Canon XL H1 Camcorder Review

Ease of Use (9.0)
In order to help us determine the Canon XL H1 (Specs, Recent News, $7947.89)’s ease of use, we ask ourselves this question: how easily could a person of the intended market pick up this camcorder and quickly make a series of standard adjustments – white balance, exposure, focus, audio levels, etc. – to set up a shot? We believe that person, even if they had never seen a Canon XL camcorder, would have absolutely no trouble. The design of the XL H1 leaves everything out in the open. Buttons are smartly placed and well-labeled.

Run-and-gun shooters like news gatherers are always looking for short cuts and easy access on a camcorder, and the Canon XL H1 will certainly please that crowd. There are two simple operating modes, both accessible via the mode dial. Automatic mode puts the controls in the camcorder’s hands. You’re not cut off entirely from image control, though. You can still adjust gain, white balance, AE shift, audio levels, frame rates – basically all the controls except aperture and shutter speed. Almost all of the menu options are still available.

For the really on-the-go shooter, there is also an Easy mode. It’s hard to believe that that there is an Easy mode on a $9000 camcorder, but there it is, right on the mode dial. In Easy mode, none of the exterior image quality controls – white balance, AE shift, etc. – respond to adjustments. You can still play with audio levels, presumably because they are hidden behind a plastic cover. So it seems that Easy mode is the setting that you’d want when your grabby, little nieces and nephews are on set. They can touch the camcorder, and chances are they won’t screw anything up too bad. Also, when in Easy mode, many of the menu options disappear. You still get the Signal Setup, the Recording Setup, the Audio Setup, and Display and System options. But you cannot use custom presets and the Camera Setup menu is curtailed.

Handling (8.5)
Handling the Canon XL H1 is not a simple "it's great" or "it's terrible," and its predecessors, the XL1 and XL2 both had ardent fans as well as strident detractors. We do like the way this camcorder handles, for the most part. But a camcorder with as much going on as this one will inevitably have some downsides.

The primary obstacle may be weight. Fully loaded, the XL H1 weighs 3750 g (8.3 lbs.). That makes the XL H1 much heavier than most sub-$10,000 camcorders, but much lighter than the full-sized Digibeta and Varicam units many pros are accustomed to shooting with. DPs accustomed to working with a full-sized unit will likely find the XL H1 to feel feather light; those accustomed to smaller prosumer units, like the Sony HVR-Z1U may find that it feels cumbersome. Others may find the XL H1 to be just right, and that it is a rare “mid-sized” camcorder with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The button array on the left side

On the other hand, handling is also one of the great strengths of the XL H1. The camcorder borrows the “open architecture” of its standard definition predecessors in the XL series, the XL1 and XL2. “Open-architecture” is a Canon buzz-term which seems to refer to the camcorder’s ability to take on a variety of accessories. We think that marketing terms are pliant by design, and that the term might also be a good way to describe the bevy of external controls that dot the body. Everything the ENG or run-and-gun shooter could need is right there for the pushing, spinning, and switching (we’ve run down the list in the Manual Control section above). Of course, not everything can go on the outside as there isn’t enough room. The very fine controls – the gamma levels, the RGB channel levels, knee, etc. – are located in the menu. And that’s okay with us. Run-and-gunners generally do not need these controls at hand. If you have color preferences and don’t feel like setting them up each time you pick up a new XL H1, Canon makes it possible for you to export your shooting preferences to an SD card (attached to a JPEG) and import them into other XL H1s, or the same XL H1 at a later date. How’s that for handling convenience?

One criticism often leveled at this camcorder and its DV sibling is that out of the box, it’s awkwardly balanced, and I agree with this assessment. It is heavy enough to hold steady on your shoulder, but it leans left and pulls on your right hand because of the weighty lens.  Unlike a fullsize camcorder that keeps most of the weight over your shoulder, the XL H1 will put a good deal of strain on your right hand. Short of purchasing a shoulder mount, the remedy is to brace the camcorder with your left hand on the lens. The weight of the lens also makes the top handgrip problematic, creating a tendency to tip forward. While you can easily grip the handle further forward to remedy the balance, it becomes more difficult to operate the zoom control placed there. Sony’s HVR-V1U, among others, has a superior overall balance.

The moving EVF bar can move a bit too much sometimes.

Aside from this concern, we love the Canon XL H1 design. It’s smart, it’s designed for the professional, and you can build on it with any number of accessories.

Portability (6.0)
The Canon XL H1 weighs 2435 g (5.4 lb.) for just the body, and 3750 g (8.3 lbs.) when fully loaded. With the lens and viewfinder, the camcorder measures 226 x 220 x 496 mm (8.9” x 8.7” x 19.5”). Without the lens and viewfinder, the body of the XL H1 measures approximately a much slimmer 160 x 197.5 x 375 mm (6.25” x 7.75” 14.25”).

For a professional camcorder, this is smaller than most, and some will find its middle of the road size appealing. Others will find the balance issues to be annoying, and either peruse the constellation of custom brace options on the market or opt for a unit that gives them the feel they want. For prosumers looking to branch out into the upper reaches of their checking account, a shoulder-mounted camcorder, particularly this one, is not as light as what you’re used to. It will not fit in any little tote bag, or even most camera bags that you can find at your local photo lab. Buying a camcorder like this one comes with a whole fleet of new expenses. Safe carriage is only one of them. Expect to pay upwards of $200 – $250.

LCD/Viewfinder (9.0)
On an HDV camcorder that is clearly made for professional shooters, it’s a disappointment to find an LCD/viewfinder combo that measures a mere 2.4” across, leading us to wonder why Canon opted to skimp on this feature. Perhaps the XL H1’s designers assumed most shooters will use a monitor when the screen is inadequate, but that’s not an option during run-and-gun shooting. Competing camcorders like the Sony HDR-FX7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $2599) boast 3.5” screens, and the added size is particularly helpful when it comes to focusing an HDV image. In its favor, the eyecup on this camcorder is large and very comfortable, making the XL H1 a great choice for prolonged viewfinder shooting. Despite its size, the screen is also bright and sharp, with a resolution of 215,000 pixels. Controls over the display are accessed via Menu>Display Setup>EVF Setup, and include options for brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness.

Battery Life (22.2)
The Canon XL H1 ships with the BP-950G battery, measuring 38.2 x 40.3 x 70.5 mm (1.5” x 1.6” x 2.8”) and weighs 210g (7.4 oz.). It loads in a semi-recessed cavity on the rear right side. The battery release button is tucked in below so you don’t accidentally hit it during shooting or when hauling it around.