Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

All Canon HDV cameras has an important issue: if you record in 24F or 30F modes, the tapes can only be played back in the camera itself. Canon records those signals in a proprietary mode that is not HDV compliant. YOU CANNOT PLAYBACK THE TAPES IN ANY DECK OR CAMERA other than Canon.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3806EH8COQTFY Thinking of moving to HD? It's probably a good time to do it!

Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

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If you get an earlier version of the XH-A1 you may experience a problem shooting in standard definition. (It only occurs in some, not all cameras.) Your picture will look fine in your viewfinder and on your LCD screen. However when you download the footage the scene will be out of focus and the central image will look fuzzy (i.e. something other than the central image may be in sharp focus)--check this using a tripod for the shoot. It will be more pronounced if you are using a wide aperture. This only occurs if you shoot in standard definition and not while you are shooting in HD. (My guess is the problem is an adjustment for SD auto focus with the HD lens.) This is a problem Canon will fix for you in a very quick turn around. If you think this is occurring with your XH-A1 you should call Canon tech support and go over the problem with them so they can give you a repair code. Most likely the repair will be free. If you have this problem, once they repair it, this will be, once again, a five star camcorder. This camera is so complex you might not know whether any problem you are having is you or the camera, so I just wanted to mention this case where the problem does seem to be the camera's. 2008 Learn the (Canon XH A1, XH-A1) XHA1 TUTORIAL TEACHING PROGRAMMED-INSTRUCTION DVD

So with pretty much a whole year in research and reading forums,reviews, watching test footage, and more I was stuck on every question any film or video enthusiast comes across. "What camera do i buy?" To be honest...i was sold on the HVX200. I couldn't believe how good it looked and all the frame rates and recording on cards! Kicked the crap out of minidv tapes right?!
Well, i got my hands on the hvx200 and found out the hype didn't live to my expectations. Too much grain, expensive P2, too bulky (personally), the menus were like a labyrinth, and i just didn't like it. It's a good cam don't get me wrong but not my choice. Now i was previously a HV20 owner (still am) and am very pleased with Canon. I've been eying the XH-A1 for a while too and read so many reviews and watched some much footage that made it look absolutely amazing! I love Canon and trusted my extinct...Just received this monster today! Seriously a gorgeous design, sleek black, amazing footage, not a consumer camera but when your familiar with pro cameras this was very easy going to me but still had some curves to learn. The footage looked just as good as the HVX, i think. To my eye i like the look of the XH-A1 100X better with color adjustments in camera of course. Overall, this camera was probably the best investment for my budget. I would highly highly recommend this to any indie filmmaker, documentarian, videographer, or any serious film person. This camera lived beyond it's expectation from me. I mean a camera half the price of one of the best camera's on the market (HVX200) and looks just as good as it does, why wouldn't you choose it?! This is my personal view on it. I could go on about the features about the camera but there is too many good things about this camera. Only negative is i wish it had more shutter speeds. But all in all, best camera i have ever used and the only camera i will need for the next 5 years until Red develops the Scarlet to truly be $3k and under.

Don't believe the Canon brochure. The software doesn't come with the camcorder. You have to download the trial version, and then they try to sell it to you. Don't bother with it. It's poorly written and has drivers untested with Windows. But you can use it to do a "Preformance Test" of your hard drive. The camcorder is great, but I'm giving it 1 star because Canon lied, though Amazon didn't.