Canon XH A1 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Nov 21, 2006 12:00 PM 
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Comparisons
Comparing the $4000 XH A1 (Specs, Recent News, $3279.99) to the $9000 XL H1 comes down to three major areas that distinguish the camcorders from one another: the lens, the Professional Jack Pack, and size. When it comes to video performance, the camcorders are virtually identical, thanks to the fact that they use the same 3-CCD imager and both sport an excellent Canon 20x optical zoom lens. The XL H1 adds an XL lens mount, which is back compatible with XL Series DV lenses as well as XL Series HDV lenses, which now include a wide-angle lens in addition to the stock lens. The XL H1 also adds the Professional Jack Pack as a standard feature, a package of terminals geared towards multicamera broadcast environments. Finally, the XL H1 is a significantly larger and heavier camcorder with a shoulder rest, making it less portable but more stable than the XH A1. For shooters who have no need for the Professional Jack Pack – and this includes most indie filmmakers and professional videographers – the XH A1 makes a compelling case for itself. Short of lens interchangeability, it does everything its big brother can do for 5 grand less. For non-multicamera DPs, the XH A1 is the obvious choice.
Canon XH G1The difference between the XH A1 and the XH G1 is simple. The XH G1 includes the Professional Jack Pack, which amounts to the $3000 price spread between these two Canons. The Jack Pack includes an HD/SDI terminal, GENLOCK terminal, and TIME CODE terminal, which accommodates both TC in and TC out. Determining which of these two camcorders is right for you is a matter of how you shoot. For DPs who work in a multicamera live show environment, the Jack Pack is a necessary accessory. For those who do not, and are content to work with HDV compression, the XH A1 packs the same optical image capabilities into a cheaper package.
Sony HVR-V1U
The Sony HVR-V1U offers some stiff competition for the XH A1, and it’s likely to appeal to a similar kind of user with an MSRP of $4800, and without support for interchangeable lenses. The Sony is also a relatively compact prosumer model, but uses three 1/4” ClearVID CMOS imagers rather than the three 1/3” CCDs found on the Canon. The HVR-V1U’s imagers each have an effective pixel count of 1037K pixels versus 1560K pixels for the XH A1, giving the Canon an edge in terms of imager resolution. In its favor, the Sony records 24p video, which some users may prefer to 24F, has a larger LCD screen measuring a generous 3.5”, and a digital zoom that increases the camcorder’s total zoom power by a factor of 1.5. Both camcorders sport an impressive array of image controls and customization options, though the XH A1 is slightly more robust. Making a call between these two cutting-edge camcorders is tough, but the price difference is enough for us to give the XH A1 the edge for value.
JVC GY-HD110UIn terms of size and lens interchangeability, the JVC GY-HD110U is closer to the XL H1 as an overall package. The JVC costs more, and with the standard Fujinon 16x ProHD lens, it retails for about $6295. The JVC is another camcorder with true progressive video at 720p, but unlike the Sony HVR-V1U, it does not offer interlaced video recording options. In terms of resolution, the GY-HD110U is close to the XH A1. In Adam Wilt's HD shootout that included the XL H1 and the GY-HD110U, the JVC’s resolution scores beat out all others except the Canon. With a multitude of lens options and video performance that approaches the XH A1, it is a very competitive camcorder for shooters who want a larger camcorder and flexibility with lenses – but it still costs $2000 more.
Panasonic AG-HVX200The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a camcorder that is not easily compared to anything else on the prosumer market due to the fact that it uses the proprietary P2 tapeless recording system. The AG-HVX200 records DVCPRO video DV tapes, but HD video can only be recorded to Panasonic’s solid state P2 memory cards or an external DTE drive like the FireStore FS-100. Tapeless recording has some obvious benefits, including savings in media over time, and the stability of non-tape media. P2 cards also result in a different workflow, reducing transfer time considerably over tape, and allows for the possibility of non-stop recording, using the camcorder’s two hot-swappable P2 slots. Unfortunately, the cards are expensive, with 8GB cards retailing for $1200 list. More importantly, the XH A1 offers more imaging power per dollar, with three 1/3” CCDs with an effective resolution of 1560K pixels each. The Panasonic relies on pixel shifting to raise the resolution of its three 1/3” CCDs from their 500K gross pixel count into HD territory. With an MSRP of $5995, and workflow issues that are not yet fully resolved, the XH A1 is a better buy.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (2.0)
The average point-and-shooter will find this camcorder’s feature set intimidating at best, and getting the most out of the XH A1 requires a thorough knowledge of digital cinematography. There is a Green mode, so if the need arises, you can put the camcorder in the hands of a newbie.
Budget Consumers (6.0)
The term “budget consumer” is relative, and for the price (just under $4000 MSRP), the XH A1has a lot going for it. That said, by our usual standards this is not a camcorder for budget consumers
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (4.0)
The XH A1 produces very good quality stills, but it's not a replacement for a decent compact digital camera given that its highest resolution is equivalent to the size of a 1920x1080 HD video frame.
Gadget Freaks (8.0)
The XH A1 is a very cool camcorder, with a confident black profile and advanced manual controls galore. In fact, it has so much going on in the way of professional features it may overwhelm the typical gadget geek who is more concerned with bleeding edge technology and design. Other camcorders, like the Vader-like XL H1 or the miniscule HV 10, are both hipper objects at first glance especially when taking into account that the main attractions of the XH A1 lie under the hood. For the video pro who longs for a device that will impress those in the know, the XH A1's image controls make it the Swiss army knife of prosumer camcorders: Small and cheap enough to send into the African bush, but capable enough for a high-end shoot. With this kind of versatility, the XH A1 is a gadget worthy of respect.
Manual Control Freaks (9.5)
The XH A1 is surprisingly approachable for a camcorder with so many professional features, which mainly due to the fact that so many controls are hard switches or dials on the exterior. A few basic settings do need to be selected in the menu – such as video recording format – but these settings can be accessed efficiently making this camcorder a dream for run-and-gun production. Yet the XH A1 really excels in the fine-tuning you can apply to an image, utilizing the Custom Function menu and Color Preset menu. These menus allow for a level of image control that is unparalleled in a camcorder selling for less than $4000.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (8.5)
This is a great camcorder for DPs who need a lightweight and affordable HDV camcorder for ENG, documentary, or indie film production – and don’t want to compromise on features. For users who don't need either interchangeable lenses or the Professional Jack Pack, this camcorder makes a very strong case for itself. There are numerous camcorders selling for a bit more or a bit less, including Sony’s HDR-FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) and HVR V1U, and the Panasonic AG-HVX200, but its image quality and its feature set make this camcorder difficult to beat at the price. Its three CCDs boast a higher effective pixel count than anything else in its class, multiple frame rates, and for $500, an upgrade to PAL compatibility. Taken together, this all makes the Canon XH A1 one of the best-value camcorders we’ve ever seen.
Conclusion
The Canon XH A1 is a dynamite camcorder – that’s the bottom line conclusion. You want more? Ok, perhaps we should recap. The video performance is pretty much identical to the XL H1, Canon’s top-of-the-line camcorder. It loses the lens interchangeability, which may be too much to swallow for some users. But ENGs, budget documentarians, and student filmmakers will likely be satisfied with the fixed 20x Canon HD lens system.
The manual control set is simply fantastic, and even improved upon since the XL H1 (read the Other Manual Control section above for more details). In short, you can control dozens of color performance metrics. You can also customize how you like the displays to appear, how you would like the dials to spin (clockwise or counterclockwise for iris enlargement?) how fast you would like auto exposure adjustments to shift, and more – then save all of those settings as a custom preset on the camcorder or export them on an SD card and load them on another A1 or G1 camcorder.
The camcorder does have its downsides, though. The eyecup could have been designed better. The body is certainly heavy for a handheld camcorder. In addition, comparable Sony models are shipping with a larger, 3.5” LCD screen, which can really help with focus adjustments on the fly.
The list of shortcomings is small compared to the number of reasons to love this camcorder. Canon clearly spent a great deal of time making this a product that would fit into multiple markets and plant itself for some time to come. We don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t stay there.