Canon XA25 and XA20 promise new workflow choices
The Canon XA25 with WIFI
Canon has announced two new siblings for the XA10 camcorder. I’ve been using the small, budget friendly XA10 for a while and the new XA25 (with HDSDI jack) and the XA20 (without SDI) look like huge improvements.
First, they have a 20x lens instead of the 10x on the XA10. They have a new sensor which promises an improved image, including in low light. The XA10 was no slouch in the low light department so these should be great. It’s a tiny bit bigger chip but still roughly 1/3″ so don’t expect great things in the shallow-depth-of-field department.
But the really interesting thing about these new cameras for us news shooters is the WIFI built into the camera, combined with the onboard dual-memory-card, dual-codec, live-downrez recording. The camera records in AVCHD but will also record to MP4. And not only to MP4 but simultaneously downrez MP4 onto the second memory card. This is important because you can use MP4 files with iPads and for web use directly. So in theory you can handle all of your web streaming and instant video clip postings straight out of camera. Nothing in the release about in-camera editing, though.
And if you’re a control freak, you can operate the camera from your smart phone.
The release doesn’t mention any improvements on the audio quality, which was a weak point with the XA10 when using the mic level inputs. It does have XLR inputs on a detachable handle; line and mic switchable.
The XA10 is tiny and will run forever on an optional extra large battery.
B&H has the XA20 and XA25 on preorder for $2200 and $2700.
I will update this post when I get my hands on one Monday at NAB.
Stand by for complete coverage of video gear at NAB
I’m part of the ten-member team from Newsshooter.com that will be covering all the new gear at NAB 2013, the mega-show of video equipment at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.
Dan Chung, a Beijing-based photojournalist who came up through Reuters and the Guardian and now does network news along with Guardian and freelance work, has put together a global all-pro squad to cover one of the world’s biggest conventions. Biggest period. Not just for TV and video.
We’re all pros who use this stuff daily. We’ll look at the new gear with a critical eye.
Newsshooter.com is the new name of DSLRnewsshooter.com and indicates the new and broader scope of coverage.
We’ll also be streaming live shows during the conference, including a panel on newspapers and video on April 10th at 5pm eastern time. Yeah, I’m on that one.
Check it all out starting Monday the 8th on Newsshooter, as well as here and on my twitter feed @newspapervideo.
New budget JVC shoulder-mount wedding and event camera
JVC has announced a $1995 shoulder-mount video camera, the GY-HM70. It has a 1/2.3 inch chip and a 16x f/1.2 lens that they claim does well in low light. It’s AVCHD with manual controls, although not like a broadcast camera. It’s aimed toward wedding and event shooters, but it would also make a cheap news camera. No xlr’s – just 3.5mm mic inputs.
The price is what makes it notable. Panasonic has had a camera in this form factor for a long time, targeting the school, event, and law enforcement crowd. Now JVC’s got it covered as well. Coming in May, they say.
Here are the features from the press release:
- Full 1920 x 1080 capture and recording at 60P in the AVCHD Progressive format (28Mbps)
- 1/2.3-inch 12 megapixel oversampled CMOS imager
- 29.5mm wide angle autofocus zoom lens with 16x dynamic zoom, 200x digital zoom
(35mm equivalent: 25.5mm — 476mm) - Manual focus, zoom, iris, shutter, white balance control
- Optical image stabilizer
- Stable, professional shoulder form factor
- Records to dual SDHc/SDXC memory cards
- 1080/60P (28 Mbps)
- 1080/60i (24/17/12/5 Mbps)
- 720×480 (6/3 Mbps)
- FALCONBRID™ High Speed Processor
- High speed video recording (for slow motion)
300 fps (720 x 480 resolution) - 3-inch Touch Screen LCD display
- .24-inch LCOS Color Viewfinder
- Focus assist function
- Zebra indication (Over 100%/70-80%/OFF)
- Auto iris/Manual iris adjustment
- AE adjustment
- Backlight compensation
- Touch priority AE/AF
- Face detection/Smile shot
- Tele macro
- Built-in zoom microphone
- 3.5mm Microphone Input
- 12MP digital still capture (JPEG format)
- 2MP still capture during recording
- Unique dual snap-on battery system (1 provided)
- 3.5mm Remote Connector (compatible with HZ-M150VZR remote lens control unit)
- 3.5mm Headphone out connector
