Canon Announces HDV High Definition XL H1 with 1080i with No 24P for $8,999

New York - At the 2005 Canon Expo press conference, Canon USA announced their entrance into the high defintion camcorder market with the XL H1 (Specs, Recent News, $7947.89). The new camcorder features 1080 lines of resoluition, shooting at 60 interlaced frames per second, and includes a 20x lens. While it does not have a true 24 frames progressive mode, the XL H1 does feature movie-like 24 frames per second frame rate.

While the 24 frame rate is a bit untested, it seems to fall somewhere in the marketplace between the true 24P on Canon's XL2 and the CineFrame effect on Sony's HDR-FX1. When the camcorder is in the 24 frames mode, the chip records at a rate of 24 scans per second, but it should be clear that it is not a progressive chip. Canon says that they are using their 8 years of experience in converting video from an interlaced chip to progressive-looking video to achieve the effect. Joe Borgacz, Assistant Director of Product Development for Video Division at Canon, stated that, once the video is brought into a non-linear editor, it is nearly impossible to see a difference between it and true 24 frames progressive scan camcorder video.

"We are often not the first to launch emeging technologies, but when we do, we come to market with products that ergonomically and technologically exceed what is out there," said Eloitt Peck, Vice President and General Manager of Sales for Canon Consumer Products. He added, "We are proud to introduce you to Canon's XL H1 High defintion camcorder with 20x optical lens and superior Canon optics - BAM!"

According to the press release, "filmmakers can utilize the 24 Frame rate when creating the look and feel of movie film." However, the press release refers to the format exclusively as "24F," never 24P, indicating that it is not true 24P. The XL H1 includes three 1/3 in. interlaced CCDs and is Canon's first camcorder to use the DIGIC DV II processsing chip.

The 20x removable lens on the XL H1 includes Canon’s Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization, f/1.6 to f/3.5 aperture, and a zoom range of 38.9mm to 778mm in 16:9  and 47.4mm to 954 mm in 4:3. The lens uses Canon's XL lens mount and includes two ND filters at 1/6th and 1/32nd.

The new XL H1 includes a 2.4 in. LCD screen, which also functions as the camcorder's viewfinder, using the same hybrid system as Canon's XL2. The XL2 is Canon's highest end MiniDV camcorder, and the H1 is closely modeled after it. Canon did not release the resolution information for the LCD screen. It is confirmed that it has a black and white mode and several aspect ratio guides. Because focus is arguably more crucial in high definition video than in standard (due to the higher resolution rates), the XL H1 includes a feature called Focus Help, similar to the Focus Assist on Sony's HDV camcorders. According to the press release, focus help has two modes. "The first setting, Peaking, creates an exaggerated line in the viewfinder that disappears when the image is focused. The second setting, Magnifying, enlarges the viewfinder image, helping the camera operator see if the image is properly focused."

The camcorder offers many professional features, including HD-SDI output (a format that is used in high end HD applications), Genlock, and SMPTE Time Code input and output. The XL H1 also maintains the high end audio options of the XL2. The camcorder includes two XLR inputs with independent audio control of each channel. In addition, it has jacks for BNC video, Component video, S-Video, Composite video, and Firewire IEEE 1394, as well as a 1/8 in. Microphone jack,  a 1/8 in. Headphone jack, and a Control-L  LANC terminal.

Like the XL2, the XL H1 gives extended manual control over advanced image setttings to foster a film look. Canon's press release explained: "Canon’s new XL H1 camcorder offers filmmakers the ability to customize their video recordings using a number of variables, including: three color matrixes for a wide range of color correction and two cine gammas for intricate adjustment of dynamic range, customizable: knee, black stretch, horizontal detail, coring, sharpness, noise reduction, color gain, hue, and master color adjustments."

In an interesting move, Canon has added still image recording to the XL H1, something which the XL H2 didn't offer. The camcorder includes an SD slot for saving digital stills as well as a photo button, and can record stills at full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

The XL HD1 will be available in November for $8,999.