Summary: It’s no exaggeration to declare
the XL H1 a worthy successor to its older siblings. Canon has solved
many of the problems that annoyed users with the XL1 and XL2 and has
added some exciting features that make this much more than an HDV
camera.
Target APPS:
Any high-definition shoot that demands the flexibility of swappable lenses and the ability to output in HD-SDI.
What It Costs You: $8,999 (w/ 20x HD zoom lens)
What’s Cool:
The XL H1 lens is amazing, as is the image stabilization that’s
standard. The HD-SDI jack makes uncompressed output (1080i/60) to
non-HDV NLEs, HD monitors or decks a piece of cake. And the pictures
are good. Really good.
What’s Missing:
The lack of an auxiliary deck that can output the proprietary 30F and 24F modes is troubling.
RATINGS: Products are rated for features, performance, ease of
use and overall value on a scale from LAME, OK, SOLID, SWEET to HOT.
Smart Advice
Although the viewfinder's low resolution may tempt you to close down the iris to see details, don't. When it's played back to tape details are visible at open iris settings.
If you try to attach an older lens, the XL H1 may give you an error message. Not to worry, it will still let you roll and the footage will look good. The camera’s standard 20x HD zoom lens, however, gives you the best results.
Superb Optics, Genlock and HD-SDI Out, All In A Compact HDV Package
By Bruce A. Johnson
April 1, 2006 Source: Studio Monthly
While Canon has turned out dozens of great still cameras and lenses
over the years, when the DV revolution came about the company was
relatively unknown in the video world. Canon’s consumer cameras were a
mixed lot — anyone remember the original ZR? Now
that
was weird. And even when the XL1 came out, it certainly wasn’t perfect.
I ought to know, I bought one and own it to this day. But give Canon
credit, it was committed to fixing its problems and improving the
camera. Learning from its fixes on the XL1, many additions and
modifications on the XL1s, and many more on the XL2, which I also own,
here comes Canon again with the XL H1. It’s no exaggeration to declare
it a worthy successor to its older siblings.
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Even without a tripod, the XL H1 handles camera movement and zooms beautifully
Iris Control: Irises should be controlled by a
wheel, and the XL H1 brings one back, which does double duty with menu
control. The new tape roll button can be a big help when your hands are
full.
Focus Safeties: The peaking and zoom buttons help
insure good focus on the XL H1, but it’s not an ironclad guarantee.
Blue Light Special: That mystical blue glow lets the
shooter know that they are in HDV mode. Frame rate is selected on the
knob below.
Audio Input: The line/mic input switch so glaringly
missing from the XL2 is now found on the back of the XL H1. Too bad
there aren’t two if them.
Comments (1) for "Canon XL H1"
1.
I tested this camera out in the store and I can confirm I saw NO smearing of the image in the viewfinder during panning.I don't know why the reviewer saw this ?? Perhaps later versions of the XL H1 have superior firmware updates which have addressed this issue.(??) I have also been told about some kind of live action delay between viewfinder a "live," which I have also NOT dedected any evidence of.
Posted by Mark J. on Sunday, December 16, 2007 @ 06:59 PM
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