Canon unveils the XHG1 and XHA1
 

This is for real. I can't read Japanese well enough to quote specs, but you can all see the pictures of Canon's new cameras HERE

Enjoy,

-gb-

I was only kidding around on my review of the XL H1 about a GL3 or something! Holy cow!!

A1, G1? I'm guessing the G1 is pro (shotgun mic), the A1 is consumer...How very Sony and JVC. And, an answer to those of us who were put off by the price.

heath

Sweet!!! 24f in a compact package!!! I know what I'm buying when it comes out!

good find....I hope the USA model is black.

Clicking some of the links will get you what appears to be a function page, differences page, and finally, an accessories page. There's enough English stuff in there to get an idea of the camera features.

-gb-

Yeah looks like:


3 Chip 1/3 CCD

If I'm not mistaken that looks like and HD-SDI output

24f and 30f modes

2 different models no less!!!

These appear to have the same basic specs as the XL-H1

If my currency conversion is correct the XH G1 will retail for around $6800 and the XH A1 will retail for around $4700. I could be mistaken, so let's take this with a grain of salt.

Looks very interesting! I like the LCD screen being closer to the front of the camera.

Looks like the difference between the two is that the G1 has the HD/SD SDI, Genlock, TC in/out, whereas the A1 does not. It appears that the two cameras are otherwise the same in functionality.

The G1 definitely has a lot of high end features included with the XLH1.

-gb-

As with the GL1/2 and the XL1-2 cameras, nearly identical to the XL H1.

hwm

Does this mean they will use memory cards?

Scroll down to the bottom: http://cweb.canon.jp/prodv/xhg1/point.html#p05

They can do still photos. One of the pages lists the four resolutions you can shoot in.

-gb-

Haha I don't mean to keep posting but here's one more useful link:

http://translate.google.com/translat...&hl=en&ie=UTF8

Also, it looks like the LCD screen (which it says has 269,000 pixels) folds over on top of the camera body but under the handle. Neat.

Thanks for the translation Mark,

They refer to the cameras as having 24f/30f. I wonder if this means there's more likelihood now of a deck to support the format?

I just noticed it has XLR inputs. These cameras could give Panasonic cameras(HVX200/DVX100) some competition. Hmmm... I wonder if thats just for th XH-G1 model?

Near as I can tell, both have the XLR inputs. The only difference in the comparison table that I saw was the features I mentioned a few posts up in this thread.

-gb-

It looks to me that both units have XLR inputs. Notice the A1 has a microphone clamp on it. Also, more importantly, on the Japanese spec sheet, XLR inputs specs apply to both units. As Greg mentioned the main differences only seem to be the G1 has HD/SD-SDI, Genlock and TC-In/Out.

Just found another tidbit in the menu settings/defaults table. You can reverse the ring direction for Zoom, Focus, and Iris. Looks like the lens has manual ring control for all three functions. This, ladies and gents, is a first for a camcorder in this class to the best of my knowledge. It's certainly a first for Canon.

-gb-

"Sweet!!! 24f in a compact package!!! I know what I'm buying when it comes out!"

Actually judging from the one picture with a hand on it, and comparing it to my FX1, it appears the size is about the size of the FX1. Anybody see size and weight ?

Weight
 

2030 grams for the A1
2100 grams for the G1

From the FX1 user viewpoint, I would love to have the 20x zoom...

This is the low-down

my japanese is not the best but this is what I read

XH G1 and A1 are basically the same model both produce HDV spec2 1080i footage, like its bigger brother the XLH1 it can also record in 24f and 30f psuedo formats.

The biggest difference between them are:

XH-G1, HD:SDI and GENLOCK are available but the A1 does not have those features. To have the uncompressed HD:SDI option will set you back a further 250 000 yen, as the G1 goes for 800 000 yen (US $6800) and the A1 goes for 550 000 yen (US $4700).

Very similiar to their big brother, the H1, they also more than likely share the same CCD's 1440/1080.

But maybe Kaku can read into it more.

The FX1 comes in at 2000 so they are similar weights.

Like a lot of you I’m very excited that we are seeing new camcorders from Canon and I’d rather have this than the Z1u even though the design was somewhat copied but there is one problem. Where is the successor to the GL2? Who knows, this may be an indication that it will come out soon.

I'm fairly certain that these are the successors to the GL2.

Indeed.
When Canon released the XL2 they'd said that it would be the last DV camera, at least when addressing their prosumer cameras (XL/GL).

The specs of these new cameras look stunning. I have a feeling that Canon may well wipe the floor with the competition with this one. I'm not a fan of carrying exra stuff, but by using the HD-SDI and a device like the Bonsai drive you'd have a very portable way of recording 4:2:2 high def in difficult conditions. For documentary where you need to travel with the camera this is going to be very nice indeed.

Very exciting news, indeed! This camera even has at least one new feature that the XL H1 doesn't have: sky detail (presumably a variant of "skin detail").

I can't pick out anything about sensors; can any of you who can read Japanese? I'm wondering now if they'll stick to 1/4" pixel-shifted sensors as with previous GL series cameras, or manage to squeeze in 1/3" chips that have previously been the domain of the XL series? If they use the same chips as the XL H1, the declared flagship will have too little an advantage over its smaller and less expensive sibling, which from a marketing point of view one would think the company wouldn't want to do.

Can't wait to get further info and better yet, play with one!

According to this page the specs match up.
The ●1/3 type entire picture prime approximately 1,670,000 pixel, adopting the 3CCD system of the effective picture prime 1440×1080. The high resolution, horizontal resolution 800TV book of HDV standard highest level was actualized.
- Adjusting to hi-vision age, it evolved throughput loading “DIGIC DVII” substantially. Color reproducibility and the rich gradation reproducibility which are superior are actualized.
- The high picture quality record of HDV/playback is made possible with the optimum encoding processing of the CANON individual HD codec LSI.

They actually managed to squeeze in 3 1/3" ccds in this lovely camera. Just have a look at the
spec sheet.
I really really want this cam. At first I thought i'd go with Sony for my upcoming video biz, but I now I have to wait for the canons to hit the market.
Since I'm planning to shoot weddings and events with poor, aviailable light i have to look at their low-light performace...

Ah and btw: Hi, i'm Oliver from Austria and i'm new to dvinfo.

A couple goodies for you to look at while we await more info..

-gb-

This is very interesting.

But I couldn't stop looking at the pictures, thinking how remarkably similar in styling, screen location, button positioning for the same functions, and XLR location these two cameras are to my Z1U.

Granted, there are some features I'd love to have in my Z1U, but if I also had one of the new Canon's, I'd have to look very close when I went to grab one off my equipment racks to make sure I had the correct camera. But then, wouldn't that be a nice situation to be in!

There goes the retirement fund.

Leave it to Canon to surprise everybody by coming out with new cameras when people least expect it.

There is finally a decent option for a production company to have a big camera (XL-H1) and also a small form factor hand held camera from the same company with hopefully similar picture quality.

Up until now SONY was the only company that had a range of products. The only problem is that both SONY cameras were hand held. The lower end HC1/A1 for SONY was also a single chip and can have a hard time matching the quality of the Z1.

I assume if the cheaper model doesn't have SDI that it will still at least have component output.

these look impressive. now maybe apple will get off its butt and fully support 24f. i was on the verge of pulling the trigger on a used Z1 because i was getting tired of the wait, but now there's something truly worth waiting for....

does anyone have any idea about the size of the lens mount and whether my 58mm GL2 accessories or 72mm mount XL2 accessories will work with these cams? i couldn't find it in the specs, but maybe it was (heh) lost in translation.

that would be a savings in hundreds of dollars right there....

translated summary

http://babel.altavista.com/babelfish...1%2fpoint.html

translated spec

http://babel.altavista.com/babelfish...g1%2fspec.html

the 2.8 inch LCD is a bit frugal -it will be a tw*t to focus, this surprises me as I know Canon sample this board for feedback, so addressing a good focus system has largely been dashed



no mention of a dual PAL / NTSC system mod

Okay, here's an article in English I just read on Camcorderinfo.com:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...-and-XH-A1.htm

My guess on the price $2500 and $3999. Street price. Hopefully they will want to run against the Z1U and the FX1. Look for a new DVX100 too.

You guys aren't reading the right web sites...

See http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/watchdog.php under "additional features"

See also http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/xhfaq.php -- hope this helps,

These cameras are now on Canon's USA site.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...categoryid=172

And also, is that the iris ring beside the zoom ring? That would sure be nice.

Timecode and embedded audio through HD-SDi make this camera a fantastic player as well - even the H1 doesn't do that.