Manage updates with the Download AppCanon XH A1
Manufacturer: Canon Part number: 1191B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Canon's XH A1 and XH G1 are excellent camcorders for entry-level professionals and independent filmmakers, with hard-to-beat prices for what they offer.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Canon XH A1 price range: $4,999.99
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 05/23/2007
- Released on: 11/01/2006
The good: Excellent video quality; extremely customizable; great lens and optical stabilizer; fast focus.
The bad: No 720p recording capability; coarse, low-resolution LCD.
The bottom line: Canon's XH A1 and XH G1 are excellent camcorders for entry-level professionals and independent filmmakers, with hard-to-beat prices for what they offer.
User reviews
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Impatient Neophytes Need Not Apply
by mango2005 on May 20, 2007
Pros: Full HDV resolution, reasonable wide angle, Picture adjustments
Cons: No HDMI out, Slightly front heavy, Very front-heavy with wide angle adapter
Summary: The camera is, to say the least, not to be taken lightly from a learning perspective and, I find, from a handheld operator point view either. I've worked off ...
Summary: The camera is, to say the least, not to be taken lightly from a learning perspective and, I find, from a handheld operator point view either. I've worked off and on in pro video production for many years and this camera offers a learning experience even for me. Wow. Pedestal, color-correction, black-stretch, knee adjustments - stuff I vaguely remember touching once or twice in the studio let alone tweeking in a $3K+ camera. (Although, it has been a while) All settings can be saved to a SD card or on the camera as a profile. If you want to learn how to shoot with a high end camera - this is the one to get.
It is better value compared to the overrated FX7 which for some reason got an 8.0 here. This is an easy upgrade from that but the Sony V1U offers me some pause for thought regarding feature horse-trading. The A1 offers full 1440x1080 resolution CCDs compared to the Sony's 960x1080. More importantly though, this offers 1/3" CCDs compared to 1/4" imagers which helps with low light sensitivity and having a shorter depth of field than the Sony. CMOS or not. The 24F mode softens the image somewhat but in a completely digital production flow I would shoot at 30F because 24P modes are like prime lenses, shots look better because they force good shooting habits as opposed to being intrinsically beneficial. Just my opinion though. The V1U does offer a better progressive mode, weighs less and is laid out a bit better. It also has HDMI out which makes for clean green screens. The V1U is also $1K+ more which made the decision pretty easy, at least for me.
The A1's picture noise caused by gain is actually quite pleasing by being pretty monochromatic. The 20X zoom lens is great but OIS seems to lose it at the end of the zoom. The zoom is laggy via the lens ring but I don't shoot like that anyway and prefer a rocker which is totally adequate. It also has an iris ring on the lens which is quite nice to have and the shutter adjustment offers easy access being on a small wheel just behind the lens. Too bad your free hand is likely commited to holding the front of the camera underneath the XLR inputs. This camera really needs sticks or another support of some sort. In indoor situations this is even more pertinent as you'll want a wide angle adapter and Canon's weighs quite a bit. Way too front heavy. The LCD is a bit small and inadequate to the task of setting focus but what else is new. The viewfinder has a squared off eyecup which is not a plus either. However, these should both be overcome with the software CCU which you can get for $600 and throw on a laptop. I haven't tried it yet though but I'm hoping it will make critical focus easier to maintain. Another feature is to automatically move between 2 focus or zoom points at the push of a button. Unfortunately, you can't specify a duration other than slow, medium or fast but a firmware upgrade could make for an auto focus pull if specific durations could be attached or dare I say, more than two points. That would be a class killer.
For a budding film-maker learning their craft this camera is a great choice. Much cheaper at the end of the day than the HVX200 and most of its deficiencies shouldn't apply to you.30 out of 30 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great for documentary and independent filmmaking. Features compare to a pro camera.
by Huval on November 10, 2007
Pros: Great HD zoom lens. Integrated mic sounds great. 2 custom buttons. Multiple preset settings. Dual XLR w/ phantom power(+48v.) 24p mode. Alot of manual controls. 6hr battery!
Cons: I really, really tried, but I couldn't find any.
Summary: Amazing. A great investment. The battery lasts 6hrs.(5hrs. 45min.) The resolution is stunning. The detail on skin and food is great. I love the manual buttons. It feels like ...
Summary: Amazing. A great investment. The battery lasts 6hrs.(5hrs. 45min.) The resolution is stunning. The detail on skin and food is great. I love the manual buttons. It feels like a pro camera.hell, it looks like a pro camera.(i got on the field at football game b/c they though i was press) The integrated mic is exceptional. It has 3 preset settings and manual level adjustments. Dual XLR. Pro quality right there. I apologize for not finding any cons. I wanted this to be a real review with pros and cons, but i can't find any. The eyepiece on the viewfinder is a little uncomfortable. There's a con.
Besides that... Amazing. The BEST in its price range.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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a wonderful camcorder for independent film making
by agentdaniel2005 on December 10, 2006
Pros: Great design, two custom keys, 1080 hd, night and spotlight mode
Cons: takes time to connect to tripod
Summary: The best camera I have ever used. It recordes a perfect picture. I use it for many different things. It is a small design, and light for its side. It'...
Summary: The best camera I have ever used. It recordes a perfect picture. I use it for many different things. It is a small design, and light for its side. It's easy to use, but has many feature compared to the gl2. This is, I repeat, the perfect camcorder
Updated
Perfect camcorder. great for independent film making. Light for its size. Has spotlight, night, and picture mode.7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Camera for the Money
by rocketal on December 12, 2008
Pros: Tons of pro features and manual controls, great lens, solid construction.
Cons: Small LCD screen.
Summary: This camera has everything you could possibly want at this price point. The CNET review pretty much sums everything up. The only downside is the LCD screen, but the other ...
Summary: This camera has everything you could possibly want at this price point. The CNET review pretty much sums everything up. The only downside is the LCD screen, but the other features and manual controls more than make up for that.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Brillant Camera
by RobLS on December 21, 2007
Pros: Great Quality and Button Layout
Cons: Not fully HD pull of srceen.
Summary: I love this camera. I film alot of action sports and have a Century Optics .3x Ultra HD Fisheye on it and it looks amazing. Highly recommend one!
Summary: I love this camera. I film alot of action sports and have a Century Optics .3x Ultra HD Fisheye on it and it looks amazing. Highly recommend one!
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Quality is definitely 5 stars connectivity is 0
by robzoo11 on May 2, 2009
Pros: The images in HD and SD are very good, crisp and clean just like canon always does.
Cons: No compatibility with vista. Even Mac users have issues with connectivity to this camera. READ the forums out there and see all the issues people have with getting vista to recognize the cam, it is definitely a headache you might want to avoid.
Summary: The camera has the canon standard for image quality and excellence, but unless you have an HD burner and player or blue ray burner and player, then all your movies ...
Summary: The camera has the canon standard for image quality and excellence, but unless you have an HD burner and player or blue ray burner and player, then all your movies will be down converted to SD anyway so dont be so pressed to jump into the HD market, your not going to get left behind.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Be weary of 24F
by tcat2527 on July 1, 2009
Pros: The image looks great and so do the price
Cons: Canon F modes do not work with any Avid system. You can digitize it now, but there are issues with Timecode.
Summary: Is the 24F issue an Avid bad or a Canon bad? They're both to blame. Just a little warning before you shoot hours of 24F and then want a ...
Summary: Is the 24F issue an Avid bad or a Canon bad? They're both to blame. Just a little warning before you shoot hours of 24F and then want a friend edit for you on an Avid.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Canon Service is a rip off and warranty non-existent
by wdhughes on March 17, 2011
Pros: No pros when the camera doesn't work, has been in the shop 3 times in 6 months, and they're trying to charge me $1,000 while the camera is still only half way through the warranty.
Cons: I bought a Canon Professional HD camera (XH series) 6 months ago and it has been in the shop THREE times. The 1st 2 times, channel 2 audio quit working. The 3rd time, firewire quit working. They sent me an email billing me $325 March 14. I called the
Summary: I bought a Canon Professional HD camera (XH series) 6 months ago and it has been in the shop THREE times. The 1st 2 times, channel 2 audio quit working. ...
Summary: I bought a Canon Professional HD camera (XH series) 6 months ago and it has been in the shop THREE times. The 1st 2 times, channel 2 audio quit working. The 3rd time, firewire quit working. They sent me an email billing me $325 March 14. I called the 15th and reminded them it was still under warranty. I was told by Chris that it would be a warranty repair. Then today, the 17th, I received another bill, this time for $999.51! When I called, they were unwilling to erase the ridiculous bill. It's a DEFECTIVE CAMERA. Not only should they not try to charge me, but they should send me a new camera that WORKS! This camera is a piece of junk.
Canon repair in Irvine, California is TERRIBLE! Do not buy Canon. If you do, you will eventually have to deal with the idiots at the repair center. I will NEVER buy another Canon product of any kind. EVER.
Updated on May 5, 20111 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great camera but the DV connection breaks quickly.
by oceanwalker2000 on October 6, 2010
Pros: Great, smooth zoom, easy to use.
Cons: It doesn't matter how good your camera is, if it can't export to your computer, it's useless. I've bought 13 of these cameras for our organization, and 3 stopped being recognized by the computer. We got 2 fixed, but they broke again quickly.
Summary: Even after we got the cameras fixed, they stopped being recognized. After weeks of the runaround, I finally got on the phone with someone, and then was ignored for another ...
Summary: Even after we got the cameras fixed, they stopped being recognized. After weeks of the runaround, I finally got on the phone with someone, and then was ignored for another few weeks. Finally, I talked to someone who rudely told me it was a user error. This seems to be a flaw in the design that canon is pretending does not exist. Be cautious with this camera when connecting it to the computer. I regret purchasing these for our school because our students have suffered.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A camera with brillant features
by donatello77 on July 18, 2009
Pros: Great design and enenhances one´s creativity to film more
Cons: so far none
Summary: A camera worth investing in
Summary: A camera worth investing in
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon
- Part number: 1191B001
- Description: The HDV1080i XH A1 is perfectly balanced for easy handheld shooting. Full control over image variables, with new ultra-fast Instant AF, makes the XH A1 an ideal digital filmmaker's tool. The 1/3" 1.67 Megapixel 3CCD XH A1 records HDV1080i onto MiniDV tape. The use of rectangular pixels delivers the superior quality of full widescreen resolution, as seen on a High Definition display. Selectable frame rates offer digital filmmakers 50i or 25F shooting. Benefiting from a 32.5-650mm (35mm range) Canon L-series 20x optical zoom lens with Super Range Optical Image Stabilizer, the XH A1 inherits the highest optical standards. Fluorite lens elements, Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass and multi-coating virtually eliminate ghosting, flare and chromatic aberration. Ultra-fast auto focusing with Canon's Instant AF system helps achieve the superb clarity and sharpness that defines HD images. The Focus Assist function aids manual focusing. The increased amount of data that must be stored when recording HDV means that more processing power is also needed. Canon's next generation DIGIC DV II processor has been developed to meet the demands of HDV, providing low-noise images with exceptional color reproduction. Split path processing handles movie and still image signals separately, according to their individual color requirements. With an internal battery system allowing the camcorder to operate in extreme environments, the compact XH A1 has been developed for balanced handheld shooting. Ideal for use on location, its controls are positioned for comfortable operation during long shoots. The XH A1 features separate rings on the lens body, allowing full, three-fingered manual control over focus, zoom and iris. A 2.8" widescreen LCD, discretely positioned on top of the XH A1's body, can be rotated for optimum shooting comfort. Footage can also be monitored in 16: 9 widescreen using the 0.57" EVF. A full range of image adjustments are available, including finely graded gain and matrix settings and color correction. Cine gamma settings are provided for digital filmmakers. With an additional 25F shooting mode the XH A1 is able to reproduce the look and feel of film. Presets are available for storing custom settings. An accessory shoe allows a range of peripherals to be attached to the camcorder, expanding shooting options. Two channel XLR audio inputs are also provided.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Camcorder - 1080i
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 1.67 megapixels
- Effective Video Resolution 1.56 megapixels
- Effective Photo Resolution 2 megapixels
- Camcorder Media Type Mini DV (HDV)
- Optical Sensor Size 1/3"
- Optical Sensor Type 3CCD
- Min Illumination 0.4 lux
- Special Effects Black & White,
Skintone - Image Stabilizer Optical
- Digital Scene Transition White fader,
Black fader - Min Shutter Speed 1/3 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/16000 sec
- Shooting modes Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs Low light,
Spotlight - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Manual,
Aperture-priority - Camera Flash None
- Image Recording Format EXIF
- Media Included Qty 1
- Audio Signal Format MPEG1 Audio Layer II,
PCM - Widescreen Video Capture Yes
- Features Total Cine Control
- AV Interfaces Composite video/audio
Exposure & White Balance
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps
Lens System
- Type 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.5 mm - 90 mm - F/1.6
- Lens aperture F/1.6
- Features UD glass
- Optical Zoom 20 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 4.5 mm
- Max focal length 90 mm
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Filter Size 72 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 32.5 - 650 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 0.8 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive,
Manual Additional Features
- Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
- DV input Yes
- Additional Features Analog to digital conversion with pass through,
Accessories hot shoe ,
RGB primary color filter,
Backlight compensation,
Sharpness control,
Contrast control - Remote control Remote control - Infrared
- Included Accessories Camcorder shoulder strap,
Component video cable,
IR remote control,
Lens hood,
Power adapter with battery charger,
DC coupler,
Audio / video cable Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type LCD
- Viewfinder Diagonal Size 0.57 in
- Viewfinder Resolution 269,000 pixels
Display
- Type 2.8 in LCD display
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones,
1 x Microphone,
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK),
1 x Composite video/audio (input/output),
1 x Control-L (LANC),
1 x DC power input Memory / Storage
- Media type Mini DV (HDV)
- Memory Card Slot SD card
- Supported Memory Cards MultiMediaCard,
SD Memory Card - Included Memory Card 16 MB SD Memory Card
- Image Storage JPEG 1920 x 1080,
JPEG 1440 x 1080,
JPEG 640 x 480 Battery
- Supported Battery Canon BP-950G
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Features Rotating
- Viewfinder Color Support Color
Physical Characteristics
- Width 6.4 in
- Depth 13.8 in
- Height 7.4 in
- Weight 4.7 lbs
Product series
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Manufacturer: Canon
Specs: 3CCD,
None,
4.7 lbs,
13.8 in,
7.4 in,
20 x x Zoom lens - 4.5 mm - 90 mm - F/1.6,
Canon XH A1 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV (HDV),
6.4 in
Accessories
- Ikelite Underwater Systems marine case for camcorder (34929737)599.95
- Tiffen Steadicam Pilot-AA Camera Stabilization System (Sled, Vest, Arm, Back Pack Transport, 5.8 #8221; LCD, AA Battery Mount) (33612570)3795.00
- Canon FU-1000 Monochrome Viewfinder (7032382)1599.99
- Canon HC 3200 - case for camcorder (31118507)600.00
- Canon WP V4 - marine case for camcorder (35138638)499.00
- Nikon WT-3A Wireless Transmitter for Nikon D200 Digital SLR Camera (33614749)599.95 - 838.00
- Portabrace PKB-275PV - hard case for camcorder (35112263)578.95 - 589.00
- Sony CLM-V55 LCD monitor (34636090)498.00 - 499.99
- Thermodyne SHAN-B900 - hard case for camcorder (31055438)584.95
- Thermodyne SHAN-HPX300 - hard case for camcorder (34223625)569.95
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Canon
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com
