JVC GY-HD100 and Canon XL H1 Feature Set Comparison
an article by Chris Hurd
This page offers a chart which compares some basic features and specifications of the JVC GY-HD100 and Canon XL H1 camcorders. It is certainly not intended to position one model as being better than the other; it is really intended for casual perusal only. It is my very strong opinion that a person who is actually considering a purchase of either camera should most definitely not use this chart as the basis for a final decision. Rather, one should physically compare the size, weight, ergonomics, heft and overall feel of both camcorders in person if at all possible.
Generally speaking, the most single important difference between the HD100 and XL H1 is the particluar flavor of the HDV format found on each. The JVC GY-HD100 is an HDV1 camcorder, using the 720p version of HDV, while the Canon XL H1 is an HDV2 camcorder using the 1080i version of HDV. Choose your format… then choose your camera. If you’re trying to decide on one versus the other, considering renting both and trying them out. The right one for you is the one which feels best in your hands, and whose image is most pleasing to you on an HDTV display. The overall look of the images these cameras produce, plus the way they feel in your hands, is far more important than any of the numbers and specifications which follow below.
Scroll down for the entire list, or go directly to a particular section:
Camera Head · Video Recording · Optical Group · Lens Options
Remote Controls · Displays · Audio Group · Time Code
Scene Files · Other Features · Connections · Power & Price
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| Camera Head: | JVC GY-HD100 | Canon XL H1 |
| CCD Block: | 3 x 1/3″ IT Progressive | 3 x 1/3″ IT Interlaced |
| Total Pixel Count: | 3 x 1.10 million | 3 x 1.67 million |
| Effective Pixel Count: | 3 x 0.92 million | 3 x 1.56 million |
| Target Area Matrix: | 1280 x 720 | 1440 x 1080 |
| Pixel Aspect Ratio: | 1:1 | 1.33:1 |
| Pixel Shift Process: | N/A | H-axis |
| Digital Signal Processor: | 12-bit A/D | Canon Digic DV II |
| Uncompressed HD Output: | Component | HD-SDI, Component |
| Uncomp. HD Colorspace: | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| HD Recording Format: | 720p HDV1 | 1080i HDV2 |
| HD Compression: | MPEG-2 at 19mbps | MPEG-2 at 25mbps |
| HD Colorspace: | 4:2:0 | 4:2:0 |
| GOP Pattern: | 6 frames | 15 frames |
| HD Frame Rates: | 720 at 30p, 24p | 1080 at 60i, 30f, 24f |
| SD Recording Format: | 480p DV (SP & LP) | 480i DV (SP & LP) |
| SD Frame Rates: | 480 at 60i, 60p, 24p | 480 at 60i, 30f, 24f* |
| Optional DTE Recorder: | DR-HD100 Hard Disk Drive | FireStore FS-4 for HDV |
| Lens Mount: | 1/3″ standard bayonet | 1/3″ proprietary Canon XL |
| Stock Lens: | Fujinon Th16x5.5BRMU | Canon XL 20x L/IS HD |
| Filter Thread diameter: | 82mm | 72mm |
| Focal Length: | 5.5mm to 88mm | 5.4mm to 108mm |
| Equiv. 35mm f.o.v.: | 39.6mm to 633mm | 38.9mm to 778mm |
| Aperture Range: | f/1.4 (wide to tele) to f/16 (analog) |
f/1.6 (wide) f/3.4 (tele) to f/9.5 (24 steps) |
| Shutter Speeds: | 1/6 sec. to 1/10,000 sec. in Program AE Mode | 1/4 sec. to 1/10,000 sec. in Program AE Mode |
| Neutral Density Filters: | 1/4 and 1/16, on body | 1/6 and 1/32, on lens |
| Image Stabilization: | No | Optical (VAP) |
| Auto Focus: | No | Yes |
| Zoom Ring: | Non-perpetual (manual) | Perpetual (auto servo) |
| Focus Ring: | Non-perpetual (manual) | Perpetual (auto servo) |
| Iris Control: | Analog (barrel ring) | Digital (thumb wheel) |
| Shutter Control: | Thumb Wheel | Buttons (up, down) |
| Top Handle Zoom: | Optional | Yes |
| Flange Back Adjust: | Manual | Auto or Manual |
| Min. Focus Distance: | 10cm in Macro mode | 2cm at full Wide |
| Other Lenses: | Fujinon 13×3.5BRMU | none at this time |
| Wide Angle Adapter: | WCV-82SC | none at this time |
| 1/2″ Bayonet Converter: | ACM-12 | none at this time |
| 35mm Photo Adapter: | third-party | Canon EF |
| Remote Zoom Control: | Fujinon 8-pin | LANC (or FW to PC) |
| Remote Focus Control: | gear + teleflex | LANC (or FW to PC) |
| Remote Iris Control: | gear + teleflex, CCU | FireWire to PC |
| Remote Shutter Control: | CCU | FireWire to PC |
| Remote Camera Control: | JVC RM-P210 CCU | “Console” PC software |
| Viewfinder: | 0.44″ 230kp 4:3 LCD | 2.4″ 215kp 16:9 LCD |
| LCD Panel: | 3.5″ 250kp 4:3 LCD | None |
| EVF Controls: | Ext. Dials + Menu | In Menu |
| LCD with EVF: | No | N/A |
| Peaking Level Adj.: | Yes | No |
| Focus Assist Color: | Blue, Red or Green | White |
| Zebra Indicator: | Yes | Yes |
| Zebra IRE Values: | 60 to 100, steps +10/+5 | 70 to 100, steps +5 |
| Center Marker: | Yes | Yes |
| Action Safe Zone: | No | Yes |
| 4:3 Safe Zone: | Yes | |
| Underscan (All Scan): | No | No |
| Color Bars: | Two (HD & SD) | Two (HD & SD) |
| Hours Meter: | Drum, Fan Motor | No |
| Mirror (Reverse Disp.): | Yes | Yes |
| Zoom Display: | No | Bar / Numbers |
| Focus Dist. Display: | No | Meters / Feet |
| All Data Displays Off: | No | Yes |
| Battery Info: | Basic Guage | Basic Guage |
| Error Code Display: | Comprehensive (14) | Limited (N/A) |
| HDV Audio Rec. Format: | 2ch. 16bit 48kHz Mpeg 1 + 2ch. 16bit 48kHz PCM |
2ch. 16bit 48kHz Mpeg 1 4ch. 16bit 48kHz Mpeg 1 |
| HDV Audio Compression: | 384kbps | 384kbps (4ch. 192kbps) |
| DV Audio Rec. Format: | 2ch. 16bit 48kHz PCM 2ch. 12bit 32kHz PCM |
2ch. 16bit 48kHz PCM 4ch. 12bit 32kHz PCM |
| Onboard Mic Included: | Mono | Stereo / Mono |
| Onboard Mic Input: | XLR | Stereo Mini |
| Mic Wind Cut: | Ch.1, Ch.2, Both | Details Unknown |
| Ext. Audio Inputs: | 2 x XLR | 2 x XLR, 4 x RCA |
| Ext. Mic Pwr. Supply: | Phantom Power | Phantom Power |
| XLR Input Impedance: | Line level / Mic level | Line level / Mic level |
| Vol. Control Dials: | Two | Four |
| Audio Limiter: | -50db, -60db | Details Unknown |
| Locked Audio: | Yes | On, Off |
| Rec. Ch.1 to Ch.1&2: | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Speaker: | Removeable | None |
| Time Code Reset: | The HD100 and XL H1 share nearly identical Time Code features such as TC Reset, Drop-Frame or Non-Drop Frame, Rec Run, Free Run and Rec Run Pre-set, Zero set memory, Date / Time character recording and User Bit settings. Both cameras have built-in rechargeable clock batteries. The primary difference is that the XL H1 can accept Time Code input and external User Bits from other sources and provides Time Code output. | |
| TC Input / Output: | ||
| Time Code DF / NDF: | ||
| Rec Run / Free Run: | ||
| TC Preset / Regen: | ||
| Zero Set Memory: | ||
| Int. / Ext. User Bits: | ||
| D/T Char. Record: | ||
| Rechargeable Clock Batt.: | ||
| Stored in Camera: | 3 (incl.) + 2 (user) | 6 |
| Stored on Card: | 4 | 20 |
| Included Presets: | 3 | None |
| Assign Custom Names: | Yes | Yes |
| Parameters Stored: | Entire Menu | Image Presets |
| Memory Card Type: | SD (Secure Digital) | SD (Secure Digital) |
| Full Automatic Mode: | Yes | Yes |
| AV / DV Pass-Through: | No | Yes |
| Hand Grip Rec. Trigger: | Yes | Yes |
| Cam Body Rec. Trigger: | Yes | Yes |
| Top Handle Rec. Trigger: | Yes | Yes |
| Top Handle Switch Lock: | Yes | Yes |
| Skin Tone Control: | Yes | Yes |
| Select Setup Level: | Yes | Yes |
| Black Stretch: | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Iris: | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Gain Control: | -3db to +18db | +0db to +18db |
| Man. White Balance: | Yes | Yes |
| WB Set Degrees K: | Yes, range not known | Yes, 2800° to 12000° |
| WB Memory Presets: | Two (2) | Two (2) |
| Man. Shutter Speed: | Yes | Yes |
| Clear Scan: | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Smoothing: | Yes | No |
| Still Photo Record: | No | Yes |
| Max. Still Image Size: | N/A | 1280 x 960 |
| Auto Header Record: | Yes | No |
| Header Record Items: | Bars, Tone, Black | N/A |
| Rec. Pause Search: | Yes | Yes |
| Ext. Rec. Control: | FireWire | FireWire |
| User Buttons: | Three (3) | Two (2) |
| Assignable Functions: | (10) Bars; Preset Temp.; Black Stretch 1,2,3; Black Compress 1,2,3; AE Level +,- | (11) CP Bkwd; EVF B&W; Audio Levels; TC Hold; TV Screen; VCR Stop; Zebra; Index Write; Time Code; Flip EVF; Flange Back |
| FireWire (IEEE1394): | 6-pin | 4-pin |
| Component Video Out: | 3 x RCA (Y,Pb,Pr) | D-Terminal |
| SDI, Genlock, TC In/Out: | No | Yes |
| Composite Video In/Out: | RCA | BNC + RCA |
| S-Video In/Out: | No | Yes |
| Audio Inputs: | 2 x XLR | 2 x XLR, 4 x RCA |
| Audio Outputs: | Stereo Mini (Line Out) | 4 x RCA (Line Out) |
| Headphone Jacks: | 2 x Stereo Mini | 1 x Stereo Mini |
| LANC: | No | Yes |
| USB: | No | No |
| EVF Cable Connect: | 6-pin (standard) | 2 x Canon (proprietary) |
| Lens Pwr Cable Connect: | 12-pin (standard) | N/A |
| Accessory Shoe: | “cold” (unpowered) | “hot” Canon AAS |
| Battery Included: | JVC BN-428U | Canon BP-950G |
| AC Adapter included: | JVC AA-P30U | Canon CA-920 |
| Rec. time w/incl. batt: | appx. 40 min. | appx. 160 min. |
| Pro Batt. Compatibility | 3rd-party Adapter | 3rd-party Adapter |
| Separate DC input: | Yes | No |
| Power Consumption: | appx. 17W in rec. mode | info not yet available |
| Weight, standard kit: | 6.9 lbs / 3.1 kg | 8.3 lbs / 3.7 kg |
| Availability: | September 2005 | November 2005 |
| Appx. MSRP: | $6,295 USD | $8,995 USD |
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* “24f” and “30f” on the XL H1 is Canon’s Frame mode, which produces the same results as progressive scan, but by different means. Visually, the 24f and 30f Frame modes are indistinguishable from 24p and 30p. However, HDV format video shot in Frame mode on the H1 will not play back from any currently existing HDV tape transport (be it another camcorder or a VTR), except for the Canon XL H1 itself. The XL H1 must be used as a VTR in order to play back and capture video shot in either of its Frame modes.
I’d say this chart is at least 95% complete. If there is any certain comparable specification missing from this chart, or if I have listed something incorrectly, please report it to our online discussion boards at www.dvinfo.net/conf.
Written and thrown together by Chris Hurd.
See http://www.hdvinfo.net/articles/jvcprohd/comparexlh1.php
