will be called FX2. Or, perhaps, FX3.


When it comes to the product name, Sony isn’t content with incremental improvements. We’re now straight to number 7. Not so when it comes to the product itself. Maybe, Sony felt that neither Canon XL H1 nor Panasonic HVX200 changed anything in the market, so why bother.

Many reviewers have likened the FX7 release to the release of the VX2100 model, hot on the steps of VX2000 (I’m a proud owner of the latter). The VX2100 offered some minor improvements in light sensitivity and a variety of interface features that made things a bit easier for the prosumer shooter.

Let’s look at Sony FX7 and see what advantages it offers.

  • Affordable (Canon XL H1’s price is almost 3 times higher)
  • Real HD 1080 support (unlike FX1’s 1440×1080 chip)
  • Good video with low light capabilities (though admittedly worse than FX1 because of the CMOS)
  • Long battery life
  • Standard HDV (using MiniDV cassettes)

On the negative side we’ve got:

  • Fixed lens (though it has been bumped to 20x zoom)
  • No XLR inputs for audio
  • No true 24p

If you look at Sony FX1’s advantages from last year, you’ll see the camera has the same things going for it with a few notable differences.

To me, the biggest difference is the sensor. In the last year, SONY has introduced a several of his low-end HD cams with CMOS sensors (e.g. Sony HC1 and Sony HC3). Is CMOS good enough for $3,000 cam though?

Harry Haruna, Manager of Camcorder Product Planning for Sony USA, had this to say:

As for resolution, because you have the CMOS technology the FX7, resolution is much higher than the FX1 in decent light conditions. On the contrary, under low light conditions the FX1 is better than the FX7, since the FX1 has a larger CCD sensor.

Sony HDR-FX7Hmm, I thought FX7 was an upgrade. It looks like it’s something of a sidegrade: if you have an FX1, keep it. If you don’t, you can either get the FX1 if you need a cam with a better sensor and bigger lens or go for the new FX7 with its smaller form factor and “full” HD 1080.

Still, if I was into wedding videography or guerrilla filmmaking, the FX7 could be quite tempting.

Then again, Canon has recently introduced more affordable versions of its $9,000 monster, the Canon XL H1. At just $500 more than the FX7, it introduces some much needed competition. If I can get FX1 for less than $2000 (Apple store had an offer like that), I’d be the happiest person … for the next 6 months or so.

I’m considering switching from my web cam to this baby. Here’s a short guide on how to select a web cam.

Canon XH Series

Published by Administrator July 28th, 2006 in Digital Technology, HD Cameras and Video Production. 3 Comments

Canon XH A1 cameraI love cameras. Recently, I posted about HVX200 winning an award for design. I admit it’s a well-deserved award - HVX200 is a good-looking camera.


I just got word (and a few photos) about the upcoming Canon XH series: XH A1 and XH G1, both are based on Canon XL H1. Man, this camera is at least 10 times sexier than HVX200. Look at the specs as well:

  • 1.485 Gbps uncompressed HD-SDI output (XH G1 only)
  • GenLock input and Time Code input /output (XH G1 only)
  • 3 x 1.67mp CCDs (1/3rd-inch, 1440 x 1080, same as XL H1)
  • Digic DV II processor supporting 30fps & 24fps (same as XL H1)
  • Built-in 20x HD OIS lens with new “Instant AF” autofocus system

Just compare the 1.485 Gbps throughput to my USB 1.1 vs USB 2.0 discussion. Amazing!

I’m considering switching from my web cam to this baby. Here’s a short guide on how to select a web cam.

Wedding Videography 2: Dude, where’s my Dad?

Published by Administrator December 21st, 2005 in Film School, HD Cameras and Video Production. 3 Comments

Yesterday I reviewed several HD cameras with a specific regard to shooting wedding videos in HD. Thinking about it again, I’m not sure it’s such a good idea… here’s why:

HDV has native support for 16:9 and naturally wedding videographers would want to utilize that. This might lead to the problem once you transfer to SD for those relatives that still don’t have Blu-Ray. I’ll call it:

Dude-where’s-my-Dad-syndrome

Wedding videos in HDThe syndrom is most pronounced when guests tend to line up in a way that’s very horizontal (see ancient photo on the right).

I’ve put question marks where all the missing relatives will be… once you transfer your work to SD.

There are two “solution” that are equally unacceptable: use a pan-and-scan transfer or put your picture in a letterbox (black bars above and below).

Fortunately, you won’t have to consider these post-production options, if you’ve done some pre-planning. On shots where the guests have lined horizontally, you can do a pan making sure you got everyone (at 4:3). If you’d like to avoid pans (amateur look), you might do two shots: one at 16:9 and one at 4:3. The 4:3 might be a pan. When you later edit the video, you’ll be able to create a 16:9 and a 4:3 version.

Wedding videos in HDJust for the record, the question mark on the left (see arrow) is her Royal Majesty, the Queen (UK!). If you could go back in time, and you were invited to the wedding, and you had an HDV camera, and you’ve read this post, you might have done a shot that includes the Queen. Voila.

Later, when doing the sound track, you might put Sex Pistols singing “… God save the Queen, she ain’t no human being…” Gotta love punk rock.

If you have any questions or comments about wedding videograhy and HD, post them below!

Canon XL H1 - 24F and more

Published by Administrator December 18th, 2005 in Digital Technology, HD Cameras and Video Production. 0 Comments

Now that Canon XL H1 is finally out (it’s been out in Japan for a month), we’re able to see some test footage.

Canon Lenses availableCanon’s flagship HDV camera offers a variety of features - the most important of which is the XL mount which supports interchangeable lenses. Right now, there are only 2 lenses specifically designed for the Canon XL H1 but filmmakers can use Canon’s impressive line of EF lenses (right).

The most important question for the H1 though was about its 24 frame mode, called 24F. Some has gone so far to call it 24 “Fake” because the video doesn’t look filmlike at all. Most experts have agreed that Canon’s 24F is not that much different from Sony’s CineFrame which produces equally poor results.

Based on a review of Panasonic HVX200 footage, it would seem that none of the HDV cameras offer an acceptable 24P mode. HVX200 utilizes a different standard (DVCPRO HD) with rates of up to 100Mbps. It’s doubtful that any of the HDV-based cameras will offer something remarkably different.

It’s not cheap either - Canon XL H1 price has been pegged at $8,999. All of the other HDV cams are lower - some like the Sony FX1 cost 3 times (!) less.

Canon XL H1: Big in Japan

Published by Administrator November 24th, 2005 in Digital Technology, HD Cameras and Video Production. 0 Comments

Canon XL H1 - Big in JapanCanon HD flagship finally hits the stores in Japan.


As of yesterday, the XL H1 is available from several Japanese retailers. The price of the camera is 945,000 JPY which is just a bit short of 8,000 USD.

My previous Canon XL H1 price check was done via B&H Photo and Video site and put the camera at $8,999.

That’s three times (!) the price of Sony FX1 and is 50% more than what you’ll pay for a Panasonic HVX200.

Judgement day is near - I ache to see some actual footage from the XL H1 and I’m not the only one!

HD Cameras roundup

Published by Administrator November 9th, 2005 in HD Cameras and Video Production. 0 Comments

There are at least two new cameras coming out in November, plus plenty more that should be coming out shortly. If you’re in video production, here’s the “most-wanted” list:

  • Canon XL H1: Canon flagship HDV camera, featuring interchangeable lenses - pegged at $8,999
  • JVC GY-HD100U: JVC’s 720p, HDV camera with an interchangeable Fujinon lens, and TRUE 24P. Price: $5,500
  • Panasonic HVX200: Highly anticipated as DVX100 big brother, supports DVCPRO HD (100Mbps), 4:2:2 color space, and hopefully TRUE 24p. Expected price - about $6,000 without the P2 cards.
  • ARRIFLEX D-20: This is by all means the King of the jungle with its 35mm CMOS sensor, support for 3-60FPS, HDCAM SR support, etc. Price: $100,000+

I’m keeping my ear close to the ground for what SONY has to offer as well. You gottta admit it’s tough to keep up with SONY. They’ve introduced not one, not two, but FOUR HDV cameras. In addition they have probably 5 more HD cams between $5,000 and $100,000.

In other words, SONY gets its own round up of HD cams :)

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