XF105...is it a good expedition camera at DVinfo.net

David C Wright · July 10th, 2011, 05:51 AM

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?

Pat Reddy · July 10th, 2011, 07:26 AM

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

Robert Turchick · July 10th, 2011, 09:26 AM

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!

Lou Bruno · July 10th, 2011, 01:01 PM

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.

David C Wright · July 11th, 2011, 07:55 AM

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

Bob Thompson · July 11th, 2011, 09:49 AM

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

Bob

Andy Solaini · July 11th, 2011, 11:45 AM

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

Pat Reddy · July 11th, 2011, 08:57 PM

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.

Pat

Bob Thompson · July 13th, 2011, 08:38 AM

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

Bob

David C Wright · July 13th, 2011, 04:38 PM

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

David C Wright · July 13th, 2011, 04:39 PM

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

Richard D. George · July 13th, 2011, 07:26 PM

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

Bill Koehler · July 14th, 2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou Bruno

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?

July 10th, 2011, 05:51 AM	#1
David C Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton, ME Posts: 160	XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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? __________________ David http://www.planetearthpictures.com

July 10th, 2011, 07:26 AM	#2
Pat Reddy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 288	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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

July 10th, 2011, 09:26 AM	#3
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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! __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

July 10th, 2011, 01:01 PM	#4
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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. __________________ Lou Bruno

July 11th, 2011, 07:55 AM	#5
David C Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton, ME Posts: 160	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the best choice, now just have to find one in stock.... everyone seems to be back ordered. __________________ David http://www.planetearthpictures.com

July 11th, 2011, 09:49 AM	#6
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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 Bob

July 11th, 2011, 11:45 AM	#7
Andy Solaini Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 223	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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

July 11th, 2011, 08:57 PM	#8
Pat Reddy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 288	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera 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

July 13th, 2011, 08:38 AM	#9
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera Pat, Nice footage. Do you remember which picture style you used. Thanks Bob

July 13th, 2011, 04:38 PM	#10
David C Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton, ME Posts: 160	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera Looks great and thanks for all the feedback. I ordered a camera from Jim at Filmtools. They were super helpful... __________________ David http://www.planetearthpictures.com

July 13th, 2011, 04:39 PM	#11
David C Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton, ME Posts: 160	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera PS Tapeworks were also great about following up and also letting me know they had a camera in stock. __________________ David http://www.planetearthpictures.com

July 13th, 2011, 07:26 PM	#12
Richard D. George Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 351	Re: XF105...is it a good expedition camera I also had a great experience ordering from Jim at Film Tools (an xf100 in my case).