The XL H1S and XL H1A High Definition camcorders build on the features and performance of the XL H1 with a 1/3-inch 1.67 megapixel 3CCD system for HD 1080i image capture, and offer a greatly increased range of customisation features that encompass image, functionality and display, plus a new 20x L-series Video Lens for enhanced exposure control, and much-enhanced audio features.

Using feedback from pro camera operators Canon has constructed these camcorders to offer even better handling and ease of use, with the XL H1S suitable for both studio-based professionals and field professionals, and the XL H1A aimed at independent filmmakers and fieldwork cameramen.

Customisation has been taken to a new level with both models offering 23 Custom Presets for image enhancement, 21 Custom Function settings and 22 Custom Display options. The Custom Preset functions mean you have total control over how the image looks, with the ability to control parameters such as sharpness, contrast and colour balance. For example, in addition to the normal gamma curve, both cameras offer a CINE 1 mode which gives images a more film-like appearance on a TV display, while CINE 2 mode is designed for images that are transferred to film. Other image enhancement functions include Colour Matrix, Knee, Master Pedestal and Horizontal/Vertical Detail Balance. In addition, you can store up to nine custom presets for instant image adjustment and all settings can be saved onto an SD/MMC card and transferred to XL H1S, XL H1A and XH camcorders – a perfect match for a multi-camera shoot.

The Custom Function settings give you the scope to customise many of the camcorder’s operations so that the camcorder adapts to your operational requirements rather than you having to adapt to the camcorder’s design. For instance, you can alter the sensitivity of the control buttons or even choose whether the zoom indicator is displayed as a graphic bar or a numerical display. The camcorder’s display can also be customised to provide only the relevant information you need for a shoot. The Custom Function and Custom Display settings can be saved on a memory card and transferred to other XL H1S and XL H1A camcorders.

Added to this are all the operational and image enhancement controls you’d expect from a professional camcorder, such as skin tone detail, RGB noise reduction for controlling noise in any colour space, plus colour correction. The white balance control has been greatly enhanced and can be adjusted over a very wide temperature range - from 2000 to 15,000 degrees Kelvin. This means, for example, that a white sheet of paper will look white, even when it’s illuminated by candle light. A Push Auto Exposure button can be used to override manual exposure for easy exposure setup when shooting in manual mode.

The new interchangeable HD 20x zoom lens.

And if you want to produce a more ‘film-like’ effect, there’s a 25F recording function and an optional NTSC shooting mode offering 60i/30F/24F shooting.

The new interchangeable HD 20x Zoom XL 5.4-108mm L IS III lens incorporates a high performance Vari-angle Prism Optical Image Stabilizer (VAP OIS). The lens has been specially designed for HD production and offers enhanced exposure control with a new manual iris ring and two integrated Neutral Density filters. Three separate manual control rings – for focus, zoom and aperture - allow for three-finger operation. The zoom has been redesigned for improved handling and can be controlled in three ways – via the zoom ring, grip zoom rocker and handle zoom rocker – giving you full control whatever the shooting position. There is a wide range of zoom operating speeds, from 1.5 seconds to five minutes, when switching from the wide to tele setting. Manual focusing can also be performed whilst zooming. Further control is provided by four pre-set focus speeds combined with three levels of sensitivity. You can also select the sensitivity of the focus ring to suit your operational requirements.

The XL H1S and XL H1A kit.

The XL H1S includes a suite of studio standard connections that features an HD-SDI output, time code input/output and a Genlock input for multi-camera shoots. The HD-SDI output can be used for transporting uncompressed digital video at full 1920x1080 HD resolution with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling, along with embedded audio and time code. The ability to use a single cable for carrying video, time code and audio data greatly simplifies connectivity and integration with other studio equipment. The connectivity of both camcorders has been designed so users have total flexibility when it comes to monitoring and your choice of recording media – you can record onto tape, a third party hard disk recorder, or both for backup purposes. The EVF has a second connection to enable an additional monitor to be used - and you can even choose whether this extra monitor shows display information or not, without affecting the other video outputs.

The audio functionality on both camcorders has been greatly enhanced. There are two XLR audio inputs with sensitivity levels that can be set independently to match every kind of microphone. Both audio channels have independent limiters in manual mode to avoid distortion from sudden peaks, or they can be switched separately to auto level control. The front microphone and XLR inputs can also be used simultaneously for even greater versatility and giving you more scope for creative sound recording.