Canon XA10 HF-G10 delivery

Anyone know where to get an XA10 / HF-G10?

Talked to Canon - they won't tell/don't know. They said talk to dealers. Checked dealers; they don't know.

So now what? Wait? Is there a good substitute?

Gates says ~8 weeks give or take anyhow for their housing. None noted at Amphibico or L&M.

Opinions? Options? Alternatives?

Tom

Anyone know where to get an XA10 / HF-G10?

 

Talked to Canon - they won't tell/don't know. They said talk to dealers. Checked dealers; they don't know.

 

So now what? Wait? Is there a good substitute?

 

Gates says ~8 weeks give or take anyhow for their housing. None noted at Amphibico or L&M.

 

Opinions? Options? Alternatives?

 

Tom

I am also interested at HF-G10 but the housing by Gates is a bit too heavy for me.

I just found Diveross housing, is it possible that it can house HF G10 as well?

http://www.diveross.com/products_eng_detta...hp?IDProdotto=6

kkfok,

I looked at the plastic housing and it does seem to be advertised at about four pounds for the unit.

The Gates is quoted at 11.3 pounds with camera, camera battery and wide angle port, which leads me to believe the difference is less than seven pounds. If the camera plus battery is about 1-1/2 pounds and the port is 2 pounds (just guesses) the real difference becomes more like four pounds. I don't know anything about the plastic housing - I presently use an Ikelite plastic housing and don't care for it. The buoyancy was a problem which took me months to overcome. The light weight decreases stability underwater adding to camera movement when I don't want it. The front/rear balance isn't too good. The camera "bobs" up and down if I use a control. Other than that, it's OK

So for stability, complete access to controls and Gates reputation for solidity, I'll take the added four pounds. It's still light enough to take as a carry on for international flights.

My two cents!

Tom

PS: Still don't have a clue about when the camera will be available, nor about any possible competing products!

I am also interested at HF-G10 but the housing by Gates is a bit too heavy for me.

I just found Diveross housing, is it possible that it can house HF G10 as well?

http://www.diveross.com/products_eng_detta...hp?IDProdotto=6

Tom

You may wish to consider the Sony CX700/NX70. The lens is wider, it shoots 1080/60p at 28mbps and a lot of features the Canon doesn't have. Sure the Canon has the 8 blade iris which makes for better looking backgrounds. One thing that you'll probably have to go test is the white balance range. The Canon is @ 15000k which is very useful for underwater MWB.

The nice thing about the Sony is that the one for all housings with LANC should run it and the 26mm lens will be nice, especially if put behind a dome.

New toy time is never easy is it?

Drew,

I took a look and the CX700 seems to be less expensive than the XA10, competitive with the HF-G10. Alas I could only find the Equinox housing which weighs ~20 pounds plus camera and lights and port. This takes it firmly out of carry-on territory compared with the Gates/XA10 combo at ~12 lbs including camera, battery and port.

The CX700 in the tiny Gates housing (similar to CX550/XR550/HXRMC50U/XR520V housings) might be good but not on their list.

Any other more portable options available?

Tom

Drew,

 

I took a look and the CX700 seems to be less expensive than the XA10, competitive with the HF-G10. Alas I could only find the Equinox housing which weighs ~20 pounds plus camera and lights and port. This takes it firmly out of carry-on territory compared with the Gates/XA10 combo at ~12 lbs including camera, battery and port.

 

The CX700 in the tiny Gates housing (similar to CX550/XR550/HXRMC50U/XR520V housings) might be good but not on their list.

 

Any other more portable options available?

 

Tom

I talked with Gates a few weeks ago and they said they were planning on making a housing for the CX700. You might give them a call and find out what their estimated schedule is, the weight of the housing, etc.

Pat

kkfok,

 

I looked at the plastic housing and it does seem to be advertised at about four pounds for the unit.

 

The Gates is quoted at 11.3 pounds with camera, camera battery and wide angle port, which leads me to believe the difference is less than seven pounds. If the camera plus battery is about 1-1/2 pounds and the port is 2 pounds (just guesses) the real difference becomes more like four pounds. I don't know anything about the plastic housing - I presently use an Ikelite plastic housing and don't care for it. The buoyancy was a problem which took me months to overcome. The light weight decreases stability underwater adding to camera movement when I don't want it. The front/rear balance isn't too good. The camera "bobs" up and down if I use a control. Other than that, it's OK

 

So for stability, complete access to controls and Gates reputation for solidity, I'll take the added four pounds. It's still light enough to take as a carry on for international flights.

 

My two cents!

 

Tom

 

PS: Still don't have a clue about when the camera will be available, nor about any possible competing products!

Thanks for your correction. I didn't know that 11.3 pounds includes the camcorder and port, this weight is more acceptable.

15000K, custom color temperature and excellent low light sensitivity. This camcorder seems to be very suitable for use underwater.

Drew,

 

I took a look and the CX700 seems to be less expensive than the XA10, competitive with the HF-G10. Alas I could only find the Equinox housing which weighs ~20 pounds plus camera and lights and port. This takes it firmly out of carry-on territory compared with the Gates/XA10 combo at ~12 lbs including camera, battery and port.

 

The CX700 in the tiny Gates housing (similar to CX550/XR550/HXRMC50U/XR520V housings) might be good but not on their list.

 

Any other more portable options available?

 

Tom

Well it should fit every housing that works with the CX550 since they are dimensionally very similar and run LANC. Mangrove, L&M should work (but confirm that!). If you want 3D, the BK Kinetics guys housing for the CS550 will work and with the CX700 wider lens, it'll be better for wideangle underwater.

Thanks for your correction. I didn't know that 11.3 pounds includes the camcorder and port, this weight is more acceptable.

Not sure how it matches up to the Gates (Sony HC-x series) I use, but it seems very close to the HC-x series. It is really easy to deal with under water and to travel with. I usually also carry a still rig, stobes and the rest, together with the video rig. Before I moved to dSLR, could get the Gates and a larger P&S in a Pelican 1510, with enough arms, one strobe, one light, not an issue so I could get by on video or stills as needed. A small P&S (including a housing) and the small Gates I guess would be easy, even more so with the smaller lights and strobes now available. If just video, the Gates and a couple of Solas is probably a non-issue to worry about in terms of travelling.

So all you guys are saying the Sony CX700 will be a better UW camera than the XA10?

You may wish to consider the Sony CX700/NX70. The lens is wider, it shoots 1080/60p at 28mbps and a lot of features the Canon doesn't have.

I talked with Gates a few weeks ago and they said they were planning on making a housing for the CX700.

Tom

Now better is a very qualitative statement that is restrictive. They both have merits. I just happen to like the 60p so I can shoot more slo-mo stuff and the wide angle is just much better unless you want to do macro Then again the Canon has better color, white balance range and probably better lowlight. Which is more important?

Well it should fit every housing that works with the CX550 since they are dimensionally very similar and run LANC. Mangrove, L&M should work (but confirm that!). If you want 3D, the BK Kinetics guys housing for the CS550 will work and with the CX700 wider lens, it'll be better for wideangle underwater.

May or maybe not relevant to this thread, but the CX700 may not be 100% compatible in CX550 housings. I have a BSKinetics 3D on order, and I had two CX700's waiting to go in it. Then it emerged (from Werner of digi-dat) that the CX700 has a different AV-R protocol to the CX550, and that it can't accept LANC in at the same time as AV out, so won't work in their housing. Bummer- I had to return my CX700s and order the older CX550's. Not sure whether this will be an issue for other housings. I guess it might now be necessary to use HDMI out for monitors and the AVR port for lanc only.

May or maybe not relevant to this thread, but the CX700 may not be 100% compatible in CX550 housings. I have a BSKinetics 3D on order, and I had two CX700's waiting to go in it. Then it emerged (from Werner of digi-dat) that the CX700 has a different AV-R protocol to the CX550, and that it can't accept LANC in at the same time as AV out, so won't work in their housing. Bummer- I had to return my CX700s and order the older CX550's. Not sure whether this will be an issue for other housings. I guess it might now be necessary to use HDMI out for monitors and the AVR port for lanc only.

Typical! But not surprising. Looks like the LANC engineers will have to play catch up again. Like I said, check it out with the manufacturers BEFORE you buy!

Now better is a very qualitative statement that is restrictive. They both have merits. I just happen to like the 60p so I can shoot more slo-mo stuff and the wide angle is just much better unless you want to do macro Then again the Canon has better color, white balance range and probably better lowlight. Which is more important?

Drew,

Yes!

Tom

PS: Macro is good. Low light is good. Slow-mo is good. Wide angle is good. I want it all. I want it now! >>>

Drew,

From B&H's spec page:

Canon XA10 is quoted as "4.25-42.5mm (30.4-304mm, 35mm equivalent)"

Sony HDR-CX700 as "3.8-38mm"

which looks like a 10% difference in the wide and long ends of the zoom range.

In equivalent 35mm terms, it looks like the Canon is 30.4-304mm and the Sony, 26.3 - 263mm.

Is 10% that significant? Or has someone done the arithmetic wrong?

Tom

Our HD6 Housings are 8-11lbs depending on which camcorder you are deciding to go with and the HD8 is 28-31Lbs. I just wanted to clarify on the weight question as there seems to be a little confusion. We can manufacture a housing for any camcorder however and I can answer any questions you may have.

Off my head math, I'd say Sony is approx 80° FOV and Canon 70° FOV diagonal. If you have a DSLR or a compact camera, play with FOV to see if it's a big deal. For me it is.

Drew,

 

From B&H's spec page:

 

Canon XA10 is quoted as "4.25-42.5mm (30.4-304mm, 35mm equivalent)"

 

Sony HDR-CX700 as "3.8-38mm"

 

which looks like a 10% difference in the wide and long ends of the zoom range.

 

In equivalent 35mm terms, it looks like the Canon is 30.4-304mm and the Sony, 26.3 - 263mm.

 

Is 10% that significant? Or has someone done the arithmetic wrong?

 

Tom

While it may be heavier than some housings, you really can't beat the Gates housings for either quality or customer service. I have owned several of their housings over the years, and while I do not use one now, their housings are built to last a lot longer than you will be diving. You really can't go wrong with a Gates.

Steve

(this is not a paid advertisement)

L&M will have one soon too. How useful is the camera's LCD monitor in the Gates Housing? It seems like a great idea to just use the camera's own monitor, but can you reall see it well enough from various viewing angles?

I've been using a gates for a while- most recently with a sony hc7 and I haven't found any serious problems with using the camera's own lcd. Obviously you have to look a bit more into the back of the housing, which might be slightly more awkward in some situations, but generally it has been very good, and I've noticed quite a few other video professionals using smalls gates housings and also loving them. If you find you really need an external monitor for certain situations, I think you can have them retrofitted.