I know that HD-SDI is a 10-bit signal. But I've also read and heard that the XL-H1 (and XH-G1) output 8-bit color inside a 10-bit signal; the last two bits are zeros. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Do the XL-H1 (and XH-G1) provide 8-bit or 10-bit color? Thanks.

It is 8-bit stuffed into 10-bit.

Thanks very much for the answer.

"output 8-bit color inside a 10-bit signal"

Yep - after asking several Canon folks and getting no answers, went elsewhere and repeatedly got that answer.

Don't know what the point of the 2-bits of 0 info is, but the resulting HD-SDI file captured off the H1 and G1 is surely beautiful - and that is what matters. Have not tried any heavy compositing yet to see if the 8 bits of real data vs. 10 bits makes a difference there though.