Canon XL H1

The Canon XL H1 is Canon's first HDV camcorder. It is the successor to the Canon XL-2 which is the successor to the widely used Canon XL-1s. It can shoot in the HDV standard resolution of 1440x1080 pixels and has 3 native interlaced 1440x1080 CCDs (The photosites are 1.33:1 aspect ratio, allowing for a full 16:9 frame.) where Sony's HVR-V1U has 960x1080 diagonal photosites, and Panasonic's AG-HVX200 pixel shifted 960x540 (goes to 1280x1080 but theoretically with pixel shift, has a resolution of 1440x810).

The camera can also shoot in Standard Definition in either 16:9 or 4:3. It has an HDSDI uncompressed output. There's also component uncompressed HD output.

hooting formats

NTSC configuration:
*1080: 60i, 30f, 24f.
*480: 60i, 30f, 24f.

PAL configuration:
*1080: 50i, 25f.
*576: 50i, 25f.

Users can pay for Canon to re-configure the camera to shoot in 50i and 25f. 24f, not to be taken as 24p, is derived from cooler running interlaced CCDs that are clocked at 48Hz. Every two of the 48 fields are captured at precisely the same moment in time providing an image capture in camera without the need of any additional internal cooling devices for the CCDs. The digital signal processor that enables the CCDs to capture in the "f" frame rate is called DIGIC DV II ("DIGital Image Core – DigitalVideo version II"). The technology is similar to the DIGIC II that Canon uses for their digital still cameras. Much of the technology is being kept under wraps, and the manufacturer of the CCDs is being kept secret.

Compatibility

The XL H1 is shipped by Canon in one of two basic configurations, aiming the unit at either NTSC or PAL markets. The NTSC configuration supports NTSC DV and NTSC HDV 1080i60 30f and 24f. The PAL configuration supports PAL DV and HDV at 1080i50. A modification is available from a Canon Authorised Service Centre to make a single unit capable of both sets of systems, allowing users to switch "personality" through an on-screen menu selection. Owners of the PAL / 1080i50 version will probably require this modification, as it is a pre-requisite to obtaining 24f operation.

At present, the XL H1 24f and 30f HDV is supported by major non-linear editing systems such as Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, Apple Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 and Avid Xpress Pro. As of January 29 2007, Final Cut Pro does not support Standard Definition 24f or 30f.

1080i60 and 1080i50 are cross-compatible with Sony's implementation of HDV; Canon 1080i50 and 1080i60 can play on Sony HDV cameras and decks. Canon's 24f, 25f, and 30f are not cross-compatible with Sony's implementation of HDV. No 1080 HDV footage will play on JVC HDV cameras or decks.

2008 updates

In 2008, Canon updated their XL line with the addition of the XL H1A and XL H1S. Much like the Canon XH A1 and XH G1, the H1A and H1S are exactly the same except for the inclusion of the "Jackpack" (HD SDI, Genlock, Timecode) on the H1S. The H1A retails for $6,000 and the H1S retails for $9,000. The H1S and H1A also have a stronger headphone jack. They are no longer made out of plastic, but metal, making them less prone to breaking.

External links

* [http://www.adamwilt.com/HD/4cams-part1.html Four Affordable HD Camcorders Compared] (by Adam Wilt, Barry Green, Mr. Shannon W. Rawls, Nate Weaver and Jay Nemeth)
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* [http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxlh1/index.php DVinfo XL H1 page]
* [http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/XLH1/index.shtml The official page of the Canon XL H1]
* [http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-XL-H1-Camcorder-Review.htm Camcorderinfo review of the XL H1]
* [http://www.cinemahill.com/hidef/xlh1&f900/ Canon XL H1 meets Sony F900] (by Mr. Shannon W. Rawls and Nick Hiltgen)
* [http://www.shoot-edit.com/index.php/canon shoot-edit.com]