Canon Announces the XC15 4K UHD Video Camcorder

[pokerz]

$3k? This is getting comical. Intriguing improvement on concept camera but WAY overpriced. Add a fast, constant aperture lens and maybe it would be worth it. We'll see large price drops on this in less than 6 months.

We'll see large price drops on this on arrival date

 

[Bernard]

If $2500 is too expensive, then maybe you aren't charging enough?

I'm kidding, of course, but there aren't that many self-contained video cameras with these professional specs. JVC, Panasonic and Sony each make comparable cameras, but they want just as much money.

It basically comes down to which workflow and look you prefer. If you like the Canon workflow, then this is the fixed-lens 4K camcorder for you.

 

[davidhfe]

Now we know why the 5d4 has crippled 4k. If you want real video, pony up.

Which would be a lot more reasonable if this actually had an EF mount

then it'd be a C300.... :

I know you're not being totally serious, but if the only difference between this and a $12k C300 is an EF mount, then Canon really is in trouble

 

[Tiderace]

OMG why must it have a fixed lens? Is this the infamous crippled method? If so count me

out. Horrid. Menu system also less than. Is there HDMI out? OMG

Let us have a C100 Mark III 4K and 422 10 bit ProRes

 

[Bernard]

OMG why must it have a fixed lens? Is this the infamous crippled method? If so count me out. Horrid. Menu system also less than. Is there HDMI out? OMG
Let us have a C100 Mark III 4K and 422 10 bit ProRes

Tiderace,

This is Canon's fixed lens 4K camcorder. It competes with very similar camcorders from Sony and from Panasonic (and from JVC, but that one is only 1/2 inch). They are around the same price and have similar features.
What you seem to want is an interchangeable lens 4K camcorder, which Canon, Sony and Panasonic also sell, at a higher price point.

No point complaining that one product isn't the other, each brand offers both. The fixed-lens units are very convenient for location and event work. They are small and self-contained, and their zoom lenses cover most situations adequately.

 

[melbournite]

The press release is not all that informative but News Shooters has a good hands on review of it:

http://www.newsshooter.com/2016/09/01/canon-xc15-adds-xlr-audio-canon-log-and-waveform-monitor-to-the-xc10/

Still trying to absorb the info and I am curious whether these "Look" modes would allow me to make the video look like what I create with a 1DX.

Interesting.

Thanks for sharing, I'd like to learn more about this camera. I borrowed the XC10 and loved it but couldn't get over the line on a couple of things and in particular the slow access to the iso. Doesn't look like the buttons are any different?

Haha, slow access to the ISO??? C'mon. There is an option in the menu to set the ISO on the wheel.
Here's 2 video's I did about how easy the menu is to navigate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwTpBQ5hao0
And this one I did just about the XC10's ISO adjustment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8-8dMTWYkY

Enjoy...

Thanks for showing us that. I believe I’ve seen your video before but can you access both iso and aperture without having to change the dial from M to AV? As a run and gun video camera (for me), I set the shutter and then require quick access to both iso and aperture. There’s only one wheel dial, correct?

Also, there was no touch focus in 4K, is that correct?

I really want to love this camera. I believe Canon also had photographers in mind (like me) when they developed this camera, great form factor & ergonomics, light, small and it takes the LP-E6 battery!

 

[AvTvM]

Video folks, here is a bloody 4k VIDEO cam ... now stop whining about DSLR video

and "lack of video features" in Canon stills cameras.

 

[Ozarker]

The XC15 4K Camcorder uses DiGiC DV III's for h.264 output and has to be vented. Canon's cameras do not use DiGiC DV's .. but different DiGiCs.. good lord. you'd think people accusing canon of crippling or doing things on purpose to prevent sales would also spend two brain synapses on knowing what the heck they are talking about.

the XC15 basically has the stripped down core guts of the C300 II in it.

It can't use DPAF because it uses a sony sensor :

Whatever it's price sub 2500 or so, it's still the cheapest broadcast compliant camcorder out there with professional codecs that punch out that 4:2:2 300mbps at h.264 4K.

That's what you are paying for.

Seems reasonably priced to me.

 

[gktxr615]

Thanks for showing us that. I believe I’ve seen your video before but can you access both iso and aperture without having to change the dial from M to AV? As a run and gun video camera (for me), I set the shutter and then require quick access to both iso and aperture. There’s only one wheel dial, correct?

Also, there was no touch focus in 4K, is that correct?

I really want to love this camera. I believe Canon also had photographers in mind (like me) when they developed this camera, great form factor & ergonomics, light, small and it takes the LP-E6 battery!

Touch focus and face tracking both work in 4K. I remember reading that the XC10 shipped without that feature in 4K, but it was enabled later in firmware. The only mode where touch focus/face tracking don't work in is when you enable rolling shutter reduction mode. Not sure if that is still the case with the XC15.

A second dial would have been nice. You can only program either ISO, shutter, or iris to the dial and have to dive into the function menu to adjust everything else. In practice though, I find the one dial to be enough 90% of the time on the XC10 (and would imagine the XC15 to be the same). Outdoors in daylight I use TV mode and let the camera adjust aperture and ISO. It does a pretty good job keeping the aperture as wide open as possible and ISO as low as possible, and brightness transitions are very smooth. Indoors or in lowlight I switch to Manual and have ISO programmed to the dial. I leave the iris wide open open and adjust ISO as needed when zooming.

 

[expatinasia]

Seems reasonably priced to me.

I agree, and am looking forward to testing it out when I have time.

Have I understood correctly that when it says "the Canon XC15 ships with the MA-400 microphone adapter" that it comes included in the price. That is the thing which sits in the hot shoe and has 2 XLR inputs and retails for US$ 499 at B&H and Adorama?

Does anyone know how that is powered? Can I use the mains to power it and my mics, or can it only run off the camera battery or separate batteries? Are there any audio controls/levels etc or is all that in camera?

Thanks.

 

[melbournite]

Thanks for showing us that. I believe I’ve seen your video before but can you access both iso and aperture without having to change the dial from M to AV? As a run and gun video camera (for me), I set the shutter and then require quick access to both iso and aperture. There’s only one wheel dial, correct?

Also, there was no touch focus in 4K, is that correct?

I really want to love this camera. I believe Canon also had photographers in mind (like me) when they developed this camera, great form factor & ergonomics, light, small and it takes the LP-E6 battery!

Touch focus and face tracking both work in 4K. I remember reading that the XC10 shipped without that feature in 4K, but it was enabled later in firmware. The only mode where touch focus/face tracking don't work in is when you enable rolling shutter reduction mode. Not sure if that is still the case with the XC15.

A second dial would have been nice. You can only program either ISO, shutter, or iris to the dial and have to dive into the function menu to adjust everything else. In practice though, I find the one dial to be enough 90% of the time on the XC10 (and would imagine the XC15 to be the same). Outdoors in daylight I use TV mode and let the camera adjust aperture and ISO. It does a pretty good job keeping the aperture as wide open as possible and ISO as low as possible, and brightness transitions are very smooth. Indoors or in lowlight I switch to Manual and have ISO programmed to the dial. I leave the iris wide open open and adjust ISO as needed when zooming.

Very informative gktxr615 and thanks for your first post!

I mostly go manual but I think it’s a very valid point that with this type of camera and many shooting situations it’s worth allowing the camera to take care of AV and ISO. Alas, a second dial would have been nice and you'd think not too much to ask.

However, together with the firmware update of the touch focus in 4K, the XC10 second hand, might be an option next to my inevitable 5DIV purchase.

 

[Deleted member 378302]

Have I understood correctly that when it says "the Canon XC15 ships with the MA-400 microphone adapter" that it comes included in the price. That is the thing which sits in the hot shoe and has 2 XLR inputs and retails for US$ 499 at B&H and Adorama?

I just checked B&H and the MA-400 is included. However, the XC15 no longer ships with a 64 Gb CFast 2.0 card.

So if you take the current XC10 ($2000), subtract the cost of the CFast card ($200) and add in the MA-400 ($500) you get a price of $2300. But the XC15 is selling for $2400. I guess they figure a waveform monitor is worth $100...

 

[douglaurent]

Filming with the XC10 is a lot of fun, if only it would have 2 or 3 wheels for f-stop, shutter speed and ISO (like it's possible to get on the A7R2!).

Mostly resposible for the fun is the articulating screen and the focus peaking. These are two of the issues why it is NO fun to film with a 5D3, 5D4, 1DC or 1DX2!

I wonder when Canon is willing to build cameras for all the many users who need to do high quality photo AND filming at the same time! Users who carry 2-3 bodies with different zooms can't and won't carry 4-6 bodies just because Canon continues to artificially limit specs!!!

 

[douglaurent]

Canon, people want to do photo AND filming without limitations in ONE body!

Like the rest of the 7 billion people, who want to do phone calls, photos, filming and 100 other things in ONE piece of equipment!

Hopefully the competition will soon come up with alternatives that puts Canon under much more pressure to release new products with all relevant modern functions, so Canon users don't have to feel left behind and outdated anymore.

 

[Ozarker]

The XC15 4K Camcorder uses DiGiC DV III's for h.264 output and has to be vented. Canon's cameras do not use DiGiC DV's .. but different DiGiCs.. good lord. you'd think people accusing canon of crippling or doing things on purpose to prevent sales would also spend two brain synapses on knowing what the heck they are talking about.

the XC15 basically has the stripped down core guts of the C300 II in it.

It can't use DPAF because it uses a sony sensor :

Whatever it's price sub 2500 or so, it's still the cheapest broadcast compliant camcorder out there with professional codecs that punch out that 4:2:2 300mbps at h.264 4K.

That's what you are paying for.

Hi rrcphoto,

The addition of XLR has got me interested. Do you happen to know whether or not 48v phantom power will be on board for the mic? I assume this camera can be plugged into a wall.

I currently have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for my mics (Rode) and will be using a DSLR for video. If this camera has on board phantom power it would sure make things easier for me. I won't have to sync audio and video tracks in software.

I won't be walking around or anything, just sitting in front of the camera.

Thanks!

 

[waldi72]

The XC15 4K Camcorder uses DiGiC DV III's for h.264 output and has to be vented. Canon's cameras do not use DiGiC DV's .. but different DiGiCs.. good lord. you'd think people accusing canon of crippling or doing things on purpose to prevent sales would also spend two brain synapses on knowing what the heck they are talking about.

the XC15 basically has the stripped down core guts of the C300 II in it.

It can't use DPAF because it uses a sony sensor :

Whatever it's price sub 2500 or so, it's still the cheapest broadcast compliant camcorder out there with professional codecs that punch out that 4:2:2 300mbps at h.264 4K.

That's what you are paying for.

Hi rrcphoto,

The addition of XLR has got me interested. Do you happen to know whether or not 48v phantom power will be on board for the mic? I assume this camera can be plugged into a wall.

I currently have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for my mics (Rode) and will be using a DSLR for video. If this camera has on board phantom power it would sure make things easier for me. I won't have to sync audio and video tracks in software.

I won't be walking around or anything, just sitting in front of the camera.

Thanks!

Looks like it will have phantom power for microphone.
There is nice preview on youtube
https://youtu.be/KFbDpECExCU?t=52

 

[dp3294]

Has anything been said about if the XC10 will be getting a firmware update to match the XC15 (waveform, etc)?