List of Canon camcorders


This is a list of camcorders manufactured under the Canon brand.

[Canon Cinema EOS] digital camcorders

  • Canon EOS-1D C
  • Canon EOS C70
  • Canon EOS C80
  • Canon EOS C100
  • Canon EOS C100 Mark II
  • Canon EOS C200/C200B
  • Canon EOS C300
  • Canon EOS C300 Mark II
  • Canon EOS C300 Mark III
  • Canon EOS C400
  • Canon EOS C500
  • Canon EOS C500 Mark II
  • Canon EOS C700

    Professional digital camcorders

  • Canon XM1
  • Canon XA10
  • Canon XA20
  • Canon XA25
  • Canon XA30
  • Canon XA35
  • Canon XA11
  • Canon XA15
  • Canon XA40
  • Canon XA45
  • Canon XA50
  • Canon XA55
  • Canon XA60
  • Canon XA65
  • Canon XA70
  • Canon XA75
  • Canon XF300
  • Canon XF305
  • Canon XF400
  • Canon XF405
  • Canon XF605
  • Canon XF705

    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, 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, SD memory card
  • Weight: 2.4 lbs

    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:
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 port. The XL2 is one of only a few cameras that can record to all 4 MiniDV audio tracks simultaneously.

Canon XL H1

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 where Sony's HVR-V1U has 960×1080 diagonal photosites, and Panasonic's AG-HVX200 pixel shifted 960×540.
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. 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" 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.Image:XH-A1 ENG shotgun audio.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The XH-A1 showing a professional shotgun microphone and XLR audio
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 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.