The new XF100 and XF105 capture HD video at up to 50 Mbps and weigh less than three pounds each — making them the smallest and lightest camcorders in the company’s professional camcorder lineup.
Both models feature a Canon 10x zoom lens, a 1920x1080 CMOS sensor and similar specifications for frame rate and resolution. Both also enable an MXF wrapper on footage that adds useful metadata. Both will even shoot in the dark, with infrared image capture.
The principal difference between models is the HD-SDI, genlock and timecode support available on the XF105 — features which many pros will find necessary.
It is the camera’s integrated 3D features, however, that some videographers will find irresistible, with enhancements such as lens shifting and focal length calibration that help stabilize optical alignment and zoom distances, allowing for the easy synchronization of two cameras on a 3D rig.
Dual XLR audio inputs; a built-in stereo microphone; manual level controls; a 3.5-inch LCD monitor that also displays waveform, peaking and other imaging information; along with an image magnification feature that assists focusing, rounds out the packages.
Expected to ship later this year, the new camcorders have no specified price but will be budget-friendly and provide an alternative to producers seeking the latest technology.