I'm an experienced photographer who is looking at picking up a video camera to go with my FSLRs/DSLRs which don't do video. (Trying to get a 1984 Pentax645 MF to do video is a little challenging. 
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Probably going to shoot events with this, guest speakers, presentations, interviews and so on. Most likely the camera is going to be locked down on a tripod while I roam. Some handheld use is expected. Size and weight is not much of a deterrent as long as it does not exceed Canon XM2/GL2 size. In fact the GL2's size is good as it gives me room to hang accessories onto it without looking ridiculous.
I'm trying to decide between going with a 'legacy' Canon XM2/GL2 (semipro) vs newer consumer camera such as the Canon HV30 or HF100. One of the key things to me is that I need a half-decent shotgun mic especially for handheld interviews. I'm not entirely convinced by the HD hype and I'm wondering whether the older 3CCD GL2 design would still look better in low light compared to the small sensors of the consumer cameras. There is no particular need for HD, when full size 720x576 SD will do fine for output to DVD.
Also, while the HF100 looks like quite a charming device with the DM-100 mike, I hear AVCHD is a pain to edit and I regard postprocessing as enough a chore as it already is (yes, big Lightroom fan here because it makes things FAST for me). Score one for DV tape, Firewire, and a very-well-established DV workflow.
Tape however is a pain to me.. the last thing I want is a tape drive or tape failure in the field. And I know that yes, mechanical systems WILL fail on you (day job is in computing.. I know about 'failures' all right). Score one for the flash based systems.
Cost is an issue, the older GL2 is going to run me about twice of what the HF100 will. I'll pay for it if it is absolutely worth it.
So which would you recommend - older GL2 or newer HF100?
)Probably going to shoot events with this, guest speakers, presentations, interviews and so on. Most likely the camera is going to be locked down on a tripod while I roam. Some handheld use is expected. Size and weight is not much of a deterrent as long as it does not exceed Canon XM2/GL2 size. In fact the GL2's size is good as it gives me room to hang accessories onto it without looking ridiculous.
I'm trying to decide between going with a 'legacy' Canon XM2/GL2 (semipro) vs newer consumer camera such as the Canon HV30 or HF100. One of the key things to me is that I need a half-decent shotgun mic especially for handheld interviews. I'm not entirely convinced by the HD hype and I'm wondering whether the older 3CCD GL2 design would still look better in low light compared to the small sensors of the consumer cameras. There is no particular need for HD, when full size 720x576 SD will do fine for output to DVD.
Also, while the HF100 looks like quite a charming device with the DM-100 mike, I hear AVCHD is a pain to edit and I regard postprocessing as enough a chore as it already is (yes, big Lightroom fan here because it makes things FAST for me). Score one for DV tape, Firewire, and a very-well-established DV workflow.
Tape however is a pain to me.. the last thing I want is a tape drive or tape failure in the field. And I know that yes, mechanical systems WILL fail on you (day job is in computing.. I know about 'failures' all right). Score one for the flash based systems.
Cost is an issue, the older GL2 is going to run me about twice of what the HF100 will. I'll pay for it if it is absolutely worth it.
So which would you recommend - older GL2 or newer HF100?
