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Canon has just launched a slew of new cameras. Two professionally oriented 1/2.3″ CMOS camcorders and two 1″ CMOS camcorders, as well as an enthusiast model featuring 15x and 20x zoom respectively. Additionally, there is a high-end PTZ broadcasting camera being launched. All cameras record 4k UHD and Full-HD. Let’s have a closer look.

Despite the continuing mirrorless renaissance and the ever-evolving ecosystem for that form factor, the camcorder seems to be here to stay.

Particularly in journalism and larger organizations calling for a shared ensemble of camera gear, the standardization present in camcorder bodies is a helpful factor: if you’ve used one from a particular brand, the learning curve won’t really be that steep. The same cannot be said for other form factors. Now let us examine further what Canon has actually launched here.

Canon’s five new 4k camcorders are actually two pairs of sister camcorders for professionals and a variant for the prosumer market. The pro camcorders all feature DIGIC DV6 CMOS sensors, the XA60/65 feature 1/2.3″ sensors and the XA70/XA75 offers a 1″ one.

The XA60/65’s smaller sensor size appropriately allows for 20x optical and 40x digital zoom, the XA70/XA75 will give you 15x optical and 40x digital. All four will record 4k UHD and Full-HD using oversampling, have dual XLR inputs and support infrared shooting and UVC streaming over USB-C.

The XA65 and XA75 add an 3G SDI output to its sister models’ HDMI output. The XA70/XA75 also offer Canon’s beloved DUAL Pixel AF with face tracking and are 5-axis stabilized. Codec-wise with Canon’s five new camcorders you will be able to record XF-AVC 4K UHD 160Mbps at 25P as well as a more compact MP4 4K UHD 150Mbps at 25P.

The custom picture menu enables color matching, while used in multi-camera setups with other Canon cameras. The large 3.5″ Touch Panel LCD Monitor and high-resolution Ocular EVF have been redesigned from scratch.

Here’s an overview of the key features:

Part of Canon’s five new 4k camcorder launch is the prosumer oriented LEGRIA HF G70. It features the same sensor size as the XA65/XA60 do at 1/2.3″ and 4k UHD recording, with oversampled Full-HD. The lens is 20x optical zoom capable, the camera offers Hybrid-AF and USB-Output for streaming.

There is also an HDMI-output. Canon is positioning this camcorder as a multifunctional prosumer model, making the user’s entry into filmmaking just as easy as the creation of web content or high quality video calls. Here’s a list of the key features:

Now for an entirely different animal. You can think of Canon’s PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) line of cameras as a robotically controllable camcorder in a compact housing, suited to some kind of automated or remotely controlled setup. Particularly the CR-N line is going to work well in multi-camera TV and broadcasting, recording of musical performances or events, while the CR-X line is geared towards higher end surveillance or streaming. Now Canon is launching a new high-end PTZ camera to top of the line started by the CR-N300 and CR-N500: the new CR-N700.

The CR-N700 has a 1.0″ DIGIC DV7 CMOS sensor, capable of up to 4k UHD at 60p in 4:2:2 10bit and can also stream that quality over IP. The lens offers 15x optical zoom in 4k and 30x zoom in Full-HD. There’s a night mode, and a built-in IR cut filter, allowing for higher quality low-light recording, aided by the HLG and PQ HDR formats included.

The PTZ CR-N700 also features Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with the EOS iTR AF X known from the high-end EOS line. This means the camera can lock onto a subject’s pupil, keep tracking even when the subject turns its head and also set one particular subject as an anchor, to be prioritized. In multi-camera setups with other cameras, it is possible to match other Canon cameras’ looks with CLog 3 and Wide Dynamic Range picture settings.

Now, a camera like the PTZ CR-N700 will live or die by its connectivity and the ability to control the camera remotely. Protocol-wise there is little left to be desired, with the camera supporting protocols including NDI|HX, SRT, FreeD, RTMP(S), RTP, RTSP, Standard communication protocol & Canon XC.

On the hardware side there is a standard 12G SDI output and 3G-SDI, HDMI or IP (PoE++), dual XLR audio all with GEN-LOCK. The CR-N700 even allows selecting a region of interest within the frame, that will create a separate secondary Full-HD stream that can be captured simultaneously.

Regarding controlability, the CR-N700 works with both Canon’s RC-IP100 controller and Canon’s software controller, as well as selected third-party controllers. It allows for slow and precise movement up to 0.1°/s, making cinematic shots possible.

Here’s an overview of the key features:

With the new PTZ camera, as well as Canon’s five new 4k camcorders and other products launched today, Canon has renewed their already strong broadcast game. We will keep you posted on the further developments and other products launching today.

So, what do you think of Canon’s five new 4k camcorders and the new PTZ camera? Would you like to use them in a studio setup? What other use cases would you see for these cameras? Let us know in the comments!

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With a background in graphic design, Bato is a movie buff, turned documentary photographer and cameraman. Based in Frankfurt/Germany, he works in the city's vital agency and culture scene.

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