XH BATTERY
The XH A1 and XH G1 have a closed compartment on the back that holds a variety of available batteries, as well as a memory card. The SD multimedia memory card can be used to store camera setup information (which can then be transferred to other cameras for matching setups) as well as digital still photos that both camcorders are capable of creating. I enjoyed hours of operation from the mid-size lithium-ion batteries that came with the camcorder. Power consumption on the XHs was very low.
PROFESSIONAL JACK PACK
The XH A1 is the same camcorder as the XH G1 except for the G1’s professional "Jack Pack" under the sealed cover (behind the hand grip). The G1 has timecode and genlock connections for studio use and an uncompressed SDI output. The 4:2:2 signal comes directly from the camera head, not from the tape, as HDV records a 4:2:0 compressed signal.
XH LENS
The XH series shares a new zoom lens that has a reasonably wide angle, separate focus, zoom and aperture rings and the fastest auto focus on a camcorder to date. Borrowing from the auto focus SLR still camera world, Canon has added an infrared beam to the right side of the lens barrel, which aids in subject tracking and distance, allowing for fast targeting and less "hunting," the most common problem IN auto focus systems. A small port on the lens hood allows the beam to emit when the hood is installed.
XH LCD SCREEN
The XH A1 and G1 have the best LCD screen I’ve seen on a camcorder. It locks, securely out of the way, without blocking the main controls. When you slide it out it can be tilted or flipped in almost any direction, and does NOT feel flimsy (LCD pop-out screens sometimes do). The screen was clearly visible, even in sunlight, but a small hood, which could easily be made with an angled piece of card stock, would make it work better.
XH PLUGS
Only the XL H1 and XH G1 have the Jack Pack studio connectors, but all three camcorders have the same IEEE-1394 connector, headphones jack, composite video out and component video out ports, as seen here on the XH A1.
