Press Release:
XA55, XA50, XA45 and XA40 Camcorders Deliver Crisp 4K Imagery in Compact Bodies at Affordable Price Points
MELVILLE, NY, April 2, 2019 – Meeting videographer needs for a variety of applications, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced four new additions to the lineup of XA Series professional camcorders, the XA55, XA50, XA45 and XA40. These four camcorders are the first in the series to feature 4K 30p recording. They also include a detachable XLR handle and the XA55 and XA45 each feature an HD-SDI terminal. In addition, the company has announced the Canon VIXIA HF G60 4K UHD camcorder, a budget-friendly, compact-and-lightweight camcorder.
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“Often spending their days and nights working in fast-paced environments, videographers need a camcorder that is affordable, reliable, and delivers great images,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These new camcorders meet the needs of a variety of users, including those capturing news, shooting influential documentaries, educating young filmmakers or developing content for their companies.”
All of the camcorders feature Canon’s five-axis Intelligent Optical Image Stabilization system, providing users with powerful image stabilization via a Dynamic mode, which helps reduce image distortion, even when shooting while moving. The ergonomically designed and highly portable camcorders have a three-inch LCD touch panel screen and user-friendly, tilting, high-resolution Electronic View Finder (EVF).
The XA55 and XA45 are excellent options for news reporting and documentary shooting, while the XA50 and XA40 are geared more towards broadcasting schools, government agencies and corporate-video production companies. The affordable VIXIA HF G60 caters to advanced amateur videographers who need a 4K UHD camcorder to shoot a wedding or a student film project.
The XA55 and XA50 camcorders both feature a 1.0-inch sensor, nine-bladed circular aperture and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF with a 15x (25.5-382.5mm) genuine wide-angle Canon optical zoom lens. For natural and realistic life-like imagery the XA55 and XA50 camcorders feature a Wide Dynamic Range (DR) Gamma mode. This lowers the barrier for focusing, especially when shooting in 4K, which requires strict focus accuracy. By suppressing overexposure in high- brightness areas of the composition, this mode helps achieve a wide dynamic range of 800 percent to help produce seamless tone gradations, resulting in smooth detail, accurate color and virtually no blown-out highlights. The camera's Dual Pixel Focus Guide takes advantage of Dual Pixel CMOS AF data to display focus-assist information on the screen. The camcorders also record 4K UHD/30p (4:2:0 8 bit) and 1080p Full HD (4:2:2 10 bit) via SDI/HDMI Output in XF-AVC and MP4 format to dual-card SD card slots with dual and relay recording.
The XA45 and XA40 camcorders both feature a 1.0-inch sensor, eight-bladed circular aperture with the ability to record 4K UHD/30p (4:2:0 8 bit) and 1080p Full HD (4:2:2 10 bit) via SDI/HDMI Output) in MP4 or XF-AVC format to dual-card SD card slots with dual and relay recording. To help provide enhanced image quality over its predecessor, over sample HD processing can be utilized with information obtained from the 4K 1/2.3-inch sensor and the DIGIC DV 6 image processor. Both camcorders boast a 20x (29.3-601mm) genuine wide-angle Canon optical zoom lens.
The Canon VIXIA HF G60 4K UHD camcorder is packed with many of the same great features found in the XA55 and XA50, like a nine-bladed circular aperture, Dual Pixel Focus Guide and Wide DR, but with the budget- conscious user in mind. The affordable camcorder is an ideal tool for young videographers taking their first steps in the craft and will be sure to please due to its compact-and-lightweight form factor in addition to ease of use.
Additionally, Canon today announced firmware updates for the XF705, XF405/XF400 and VIXIA GX10 camcorders. New features by model include:
- XF705: Firmware Version 1.0.1.1 now features improved zoom response when using the zoom ring or zoom rocker, improved focus following speed during zooming, and improved image quality of interlaced recording.
- XF405/XF400: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features IP streaming, the ability to set custom white balance, support for the reset function that resets the clip number when the reel number is set and improved image quality of interlaced recording.
- XF405 only: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features 3G-SDI mapping at level A and level B.
- VIXIA GX10: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features the ability to set custom white balance.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon XA55, XA50 and VIXIA HF G60 are scheduled to be available in June 2019 for estimated retail prices of $2699.00, $2199.00 and $1699.00, respectively. The XA45 and XA40 4K UHD video camcorders are all scheduled to be available in April 2019 for estimated retail prices of $2199.00 and $1699.00, respectively*. For more information, please visit, usa.canon.com.
Preorder the new Canon camcorders at Adorama:
If you were looking at the BMD Pocket Cinema 4K and ANY of the past Canon XA lines as the same sort of product, you are extremely mistaken. They are two completely different types of products for two completely different markets. The Canon XA line is/was basically compact ENG, think of the BMD URSA with a built-in lens and much smaller.
4K is just one factor in image quality. The XA line is simply the wrong tool for the majority of people on these forums.
Overall, I think Canon is aiming at a particular users where Panasonic and Sony may have not captured yet.
Panasonic has the AG-CX350 which some compare to the XF705 because it also has HEVC/H.265 capability.
For me, it's irrelevant if you get 4K with either 24p, 30p or 60p.
The important thing is you get some flavor of 4K.
The crucial bit of technology is the XLR setup.
There is no comparable product from either Sony or Panny. With Sony, it's either
the AX53 or AX33, but you have to buy the additional XLR module for a prosumer setup,
with all the added problems that brings. Or you jump to the NX80 which is more expensive.
With Panny, you have to jump to a UX90 which is a much bigger camera. Their consumer
camcorders that do have 4k do not allow for a OEM XLR solution.
The only comparable product comes from JVC in the HM170, but that's a bit old now.
A think the XA40 is solid. A good, yet pricey product, that comes with the standard Canon tax.
I'm not worried about not having DPAF because the sensor is so small.
As such they are good value and will be snapped up by small broadcasters, small companies, non-profits, schools and the like. The idea of an interchangeable lens is horrifying to these customers as it represents additional cost, complexity and potential for loss, theft and breakage.
I bet that in like for like applications the vast majority of viewers will never see a difference in output.
What type of content are you creating and for what medium? Perhaps we can help steer you to a better camera for your needs.
People who have to fit them into a given budget and have it approved, people buying many of them so savings sum up, people for whom the added complexity is not a plus but a disadvantage (risks of operator mistakes, more things that could break) when you know you'll never use it, etc.
There appears to be nothing new about these camcorders, but the opposite, at a small cost savings.