I currently shoot with a Panasonic HDX900 but need a small camera for broadcast work and that is suitable for expedition work. It needs to be compact, have as many professional features as possible, including 50mbs recording. The 105 looks like the best option? Any one have any other suggestions?

The XF100 and XF105 are marketed as camcorders designed for expedition work. I think they beat the comparable small camcorders and are probably the smallest with 50 mbps. I have not taken my XF100 on an expedition per se, but I take it into the mountains fairly frequently. It is light and full-featured and a pleasure to use. I am getting shots I never would have with the XH-A1, primarily because it's a lot easier to take with me than the XH-A1. I shoot video with a 5D2 as well, and the 5D2 and a set of lenses is also a lot more weight and hassle than the XF100. It's not waterproof like Sony's NX70u, but the Sony doesn't have the pro codec.

Pat

After getting the chance to shoot for 3 days on a large piece of property I can second that the handling is very nice. Just wish I had my carbon sticks! Lugging an aluminum Manfrotto beast kinda offset how nice the 105 was! Ha ha! Did a fair amount of handheld too and it's awesome. Especially with the IS set to power.
As for quality, I had a hard time distinguishing the footage from my xf300. Canon really got it right with the 100/105! Hard to believe it works so well since it looks like a half scale version of the 300! Really tiny!

I have to agree. I sold my XF-300 only because it was just too large for a handheld camera. The picture quality on my XF-100 is too close to call. Actually, I can not diferentiate the comparison scenes from either camera-they look the same with proper lighting. However, I can tell the difference between my HF G10 and my XF-100 and it must be due to the 50Mps.

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the best choice, now just have to find one in stock.... everyone seems to be back ordered.

I don't know what type of expeditions you are thinking of but I don't think you can find anything harder than this

Canon Professional Network - Filmmaker Phil Coates shoots major Arctic documentary with Canon HD camcorders (http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/news/arctic_blog1.do)

Bob

While it's not the only reason I own both the XF300 and XF100, portability is a massive plus for the XF100. I wanted something that can fit easily in my backpack and be taken on a plane as hand luggage and at the same time produce great footage. Well the XF100 fits the bill just perfectly. I can carry it around all day and pretty much forget it's there, it's so lightweight. My sticks weigh a ton though!

I can't think of a better cam for your uses David. I'm not sure about it's ruggedness but judging by the links Bob put up it's seems like it can take a fair battering from the elements!

Andy S

Here is somewhat rough footage from the XF100 taken during a "mini expedition" in Colorado last week. I would not have been willing to scramble over wet logs and rocks with a 5 or 6 pound camera. The camera was handheld. Of course the compression needed to get it on Vimeo is fairly substantial - much better resolution in the original.

Falls,rapids, cataracts - Colorado Front Range on Vimeo

Pat

Pat, Nice footage. Do you remember which picture style you used. Thanks

Bob

Looks great and thanks for all the feedback. I ordered a camera from Jim at Filmtools. They were super helpful...

PS Tapeworks were also great about following up and also letting me know they had a camera in stock.

I also had a great experience ordering from Jim at Film Tools (an xf100 in my case).

However, I can tell the difference between my HF G10 and my XF-100 and it must be due to the 50Mps.


The difference between 4:2:0 (HF-G10) and 4:2:2 (XF-100) color sampling?