Canon XH A1, XH G1, XL H1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, Sony HDR-FX1 Compared

by John Neely
Published on Jul 25, 2006 4:00 PM

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Model

 Canon XH A1/ XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL H1 (Specs, Recent News, $7947.89) Panasonic AG-HVX200
Price XH A1 est. MSRP:
$3999.00

XH G1 est. MSRP:
$6999.00		 $3999.00 $8999.00 $5995.00

Video
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Image Sensor 3 x 1/3” CCD 3 x 1/3” CCD
Super HAD		 3 x 1/3” CCD 3 x 1/3” CCD
Gross pixels per Sensor 1670K pixel 1120K pixel each 1670K pixel each 500K pixel each (Uses pixel shift to achieve higher resolution)
Effective pixels SD DV 4:3:
1170K pixel

SD DV 16:9:
1560K pixel

HDV: 1560K pixel		 1070K pixel SD DV 1170K pixel
HDV 1560K pixel		  
Frame Rates 60i
30F
24F 		60i
30F		 60i
30P
24F
 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/24pA, 1080/30p, 720/60p, 720/24p, 720/30p, 480/60i, 480/24p, 480/30p 
16:9 Native Native  Native Native

Media
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
HDV Media MiniDV MiniDV MiniDV P2 Card (SD DV to MiniDV tape)
Still Photo Media
 SD, MMC
SD, MMC SD

Lens and Optical Features
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Optical Zoom 20x 12x 20x  13x
Lens Mount No No Yes (XL Compatible lenses) No
Lens F-Stop f1.6-3.5   f1.6-3.5 f1.6
Focal Length 5.4-108mm 4.5mm-54mm 5.4-108mm 4.2 mm-55 mm
Minimum illumination  60i, 1/60 ss = 7 lux, 1/30 ss=4 lux; 24F, 1/48 ss = 6 lux 3 lux 60i, 1/60 ss = 7 lux, 1/30 ss=4 lux; 24F, 1/48 ss = 6 lux  3 lux
Filter Diameter 72mm 72 mm 72mm 82mm
ND Filter 1/6, 1/32 1/6, 1/32 1/6, 1/32  1/8, 1/64

LCD/Viewfinder
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Viewfinder Color 0.57"
269K pixel
 Color
252K pixel		 Color Color 0.44”
235K pixel
LCD Color 2.8”
207K pixel		 Color 3.5" Color 2.4”
215K pixel		 Color 3.5”
210K pixel

Audio
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Audio recording System HDV: MPEG1 Audio Layer II 48kHz, 384 kbps/2 channels)

SD DV:  PCM 16 bits 48kHz/2 channels; 12 bit 32kHz/4 channels		 HDV (MPEG2, 48)
SD DV (12bit,16bit)

HDV: MPEG1 Audio Layer II 48kHz, 384 kbps/2 channels)

SD DV:  PCM 16 bits 48kHz/2 channels; 12 bit 32kHz/4 channels

 HDV: MPEG1 Audio Layer II 48kHz, 384 kbps/2 channels)

SD DV:  PCM 16 bits 48kHz/2 channels; 12 bit 32kHz/4 channels
Microphone IN XLR in x 2 3.5mm stereo mini jack XLR in x 2 XLR in x 2
Headphone Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini) Yes (Mini)  Yes (Mini)
Audio IN Terminal 16 bit (2 channels), 12 bits (4 channels)   16 bit (2 channels), 12 bits (4 channels) Pin jack x 2

Zoom
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Zoom Control Ring, toggle Ring, toggle Ring, toggle Ring, toggle
Second Zoom Handle, ring Ring (not variable speed) Handle, ring Ring
Adjustable Zoom Speed Variable or multiple constant speed settings Yes Variable or multiple constant speed settings  

Manual Controls and Handling
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Shutter Speed 1/4-1/15,000 sec. 1/4 - 1/10,000 (In AE Mode) 1/4-1/15,000 sec.   1/4-1/2000 sec.
White Balance Manual, 2 custom presets Auto/One Push, A/B Preset Manual, 2 custom presets Manual, 2 custom presets
Zebra Patterning 70%-100% in 5% steps Yes 70%-100% in 5% steps 50%-105% in 5% steps
Exposure Range  N/A F1.6-F11 (24 step)  N/A  N/A
Gain -3dB-36dB   -3dB-36dB Up to 18dB (60i/60p)

Up to 12dB (30p/24p)
Ring Controls Focus, zoom, iris Focus, zoom Focus, zoom, iris Focus
Customized Keys Yes 3 assignable buttons Yes 3 assignable buttons
Gripping Positions Grip, handle Grip, handle Grip, handle  Grip, handle

Still Features
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Still Resolutions 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480 		    1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480		  
Still Media SD/MMC No SD/MMC  SD
Photo Buttons Grip, handle No Grip, handle  

Ports
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
HD/SD-SDI Out XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		  No Yes  No
Genlock In XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		  No Yes  No
TC-In/Out XH A1: No
XH G1: Yes		  No Yes  No
DV Terminal Yes Yes Yes Yes
S-Video IN/OUT Yes Component, Mini and S-Video Yes Yes
Composite Video IN/OUT RCN/BNC jack Composite (Mini) in/out RCN/BNC jack Composite in/out
Audio OUT RCA Stereo RCA  
Accessory Shoe Yes, hot Yes, cold  Yes, hot  

Other
Model Canon XH A1/XH G1 Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL-H1 Panasonic AG-HVX200
Dimensions 163mm x 189mm x 351mm
(6.4" x 7.4" x 13.8")
 151mm x 181mm x 365mm
(5 15/16” x 7 1/8” x 14 3/8”)		 226mm  x 220mm x 496mm
(8.9” x 8.7” x 19.5”)		 168.5mm x 180mm x 390mm
(6 11/16” x 7 1/8” x 15 3/8”)
Weight XH A1: 2.26 kg (4.98 lbs.) w/battery
XH G1: 2.33 kg (5.14 lbs.) w/battery
 2.1 kg (4.7 lbs.) w/o battery 3.75 kg (8.3 lbs.) w/battery 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs.) w/o battery
Power Consumption  7.4V DC 7.4 W VF, 8.0 W LCD, 8.4 W VF+LCD  7.4V DC  7.2V DC