krskrewz
Enthusiast
Mar 21, 2006, 2:03 PM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: [MLiebergot] Ready to take the plunge
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I agree. With Michael.
If you can possibly do so, save up a little more for the FX1 if you can because, as it is well known and based off of my own experiences, in low light the HC1 has a really tough time. I started off my 'career' with an HC1 and worked on a day/afternoon wedding. The ceremony was fine and the reception did 'ok' because the doors to the reception hall were left open so there was alot of light coming in. I figured that since the HC1 did great with alot of light and did at least 'ok' at the reception that I could slide with HC1s as my main cameras and so I picked up a 2nd HC1. I worked a couple more day/afternoon weddings and the results were fine and even picked up a FX1. I picked up the FX1 not because I felt the HC1s lacked but I just wanted to make the FX1 my main camera with my HC1s as backups. I guess at the time I knew that the day would come where i'd be shooting low light and so I wanted the FX1 just in case. Well as soon as I hit my first afternoon/evening event, I was so dissapointed with the results of the low light footage of the HC1s that I picked up a second FX1. My set up now is 2 FX1s and 1 HC1 as a backup. The 2nd HC1 is pretty much a vacation cam / family cam since it'll be pretty tough selling it for anywhere close to what the retail price I picked it up at. But yea it was a pretty hefty investment seeing as that I have the 2 HC1 and 2 FX1s. Looking back, I would have been fine if I just saved up a little from the start and went for the FX1s instead of getting the HC1s first. For my past most recent events, the FX1s have been in use while the backup HC1 has pretty much sat on the bench.
If your situation still does not allow you to pick up an FX1 and you go for the HC1, keep in mind that when you do use the light (if you go for the 10/20W) not to venture off more than 10 feet or so from what you're shooting otherwise the light has little affect. If you shoot mostly late morning/afternoon weddings, you should for the most part be ok. Plan your angles and shots carefully with dimly lit church's (since you most likely will not be allowed to use a light). If you attend the ceremony rehearsals, bring along the HC1 and do some recording (or even standby shooting). See which angles work for you with the given light.
good luck!
Also to start off for weddings, due to low light, you may want to consider starting with the FX1, because of better low light shooting. In good lighting the A1U is fantastic, but when the light drops low, the color saturation realy drops off, as well as more grain is introduced. The A1U is a great #2 Cam (Balcony Cam) or main cam in good lighting (Outdoor events and due to it's small inconsipcuous size, Love story shoots).
The FX1 will work better in dimly lit reception venues and while the picture is dark (which it was when it was shot BTW) you can pop the Gain up to 12DB and not see any grain in teh blacks. Also teh FX1 will have better manual controls for run and gun exposure than the A1U.
Don't get me wrong, the A1U is a great deal right now and a great camera for certain circumstances, just not all. While the FX1 with a Beachtek XLR adapter will be more versitile and less headaches in the long run.
Get an FX1 and do a couple weddings and get yourself an A1 for a 2nd camera.
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