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

[Dom Stevenson]

Michael, surely the benefits of the nanoflash will be covered by Canon's new codec? And then there's the new Canon L-lens that i suspect will be top-draw for the price. And lest we forget, the sensor which - according to Barry Green - the Panasonic folks have come up with at 1/3 inch, at least equals the EX1.
In spite of the skepticism on this thread, the new Canon range look very interesting imo.

[Mark Grgurev]

What are the chances that the XL versions of the XF series will take the XF's price point when they come out and the XF version will lower in price?

Also, when can we expect sample footage? ;-D

[Kyle Root]

.... hoping to see some photos/news posted online here today from folks at NAB Show of the new Canons!

[Steev Dinkins]

This thread is getting massive, so I am trying to shortcut to an answer to this question. Does anyone know about record times on CF cards with these two cams? Is there 2/4/GB file size limit?

-steev

[Chris Hurd]

There is no clip length limit. Record a long single shot up to the capacity of the card.

[Marty Hudzik]

Originally Posted by Michael Galvan

Yeah, I understand Floris ... I've become more meticulous with equipment upgrades these days. With these cameras being so good already, I feel like investments in accessories that make production and workflow work much smoother are much much better investments. My XL H1S has made its investment cost back several times over already and I still have many clients that love what comes out of it. In fact, I'm overbooked these days with production work, but I guess thats a good thing :)

I'e been thinking a lot about purchases I want to make in the next couple weeks. One of them is the Nanoflash for the XL ... can't stop debating whether I should buy that for my current camera or invest towards this new XF.

That's a tough call Michael. If the form factor of the XL series is important to you style of shooting, then the Nano-flash would be a good add-on to that. Additionally, it should be an option for just about any camera you upgrade to and thus becomes more universal. If I am not mistaken doesn't it go much higher than 50mbps also....for the time that you need to do chroma key and compositing work and need "super" clean shots?

To be clear, if this were an XL series replacement at this price....I'd go that route for sure. But even though the XL series is flawed ergonomically (compared to true ENG) it is still better to me than the XH, HVX and EX1 styles where you hold it in front of you.

Still this looks like a hot camera.

[Gregory Dillard]

Michael,
what do you think about the AJA Ki Pro instead of the Nano Flash? I have the AJA I/O HD, and its awesome. The only issue is if out on location,then you have to be tethered to a MacBook Pro or a MacPro, which means power outlets and everything else.

[Michael Galvan]

Originally Posted by Marty Hudzik

That's a tough call Michael. If the form factor of the XL series is important to you style of shooting, then the Nano-flash would be a good add-on to that. Additionally, it should be an option for just about any camera you upgrade to and thus becomes more universal. If I am not mistaken doesn't it go much higher than 50mbps also....for the time that you need to do chroma key and compositing work and need "super" clean shots?

To be clear, if this were an XL series replacement at this price....I'd go that route for sure. But even though the XL series is flawed ergonomically (compared to true ENG) it is still better to me than the XH, HVX and EX1 styles where you hold it in front of you.

Still this looks like a hot camera.

Hey Marty!

Hope all is well.

Yeah, the Nano goes up to 280mbps so it gives visually uncompressed looking images. I think its a fantastic upgrade for the XL. THe XL form factor is what I'm so used too as well, so I am leaning towards the Nano.

But the new cam does look nice, hence my hesitation in buying still ... sigh ...

[Michael Galvan]

Originally Posted by Gregory Dillard

Michael,
what do you think about the AJA Ki Pro instead of the Nano Flash? I have the AJA I/O HD, and its awesome. The only issue is if out on location,then you have to be tethered to a MacBook Pro or a MacPro, which means power outlets and everything else.

Well thats the thing. I used to have the AJA IO HD for live capture, but the Nano allow s me to shoot all the time with the HD-SDI port, as it mounts on the camera.

[Lonnie Bell]

I'm looking at either one of these or the Sony EX1R, and I went as a doubter even though I own the XHA1 and love it. So, I went to the canon booth at NAB, aimed the camera away from the lit live models and into the shadows - and wow. The low light ability is amazing. And Clean. Whatever magic Canon was working on to make these 1/3" CMOS chips rival the 1/2" Exmors of Sony is working.

I'm going to take a memory card with me tomorrow and see if I can record some footage to it.

The most impressive thing was the lens. A real manual mechanical lens. Even has gears on the iris, zoom, and focus for remote motors or manual follow focus equipment. The lens was amazing.

Lonnie

[Jeff Anselmo]

Thanks Lonnie for that first impression!

I'm also saving up for an upgrade to an HD cam, and have had my sights on an EX1R (even the wife has agreed to the upgrade--Woot!). But since Canon's announcement, I thought I'd wait and see how these Canon cams compare.

Can you please let us know specifically which compact flash you'll use (and the specs)? And would frame grabs or actual footage be too much to ask?

Best,

[Lonnie Bell]

That will be the intention, Jeff. I'll load it, shoot it, and let DVINFO host it (if they will). I'm also assuming they haven't crippled the cameras so that they don't record. We will see tomorrow...

Interesting tidbit: in the outer shadows of the live models they have, I zoomed into two soda cans that were about 12 feet away from camera. The cans were about 2 inches apart (one being behind the other less than two inches). Iris wide open, full telephoto, I could rack focus within those shadows making one can readable and the other not - and this was in a fairly unlit area. Pretty impressive shallow focus for 1/3" chips. My XHA1 couldn't do that. And no noise either!

Lonnie

[Marty Hudzik]

Well the DOF should be identical on the new camera and the old camera as they are the exact same sensor size. Perhaps the feel of the focus ring allows you to pull off this maneuvaer a little easier and obviously there should be less noise since this is a next generation camera. The other variable is the fstop is 2.8 at the extreme telephoto end of the lens which is pretty good. I don;t recall what the XH series was but it had to be aleast 3.2 or 3.4....right? That would help the shallow DOF a little I'd think.

I do know my 16x manual lens on my XL-H1 holds the fstop at 1.6 all the way through the 16x zoom range. It's quite a marvel but honestly shows a decent ammount of CA if I leave it wide open and zoomed max. But it did allow me get some creative shots.

[Lonnie Bell]

Hey Marty,
Yes same sensor size, but a new sensor built specifically by Canon to use with their lens (and codec too, but the codec isn't playing a part in the camera's front end obviously). You could be right about the f-stop being wider - i didn't look. But if the sensor is more sensitive or more light is allowed in or both, this would allow for a more shallow depth of field too, would it not?

All I know, is that I couldn't have done it with my XHA1. And another caveat is: this was solely judging by what I saw in the camera's lcd and a non-top of the line Marshal on-camera monitor. Both images were noise free. But that's why I'd like to record it to a card and come home and look at it in the NLE and post it for you guys - that will make us all smarter.

This is superior technology though - no doubt about it. I'm betting it may give the EX1R a run for the money. And yes, you are right about the lens - it did feel good too!

Lonnie

[Michael Galvan]

Hey, anyone who is at NAB, can they ask Canon about anything regarding the next iteration of the XL series?

I couldn't go last minute to NAB this year due to work I have to do here in NYC.

I'd love to know any information if possible.

Thanks!