What high def video equipment would you buy with a +/- $10K budget?

[H2O Photo Pros]

I do not believe Gates is currently working on a housing for the FX1000 but Ill double check and get back to you.

 

[H2O Photo Pros]

Just confirmation with Gates, they are not doing a housing for the FX 1000

 

[In10se]

I found a review site with what seems like a good non-biased perspective on all the cameras we've mentioned in this thread ... and then some. Not related to diving, but still clean reviewing efforts.

VideoMaker.com on:
XR520
EX1
HF-S10
FX1000
More here on other models ...

 

[diversteve]

Here's another one: www.camcorderinfo.com

 

[In10se]

Just confirmation with Gates, they are not doing a housing for the FX 1000

That there is a 3-chip camera of this quality is interesting. I've gotta wonder just what's getting sacrificed for the price drop?

I'm thinkin' there would need to be a fairly significant difference in image quality over the XR520 for me to go with the bulk of the larger systems. Having something small enough that I can stow it away as I dive has a very strong appeal. For example, we dove the Andaman Islands last month. The boat crew had no problems with my girl and I doing a 90 minute dive, and in fact the DM that was along with us encouraged us to dive to our safe gas limits. A compact rig would have allowed us to do those dives without me being fully committed to only shooting video.

 

[scorpiofish]

I'm thinkin' there would need to be a fairly significant difference in image quality over the XR520 for me to go with the bulk of the larger systems. Having something small enough that I can stow it away as I dive has a very strong appeal.

There are indeed trade-offs. Much depends on the intended use of the output.

Here are my observations/opinions based on my wife's experience and my limited experience.

Smaller rig HC9/Gates Housing. Packs well. Handle comes off. Less drag. Combined with SWP25B it doesn't get any easier. Easy to maneuver in tight spots.

Cons: Harder to hold steady than a big rig (seems counter-intuitive). Image quality, dynamic not quite as good. Low light performance still not great. The optional manual white balance control is worthless. No one has yet been able to use past about 5 feet sans lights.

Big Rig A1U/L&M Housing. Pros: Well balanced. High quality output. Easy manual white balance. Ability to control Iris/focus.

Cons: Packing, dry weight. Drag. When we being pushed off the reef by heavy current, I thought I would never see my wife again. She wouldn't take the big rig in current after that. Did I mention packing?

She loved the results from the A1U, but prefers carrying the HC9. She has settled on the HC9.

That's why I am curious to see the actual low light performance of the XR520. Every new camera has claimed better low light performance. But the gap between consumer and prosumer remains fairly large.

Easy to carry:

Higher image quality:

 

[BDSC]

Cons: Harder to hold steady than a big rig (seems counter-intuitive). Image quality, dynamic not quite as good. Low light performance still not great. The optional manual white balance control is worthless. No one has yet been able to use past about 5 feet sans lights.

I have seen more than one person comment that the MWB on the HC9 doesn't work all that well. Is that a problem with this particular camera or is that pretty much the way it is for these types/levels of cameras?

 

[ronscuba]

It's a low light problem. The better the camcorder is at low light, the easier it can get a MWB lock UW.

 

[Video rookie]

Big Rig A1U/L&M Housing. Pros: Well balanced. High quality output. Easy manual white balance. Ability to control Iris/focus.

Cons: Packing, dry weight. Drag. When we being pushed off the reef by heavy current, I thought I would never see my wife again. She wouldn't take the big rig in current after that. Did I mention packing?

She loved the results from the A1U, but prefers carrying the HC9. She has settled on the HC9.

I have the Sony A1U in the Amphibico EVO housing, and never considered it a "big rig" compared to many I've seen. Is the HC-9 in a housing really that much smaller? Now the Phenom is what I consider a Big Rig... Or is the A1U that you are referring to not the Sony A1U?

 

[BDSC]

It's a low light problem. The better the camcorder is at low light, the easier it can get a MWB lock UW.

Then maybe if the XR520 performs as well as some have said in low light conditions, it would be the camera of choice for the UW world! I guess we'll see as soon as the reports start coming in.