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Camcorders

Canon XL-H1A 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III

For more than a decade, Canon has brought industry-leading lens optics and image processing expertise to the professional market with the XL Series camcorders. In that time, leading videographers have come to rely on the superior image quality and ultimate creative control available to them through the XL Series' features and open architecture system.

The latest in that line is the Canon XL H1A HD camcorder. It has many of the features that have made the XL Series a favorite of independent filmmakers, corporate and event shooters. To complement these features, the Canon XL H1A has added an even higher level of customization options and capabilities which will make it an even more useful creative partner for the demanding videographer. With the XL H1A this remarkable capability is available at a lower price than ever before, offering users who have come to rely on their XL1, XL1s or XL2 camcorders the opportunity to make the move up to HD video.

The XL H1A has a wider range of image control settings and options, combined with the new Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III with Professional L Series Fluorite. To back up that superb lens are three 1/3-inch Native 16:9 CCDs with 1.67M Pixels (delivering a full 1440 x 1080) and Canon’s exclusive DIGIC DV II HD Image Processor. The XL H1A is the compelling choice for anyone seeking to produce the best in high definition video.

Canon XL-H1A Highlights

New Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III with Professional L Series Fluorite The new Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III with Professional L Series Fluorite is the latest in a long and distinguished line of industry-leading lenses from Canon. It has been specifically designed for demanding producers of High Definition video who require the ultimate in optical quality. This lens brings features which give the XL H1A user unprecedented control over zoom, focus and iris settings, delivering an even higher level of creative expression.

Industry-leading Canon lens
 

  • Canon interchangeable XL Lens Mount
  • Independent Manual Focus, Zoom and Iris Ring
  • Responsive manual zoom ring with three settings (Slow, Normal, Fast)
  • Increased weighting of zoom ring for smoother control
  • Smooth zoom start and stop
  • Selectable rotational angle of zoom between Wide and Tele (45°, 60° or 90°). Zoom Grip Lever has 16 zoom levels. Maximum and minimum speeds have been expanded. Handle Zoom Lever can be set to any of 3 speeds.
  • Manual focus capability during zoom (in both Manual Focus and AF Modes)
  • Selectable response on focus ring (Slow, Normal, Fast)
  • Focus Limit (On/Off)
  • Four selectable focus preset speeds
  • Push AF
  • Super Range Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Two built-in ND Filters (1/32, 1/6)
 
Three 1/3-inch native 16:9 CCD with 1.67M pixels (1440 x 1080) Building on the superior image quality of the industry-leading XL Series, the XL H1A is built around a 3 CCD system with separate native 16:9 CCDs for red, green and blue. With the XL H1A, each 1/3-inch CCD has 1.67M pixels delivering a full 1440 x 1080 image. The result is outstanding picture quality, highly accurate color reproduction and a wide dynamic range with virtually no color noise.

Canon DIGIC DV II HD Image Processor The latest generation of Canon's exclusive DIGIC DV signal processing technology, the DIGIC DV II HD Image Processor delivers the optimal image quality possible for both HD video and still images. The different color requirements of video and still images are recognized by the DIGIC DV II HD Image Processor and maximized for each type of output.

Complete Customization One of the hallmarks of the XL Series has been the vast range of adjustments, control functions and features to customize the camcorder to fit the user's exact needs. This is Complete Customization, which brings a higher level of tuning to help you realize your creative objectives with greater precision than ever before. New, wider ranges of adjustments can be found in Color Gain, Color Matrixes, Menu Display Adjustments, Custom Operation Functions, Preset File Sharing, Push AE, Iris Control, wider White Balance Color Temperature Range, Color Correction and Noise Reduction, to name just a few.

Image Adjustments Gamma, Knee, Black, Master Pedestal (+/- 9 steps), Setup Level (+/- 9 steps), Sharpness (+/- 9 steps), Horizontal Detail, Horizontal/Vertical Detail Balance (+/- 9 steps), Coring (+/- 9 steps), Noise Reduction 1, Noise Reduction 2, Color Matrix, Color Gain (+/- 50 steps), Hue (+/- 9 steps), Master Red Gain (+/- 50 steps), Master Blue Gain (+/- 50 steps), Master Green Gain (+/- 50 steps), Six Color Matrixes (each color matrix can be adjusted +/- 50 steps).

Menu Display Adjustments Rec Programs, Camera Data 1 (f/stop and Shutter Speed), Camera Data 2 (Exposure, White Balance, Gain), Zoom, Focus, ND Filter, Image Effects, Focusing Assist (Peaking and Magnification), Customize (Custom Function and Custom Preset), Video Recording Standard, DV Recording Mode, Frame Rate, Tape (Operation Mode, Time Code, DV Control), Tape Remainder (Normal, Warning, Off), Tape/Card (External Control, Image Stabilization, Image Size/Quality), Light Metering (Spot AE Point and Light Metering), Card (Drive Mode, Flash), Card Remainder (Normal, Warning, Off), Audio (Mic Mode, XLR, DV Audio), Dew Condensation, Battery (Normal, Warning, Off), Wireless Remote (Normal, Warning, Off).

Custom Operation Functions Shockless White Balance/Gain, AE Response, High-Speed Zoom, Focus Ring Control, Button Operation, Rings Direction, Dials Direction, Focus Priority, Still Image Recording, Marker Level (Marker Brightness), Focusing Assist, B&W Gearing Mode, Subject Distance Unit, Zoom Indicator, Color Bars, 1 kHz Tone, Wireless Remote, Power Save, Tally Lamp, LED, Beep, Record (Character, Magnifying).

Additional Functions
  • SDHC Memory
  • Card/MultiMediaCard Slot (for storing custom presets, custom functions and photos)
  • Sharing of XL H1A Custom Preset files with additional Canon XL H1A camcorders, as well as Canon XL H1S, XH A1, and XH G1 camcorders (XL H1 files may be shared with XL H1A, but XL H1 cannot read XL H1A files)
  • Program AE Modes (Auto, Full Auto, TV, AV, Manual, Spotlight, Night), with Manual Mode located next to OFF for easier access
  • Skin Detail
    Memory Card Slot
  • Push AE (Usable in Manual Exposure Mode)
  • Gain Settings (-3dB, 0dB, +3dB, + 6dB, +12dB, +18dB, +36dB, with fine tuning in 0.5dB increments from 0dB to +18dB)
  • AGC Limit
  • Iris Limit (Limits minimum iris setting to f/9.5)
  • Iris control using LANC (while using optional ZR-2000)
  • Custom Preset files Store 9 Custom Preset files on the XL H1A. Store 20 Custom Preset files to a memory card
  • White Balance Auto, Set, Preset (outdoor/indoor), Color Temperature (2,000 K to 15,000 K)
  • Color corrections (16 areas, 2 regions)
  • Selective Noise Reduction (enables application of NR to targeted color areas)
  • Two Custom keys
  • Clear Scan (100 levels: 60.1 Hz - 203.9 Hz)
Connections and Terminals For the professional videographer, the XL H1A gives you the robust capabilities you need-no matter what the job.
 
  • 6-Pin IEEE 1394 terminal, providing a more rugged connection when using external devices
  • Component Video Out
  • LANC Terminal
  • Flash Accessory Shoe, supporting Canon EX Series Speedlites



Audio System The audio features of the XL H1A are designed to further enhance the flexibility and level of customization you expect from a Canon XL Series camcorder.
  • Two Built-in XLR terminals providing +48V Phantom power
  • 3.5 mm Microphone terminal
  • 3.5 mm Headphone terminal, with reinforced metal base
     
  • Separate sensitivity settings for each XLR input channel (Line/Mic)
  • Simultaneous use of the built-in microphone and XLR input
  • Two-step switching for line output level
  • Higher sensitivity for XLR line input
  • XLR/microphone sensitivity selection range, +12dB/+6dB/0dB/-6dB/-12dB
  • Audio Limiter (On/Off)
  • Choice of setting in automatic level control for both XLR channels for link or non-link (independent) of channels when both are set to microphone or line
  • 1 kHz Reference Tone (-12dB, -18dB, -20dB)
  • LR/LL/RR/monaural selectable for monitor output
Operation In keeping with the Canon XL Series, the XL H1A provides the level of operating convenience demanded by professional users in the field.
 
  • Memory cards can be formatted in the camcorder
  • Color bar selection capability (two types each for NTSC and PAL)
  • To avoid accidental operation, the responsiveness of the buttons controlling shutter, zoom, focus, PUSH AF, AE LOCK, WB SET, AE shift dial, REC REVIEW, DE SEL, DE ON, End-Search and Gain Set can be set
  • Letterbox format supported when signals are converted during playback
  • Default write and protect
  • Marker color specification
  • Frame grab compatibility to SD/SDHC memory card during shooting or playback (1920 x 1080)
Monitoring In order to provide a high level of information to the XL H1A user, Canon has added new monitoring features to the comprehensive list available in the XL H1A. All together, they can significantly enhance the user's control over the video footage they create.
 
  • 2.4-inch widescreen combination EVF/LCD Monitor (215,000 Pixels) Adjustable brightness, contrast, color and sharpness as well as Black and White mode. Comfortable shooting for any operator: Viewfinder is adjustable from front to back and side to side
  • Aspect guides for industry-standard picture formats (4:3, 13:9, 14:9, 1.66:1, 1.75:1, 1.85:1, 2.35:1)
  • Horizontal, Center and Grid Markers
  • Remaining capacity displayed when using Focus Enhancements HDD
  • Zebra pattern (70% -100%, selectable in 5% increments)
  • Focusing Aides Peaking (adjustable gain and frequency) Magnifying, which can be recorded; Magnifying function is allocated to Photo button for easy access
  • External monitor output, through the B/W viewfinder terminal to the component terminal of a larger monitor for manual focus confirmation.
  • Multi-language support (9 languages)
  • Custom Preset name display
  • SDI bitmap display
  • ALL display
  • f/stop gray display
  • Histogram and EXIF display

 
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