Canon XF200 + XF205 launched

Canon’s new XF205 and XF200 compact video cameras fit into the XF range between the existing XF100/XF105 and XF300/XF305, although as the XF200 models each have a single slightly-bigger-than one-third-inch CMOS sensor, they are nearer the 100/105 than the 300/305.

New XF firmware for 35Mbps recording

Canon has announced a new firmware update for its four XF cameras that will enable a new 35Mbps recording mode. 

It will essentially make them compatible with earlier Sony XDCAM HD codecs capturing 1440 x 1080 HD video at 35Mbps at 60i or 50i – which is still widely used for news. The 1440 x 1080 format was the standard resolution offered by HDV tape cameras (using 1440 instead of 1920 is a form of compression - the pixels are then stretched in the edit to cover the 1920 x 1080 image). It will help the XF camcorders integrate more easily with standard workflows used by some broadcasters.

Once the firmware is installed, the recording mode will be accessed through the regular mode selection menu on the camcorder and the frame rate will be automatically selected, dependent on the camcorder's PAL (50i) or NTSC (60i) setting. All previously supported XF-series video resolutions and frame rates will still remain available.

The firmware is expected to be available for download at the end of May 2012 and will be available on the individual product pages through the Canon website.

Canon adds to XF language support

A new firmware update for the XF camcorder series adds seven additional languages – French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Spanish – to the XF300, XF305, XF100 and XF105.

The firmware, version 1.0.3.0, supports the languages across the camcorders’ menu system and is available now from http://software.canon-europe.com

How low can you go?

Photo: Copyright © 2007, Alan D. Wilson

I know it is summer here but, spare a thought for cameraman (and intrepid adventurer) Phil Coates.

He's been shooting a  documentary on the 2011 Catlin Arctic Survey with temperatures down to -43 degrees Centigrade. In one video blog he did for the Canon website he mentions it is so cold his eyelids were starting to freeze up.

Canon XF305 and XF105 Review

Canon XF305

To kick start this new blog here's the review I wrote for a the Guild Of TV Cameramen's magazine, Zerb....

2010 was a good year for Canon watching. At Broadcast Video Expo 2010 there were more Canon DSLR cameras in the exhibition hall than traditional camcorders.