Giving absolute video graphers something to accept from besides its accepted but long-in-the-tooth GL2, Canon offers up two HDV models advised to address to the prosumer and entry-level pro markets. Derived from the aforementioned technology that the professional-level XL H1 uses, the XH A1 and the XH G1 HDV models barter the XL H1's changeable lens arrangement to lower the amount by one-half to two-thirds the amount of the higher-end model. The two XH models allotment a individual body, but the G1 includes the agnate of the XL H1's JackPack--HD-SDI achievement with anchored audio and time code, Genlock synchronization, and Time code In/Out--a accumulation of connectors analytical for anyone aggravating to mix assorted video ascribe sources. In addition, the SDI achievement is the alone way to get 4:2:2 output. We activated the lower-end XH A1.
All things advised it feels adequate cutting with the XH A1; admitting it weighs about 5 pounds, it's still appreciably lighter than most. All the buttons and controls sit in analytic locations, aggregate almost by action and about in the aforementioned locations as they arise on advancing models. They're acceptable sizes, and assorted bumps and divots in the buttons accommodate abundant concrete acknowledgment to accomplish afterwards looking. A ample block of the camcorder's architectonics lets you actuate the acceleration and subtlety with which accouterment action during shooting, including focus, zoom and acknowledgment changes, and white-balance adjustments. (For a complete altercation of the controls, bang through the accelerate show.)
On the lens barrel, rings of altered sizes and textures accomplish focus, zoom, and iris. In acknowledgment to complaints about the mushiness of servo-controlled focus, Canon offers a Slow acceleration option; that option, additional a ambit readout advice to advance a bigger ascendancy over focus response, but you'll apparently still wish to try it and analyze to others if you're captious about the feel. I anticipate it feels about the aforementioned as the Panasonic AG-HVX200's.
The aforementioned three 1/3-inch CCDs with 1080i (1,440x1,080) built-in resolution that drive the XL H1 sit at the centermost of the XH series' imaging system, and like the H1, both models can almanac in 1080i at 30F or 24F anatomy rates. The closing comes in two versions, one which annal to band at 24 frames per second, and one which downconverts from 24fps to 30fps/60i application 2:3:3:2 pull-down afore recording for greater alteration compatibility. Their affection sets allotment abounding of the H1's technologies, including a Digic DV II processor, Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization, and the H1's customization architecture. The XH cameras accept anchored 20x zoom lenses rather than the changeable lenses on the XL, but they action a wider-angle view: 32.5mm-to-650mm equivalent.
The lens and absorption arrangement accomplish actual well. The lens displays actual acceptable edge-to-edge sharpness, admitting with a addiction to affectation a bit of amethyst bright abnormality on the sides, and the centermost focus looks great, abnormally if zoomed in tight. As usual, Canon's optical balance works awfully well, even all the way out to 20x.
With Instant AF enabled, the autofocus works quickly, and the Push AF, which activates an Instant AF override in manual-focus mode, speeds chiral focus considerably. As acclaimed in the XH series' documentation, there's a bit of an autofocus lag in 24F and 30F modes; it's perceptible, but if you shoot a lot in those modes and use AF, your cutting accent should acclimate afterwards a while. Canon confused the Peaking and Magnify absorption aids out to the physique of the camera--they were in the card arrangement in the XL H1--and you'll await on them appealing heavily; the tiny, low-resolution LCD is appealing difficult to plan with.
Canon provides seven accretion levels: 36dB, 18dB, 12dB, 6dB, 3dB, 0dB, and -3dB (although, irritatingly, you can alone affairs three on the L/M/H switch. At its everyman gain, video looks abundantly smooth, and even as top as 3dB you can shoot in low ablaze with almost little noise. At 12dB there's absolutely a bit of (mostly) luminance noise, but it doesn't absolutely abstruse abundant detail and you can shoot in abreast darkness. The quiet on-camera mic works appealing able-bodied in basal up-close-and-personal shooting, but you've got affluence of add-on options should your needs be added complex.
As you'd apprehend from camcorders in their class, the XH's aftermath accomplished HD and SD video: sharp, saturated and smooth. The altercation that began with the XL H1 over the about superior of Canon's 24F against Panasonic's 24P--implemented by models such as the Panasonic AG-HVX200--continues, and applies appropriately to the XH series. To summarize: Panasonic's 24P is a abounding 720-line anatomy of video captured almost every 1/24 second. Canon's 24F "fakes" accelerating browse by hardly offsetting the vertical readout of the blooming CCD from those of the dejected and red, breeding a anatomy with 1.5x the curve of the 540-line field, or 810 lines, admitting ones application spatial rather than banausic interlace. As a result, the superior catechism arises: Do Canon's pseudo-progressive frames attending the aforementioned as a accurate accelerating anatomy or does one see artifacts?
I didn't see any; footage I attempt accurately to analysis for 24F artifacts looked actual to me. (I played it aback anon on our advertence HDTV, the 50-inch Pioneer Pro-FHD1, to bypass the countless software issues surrounding 24fps alteration and playback.) However, if you wish to see a assembly of analysis results, you can acquisition them in the Texas Shootout on DV.com.
