GEAR
CANONXF705
With the years of experience that Canon had for this form factor, the hands-on control is as you would expect it to be, with everything at your fingertips. There are semi- duplicate record controls up top, near the monitor and on the fixed grip. The monitor itself is available either side of the camera and has a tilt-and-slide motion to swap it over and indeed to put it away, much like the Panasonic AG-DVX200. The rocker switch has a magnification button beside it, and on top you will find media controls and the built-in microphones. Two XLRs are available, with Input 1 nearer the lens and Input 2 at the back. Maybe this has something to do with the extra connections that crowd the back of the camera. Included – and very new for this type of camera – is the 12G-SDI, which is four times the bandwidth of 3G-SDI and will allow 4K IP streaming through one cable, thanks to the handy on-board ethernet connection. The camera also has Wi-Fi on board for lower resolution streaming. The XF705 is able to livestream video using IP transmission in either the H.265/HEVC or H.264/ AVC encoding format. Live H.265 streams (16Mbps at 59.94p) can be used to distribute either 4K UHD or Full HD data efficiently to a variety of platforms. You also get HDMI, timecode and headphone, among others, at the back. However, perhaps the standout feature of the XF705 is the way Canon has implemented HDR into shooting options. As presets, you now have the option of BT. 709 all the way to HLG, PQ and Canon Log 3. It’s also worth mentioning that, for the first time in the XF series camera range, the XF705 supports Canon Log 3. This feature offers 13 stops of dynamic range, smooth midtones and preserving details in the shadows.
“The Dual Pixel AF has turnedmany amanual 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 delivers on all counts, with great AF, stunning image quality, a great lens and ease of use Pros: Canon’s best camcorder, with 4K andHDR ready to go Cons: No super slowmotion and lack of H.265 support at themoment OVERALL RATING: 9/10 As a documentary camera it
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 SPRING 2019
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