BBC Accepts XF300 and XF305 at DVinfo.net

Jonathan Shaw · January 11th, 2011, 03:09 PM

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

Michael Galvan · January 11th, 2011, 04:00 PM

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.

Glen Vandermolen · January 11th, 2011, 04:18 PM

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

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 11th, 2011, 04:33 PM

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.

Glen Vandermolen · January 11th, 2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Davies-Rollinson

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)

Jonathan Shaw · January 11th, 2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Davies-Rollinson

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.

Brian Drysdale · January 11th, 2011, 05:34 PM

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.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 11th, 2011, 05:41 PM

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...

Robert Turchick · January 11th, 2011, 07:09 PM

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!

Jonathan Shaw · January 11th, 2011, 08:13 PM

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.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 12th, 2011, 12:36 AM

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...

Alister Chapman · January 12th, 2011, 12:56 PM

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.

Don Parrish · January 12th, 2011, 01:25 PM

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 :(

Glen Vandermolen · January 12th, 2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alister Chapman

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?

Glen Vandermolen · January 12th, 2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Parrish

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.

January 11th, 2011, 03:09 PM	#1
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	BBC Accepts XF300 and XF305 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 __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

January 11th, 2011, 04:00 PM	#2
Michael Galvan Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 775	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. __________________ www.michaelgalvan.com www.screenanthology.com

January 11th, 2011, 07:09 PM	#9
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	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! __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

January 11th, 2011, 08:13 PM	#10
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	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. __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

January 12th, 2011, 12:56 PM	#12
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	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. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

January 11th, 2011, 04:18 PM	#3
Glen Vandermolen Space Hipster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,596	Wow, that's incredible. My 2/3" HPX500 doesn't even make the list. I think I see a Canon in my future.

January 11th, 2011, 04:33 PM	#4
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	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.

January 11th, 2011, 05:34 PM	#7
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	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.

January 11th, 2011, 05:41 PM	#8
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	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...

January 12th, 2011, 12:36 AM	#11
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	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...

January 12th, 2011, 01:25 PM	#13
Don Parrish Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tavares Fla Posts: 541	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 :(