by Bradford Hill
I always find it interesting to see how different cameras and their layouts will function under the many shooting conditions I am faced with on an every day basis. (So when Canon asked me if I wanted to shoot the XF205, I was fairly excited to give it a go.) Being that I am a full time Cinema EOS user, when I am given an opportunity to shoot with a “Documentary Style Camcorder”, it always tends to brings back memories of shooting on MiniDV with GL1’s & XL1’s. Things certainly have changed from those days and it is great to see how far these cameras have come. The Canon XF205 is a creative powerhouse packed with some of the most up-to-date technology in camera function & abilities. I must say, I was blown away by the extensive menu layout and finely tunable controls that don’t often get paired together.
The features of the XF205 offer much more room to work with, giving users the ability to work on a wider array of projects. Some of the cameras features are quickly becoming the industry standard, like the Dual CF memory slots & SD memory slot, along with multiple outputs such as HDMI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, TimeCode, and Genlock input. These features give you the freedom to use this camera for broadcasting solutions but features such as the three individual zoom, focus & iris rings and the spectacular Wide Dynamic Range give you the control that you would want for digital filmmaking.
PROS:
- The XF205 1/2-inch HD CMOS Sensor that’s slightly larger than a 1/3" sensor. The sensor features approximately 5% more pixels than 1920 x 1080 and records a 1920 x 1080 window from the slightly large sensor. This allows the camera to use the extra pixels for Electronic Image Stabilization and maintain the 1920 x 1080 resolution.
The XF205 utilizes multiple frame rates across two different recording codec’s and bit rates.
- 2x CF Card slots that record MPEG2 MXF files
50Mbps MXF with 4:2:2 Color Sampling at 1920x1080 (60i/30p/24p) and 1280x720 (60p/30p/24p)
35Mbps MXF with 4:2:0 Color Sampling at 1920x1080 (60i/30p/24p), 1440x1080 (60i) and 1280x720 (60p/30p/24p)
25Mbps MXF with 4:2:0 Color Sampling at 1440x1080 (60i/30p/24p)
- 1x SD card Slot that records MP4
35Mbps MP4: 1920x1080 (60p)
24Mbps MP4: 1920x1080 (30p/24p)
17Mbps MP4: 1280x720 (60p)
9Mbps MP4: 1280x720 (30p/24p)
3Mbps MP4: 640x360 (30p/24p)
Simultaneously records to a CF memory slot while recording a backup to the SD memory slot.
Three individual and infinite rings: Zoom Ring, Focus Ring and Iris Ring for control at your fingertips. Gives user “Very Accurate Sharp” & “Fast Focusing”
Individually Set Focus / Iris to Auto or Manual with fine tuning options inside the menus
Face Detection Auto Focus for quick setup times. (This feature would be helpful if you were conducting run & gun interviews or multiple setups.)
Push to Auto Focus (Similar to C100)
Rotating hand grip up to 130 degrees for low angles or high angles. This would be useful for shooting over crowds, fences, etc. It also rotates in the opposite direction to give you a low angle grip with rocker zoom.
Expandable ports Gen Lock / Sync / Time Code / Monitor / 3G SDI - Separate SDI, time code and genlock outputs help ensure easy connection of the XF205 professional camcorder to external storage and video-processing systems. An HD-SDI monitor port and a 3G-SDI port for external video recording handle unencrypted video up to 1080/60p with two-channel embedded audio and time code data at data rates up to 1.485 GBps. Genlock or Sync Out ports help ensure accurate synchronization to external video systems, while time code IN/OUT ports enable frame-accurate synchronization during picture editing and post production.
Powered Image Stabilization – Standard Mode uses lens shift to provide constant compensation throughout the zoom range. Powered Mode helps improve vibration suppression at telephoto focal lengths. Dynamic Mode is specifically designed to stabilize the image when walking and shooting handheld by correcting simultaneously for roll, yaw and pitch.
LAN Capability + Wifi Connectivity for FTP Transfer and internet browser previews. Clients off site or Directors can use a web browser on a laptop, compatible smartphone or tablet device to control functions like record start/stop, AF/MF switching, focus/zoom settings and white-balance mode. This is great for running a camera mounted in places where the operator may not want to be or cannot be, such as on a Jib/Crane, or multi-camera shoots with a limited number of operators.
Magnification Focus Assist – Allows you to punch in your shot while recording to get the most accurate focus while in manual mode.
WaveForm Assist + VectorScope + Edge Monitor
8 Custom Picture Profiles + Wide Dynamic Range by 600%
Using Wide DR Gamma retains continuity across the image and enables color grading. And an eight-blade Circular Aperture designed using EF lens technology provides natural and nearly circular out-of-focus areas for enhanced bokeh, for example, during shoots of nighttime skylines.NightVision / IR Switch - For investigative reporting, surveillance and similar projects, the XF205 professional camcorder's infrared mode produces video images that are evenly illuminated from the center to each edge of the picture area. An improved, diffused LED is approximately three times brighter than the infrared light used on previous Canon XF models, providing greater usable distance range in dark shooting conditions. Users can choose between Green and White IR recording modes according to personal preference. To prevent configuration or operating errors, the camera automatically turns off the IR LED when the user switches from infrared to normal video mode. You can also go into “Stealth Mode” as I’d call it – with the ability to turn off all external lights on camera.
A-B-Preset White Balance Switch for Tungsten to Daylight
L-M-H Gain Switch – Fine Tuning of Each Setting
- AMAZING f/1.8 to f/2.8 35mm equivalent zoom range of 26.8 to 576mm ( The 8 blade iris gives your back focus beautiful & soft looking bokeh )
3 Separate Record Buttons
3 Zoom Controls – Hand Grip / Lens Ring / Top Handle
Powered Image Stabilizer Button
Peaking / Zebra Buttons
Interval Recording
Record in programmed intervals of 1-10 / 15 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 1 – 10 Min
Allows you to shoot a specified number of video frames at pre-defined intervals for interesting time-lapse shoots.**Frame Recording - 1 / 3 / 6 / 9 **
Captures a specified number of video frames each time RECORD mode is initiated during stop-frame animation projects.BP-955 Batteries are long lasting batteries with accurate and reliable indicator lamps. These batteries will usually last you all day
Full Auto Switch – Camera automatically adjusts to preferred settings so the camera can easily be run in a moments notice or can be handed off to somebody who has almost no knowledge or prior camera use. This is great for schools, news crews, documentary shooters, and people working in unpredictable conditions.
CONS**:**
- **Only Auto ND Filters. **Although it does work well, I would much rather have the same ND Filter Integration of something like the Canon C100 ND Filter wheel.
