All-in-one solution: why filmmakers use Canon's compact camcorders

With the rise of small-size Cinema EOS cameras and high-res mirrorless cameras, do camcorders still have a future in filmmaking? For those looking for all-in-one video solutions, Canon's professional XA and XF camcorders offer the complete package, with large zoom lenses, broadcast-standard connections and recording times limited only by the user's SD media capacity.

French filmmaker and Canon Ambassador Sébastien Devaud has been incorporating XF camcorders into his workflow for more than a decade. "The reason I love and work with Canon products is due to my passion for lenses but also the opportunity to combine cameras from across Canon's entire range," he says.

"Thanks to the Custom Picture feature, it's very easy to mix footage shot on a Canon camcorder with footage shot on other types of Canon cameras. The Canon XF705 offers Canon Log 3, for example, making it easy to match with other Log 3 footage during colour grading."

Camcorders are more compact than most Cinema EOS bodies, and offer more focused filmmaking functions and better ergonomics than mirrorless or DSLR cameras. Here, Sébastien and Mehdia Mehtal, Channel Marketing Executive for Professional Video & Broadcast at Canon UK, share some of the reasons why Canon's professional camcorders have a healthy future.

The 1.0-type and 1/2.3-type CMOS sensors in Canon's 4K professional camcorders are smaller than the sensors in Cinema EOS, mirrorless and DSLR cameras, enabling powerful zooms to be incorporated into these compact bodies.

"Depending on which Canon XA or XF camcorder you're using, you're getting a 15x or 20x optical zoom lens," says Mehdia. "That can give you a focal length that runs from wide-angle right up to 600mm in some cases. To cover that range with a mirrorless or DSLR camera, or even a Cinema EOS camera, you'd need at least two or three lenses."

The performance of XA and XF 4K lenses is one of the reasons Sébastien loves working with Canon products. "The quality of the lenses is a real strength of the Canon camcorder range, particularly with the Canon XF705, which has an L-Series zoom lens," he says. "The XF705's 15x optical zoom runs from 25.5mm to 382.5mm in 4K UHD mode, and if you record in Full HD you can take advantage of its 30x Advanced Zoom that goes up to 765mm.

"The only interchangeable Cinema EOS lenses that come close to offering this combination of focal lengths are the CN20x50 IAS H E1/P1 and the CN10X25 IAS S, but they are both too expensive to be compared directly to the Canon camcorder zoom lenses," he adds.

Canon's XA and XF camcorders have comprehensive controls, with all the vital settings close at hand, but they also come with a generous spread of customisable buttons – just like Cinema EOS cameras.

"Although there are already a lot of functions that you can change directly with the existing controls, any button with a number on it can be customised," says Mehdia. "That gives you easy access to key features, without the need to go into the menu."

Meanwhile, the Auto mode of Canon's camcorders makes it easy to capture high-quality content. "This allows any journalist or non-professional user who has no interest in the technical side of things to simply frame their subject and concentrate fully on the story," says Sébastien.

A distinct advantage of Canon's XA and XF camcorders is their video-optimised exposure controls, including built-in ND filters. "Being able to adjust the strength of the filter with the tap of a button allows you to quickly manage your exposure and depth of field, especially when shooting outdoors," says Mehdia.

Furthermore, all of Canon's professional camcorders – from the Canon XA15/XA11 to the flagship Canon XF705 – can film in the dark, thanks to their infrared shooting modes. "That feature is specific to camcorders – even Cinema EOS cameras don't have an IR option," says Mehdia. "That's why the XA11 is popular with police forces. It's also useful for filming nocturnal wildlife and in those low-light situations where you know that the standard recording option is not going to pick up anything."

With their compact size, ease of use and professional terminals, Canon's professional camcorders are perfect for a streaming setup. "2020 changed how people used video cameras," explains Mehdia. "During lockdown, there was a real shift to online streaming, with churches, mosques and other places of worship, in particular, opting for camcorders.

"While Canon's EOS Webcam Utility software enables compatible EOS and PowerShot cameras to be turned into webcams, if you're live-streaming for long periods then you really need mains power, and that means having to buy an adapter. But with a camcorder, that's already in the box."

The Canon XF705 also features a built-in Ethernet port for 4K IP streaming. "It means that I can stream easily and directly from the camcorder to my computer, even in HDR with the new HLG or PQ Custom Picture settings," says Sébastien. "This has proven to be a real benefit during the pandemic."