• Canon XM1 (September 1999) (known in North America as the "Canon GL1") • Canon XA10 (March 2011) (HF G10 plus top handle) • Canon XA20 (June 2013) (HF G30 plus top handle) • Canon XA25 (June 2013) (XA20 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA30 (November 2015) (HF G40 plus top handle) • Canon XA35 (November 2015) (XA30 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA11 (December 2017) (HF G21 plus top handle) • Canon XA15 (December 2017) (XA11 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA40 (April 2019) (HF G50 plus top handle) • Canon XA45 (April 2019) (XA40 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA50 (June 2019) (HF G60 plus top handle) • Canon XA55 (June 2019) (XA50 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA60 (September 2022) (HF G70 plus top handle) • Canon XA65 (September 2022) (XA60 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XA70 (September 2022) (Upgraded HF G60 plus top handle) • Canon XA75 (September 2022) (XA70 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XF300 (June 2010) • Canon XF305 (June 2010) (XF300 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XF400 (September 2017) (GX10 plus top handle) • Canon XF405 (September 2017) (XF400 plus HD-SDI output, otherwise the same camera) • Canon XF605 (October 2021) • Canon XF705 (December 2018)
Canon XF100/XF105 The
XF100 and
XF105 are tapeless camcorders released in January 2011. The two camcorders are the same, except the XF105 has a
Genlock, Timecode, and HD/SD-SDI terminals. The units record to
Compact flash cards(2 slots), which can be changed while recording. The
XF100 and
XF105 feature two XLR inputs and one 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack for recording audio. The video is recorded to the
MXF file format.
Shooting formats NTSC configuration • 1080: 60i, 30p, 24p • 720: 60p, 30p, 24p
Specifications • Sensor: 1/3-inch 2 Megapixel CMOS • Lens speed: F/1.8-2.8 • Optical Zoom: 10x • Image Stabilizer: optical • Viewfinder: Yes • LCD Screen: 3.5 inches • Headphone Out: Yes • Microphone In: Yes • Recording media: CF memory cards (cards are not included), SD memory card (pictures only) • Weight: 2.4 lbs (without battery)
Canon XL-1/XL-1s The
Canon XL-1 is a
three-CCD standard-definition camcorder made from 1998 to 2001. The camera was designed for the
prosumer market. The successor to the XL-1s is the Canon XL-2. The XL-1 and XL-1s have many features of a high-end camera such as interchangeable lenses, viewfinders, and XLR inputs. Many features of the XL-1s were carried over into the Canon GL-2 and XL-2. The Canon XL-1 and the XL-1s were designed to be very customizable. The camera's features include: • 4:3, and electronic 16:9 (non-native)
anamorphic aspect ratios. • 60i, as well as "Frame" 30p picture modes. • Optical image stabilization with the included 16X L ISII lens. • ND Filter The feature-length film
28 Days Later was primarily shot using XL-1's. The camera was also used by the character Freddie Benson on the TV show
iCarly, to shoot the in-universe webshow.
Canon XL-2 The
Canon XL-2, released in 2004, is Canon's
prosumer 3CCD standard-definition camcorder. The XL-2 is the big brother to the
GL family and the successor of the similar looking Canon XL-1s. It is succeeded by the Canon XL-H1 with a similar 20x lens and similar design, but in black. The Canon XL-2 was designed to be very customizable, along with an array of pro-grade features. Some of these include: • 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios • 60i, 24p, and 30p frame rates • with selectable 2:3 or 2:3:3:2 pulldown in 24p mode • 4-channel audio • Optical image stabilization with the included 20X L IS lens • Control of gamma, knee, and much more to get the desired picture • Open architecture design • Interchangeable lenses, one of the most popular lenses is the 3x zoom wide angle lens often used for short films as it has a low price. The camera also has 2
XLR inputs in the back, as well as the capability to add 2 more with an adapter that plugs into the accessory shoe. This makes it useful for use with wireless microphones or other audio sources. The XL2 records to a MiniDV tape and can export to a computer via a
FireWire (IEEE 1394) port. The XL2 is one of only a few cameras that can record to all 4 MiniDV audio tracks simultaneously.
Canon XL H1 XL-H1 HDV camera, with a few accessories. The
Canon XL H1 is Canon's first
HDV camcorder with interchangeable lenses. It is the successor to the Canon XL-2. It can shoot in the HDV standard resolution of 1440×1080 pixels and has 3 native interlaced 1440×1080
CCDs (The photosites are 1.33:1 aspect ratio, allowing for a full 16:9 frame) where Sony's
HVR-V1U has 960×1080 diagonal photosites, and Panasonic's
AG-HVX200 pixel shifted 960×540 (goes to 1280×1080 but theoretically with pixel shift, has a resolution of 1440×810). The camera can also shoot in standard definition in either 16:9 or 4:3. It has an
HD-SDI uncompressed output. There's also component uncompressed HD output.
Shooting formats NTSC configuration: • 1080: 60i,
30f,
24f. • 480: 60i, 30f, 24f.
PAL configuration: • 1080: 50i, 25f. • 576: 50i, 25f. Users could pay for Canon to re-configure the camera to shoot in 50i and 25f. 24f, not to be taken as 24p, is derived from cooler running interlaced CCDs that are clocked at 48 Hz. Every two of the 48 fields are captured at precisely the same moment in time providing an image capture in camera without the need of any additional internal cooling devices for the CCDs. The
digital signal processor that enables the CCDs to capture in the "f" frame rate is called
DIGIC DV II (
DIGital Image Core – DigitalVideo version II). The technology is similar to the
DIGIC II that Canon uses for their
digital still cameras. Much of the technology is being kept under wraps, and the manufacturer of the CCDs is being kept secret.
Compatibility The XL H1 was shipped by Canon in one of two basic configurations, aiming the unit at either
NTSC or
PAL markets. The NTSC configuration supports NTSC DV and NTSC HDV
1080i60, 30f and 24f. The PAL configuration supports PAL DV and HDV at 1080i50. A modification was available from a Canon Authorised Service Centre to make a single unit capable of both sets of systems, allowing users to switch "personality" through an on-screen menu selection. Owners of the PAL / 1080i50 version will probably require this modification, as it is a pre-requisite to obtaining 24f operation. At present, the XL H1 24f and 30f HDV is supported by major
non-linear editing systems such as
Canopus/Grass Valley Edius 5.0,
Sony Vegas,
Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0,
Apple Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 and
Avid Xpress Pro. As of January 29, 2007, Final Cut Pro does not support standard definition 24f or 30f. 1080i60 and 1080i50 are cross-compatible with Sony's implementation of HDV; Canon 1080i50 and 1080i60 can play on Sony HDV cameras and decks. Canon's 24f, 25f, and 30f are not cross-compatible with Sony's implementation of HDV. No 1080 HDV footage will play on JVC HDV cameras or decks.
2008 updates In 2008, Canon updated their XL line with the addition of the XL H1A and XL H1S. The H1A and H1S are almost exactly the same except for the exclusion of the "Jackpack" (HD SDI, Genlock, Timecode) on the H1A. The kit lens includes an iris ring and a more sensitive zoom. The H1S and H1A also have a stronger headphone jack. They are no longer made out of plastic, but metal, making them less prone to breaking.
Canon XH-A1(s)/XH-G1(s) The
XH A1 and the
XH G1 are professional handheld
HDV camcorders manufactured by Canon. The form factor of the cameras is a close successor to the Canon GL2, with the newer HDV models being slightly larger and heavier. The cameras were marketed towards independent and documentary filmmakers, and for broadcasters and journalists for
electronic news gathering. Both cameras share the same basic design and body, though the XH G1 is geared towards professional multi-camera production and includes connections for
HD-SDI/SD-SDI Out,
genlock, and
time code. The cameras were originally released in 2006, the updated versions
XH-A1s and
XH G1s came out in December 2008. The Canon XH A1 has been used in a variety of applications in broadcast, on-line, and theatrical productions. Use of the camera in professional applications includes the
Chicago Tribune's on-line videos, and the camera was used for the production of the motion picture
Crank: High Voltage.
Technical details The camera is capable of shooting and recording with either
60 Hz or
50 Hz scanning rates. The default rate depends on the region where the camera is sold, but the camcorder can be made 50 Hz / 60 Hz switchable for additional fee. Video is recorded to
MiniDV cassettes with a maximum record time of 80 minutes.
CCDs are the image sensor technology used in the camera with a resolution of 1440 × 1080 in
high definition Mode. When recording in standard definition in a
4:3 aspect ratio an area of 1080 × 1080 pixels is used on the sensor, and the entire 1440 × 1080 sensor is used for
16:9 standard definition recording. Customizations to the image on the camera include
gamma, knee, black levels, color gain, and sharpness settings. These settings allow the operator to develop a look for the production within the camera. Shooting modes of both HDV and DV include 60i, 30F, and 24F for a 60 Hz version. 50 Hz version offers recording modes of 50i and 25F. Vertical resolution of the progressive video shot in "F" mode is about 25% lower than theoretically possible, because it is generated from interlaced CCD sensors by using row-pair summation but is still higher than the resolution of a single field. Tapes, recorded in HDV "F" mode are compatible with
Native Progressive Recording mode offered on some Sony camcorders. A progressive video output is available via a
FireWire (IEEE 1394) port. 1080i or 480i component video is via a
D3 connector more commonly seen on Japanese consumer electronics. To preserve compatibility with existing interlaced equipment, 480i composite video is always available via either a
BNC connector, or a 3.5mm
TRS connector. Video shot in DV "F" mode is recorded to tape in interlaced format.
2008 updates Canon released its model
XH A1S and
XH G1s in 2008. Updated features include acceleration/deceleration control of the zoom, separate audio sensitivity settings for the two input
XLR audio channels and the ability to simultaneously record sound from the input and external microphone.
Optics The built-in lens has a focal length of 4.5 mm - 90 mm (equivalent to 32.5 mm - 650 mm for 35 mm), with a maximum
f/stop of f/1.6. Canon also includes its
image stabilization technology on the camera, the same technology used in many of their
Single-lens reflex camera lenses. The lens body has three rings affecting focus, zoom and aperture; however, these rings do not manually drive the lens. Instead, sensors measure the movement of the rings and electronically drive the lens through built-in motors allowing for smoother operation and more feedback telling the user exactly what focal range, aperture f-number and zoom number the lens is set to. The lens thread supports 72 mm filters and adapters such as fisheye and wide-angle lenses. Modern devices such as the Letus35 also allow for 35 mm lenses to be attached providing a very shallow depth of field and create a more "film" like feel which is often desired by many amateur film makers and allows for even greater operational flexibility of the XH A1.
Audio The XH A1 provides two channels of audio through the built-in microphone or via external
XLR audio. In HDV mode the camera can record two 16-bit channels at a rate of 192 kbit/s and 1.5 Mbit/s in DV mode. The official web site states that (HDV standard): HDV: 2-channel recording MPEG1 Audio Layer II: (bit rate 384 kbit/s) In SD mode: DV: 2-channel recording PCM
digital recording: 16 bits (48 kHz), 12 bits (32 kHz, 12 bits selectable). XH-A1s improves audio connections and addressing flaws from the original XH-A1.
Canon XM2/GL2 Canon XM2/GL2 is a
PAL or
NTSC Mini DV camcorder, the successor to the Canon XM1/GL1.
Features Part of their high-end, "
prosumer" range, notable features include
zebra patterning, colour gain, phase and sharpness. It has a 2.5 inch LCD and 0.44 inch viewfinder, a bulky auto/manual focus button on the front, and a large rubber manual focus ring for quick or pull focusing. It also includes such features as 3″
CCDs, manual and auto focus and white balance, and the ability to attach a wide variety of accessories, making it popular with amateur and independent filmmakers. It has a fixed fluorite zoom lens and records to
MiniDV cassettes. Its operating weight, when batteries and tapes are included, is under four pounds. The GL2 differs from its predecessor, the Canon GL1, in a few notable ways. First, The CCD was improved to allow more accurate edge-to-edge imaging. While this was entirely in the overscan area of broadcast television, the improvement is visible in conversions to film and in video distributed on the web. Slower shutter speeds were introduced, all the way down to 1/8 of a second in video mode. The GL2 also introduced features for digital effects and color bars in-camera, as well as 1.7 Megapixel still camera features for use with an
SD card.
Specifications • ¼″ 470K pixel 3CCD with pixel shift, • Canon Professional L-Series Fluorite Lens, • 20x optical zoom/100x digital zoom, • Optical image stabiliser, • Direction accurate stereo microphone, • Two-channel audio level manual control with VU meter, • 2.5″ 200K colour LCD screen, • Sockets Include; Lanc, Headphone, Dc In, Microphone, Dv in/out, Av in/out/, USB, S-Video, ==Consumer camcorders==