Best HD camera for FCP. Stable capturing and editing.

[Sean Tatalovich]

Seems on the Apple site:

https://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/#importing

That AVCHD works seamlessly form the Canon in the example. So I don’t understand all the issues with AVCHD.

The Canon XH A1 is affordable. Uses tape but shoot only at 1440×1080. But the cheaper Canons shoot VIXIA HF S100 or the VIXIA HF S10 shoot at 1920 x 1080.

Is there a camera that is similar to the Canon XH A1 price range that shoots in AVCHD in full HD 1920 x 1080?

[Will Griffith]

I don’t think you can really compare handycam style cameras
to the A1.

Your best bet would be to rent, borrow, or use a few different
setups and see what suites you best.

Will Griffith
Producer

[Chris Borjis]

[Will Griffith] “I don’t think you can really compare handycam style cameras
to the A1.”

absolutely true.

there is a lot of artifacts and aliasing on ALL those
AVCHD camcorders. They are barely HD with the amount
of actual picture sharpness and clarity they provide.

[Michael Gissing]

Don’t forget the importance of a good lens. Pixel aspect isn’t an issue but sharp optics are. 1440 x 1080 is used by HDV and HDCam.

In my opinion, Canon lenses are sharper than the Sony Zeiss lenses, but I have seen excellent results from Z1s if you avoid the widest angle and use ND filters to keep the iris in the F8 range.

[Sean Tatalovich]

Isn’t the 1920x 1080 size better then the 1440×1080?

For viewing on HD TVs, and even on the web (I know it is compressed). why do the larger more expensive cameras only come at 1140×1080 while the smaller cameras come at 1920×1080?

[Walter Biscardi]

[Sean Tatalovich] “Isn’t the 1920x 1080 size better then the 1440×1080? “

It’s not just the pixel size. It’s also the compression ratio. DVCPro HD is a much lighter compression than AVC HD or HDV or even the Sony XDCAM HD. So the image quality is better.

HDCAM is a lighter compression yet so it has an even better image quality.

RED has very light compression so it has even better image quality and goes all the way up to 4k.

The more expensive cameras just have much more signal to noise ratio than the cheaper cameras and of course they allow you to use much better lenses.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

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[Will Griffith]

>>DVCPro HD is a much lighter compression than AVC HD or HDV or even the Sony XDCAM HD. So the image quality is better.

If the HVX, etc. was even in his price range it would still produce a much softer image than an A1,
but to its credit would be much easier to work with in FCP. Its really more of a preference,
either soft image or rich color, take your pick. 🙂

>>RED has very light compression so it has even better image quality and goes all the way up to 4k

Although it puts out an amazing image, Red has the about the same compression ratio as HDV, hence the ability to fit 4K on a CF card.

[Sean Tatalovich]

Thanks. Should I be concerned about the 1920x 1080 vs. 1440×1080 difference.

[Will Griffith]

You are the one that needs to determine if 1440×1080 is enough, because we have no idea
what you will be shooting and what your delivery format is.

It is actually hard to find a usable sub 10k camera that shoots “true” 1920×1080, and definitely
none for less than 4k.

[Sean Tatalovich]

So many options and yet seems none are quite there in sense of budget. I think after reading everything it comes down to definitely HDV/tape. I was looking at the Panasonic HVX170 or 200 which can be got online around $3000 or so but the 32GB cards are $1400 that is crazy. No use in having the camera if you can’t record on anything right?

What matters most is ease of capturing and editing in HD. I am not a stickler on image too much. We need something to shoot that looks good in HD and easy to work with. Yet they don’t want something that is in consumer models.

So it seems that the choices are:

Sony HVR-Z1U
Canon XH A1
JVC GY-HD110U

The JVC GY-HM100U sounds great but who knows how much those flash cards will cost?