GEAR CANON XF705
C anon’s XF range has always been great for workhorse cameras – the form factor of fixed lens and multiple buttons is a busy shooter’s dream. We’ve loved the way they compressed footage at high rates with accessible codecs, and stored the resulting MXF files on nice, freely available, relatively cheap media – this time SD cards instead of CompactFlash. The latest model is the XF705, with improvements that are totally predictable but nonetheless impressive. Using the XF-HEVC codec you can now shoot UHD 3840x2160 at 50p and in 4:2:2 10-bit to SD cards. We used Lexar 1000x SD cards, which can record up to 150 MB/s, while the XF705 tops out at 160Mbps, and it worked well. HEVC stands for High Efficiency Video Coding, which is the way 4K is compressed for delivery to homes. Our 64GB Lexar cards gave us around 110 minutes in 4K from the two SD card slots on the side of the body in the 160Mbps mode. You can shoot with Canon’s XF- AVC codec if you’re not quite ready for 4K UHD, but resolution and quality is down to HD with a 4:2:0 8-bit signal. As you can choose 1920x1080 using the HEVC option, you shouldn’t really need XF-AVC. The only reason would be if your NLE couldn’t deal with the new HEVC codec, which initially might be a problem. Canon is using a 1.0-type CMOS sensor and DIGIC DV6 processor to deal with the extra processing needed for the big jump in resolution and other data-hungry processing. The body also has some large air intakes to keep things cool, but ours was a pre-production model so this might change when you order yours. Arguably, with this new 1.0-type sensor you can start experimenting
“The Dual Pixel AF has turned many a manual focus traditionalist into an autofocus evangelist”
THE VERDICT
HOW IT RATES Features: 9 Canon knows what working filmmakers really need, and has built a camera to suit Performance: 8 The new internal codec is a big improvement, and the 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 is a stunner Handling: 9 It’s built for ease of use and it shows. All the controls are where they should be Value formoney: 8 Expensive for a fixed-lens camcorder but it does offer lots of spec and performance OVERALL RATING: 9/10 As a documentary camera it delivers on all counts, with great AF, stunning image quality, a great lens and ease of use Pros: Canon’s best camcorder, with 4K and HDR ready to go Cons: No super slow motion and lack of H.265 support at the moment
A do-it-all camera with the benefits of a long and fast zoom, high bitrate 4K output, easy streaming technology and instant HDR footage. With a 1.0-type sensor you’re not going to get wafer-thin depth-of-field, but you can get decent bokeh and, of course, a very modern, high-resolution camcorder that is ideal for run- and-gun filming, documentaries or event coverage. The Dual Pixel AF is a stunner, especially if you’ve never used it before. It’s turned many a manual focus traditionalist into an autofocus evangelist. At £6999 it’s not cheap, but is a solid workhorse packed with the latest technology, and should provide great service for years. One slight let-down is the frame rate: at 50/60fps it gives just half speed while many rivals offer 100 or 120fps. But it’s one of the first pro cameras to offer the H.265 codec which gives space- saving for 4K files, along with HDR options built on, so you’ll be relatively future-proofed as these formats become more popular.
BELOW Items in the box include shoulder pad, lens hood and barrier, battery pack and charger, mic holder, eye cup and shoulder strap
More information
canon.com
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PRO MOVIEMAKER ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STREAMING
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