Canon announces XH A1S and XH G1S prosumer HD camcorders

Just in case the XL H1S and XL H1A weren't really your style, Canon's hoping to snag a fair chunk of your short-term savings with a new duo of prosumer HD camcorders. The HDV XH A1S and XH G1S both feature a 20x HD video lens, manual zoom / focus, three independent manual adjustment rings, an "unprecedented" range of image / color settings, 60i / 30F / 24F frame rate options, Instant AF focusing system, the DIGIC DV II proprietary digital signal processor, two built-in XLR terminals with separate audio-input sensitivity settings, line output level switching and support for optional HDD recording in the field. The XH G1S adds in HD-SDI / SD-SDI output, SMPTE timecode input / output, and genlock input, which are all features that probably won't be missed by greenies baffled by the mere mention of those inclusions. Get set for showtime next month as the pair sells for $3,999 and $6,999, respectively.

Gallery: Canon announces XH A1S and XH G1S prosumer HD camcorders

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[iEye @ Nov 5th 2008 11:28AM]

Wow, technology has put a truck's worth video equipment in the palm of your hands with the first tape handi-cam, now it is an entire studio and video editing room...

[MadMike @ Nov 5th 2008 12:06PM]

Home made porno has never been so easy!

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 5th 2008 1:14PM]

this is like the SFV in a box!

[Information Central @ Nov 5th 2008 6:02PM]

Technology? You mean the 1930s technology that these cameras represent? Nobody should be shooting INTERLACED video in 2008. Or 2002, for that matter.

Then there's the continuing fraud of "frame" modes. 24F? More like WTF? Fake and not progressive.

VOTE NO on interlaced garbage.

[Michael @ Nov 5th 2008 8:19PM]

@Information Central
With a name like that you'd think you might have good information. But apparently you don't. 24f and 30f are progressive scan for all intents and purposes. They just can't call it progressive because of the method they do it.
I would know I shoot and edit A1 footage at work every day.
This is not interlaced footage, I've keyed interlaced footage and there is a world of difference.

[PuBeLeSs @ Nov 5th 2008 11:31AM]

i want 1, maybe 2 for another angle :-D

[Dee @ Nov 5th 2008 11:32AM]

To bad a cheaper still camera from Canon shoots better video than Canon's own pro-line of Video Cameras.


The 5D Mark II is gonna cannibalize their camcorders.

[Edwin @ Nov 5th 2008 11:41AM]

Hahahahhhahhah.

[Hamflank @ Nov 5th 2008 11:49AM]

Yes, because filmmakers obviously couldn't care less about recording decent sound.

[Lazerface @ Nov 5th 2008 11:55AM]

mind you, most sets i've been on record sound separately from the camera, and they sync it in post...
they also use high-quality shotgun mics and other things, not the lovely little built-in mic

[Hamflank @ Nov 5th 2008 1:27PM]

@Lazerface - In general, you're not using the on-board mic, that's where the XLR connectors come in: to hook up those high quality shotgun mics you're talking about. It's ideal for indie filmmaking. This gear obviously isn't targeted at broadcasting firms.

[Rob @ Nov 5th 2008 2:07PM]

@Dee

Funniest post ever.

[Temple @ Nov 5th 2008 4:40PM]

Actually, both sides of this argument are silly. Both the XH and 5DII offer very unique strengths and weaknesses. Both equipment can be used in any project to match its particular benefits.

These relatively low-end XH series Canons aren't really 'pro' cameras by a long shot, good for taking small low-quality clips, obviously as a dedicated video machine it does offer significant advantages in control over the 5DII.

But the 5D MkII does offer very unique attributes, especially giving that 'film-like' quality and look, interchangeable 35mm lenses, shallow-DOF, unrivaled low-light capabilities, etc. obviously it also has rolling-shutter issues and only 30fps. Working within its limitations the 5DII offers unmatched results in the price range.

Music video taken with a pre-production 5DII
http://www.vimeo.com/2123276

[Michael @ Nov 5th 2008 8:22PM]

@Temple
Careful how you word that. I make my living shooting on a canon XH-A1. So to me this is a "pro" camera as I am a "pro"fessional.

You guys can talk crap about these cameras all you want. Yeah they aren't the latest and greatest with the most new fangled features, but they do the job and they do it well.

[fieldcar @ Nov 5th 2008 11:40AM]

@Dee: does it? I thought there were limitations or drawbacks with focus and zoom? Something like lack of continuous autofocus or something? anyone care to chime in? ummm.... "?"

[dee @ Nov 5th 2008 11:47AM]

@fieldcar

What "pros" use autofocus?

Yes they are allot of limitations mostly due to ergonomics but image quality is king.


The 5D MII is almost as good as a RED camera (unless your projecting 4k on film instead of 1080P on a tv).

[Michael Scrip @ Nov 5th 2008 11:57AM]

XLR inputs, different frame rates, hard drive recording... this thing is a camcorder. People who want a camcorder will buy this.

The 5D MKII shoots fantastic pictures and video, but it's not gonna replace a true professional camcorder. It's a lens in front of a sensor, and its not a camcorder.

[Salsa Shark @ Nov 5th 2008 12:34PM]

People who want a camcorder for indie filmmaking would get one that can do 24p for the same price or cheaper.

[Adam @ Nov 5th 2008 12:36PM]

Limitations of the 5DII for shooting video:
- Two minutes at a time
- No XLR microphone input (means you can't use professional microphones)
- No SMPTE sync
- 30 fps only
- No HD/SD-SDI output

As a photography hobbyist, I was excited to hear about the 5DII, but I found the video feature to be a little pointless.

I've worked with filmmakers occasionally as a sound engineer; they were shooting a documentary and interviewing some people. My audio feed was plugged into the video camera (a Panasonic prosumer model similar to these). Yes, higher-quality microphones are used rather than the onboard mic, but they wouldn't put XLR mic inputs on the camera if it wouldn't be useful.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2008 3:22PM]

5D2 seems to be better than the RED for video (no rolling shutter artifacts, less noise), but markedly inferior (near useless) for pro audio.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2008 6:05PM]

Sorry, less rolling shutter artifacts I mean I guess (given evidence below).

[Ethan @ Nov 5th 2008 11:55AM]

I'd love it if my uni gets one of these.

[KNowYourStuff @ Nov 5th 2008 12:00PM]

Still cant touch SCARLET...

[phanbouy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:24PM]

I know. Shame she got married.

[phanbouy fan @ Nov 5th 2008 10:35PM]

that is a shame, i bet you and her would have hooked up

[bandigolo @ Nov 5th 2008 12:03PM]

does "HD-SDI / SD-SDI output, SMPTE timecode input / output, and genlock input" really add $3,000 worth of features? That's a serious hike in price for virtually the same camera technology and hardware

[Dee @ Nov 5th 2008 12:03PM]

Most filmmakers record sound on a separate device anyway.


But the Mark II does have inputs for sound, just not XLR.

I was hoping Canon would make a Pro Video Camcorder version of the 5D Mark II, not offer us more of the same overpriced HDV crap.

Give us full frame, so we can use 35mm lenses, give us a better codec, give us memory cards that don't cost's a arm and a leg, Pros want to go tapeless but allot of filmakers are starving artist and can't afford P2 or XD CAM cards.

[dee @ Nov 5th 2008 12:06PM]

I guess Canon has no intention of competing with Red's Scarlet with it's pro video line.


These new camcorders just seem dated and overpriced for old technology.

[michael rogers @ Nov 5th 2008 12:10PM]

How will this compare w/ the panasonic hmc-150 that was just released?

[TopaZ @ Nov 5th 2008 12:12PM]

For the swappable lenses alone, Scarlet wins.

[Hotrod @ Nov 5th 2008 12:19PM]

That thing looks beast. And no, that's not what she said.

[iKurt @ Nov 5th 2008 5:30PM]

That's what he said.

[Vicada @ Nov 5th 2008 12:29PM]

...They mostly come at night. Mostly...

[LondonConsultant @ Nov 5th 2008 12:31PM]

HDV? That's almost retro...

[BrettA @ Nov 5th 2008 1:04PM]

Re Scarlet Promoters... You guys must have a real 'in' with Jim himself - and trust every word - since the redesign specs won't even be released 'til Nov. 13th (supposedly).

[michas_pi @ Nov 5th 2008 1:54PM]

I hate the word "prosumer".

[Shahryar @ Nov 5th 2008 2:17PM]

I just bought a used Canon XH-A1 off a seller on dvinfo.net a couple months ago (in case anyone's interested, I paid $2750 for it and it came with a 4 year Mack warranty and a couple other extras). I'm still learning it so I'm only so familiar with the current features that the XH-A1 has versus this new XH-A1S. I guess the big thing here is the optional HDD support? How much do optional HDD units cost? Otherwise, what else am I missing out on with my now-outdated XH-A1.

[Foambullet @ Nov 5th 2008 2:22PM]

I'm an editor working at a company that makes cable documentaries. We have a bunch of stuff shot on the XHG1 and it looks GREAT. It doesn't look like the HDV you see in the cameras at Best Buy. And with the HD-SDI out, you can record uncompressed HD to an external recorder if you feel the need.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2008 3:22PM]

Does this still have a CMOS sensor (and thus no rolling shutter artifacts) like the last one?

[BoredJedi @ Nov 5th 2008 4:22PM]

Et, tu 5D MKII?

Unfortunately, the Canon 5D MKII will harbor the same rolling shutter "jello" effect as seen in the Nikon D90 and all other CMOS sensor based cameras including the upcoming RED DSMC. Only Micron seems to have made progress in implementing a global shutter for CMOS sensors, eliminating the dreaded "bent" vertical lines seen during panning which CAN NOT be corrected in software ( and who'd want to devote that much time trying to fix it in POST anyways ?).

Link to Crunchgear page with Canon 5D MKII video exhibiting this effect:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/09/27/canon-5d-mark-ii-exhibits-jello-effect-not-as-bad-as-d90/

Do a search for Micron "TrueSnap" for CMOS global shutter sensors.

-BoredJedi

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2008 4:53PM]

That stinks. I cannot comprehend why they don't scan the other direction, and thus only have rolling shutter problems on (relatively) rare vertical pans. No, it's not a fix, but it'd help some.

This is a lot better than the d90, but still a drag. I wouldn't find it acceptable in a camcorder, that's for sure.

[ledhed @ Nov 5th 2008 6:58PM]

This one has a CCD, just like the last generation and every other one of Canon's professional video cameras

[aaron @ Nov 5th 2008 4:22PM]

I already broke off that monitor and I haven't even gotten my hands on one yet. PLEASE TELL ME that thing folds in. OTHERWISE EPIC FAIL!!!!

[aaron @ Nov 5th 2008 4:23PM]

Now that I see photos of it folded in. I do feel dumb. My comment is a FAIL. Damn the luck.

[infinity111 @ Nov 5th 2008 4:24PM]

Hey how come there's no pics of the thing's starboard side?

[Alex @ Nov 5th 2008 4:26PM]

HDV can look outstanding or it can look like grabage. Take a look a great adventure film maker like Les Stroud (Survivorman) who uses a HVR-Z1U (3CCD 1080i HDV ) camcorder (along with some other prosumer/consumer units). Most of the time when you look at his footage it looks amateurish (mainly way too much red in his face and oversaturated). Can the HVR-Z1U produce great footage? You bet it can.

Simply by looking at the edited footage on Surviorman you'd thin the HVR-Z1U is a really bad consumer unit that oversaturates colors.

My guess is that the producers of the show wanted to have the tell tell oversaturated look to connect better with the audience (make it look like this is something that could've come from any average Joe's camcorder that he got at Best Buy).

By the same coin you can take a $630 Canon HV30 consumer camera from Best Buy and with proper lighting and color correction get footage on the caliber of XH-A1, XHG1. There are many film makers that regularly mix HV20/30 footage with A1 footage with great results.

Unfortunately these days everyone that does anything is from the "we will fix it in post" school of thought.
"WB?"...."Nah we will fix it in post, just sample some white from the some's shirt and use the color corrector tool in Vegas/Premiere/etc."

Sound is important for sure and having XLR inputs is great.
At the same time realize that line level input with a Rode VideoMic or wireless lav system can get you really good results as well.

The main problem with audio is background noise (lights flickering/humming, fridge running, AC running).
XLR inputs will not compensate for the fact that you are using a mic with the wrong kind of pattern which is picking up unwanted backgrounds sounds (and you forgot to disable AGC).

Most productions use ADR to punch up the voices and get them to "pop".
In this case you just use the on board audio simply as a guideline to be able to sync the sound with the new ADR track in your NLE.
This obviously is mainly done in movies and such where you can get the person to do ADR after the video footage has been recorder.

[John @ Nov 5th 2008 4:31PM]

Why is Canon wasting there time with another camcorder that records in MiniDV? This is a very highly compressed codec, and solid state memory is cheap enough now for anyone willing to spend 3 grand on a camcorder. I love Canon, but this is worthless.

[Michael @ Nov 5th 2008 8:26PM]

So what do you recommend instead, we record our footage to SD card in AVCHD? I don't know if there is really much of a difference. You're trading one lesser compressed format for another more compressed format that can fit on an SD card.

[marc @ Nov 5th 2008 4:47PM]

Wow Canon, 24F and HDV! Why would anybody bother with this when you can have Full HD resolution and multiple progressive frame rates from JVC, Sony, or Panasonic.

I LOVE my XL2, but wouldn't touch any of the recent Canon crop.

[Guy @ Nov 5th 2008 6:08PM]

Sorry Canon but you screwed the pooch on this one. All the upgrades are great all be it at a big cost, but the one you miss is recording to the little SDHC card you already have sitting there in the camera. You fools! Its already there, use it! If we can record 35Mbps XDCAM EX to SDHC you can record 25Mbps HDV to it...

Hard drive recorders are so 2007 and Firestore is such an end of life company with their overpriced chunky hard drive recorders...