Canon Launches New XA10 Professional Camcorder

[Canon Rumors]

The innovative XA10 AVCHD camcorder packs Canon professional technology into an ultra-compact body. Exceptional functionality and versatility ensures outstanding video and audio perform

Features

• Canon HD Video Lens (10x zoom, 30.4mm, F1.8)
• Canon HD CMOS Pro sensor
• Professional audio
• AVCHD video to 64GB memory or 2x SDXC slots
• IR shooting mode
• Full manual control
• 8.8cm LCD; 0.6cm EVF
• Dynamic OIS, Powered IS, Instant AF
• Versatile and expandable

1/3 type HD CMOS Pro sensor An HD CMOS Pro sensor – originally designed and manufactured by Canon for its professional camcorders – captures Full HD at native 1920×1080 resolution. With a pixel size 2.6x bigger than conventional CMOS sensors, it delivers a wider dynamic range and higher sensitivity.

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[Macadameane]

So this is nearly 100% identical to the G10, except for the XLR inputs and double the internal flash memory.  Though the XLR inputs do make this a much more tempting offer than the other.

[licht]

"A fast, wide-angle, Canon HD Video lens (30.4mm, F1. brings professional image quality to a compact camcorder. Features a shockless, variable speed 10x optical zoom and 8-blade iris for more attractive bokeh effect."
How a 30.4 mm could be a wide angle ? Is it a medium format sensor ? no it's a 1/3'' ... 30.4 is a long lens on such a small sensor ... maybe it's a 3.4 mm and a typo ??
And thank you Mr Canon for the "8-blade iris for more attractive bokeh", but I doubt we'll be able to see a lot of bokeh
with a 1/3 cmos sensor, even at 1.8 ! the term "bokeh" seems now to be mandatory in every technical description ...
(quite a unique exemple of a french word, misspelled by japaneese and re-injected in western languages ...)

[Macadameane]

Lens Stats:

Zoom Ratio: 10x Optical/40x/200x Digital (Movie)
Focal Length: f-4.25-42.5mm (35mm equivalent 30.4-305 35mm)
Zoom Speed: Variable, Constant: Fast, Normal, Slow (16 steps in each mode)
Max. F/Stop: f/1.8-2.8

The actual focal length is 4.25 to 42.5, but the 35mm equivalent is 30.4-305 mm

[Son of Daguerre]

AVCHD? Bah!

[Macadameane]

AVCHD? Bah!

My current camcorder is AVCHD.  When I got it, it was a new format, unsupported, and slow to process of course.  I actually like it a lot now, as long as I can use my Quad core and PP CS5 to edit the footage.

Mine records 1080i Anamorphic, but the file sizes are smaller than SD, so it does have some advantages.  Definitely unusable though on a weak machine.

[Jan]

How a 30.4 mm could be a wide angle ? Is it a medium format sensor ? no it's a 1/3'' ... 30.4 is a long lens on such a small sensor ... maybe it's a 3.4 mm and a typo ??

In fact, 30.4mm (35mm equiv) are wideangle concerning most consumer camcorders, Most of them start with focal length longer than 36mm...

[Son of Daguerre]

AVCHD? Bah!

My current camcorder is AVCHD.  When I got it, it was a new format, unsupported, and slow to process of course.  I actually like it a lot now, as long as I can use my Quad core and PP CS5 to edit the footage.

Mine records 1080i Anamorphic, but the file sizes are smaller than SD, so it does have some advantages.  Definitely unusable though on a weak machine.

But for a $2,000 camera that is being labeled as professional, it is an outrage to use AVCHD, as opposed to XF.

[Catastrophile]

2000$ for a 1/3 sensor camera!!

[leGreve]

"Professional" filming at 1080p... what a load of croc. Go further into the ks before you call it pro. Anything at or below 1080p should be labelled semi-pro to be honest. I know a lot of sites are content with with 1080 at the moment, but just because you can put something on the web and it is in HD doesn't make it pro filming.

Heck I wouldn't even call the music videos I've done in 1080 for professional, except for the part that I'm a photographer by training and trade.

But oh well... it will probably sell a lot with that title. Now... back to saving up to that Red Cam

[Bob Howland]

"Professional" filming at 1080p... what a load of croc. Go further into the ks before you call it pro. Anything at or below 1080p should be labelled semi-pro to be honest. I know a lot of sites are content with with 1080 at the moment, but just because you can put something on the web and it is in HD doesn't make it pro filming.

Heck I wouldn't even call the music videos I've done in 1080 for professional, except for the part that I'm a photographer by training and trade.

But oh well... it will probably sell a lot with that title. Now... back to saving up to that Red Cam

The BBC reportedly just purchased 50 Canon XF305's which only do 1920x1080, 50/60i, and it's on the their list of approved equipment for documentary use. Their critical spec seemed to be that its data output rate be at least 50mbps. (The 4:2:2 color space may have been important too.) The XF105 has the same output rate and color space but, as far as I know, it hasn't been approved by the BBC.

[kubelik]

bob, good point, which raises the real issue to me in terms of calling this a "professional" camcorder ... sure it has the 1/3" CMOS doing 1080p but it's still using lousy 25 Mbps AVCHD codec without the 4:2:2 color sampling.  I understand canon trying not to cut the legs out from under its $3.5K range camcorders but to me, the XA10 doesn't justify the "professional" tag.  It's a VIXIA HF G10 with a little more bling.