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At the Canon Expo in New York City, we got a chance to check out the XF105—a new compact pro model that is loaded with manual controls. Unfortunately, the camcorder is stuck with a single CMOS sensor instead of the three-chip system found on Canon's previous pro models (like the XF300 and XF305). We're not sure how much this downgrade will affect overall image quality, but it leaves us worried about the XF105's performance capabilities.
The HF M31 ($799) is a new mid-range HD camcorder from Canon that is essentially last year's Canon HF20 with a few minor tweaks and updates—including a new touchscreen interface and a slick menu redesign. The camcorder captured some high-quality video in our bright light tests, but its low light performance was mostly a disappointment.
The XF300 (and XF350) is the newest pro model from Canon—and the company's first to feature flash memory recording. The camcorder has many of the same manual controls and features as Canon's HDV line of professional camcorders, but the company also packed in a number of exciting updates and design improvements. The XF300 will be available in late June with an MSRP of $6799 and it will be on display next week at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention in Las Vegas.
The Vixia HF S21 ($1399 MSRP) is the new-and-improved flagship camcorder from Canon. With 64GB of internal flash memory, two SD/SDHC memory card slots, and a brand new touchscreen LCD, Canon appears to have put in quite an effort in revamping last year's HF S11.
The Canon EOS 7D ($1699 body only) offers similar video performance to the much more expensive—and widely praised—Canon 5D Mark II. New on the 7D, however, is a 24p frame rate that can be used while recording 1080p video. With this addition, along with the cheaper price tag, the Canon 7D is an intriguing DSLR for video enthusiasts.
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An Introduction to High Definition Video.
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The Student Filmmaker's Buying Guide To Consumer Camcorders
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Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder
Most consumer camcorders come with some kind of editing program, but the quality of this provided software can range drastically. This article offers an overview and critique for these editing programs. Read More...
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