The Canon XF205 Professional Camcorder is a compact, high-performance, high image quality system ideal for use with a variety of digital cinema and broadcast operations. Targeted at sports production, TV variety shows, commercials and drama shows, in addition to independent movie production, government APPLICATIONS, education, weddings and other social event videography, the camcorder features a wide-angle 20x optical zoom lens with three control rings, image stabilization, infrared capabilities, flexible MXF/MP4 dual recording at various data rates, two/four-channel audio recording, Wi-Fi connectivity, plus 3G-SDI and monitor outputs as well as time code and genlock connections.
A versatile Canon 20x HD wide-angle video lens captures images with outstanding clarity across a broad 26.8–576 mm* zoom RANGE. An eight-blade circular aperture provides natural and visually pleasing bokeh. Three separate rings control focus, zoom and iris settings. A new Five-Axis Dynamic SuperRange OIS System dramatically reduces the image-degrading effects of camera shake, and a new rotating handgrip enables comfortable camera positioning at shooting angles from high to low.
Dual-frequency Wi-Fi and an Ethernet connector enable browser preview during shoots, in addition to FTP transfer to external servers, PCs or laptops. HD-SDI ports handle video with embedded audio and time code data for monitoring and recording of frame rates up to 30fps, and a new 3G-SDI port supports 1080p video at frame rates up to 60 fps. Time code I/O helps ensure frame-accurate sync during editing and post-production. The XF205 camcorder can also be used with Canon’s new RC-V100 Remote Controller to provide full access to important user functions, including start/stop, zoom/focus/iris, white BALANCE and more.
The firmware upgrade released on June 30th, 2015 enables the XF205 and XF200 camcorders to support video streaming over an IP network, a method that is widely used in the broadcasting industry to send and receive video signals. By sending video over the internet while it is being captured, users will be able to provide live transfers of footage to news programs and video-sharing sites. In addition, the upgrade will enable the camcorders to be used with Fujitsu's video transmission equipment, the Fujitsu Network IP-900IID and IP-920D HD/SD Compact Video Decoders1 as well as software supporting IP streaming. Thanks to these new capabilities, users will be able to stream video over an IP network without having to alter existing video-capture and editing workflows, such as those employed at broadcasting stations.
The XF205 professional camcorder features a highly versatile Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens that captures superb images with outstanding clarity at 900 TV lines of resolution. Offering a 35mm equivalent ZOOM of 26.8-576 mm, the optical zoom lens provides an extended RANGE that can prove ideal for wide-angle to extreme telephoto shooting. When compared to previous XF professional camcorder models, the XF205's flexible focal range and enhanced wide angle offer many creative options, even when working at a distance. An eight-blade circular aperture provides a natural and visually pleasing bokeh effect to out of focus highlights.
In addition, the XF205 features three separate, BANKED lens rings that provide independent control of critical focus, zoom and iris/aperture settings, with adequate separation to improve ease of use. Separate gain and white-balance toggle switches are provided. Also, the camera's zoom speed is now up to 1.8x faster than the XF105/XF100 professional camcorders, with three selectable zoom speeds for creative control.
The XF205 professional camcorder features an Autofocus system with several useful modes, including Instant AF, which uses both the TTL-Video Signal Detection System and the external sensor, and Face Detection AF, which tracks the focus on any faces in the video frame, even if that subject is in profile. Also, a Minimum Object Distance (MOD) of just 23.6 inches is maintained at all zoom levels from wide-angle to telephoto, enabling flexible framing control even when shooting close-ups.
The XF205 professional camcorder's new Five-Axis Dynamic Super Range OIS system combines optical and electronic correction to help reduce image distortion- even when shooting while walking - for better looking videos. 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.
The XF205 professional camcorder features an aluminum die-cast grip that can be rotated through a wide 120-degree angle in discrete 15-degree steps. Cinematographers and other operators can maintain a firm and comfortable hold of the camera at any shooting angle.
The XF205 professional camcorder's wide Dynamic Range Gamma of 600% helps prevent overexposure, even for high brightness areas of an image and/or with non-uniform colors. Unlike the normal knee function that compresses video signals in high brightness areas using linear gamma, a 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.
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.