New to XA Camera Qlty question

[Robert Bale]

Hi All. I am interested in getting 3 canon cameras,
Need to have SDI OUT, and wifi so i can set zoom, we will be filming stage productions with them, one stage shot, and the other 2 will be side angles.

We currently use 2 ex1s, but getting time to upgrade.

So can any body tell me if i was to do SDI Out as a record only, is there any difference from
XA25 / XA105 / XF205 ?

I am looking for quality image, with a nice black little to no noise in the blacks. thats all. Thanks.

[Don Palomaki]

Do you mean XF105?

The XA25 and XF205 probably have the same, improved, sensor compared to the XF105 (and XA10).

Check the manual controls and image settings capability of the XF205 compared to the XA25 to determind if the differences are significant to you. They should be well documented in the user manuals you can download.

[Richard D. George]

Although the XF205/200 models have (apparently) the same lens and sensor as the XA25/20, Canon claims they will have more dynamic range and low light sensitivity. Until they are released, there is no way to verify this. If true, it must be in the firmware and Processing chip. The XF205/200 will have WiFi capability.

The XF205/200 models have a number of other improvements on either the XA25/20 models or the XF105/100 models. These May or may not be of interest to you.

The "5" versions of each series have the pro-level output jacks.

The XF205/200 models have connectivity to iPads and also to a (nose bleed expensive) new Canon remote control.

[Robert Bale]

So sorry this is what I think as I am doing my reading and as never use or seen the canon camcorder range i know nothing about them, so i think the XA25 and XF205 are going have the same or very similar qlty using SDI out. do you think this will be true.?

[Don Palomaki]

...So can any body tell me if i was to do SDI Out as a record only,...

SDI out as a live camera, or SDI output from playback of previously recorded images?

The XA25 records AVCHD format which is 420, the XF205 has MXF with 422 color and will potentially provide for better playback and editing in post. Whether or not it is a significant improvement will depend on your specific requirements. And as noted by Richard, the XF200 series may have improvded signal processing - it is a year newer.

I don't know enough about the internal archtiectures of the camcorders to speak to use in live camera mode.

[Richard D. George]

The XF205/200 models were supposed to be available late July. It is pretty late July today...

[Don Palomaki]

B&H Web page showed the XF200 as in stock yesterday (July 31). The XF205 was still pre-order.

[David Johns]

I just received my XF200 here in the UK; happy to answer any questions on it...

Cheers
Dave