Sony HDR-FX1 Canon XL2 comparedby News EditorPublished on Sep 6, 2004 11:30 AM 
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A NEW information resource about the Sony HDR-FX1 and HDV, including a first impressions REVIEW.
The Canon XL2 is available for around $1,300 more than the HDR-FX1 and its differences are similar to the differences that seperate Panasonic's AG-DVX100 from Sony's new high-definition offering. These main areas include the fact that Canon's XL2 records at 60i, 30P, and 24P, with options for either a 2:3 or a 2:3:3:2 pulldown. This, and included XLR ports, marks the Canon camcorder for popularity within the prosumer/indepedent filmmaker market. Also, while the XL2 doesn't enjoy the immense resolution of the HDR-FX1, it does allow for interchangeable lens, a feature nearly every other prosumer camcorder lacks. It also ships with a 20x optical zoom which is quite large. The downside to the XL2, aside from the cost, will probably be seen in its low light performance, when put up against the Sony HDR-FX1. The new Sony's anticpated excellent image quality and good low light may make up for the fact that the camcorder only records at 1080i (60i) with a 24i signal in CineFrame mode.
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Sony HDR-FX1
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Canon
XL2  |
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| Power Consumption | 8.0 W | 7.1W |
| Video recording system |
1080i (1440x1080, 60i fps) |
525i (NTSC) |
| Audio recording System | DV (12bit,16bit)
HDV (MPEG2, 48 |
12 (4 channel), 16 (2 channel) |
| Image Sensor | 1/3 inch CCD x 3
Super HAD, 16:9 |
1/3 inch CCD x 3 |
| Gross pixels per CCD | 1 MP each | 680K |
| Effective pixels | 350K(4:3), 460K(16:9) | |
| Pixel Shifting | No | pixel shifting |
| Tape format | MiniDV, | MiniDV |
| Tape speed | 18mm/sec: SP
12.5mm/sec: LP |
18mm/sec: SP, 12.5mm/sec: LP |
| Lens Mount | no | yes |
| Manual Focus Type | Ring | ring |
| Minimum focusing distance | f4.5 -54 | 5.4-108 |
| Maximum shutter speed | Auto, 1/4-10,000 | 1/15,000 |
| Minimum illumination | 3 lux | 3 lux |
| Recommended illumination | 100lux | |
| filter diameter | 72 mm | 72 mm |
| Viewfinder | Color, 250K pixels | |
| LCD | 16:9 Hybrid | 2.0 inch(200K) |
| DV Terminal | yes | 4 pin |
| S-Video IN/OUT terminal | yes | yes |
| Video IN/OUT Terminal | composite in/out | RCN/BNC jack |
| Audio OUT Terminal | stereo | RCA x 2(3&4, 1/3&2/4) |
| No XLR ports | XLR in x 2 (2 channels), LINE/MIC input | |
| Headphone | yes | yes |
| Audio IN Terminal | yes | 16 bit(2 channels), 12 bits (4 channels) |
| Microphone IN | stereo | yes |
| Dimensions | 15.93 x 7.125 x 14.375 | 8.9 x 8.7 x 19.5 |
| Weight (battery) | 4lbs 10oz | 7.8 lbs. |
| 16:9 effect | no, 16:9 native | guides, non-squeeze 16:9 |
| grip zoom | variable speed | yes |
| second zoom | ring (not variable speed) | handle |
| adjustable zoom speed | yes | yes |
| movie mode | CineFrame 24 (2:3:2:3) 1080/24i | 24P (2:3), 24P(2:3:3:2) |
| white balance | Auto and Manual | auto (3200K and 5600K) preset, hold, auto tracking white, black balance |
| zebra patterning | Yes | Yes, 5 levels |
| optical zoom | 12x | 20x |
| built in ND filter | yes(0, 1/6, 1/32) | yes |
| still to tape | no | no |
| 2 photo buttons | no | no |
| two gripping positions | yes | yes |
| exposure steps | F1.6-F11 (24 step) | F1.6-F2.8 |
| shutter speed steps | 1/4-1/10,000 | 1/24-1/15,000 |
| Shooting Modes | 60i (24i in CineFrame 24 | 60i (525i), 30P,24P (3:2), 24P (2:3:3:2) |
| Customized keys | yes | yes |
| Audio Dubbing | yes | yes |
| Zoom features | ring, toggle | ring, two toggles |
