Canon announces that the BBC accepts the XF300 and 305 for HD acquisition, they had already accepted it for independants but now the BBC has come on board.

Canon Europe - Broadcaster adds Canon?s XF305 and XF300 to list of camcorders approved for both internal and external HD production (http://www.canon-europe.com/About_Us/Press_Centre/Press_Releases/Consumer_News/Camcorders/20110110_DVC_CANON_XF305_and_XF300.aspx)

Yeah, this speaks a lot to the overall quality level of these cameras.

These Canon camcorders now join this list of fully approved cams:

Panasonic AJ-HPX3700, 2700, 3000 & 2100
Panasonic 'Varicam' HDC27F & H
Panasonic AJ-HDX900
Sony HDW F900R & 900
Sony HDW 790, 750 & 730
Sony CineAlta F35
Arri D21 & Alexa
Panavision Genesis
Thompson Viper

This camera is really impressive to be classed with these cameras.

Wow, that's incredible. My 2/3" HPX500 doesn't even make the list. I think I see a Canon in my future.

Yes, I was in work at BBC Cymru / Wales this morning and they were organising some training courses for the 305.
I'm borrowing one on Friday myself.

Yes, I was in work at BBC Cymru / Wales this morning and they were organising some training courses for the 305.
I'm borrowing one on Friday myself.

Luc-ckkkyyy!! (said in my Napoleon Dynamite voice)

Yes, I was in work at BBC Cymru / Wales this morning and they were organising some training courses for the 305.
I'm borrowing one on Friday myself.

I heard that the BBC had a load on order that were being delivered this week.

It is very impressive for this little cam, hopefully it may spur Sony to make the F3 record 50mbits/sec instead of 35.

The F3 is aimed at a very different market, the AF305 is more a HD replacement for all those Z1s that the BBC has been using in recent years. I suspect Canon video have been aiming at this market rather than prioritising larger sensors.

Can you imagine all those BBC researchers and PA's faces when they see the 305? It was one thing to be told to pick up a Z1 and go out and shoot something , but this camera will take some steep learning curves...(hence the in-house training sessions)
Bless them...

The XF300/305 are insanely easy to use. I unboxed mine, charged the battery, read up on what some of the icons meant and the next day went on a client shoot. And that's full manual mode! I will admit that I have since owning it for several months, I've learned a few tricks but anyone who's ever operated ANY camcorder can get great pictures without a lot of intensive training. Honestly its so easy it's allowed me to spend more time learning lighting which I have been told will be a lifelong journey!

On one shoot i did recently for a network, I was hired to shoot with my 7D for DOF stuff. I happened to bring my XF and when the main shooter's aging Sony Z1 failed, I offered the XF. A 60-second lesson on where the main controls were and how to read the exposure meter and we were shooting the rest of the day without a hitch. And the footage he got was awesome!

People will love this camera for the simplicity and quality it brings.

Quite different from the CineAlta system I'm learning over the next few weeks!

Agree the learning curve with most of these smaller prosumer cams is pretty easy. With various clients I have shot with Ex1/3/Z1/5/7 Canon A1/XHa1/ Panny's etc and they are all pretty much the same just the buttons are in different places. Yes if you own it you will get a better image and be more fluid but if you have used one you will be able to use another.

Actually guys, I was using some irony, coupled with slight despair, at the fact that many "quality" broadcasters these days are quite happy to use unskilled people as cameramen/women - sending out researchers etc to shoot material.
So much for our skill-base and experience...

Sadly the BBC approved list is somewhat misleading as there are cameras on the list that can't be used and cameras not on the list that can, depending on the programme type.

BBC use EX1's and EX3's with NanoFlashes for many internal and external productions, indeed BBC DV solutions have many of their own and it is a recommended setup for many situations. The HDC-27 is only normally permitted for Natural History or productions that require slow motion as all new commissions are required to shoot 1920x1080.

Being on the list or not on the list does certainly have some significance, but it doesn't guarantee acceptance or non acceptance.

I am really hoping Canon comes out with a shoulder mount version of this.. The quality of a 305 in a shoulder mount 50mbps 422 with cheap memory, a 20x lens, HD/SDI, less than 1 lux mi, 2 XLR's, and a 1.5mp VF. Just a dream :(

Sadly the BBC approved list is somewhat misleading as there are cameras on the list that can't be used and cameras not on the list that can, depending on the programme type.

BBC use EX1's and EX3's with NanoFlashes for many internal and external productions, indeed BBC DV solutions have many of their own and it is a recommended setup for many situations. The HDC-27 is only normally permitted for Natural History or productions that require slow motion as all new commissions are required to shoot 1920x1080.

Being on the list or not on the list does certainly have some significance, but it doesn't guarantee acceptance or non acceptance.

So, what are you saying? Do you have some inside info we aren't privy to? Is the XF300/305 cleared for full acquisition?

I am really hoping Canon comes out with a shoulder mount version of this.. The quality of a 305 in a shoulder mount 50mbps 422 with cheap memory, a 20x lens, HD/SDI, less than 1 lux mi, 2 XLR's, and a 1.5mp VF. Just a dream :(

That would be a great camera! A good follow-up to the XL-H1 line.

You should read through the commissioning guidelines to get a better idea of what's allowed and what's not. While you will most likely be fine using a 305 for a low budget documentary or news, don't expect the BBC to accept it for everything. The bigger discrepancy is the inclusion on the list of 720P cameras while the BBC are no longer commissioning 720P productions. I know that the Natural History unit still uses a lot of Varicams because of the slo-mo but that's an exception to the general rule of everything must be 1080.

I have also heard two interesting things from the beeb today (from a friend) and that is that they are trying to get rid of nano (or equiv) captured footage as they have had issues with it. Plus I do a great deal of underwater work and the normal 50 m/bits does not work for underwater they want 100 m/bits. So as Alister states yes it may be accepted but definitely not for everything.

That would be a great camera! A good follow-up to the XL-H1 line.

In the meantime, I've slightly modded my dslr shoulder mount and it works great!
I believe there is someone on the forum who's making a very nice shoulder mount specific to the 300/305. Can't remember who though!
Interchangeable lens version would be cool but I haven't had the need to change as it's quite good. I would love a constant aperture though!

I am really hoping Canon comes out with a shoulder mount version of this.. The quality of a 305 in a shoulder mount 50mbps 422 with cheap memory, a 20x lens, HD/SDI, less than 1 lux mi, 2 XLR's, and a 1.5mp VF. Just a dream :(

I hope NAB reveals something like this. You forgot interchangeable lenses :)

I have also heard two interesting things from the beeb today (from a friend) and that is that they are trying to get rid of nano (or equiv) captured footage as they have had issues with it.

This would basically kill the Sony XDCAM EX line (and a few others) for BBC work - any chance you can (via your friend) find out and elaborate more. Specifically, what are the issues with the Nanoflash (and equivalents)?

I noticed Gordon Buchanan using an EX-3 with Nanoflash on "The Bear Family and Me" last week, and BBC NI were introducing it as "also on BBC HD". I must admit I was surprised. Maybe they wanted something cheaper that wouldn't matter so much if a bear mauled it. As it was, he got away with just a few chewed mic covers.

Presumably the second camera wasn't "just" an EX3.

The EX3 with Nanoflash has been accepted by a number of broadcasters for HD. Although, I expect it will depend on the nature of the production which type of camera you're expected to use. Also, as mentioned above, there may be certain types of material which they demand you use a better codec.

The Bear Family and Me is on iplayer in HD. I watched it in HD when broadcast and you wouldn't know it was shot on a small camera.

I think the NanoFlash issues have been largely user errors such as using the wrong bit rate, so then Avid doesn't recognise the files or wrong wrapper etc. Avid only really works with 50Mb/s files. Using an external recorder isn't as convenient or straight forward as internal recordings and I can understand the BBC's preference for a one piece device hence less use of the EX/NanoFlash and more use of the XF305, but that doesn't rule out the usage of the EX/Nano.

I think with all broadcasters content is king and rules can be broken and enforced depending on needs / contract