Camcorder News

August 31, 2010 – Canon updated its professional line of XF camcorders today with the release of the XF105 and XF100. Both camcorders share many similarities to the XF305 and XF300 pro models that Canon unveiled earlier this year, but the new camcorders have a more compact design as well as 3D assistance features and infra-red shooting options. Click here to see our photo gallery.

To record HD video, the XF105 and XF100 make use of Canon's own XF Codec, which is based on MPEG-2 compression with an MXF file wrapper. The codec was first implemented by Canon on the XF305 and XF300 models, and it uses a 4:2:2 color sampling system. Also like Canon's previous file-based pro models, the XF105 and XF100 record video to Compact Flash memory cards. Read complete specs of the XF105 and XF100 here.

The new camcorders have the ability to record video using a variety of different bit-rates and frame rates. The camcorders top out with a 50Mbps continuous bit-rate that can be used to record 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720 HD video. There is also 35Mbps variable bit-rate option and a 25Mbps continuous bit-rate option (that records 1440 x 1080 video). In all recording modes the two camcorders can shoot using 50i or 25p frame rates. There are no standard definition recording options on the XF100 or XF105.

Featured on the XF105 and XF100 is a 10x optical zoom lens, which is a bit smaller than the 18x lens featured on the XF300 and XF305. Canon also shrunk the size of the LCD by 1/2 an inch (down to 3.5 inches) on the XF105 and XF100 in order to make them more compact. Both models do have electronic viewfinders, although they too are smaller than the EVFs found on the XF300 and XF305. The new pro models do have the same 1/3-inch CMOS sensors as their predecessors, however.

The built-in 3D features on the XF105 and XF100 are misleading. The camcorders themselves aren't capable of shooting 3D video, but if you record with two models simultaneously you can create a 3D effect. Essentially, all the XF105 and XF100 offer is 3D assistance, which Canon describes as 'several features to assist with 3D production' when two camcorders are paired together. This includes the ability to sync two XF105 models via their genlock terminals and a focal length guide display to help calibrate zoom distance. Let us repeat, the XF105 and XF100 cannot record 3D video on their own.

Canon has yet to announce pricing for the XF105 and XF100, but it should be safe to assume the XF105 will be the more expensive model. The only difference between the two camcorders is that the XF105 features a set of professional ports and terminals—including Genlock, Timecode, and HD/SD-SDI—that are not found on the XF100. Canon has done this sort of thing for many years on its pro models, with the company always offering one model with a set of professional jacks and another, cheaper version without these terminals. Both the XF105 and XF100 are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2011.