Press Release: Canon's New XF305 and XF300 Professional HD Camcorder

Tom Hardwick · April 8th, 2010, 10:25 AM

Thanks Chris - couldn't see it anywhere on their spec sheet.

Robert Turchick · April 8th, 2010, 10:30 AM

Wow! 2.8? So that's where a good chunk of the asking price is coming from! I'd love to have one but it's too far out of reach for now! Maybe the rental houses will pick them up though! The major one here is already hip to the 5D and has a couple that are always out on gigs.

Ethan Cooper · April 8th, 2010, 12:47 PM

Before you get overly excited about 2.8 at full telephoto, my $2000 FX7's do 2.8 at full zoom too.

It's too early to definitively say these new cams are overpriced but that was my initial knee jerk reaction along with many of you.

Paul Matwiy · April 8th, 2010, 12:48 PM

I suspect as well that a lot of the cost of this camera is in the lens. If it's truly L series glass, we might not see the CA issues prevalent in prior cameras.

Floris van Eck · April 8th, 2010, 02:51 PM

My Canon XL-H1 has L glass too and does have CA issues. So don't get your hopes up high.

Kevin Martorana · April 8th, 2010, 04:08 PM

hmmm...why don't they take a 7d chip...put it in that body...with all the connections...and then add a removable lens...that works with all Canon EF lenses...

wouldn't that solve some issue....give people the DOF they want, removable lenses, the recording they want...

and then...add an external flash drive for high rate recording, instead of the 50mbps.

BUT...here it is...the XF305....

I'm still amazed at the price...when the 7D still camera is (body only) $1300.00 US.

Wish I could get a job a Canon as R&D....I'd take as many of your "wants"...and put it into a camera for 9k. !!

Okay...back to dreaming....I'll have to look at this closely at NAB.

Steve Rusk · April 8th, 2010, 04:16 PM

...internal security would bury you right next to the guy that developed the 12-300mm 1.2 lens for under $200

Chris Hurd · April 8th, 2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Martorana

why don't they take a 7d chip...put it in that body...with all the connections...and then add a removable lens...that works with all Canon EF lenses...

Sounds obvious, doesn't it?

In reality it's not that simple. See the conclusion of my article at
APS-C or Full Frame CMOS Sensors? Not Happening in 2010 for the
explanation why.

"...many videographers wondering aloud if Canon will build a dedicated
video camera around such large sensors, with a properly motorized lens,
XLR audio jacks and an ergonomic form factor conducive to recording the
moving image. The short answer is no.

The longer answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. At least not yet, not
this year anyway, with several important reasons why it’s not going to
happen anytime soon. And here they are."

Dom Stevenson · April 8th, 2010, 04:55 PM

"hmmm...why don't they take a 7d chip...put it in that body...with all the connections...and then add a removable lens..."

You mean why don't they undermine their lucrative business in 20 grand lenses to put out a 6 grand camcorder?

hmmmm...Probably because they're not stupid.

Many posters here seem to forget that these companies are trying to make a profit, and that a surefire way to fail would be to produce something that makes their more high end models redundant. The first company to give DVinfo members what they want is likely to go bust very quickly, though i do wonder why a company like JVC don't push their heads above the parapet since they don't seem to have much to lose. Sony, Panasonic and Canon have vested interests in maintaining the status quo.

Actually Chris Hurd has already written an excellent article on why the DSLR technology has yet to make it into camcorderland. In the meantime i'm very excited about this camera which i suspect will be a serious contender alongside the eX1 and others when i upgrade later this year.

Chris Hurd · April 8th, 2010, 04:58 PM

The really short answer, if you want a reason that doesn't
involve corporate politics, is that the lens just doesn't exist
yet -- and probably won't for awhile.

Allan Black · April 8th, 2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Roper

What will be interesting is if the light gathering of the larger 82mm glass will be an equalizer to the EX1's larger chips?

I was wondering that too Tom.

As well .. 3 onboard ND filters will hopefully avoid the need to add an external one which I have to do on almost every sunny day shoot with the XH-A1.

Any details on the audio .. do they have limiters?

Cheers.

Kevin Martorana · April 8th, 2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom Stevenson

"hmmm...

You mean why don't they undermine their lucrative business in 20 grand lenses to put out a 6 grand camcorder?

hmmmm...Probably because they're not stupid.

Dom,

I'm the first to agree that every company has to stick to their profit makers. I'm just amazed that with the continuing dropping prices of this technology....they (Canon, JVC...etc) don't diversify a bit more.

Canon has done that...it seems...there are quite a few different camcorders in their line...in the 'couple of thousand' range. Probably more than any other company.

I'm looking to spend 40k plus on a new camcorder at NAB. I own a H1 and paid 9k for it. I thought it was INCREDIBLY cheap at the time...for the quality...and still love the camera.
But with camcorders now costing anything from 4k to 10k...it's amazing the quality coming from these tech wonders. And of course...don't you think Sony, Panasonic and even Canon are DELIGHTED to produce cameras at that level because they can probably sell 8 to 1 in that price range vs. a 40k camcorder?

Thanks Chris for the excellent article on whey a 7D chip can't be used in a current camcorder configuration.

Dom Stevenson · April 9th, 2010, 03:16 AM

Kevin

40K to spend? You lucky man. Any ideas what you're going to get?

"it's amazing the quality coming from these tech wonders."

Absolutely!

What amazes me is the image quality coming from many of the consumer camcorders. I saw clips playing from 600 quid cameras on the Canon stand at Earl's Court and was blown away. In fact it's sometimes hard to tell them from the prosumer models costing 10 times as much.

I also saw fantastic looking clips from Panasonics £2000 mini hmc41, but even the £500 cameras produce stunning pictures. I'm thinking of getting a "consumer" camcorder and just renting when i have a job that needs a "proper" camera. I still have my 5d mkii which i love, but i'm just not busy enough to justify having £5000 of camcorder sitting in its case at the moment.
You must be doing some serious business to be looking at 40k cameras. I wish you well, and let us know what you end up with.

Steve Phillipps · April 9th, 2010, 03:22 AM

Bear in mind though, that while the image straight out of a camera may look superb, once it's been down the edit chain, and even more so down the broadcast transmission chain it can often go downhill rapidly. This is where higher-level and more expensive codecs come in, coupled with better optics and processing.
Steve

Dom Stevenson · April 9th, 2010, 04:20 AM

Good point Steve, but am i not right in thinking that the images from the HV20 for example, are identical to the XH range of cameras as far as codec's go? And of course we want the manual features that the more pricey models have, but there are consumer models around that can seriously compete with the Pro cameras for a fraction of the price. It certainly makes sense to own one of these as a second camera IMO. I doubt most of my clients would be able to tell the difference.

April 8th, 2010, 10:30 AM	#122
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Wow! 2.8? So that's where a good chunk of the asking price is coming from! I'd love to have one but it's too far out of reach for now! Maybe the rental houses will pick them up though! The major one here is already hip to the 5D and has a couple that are always out on gigs. __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

April 8th, 2010, 12:47 PM	#123
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	Before you get overly excited about 2.8 at full telephoto, my $2000 FX7's do 2.8 at full zoom too. It's too early to definitively say these new cams are overpriced but that was my initial knee jerk reaction along with many of you. __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper Last edited by Ethan Cooper; April 8th, 2010 at 01:35 PM.

April 8th, 2010, 12:48 PM	#124
Paul Matwiy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marin, CA Posts: 85	I suspect as well that a lot of the cost of this camera is in the lens. If it's truly L series glass, we might not see the CA issues prevalent in prior cameras. __________________ Paul

April 8th, 2010, 04:08 PM	#126
Kevin Martorana Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 250	hmmm...why don't they take a 7d chip...put it in that body...with all the connections...and then add a removable lens...that works with all Canon EF lenses... wouldn't that solve some issue....give people the DOF they want, removable lenses, the recording they want... and then...add an external flash drive for high rate recording, instead of the 50mbps. BUT...here it is...the XF305.... I'm still amazed at the price...when the 7D still camera is (body only) $1300.00 US. Wish I could get a job a Canon as R&D....I'd take as many of your "wants"...and put it into a camera for 9k. !! Okay...back to dreaming....I'll have to look at this closely at NAB. __________________ Shooting Video since 1/2" EIAJ reel to reel and editing on 2" QUAD machines. http://www.takeoneprod.com

April 8th, 2010, 04:58 PM	#130
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The really short answer, if you want a reason that doesn't involve corporate politics, is that the lens just doesn't exist yet -- and probably won't for awhile. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 8th, 2010, 10:25 AM	#121
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Thanks Chris - couldn't see it anywhere on their spec sheet.

April 8th, 2010, 02:51 PM	#125
Floris van Eck Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 993	My Canon XL-H1 has L glass too and does have CA issues. So don't get your hopes up high.

April 8th, 2010, 04:16 PM	#127
Steve Rusk Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stuttgart Germany Posts: 63	...internal security would bury you right next to the guy that developed the 12-300mm 1.2 lens for under $200

April 8th, 2010, 04:55 PM	#129
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	"hmmm...why don't they take a 7d chip...put it in that body...with all the connections...and then add a removable lens..." You mean why don't they undermine their lucrative business in 20 grand lenses to put out a 6 grand camcorder? hmmmm...Probably because they're not stupid. Many posters here seem to forget that these companies are trying to make a profit, and that a surefire way to fail would be to produce something that makes their more high end models redundant. The first company to give DVinfo members what they want is likely to go bust very quickly, though i do wonder why a company like JVC don't push their heads above the parapet since they don't seem to have much to lose. Sony, Panasonic and Canon have vested interests in maintaining the status quo. Actually Chris Hurd has already written an excellent article on why the DSLR technology has yet to make it into camcorderland. In the meantime i'm very excited about this camera which i suspect will be a serious contender alongside the eX1 and others when i upgrade later this year.

April 9th, 2010, 03:16 AM	#133
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Kevin 40K to spend? You lucky man. Any ideas what you're going to get? "it's amazing the quality coming from these tech wonders." Absolutely! What amazes me is the image quality coming from many of the consumer camcorders. I saw clips playing from 600 quid cameras on the Canon stand at Earl's Court and was blown away. In fact it's sometimes hard to tell them from the prosumer models costing 10 times as much. I also saw fantastic looking clips from Panasonics £2000 mini hmc41, but even the £500 cameras produce stunning pictures. I'm thinking of getting a "consumer" camcorder and just renting when i have a job that needs a "proper" camera. I still have my 5d mkii which i love, but i'm just not busy enough to justify having £5000 of camcorder sitting in its case at the moment. You must be doing some serious business to be looking at 40k cameras. I wish you well, and let us know what you end up with.

April 9th, 2010, 03:22 AM	#134
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Bear in mind though, that while the image straight out of a camera may look superb, once it's been down the edit chain, and even more so down the broadcast transmission chain it can often go downhill rapidly. This is where higher-level and more expensive codecs come in, coupled with better optics and processing. Steve

April 9th, 2010, 04:20 AM	#135
Dom Stevenson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London UK Posts: 430	Good point Steve, but am i not right in thinking that the images from the HV20 for example, are identical to the XH range of cameras as far as codec's go? And of course we want the manual features that the more pricey models have, but there are consumer models around that can seriously compete with the Pro cameras for a fraction of the price. It certainly makes sense to own one of these as a second camera IMO. I doubt most of my clients would be able to tell the difference.