Canon off to a weak start for NAB...

[Bruce Allen]

The makers of my favorite sub <$600 HD camera (I just bought a second HV20 for $595) are off to a very weak start with their "pro" cameras:

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20080410_xlh1.html

XL H1S - $9000 (with jack pack: HD-SDI, Genlock, Timecode)
XL H1A - $6000 (no jack pack)
- lens that sucks less (still looks a bit fly-by-wire - it's has a "manual focus ring" with "three sensitivity settings" WTF?)
- used updated software from XH A1 (more color balance, gain options)
- better LCD monitor output

Is this really the best they could do? Their stuff was good when it came out, sharper than Z1U, etc this is really getting a bit dated IMHO.

Thanks Red for putting the heat on everyone.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

 

[Andrew Hewlett]

Canon's new offerings are horrible. They should have just stayed home.

Are the CCDs still interlaced? They are 1440x1080 native and are still HDV.

Boo.

 

[planet e]

agree, that's a disappointing re-stewing of not very much.

they must not have heard that RED was re-defining the trickleware model...

 

[Steve Sherrick]

That little HV-20 when you get all the settings just right does a great job. It's the only Canon I've ever owned.

 

[Tom Lowe]

They are 1440x1080 native and are still HDV.

Hahaha.

 

[Jeremy Hughes]

I just bought a second HV20 for $595

Payed something like $1,300 CAD in December. And the Canadian dollar is higher than the American dollar.

I'm just sad about the XL H1A and S. I thought it was going to be great. AVCHD and HDV recording. CMOS since they got that big CMOS plant in the Kanagawa Perfecture now. But wow. I thought they'd try to make it cheap and a really big improvment to at least try compete with RED but...

It even looks the same:

 

[Andrew Hewlett]

Hahaha.

Glad someone caught my humor. I'm all about (preying for) 2K and RedCode from Scarlet, and if that doesn't happen, I'll have to settle for 4K and RedCode. I'm done with HDV and AVCHD.

I do have a HV20, which I think is the only video product they've released recently that was an advance to the market (size,price point, 24P).

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Bruce,

anyway you deal with obsolete technologies like a HV20, bargain PC's and AVID.

Such a strange world or a mix !? :innocent:

 

[Lexicon]

Canon just wants to maintain the status quo with their pro offerings. Consumer HD cameras and HD display technology are where much of their innovation and research money is going because of the HDTV transition.

 

[Joe Carney]

I'm sure all those Star Trek fan film makers will keep Canon in the money.