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Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder

  • B&H # CAXF100
  • Mfr# 4888B001

Product Highlights

  • 1/3" CMOS Sensor
  • 50Mbps MPEG-2 Recording
  • 4:2:2 Color Sampling
  • 60p/60i, 30p, 24p
  • MXF File Format
  • Dual CF Card Slots
  • 10x HD Zoom Lens
  • Multiple Bit Rates & Resolutions
  • Dual XLR Inputs
  • HDMI, Component, Composite Outputs
 
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Canon's XF100 HD Professional Camcorder is an amazingly compact, fully featured pro video camera that imports nearly all the features and functionality of the 3-chip XF300 into a smaller, single sensor form factor. Taking advantage of the latest HD technology--along with Canon's robust MPEG-2 4:2:2 codec--the XF100 records full HD video to affordable Compact Flash cards, making it as versatile as it is powerful. A newly developed Genuine Canon 10x HD video lens resolves images onto a native 1920 x 1080 CMOS sensor, which are captured in industry-standard MXF file wrappers using your choice of bit rate (up to 50Mbps), resolution, and frame rate. Full image customization and HDMI/Component/Composite outputs are equally on par with the camera's big brother XF300.

But not content with simple "junior partner" status, the XF100 brings some of its own muscle to the table in the form of infrared recording and--when used in combination with another XF100 or XF105--3-D stereoscopic capability. This fusion of exceptional image quality with portability and pinpoint control makes the XF100 the perfect low-profile tool for a range of applications, including ENG, travel documentaries, indie features, and event videography.

MPEG-2 4:2:2 50Mbps Codec (Canon XF Codec)
Canon's adaptation of MPEG-2 for the XF100 Professional Camcorder, named the Canon XF Codec, ensures the widest compatibility with existing industry infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) systems. And by using an MXF file wrapper, video and audio can be wrapped in a single file along with important metadata. The XF100 supports the highest HD quality with Full HD 1920x1080 resolution, up to a 50Mbps bit rate and 4:2:2 color sampling.
4:2:2 Color Sampling
4:2:2 color sampling provides twice the color resolution of HDV and other codecs that use 4:2:0 color sampling. 4:2:2 provides ultra-fine transitions in tone and color and maintains the highest quality image for use in post production processes such as chroma keying, color grading, advanced compositing and effects.
Record to Compact Flash Cards
Unlike other camcorders using proprietary memory systems, the XF100 records to cost effective and readily available Compact Flash (CF) cards. The camcorder features two CF card slots and offers versatile recording functions including relay recording, hot swapping, file copy & backup, and pre-record.

File-based recording facilitates workflow by reducing transfer times when moving video to nonlinear editing (NLE) systems. Additionally, metadata can be input at image acquisition, and imagery may be reviewed immediately after recording to ensure every shot is captured and logged correctly.
Major NLE Software Compatibility
Canon's XF Codec is supported by the industry's leading manufacturers: Adobe, Apple, Avid and Grass Valley. This ensures the widest compatibility with existing infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) software.
MXF Wrapper
The XF100 uses Material Exchange Format (MXF) for its file structure--an internationally standardized container format for the exchange of video and audio material. Using the MXF format, video and audio can be wrapped into a single file along with important metadata. With MXF, the XF100 will not only benefit from the highest level of compatibility with NLE systems, but also with high-end network systems used by many networks and production studios.
Genuine Canon 10x HD Lens
Canon's optical expertise is clearly seen in the XF100's Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens. It delivers flexibility in image capture with a zoom range of 30.4 - 304mm (35mm equivalent). Power zoom is available in Constant and Variable settings in 3 modes: Fast (approx. 1.9 - 60 seconds), Normal (approx. 3.0 - 180 seconds) and Slow (approx. 4.0 - 285 seconds).
Canon Native 1920 x 1080 CMOS Image Sensor
Newly designed and manufactured exclusively by Canon, the XF100 incorporates a native 1/3", 1920 x 1080 CMOS image sensor, delivering superb full HD video recording with minimal noise. The high sensitivity and wide dynamic range of this sensor are what demanding users expect from Canon. Slow and fast motion shooting are supported for greater flexibility in creative choice and the compactness contributes greatly to the small, super handy size of the XF100 and its outstanding usability in the field.
Multiple Bit Rates, Resolution, & Frame Rates
Multiple recording modes, resolutions and frame rates make the XF100 Professional Camcorder creatively flexible and able to work in virtually any production environment. From the highest quality 50Mbps Full HD to the HDV compatible 25Mbps, users will find the camcorder capable of taking on any job.
Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
The XF100 features Canon's powerful DIGIC DV III Image Processor, which provides enhanced shading, lifelike tonal gradations, new custom picture settings and lower power consumption. DIGIC DV III is also the high-speed engine which powers Genuine Canon Face Detection. On-the-go videographers will appreciate the ability to track one subject in a crowd of people.
Built-in 3-D Assist Features
The XF100 has the ability to be paired with another XF100 or XF105 camcorder to provide true stereoscopic 3-D recording. It offers several features to assist with 3-D production including OIS Lens Shift to aid in optically aligning the two camcorders. A focal length guide displays the zoom position of each camera in relation to each other and calibrates the zoom distance.

The XF100's compact size provides an alternative to large 3-D rigs allowing 3-D crews to work more quickly and efficiently, while providing the needed features to capture exceptional 3-D imagery.
Infrared Recording
The XF100 Professional Camcorder features an Infrared Mode allowing users to capture video in conditions with little to no ambient light, a situation which would make other camcorders useless. During infrared capture, the infrared cutoff filter is removed from the optical path. Combined with a specially designed lens coating, infrared light is able to pass through to the image sensor. Additionally, the XF100 features an infrared emitter with a diffuser to shoot pleasing infrared imagery even in complete darkness.
Brilliant Ergonomics
The XF100 is designed as an ultra-compact camcorder without compromising on features and usability. Its small size makes this camcorder ideal in situations where every inch and ounce count, such as flying to location or going on expedition. It offers amazing image quality yet can easily be placed in the back of a car or carried in a backpack making the XF100 the perfect camera to go anywhere, anytime on a moment's notice.
Neutral Density Filter
For enhanced versatility, the XF100 offers a built-in gradation type neutral density (ND) filter (approximately 1/8), as well as an eight-blade metal aperture iris.
SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer
The XF100 also incorporates a newly designed SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization system (lens shift) with three modes: Standard, Dynamic and Powered.
Instant AF
When shooting high definition video, sharp focus becomes more critical than ever. Canon's proprietary Instant AF system combines an external AF sensor with Canon's legendary auto focus system for fast and accurate focus. Together, the two sensors reduce focusing time--even in low-light, low contrast, or high brightness situations--and improve focusing performance on difficult subjects.
8-Blade Iris
In contrast to a typical 6-blade iris, the XF100's 8-blade iris captures extraordinarily smooth out-of-focus "bokeh" for a more attractive image effect. The additional blades also reduce diffraction of light passing through the iris, allowing for the use of smaller apertures while maintaining image quality.
Digital Teleconverter
The Digital Teleconverter extends the reach of the optical zoom, and is selectable by 1.5x, 3x and 6x. This feature is ideal when extreme telephoto shooting is needed such as in sports and wildlife, as well as, surveillance applications for law enforcement and the military.
Slow Motion & Fast Motion
Slow and Fast Motion Modes allow the XF100 to record a different frame rate than the playback frame rate, resulting in either a fast or slow motion effect during playback. Since the camera is recording real frames and modifying the playback rate, there is no quality loss and maximum image quality is maintained. 1
Interval Recording
With this feature, users can program the camera to record a specified number of frames at specified intervals. The technique can be used to observe natural phenomena over extended periods, making it ideal for time-lapse applications. The interval can be set in 25 levels ranging from 1 second to 10 minutes. Frame recording is also possible, allowing a specified number of frames to be recorded--ideal for projects such as clay animation.
3.5" 920K Dot LCD Monitor
A 3.5", 920,000 Dot LCD monitor provides an ample, accurate area for critical focus confirmation and approximately 100% field of view. The display opens on the left side of the camera body.
260K Dot Electronic Viewfinder
The XF100 features a 0.24", 260,000 Dot Color EVF and approximately 100% field of view coverage for comfortable viewing and accurate judgment of composition. Brightness, contrast, color and backlight are adjustable. The angle of the viewfinder is adjustable up and down through 68° for additional user comfort and when using the LCD display for monitoring.
Focus Assist Functions
With Canon's new Edge Monitor Focus Assist system, a red and green monitor is shown at the bottom of the LCD display and three red focus check areas are shown across the display. The green waveform shows overall focus of the image, while the red waveform shows the focus status of the focus check boxes. Through this dynamic focus feedback, the user can intuitively tune focus in a scene and quickly change the zone of focus.
Peaking/Magnify
Two peaking modes and a magnify focus assist function are available in standby and record mode (LCD monitor and EVF), making it extremely easy for the XF100 operator to check and confirm critical focus.
Exceptional Customization
Users of the XF100 Professional Camcorder have full manual control of all camera functions to adapt to both technical and artistic challenges when shooting. For maximum customization, users have access to Custom Picture Settings, Custom Functions and Custom Display Options to tailor the camera to their creative and production needs. Any combination of these items can be saved to an SD memory card for easy setup and matching of multiple XF100 and XF105 camcorders.
Custom Picture Settings
You can manually set an extensive variety of image quality adjustments and store them as 9 different presets in the camera. Up to 20 may be saved to an SD card. The adjustments include: Gamma, Black Level, Black Gamma, Low Key Saturation, Knee, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Skin Detail, Selective Noise Reduction, Color Matrix, White Balance, Color Correction and Setup Level.
Custom Functions
The XF100's operation can be further fine-tuned through the use of Custom Functions. This allows the camcorder to truly match your shooting style. A total of 15 unique items can be adjusted including: Shockless Gain, Shockless White Balance, AE Response, Iris Limit, Iris Ring Direction, Focus Ring Control and Character Record. And for quick access to commonly used functions, the XF100 features 10 customizable control buttons.
Custom Display
The Custom Display function lets you set 32 display items to create a custom LCD/EVF to suit your specific needs. Items that can be selected include: Zoom Position, Audio Level, Remaining Record Time, Exposure, Object Distance, Time Code and more.
Workflow
Smooth and efficient workflow is an essential part of the production process. Canon's XF Codec is supported by the industry's leading manufacturers: Adobe, Apple, Avid and Grass Valley. This ensures the widest compatibility with existing infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) software.
Audio System
A stereo microphone is incorporated into the XF100, as are two XLR audio inputs with +48V phantom power and a 3.5mm microphone input terminal. The built-in microphone provides exceptional audio in fast-paced situations while the XLR inputs and microphone input terminal provide connectivity to external microphones. In addition the XLR inputs allow the use of other professional audio devices. The built-in microphone and an external microphone can be used simultaneously.

Audio is recorded in 16-bit PCM format at 48kHz for amazing quality and fidelity. And both the built-in microphone and XLR inputs have the option for automatic or full manual gain control. To prevent variations in the recorded audio level, the dial can also be locked.
Connectivity
Not only does the XF100 Professional Camcorder provide the professional user with complete control over the image, it also provides complete creative freedom when it comes to inputs and outputs including:
  • HDMI Output
  • Component Video Output
  • Composite Video Output (3.5mm Terminal)
  • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Terminal
  • Remote Control Terminal (compatible with LANC protocol)
Waveform Monitor
Videographers depend on this feature to confirm accurate exposure and color levels during the capture process. Typically only found on expensive external units, the Canon XF100 has a waveform monitor built right into the camera. The waveform monitor shows a detailed view of overall image brightness and RGB components.
Intelligent Battery System
The XF100 is compatible with Canon's new BP-925, as well as the BP-955 and BP-975 Intelligent Lithium-ion batteries. These batteries communicate remaining running time (down to the minute) and send data back to the camcorder, so the user is well-informed at all times. On the outside of the battery, four LED lamps allow battery life to be viewed quickly when in the field. The camcorder is also compatible with existing Canon BP-900 series batteries--which can be inserted and removed while the supplied AC power cable is connected.
Color Bars with Reference Tone
Two types of color bars can be selected: Type 1 (SMPTE compliant) or Type 2 (ARIB compliant); 1 kHz Reference Tone: -12dB, -18dB, 20dB or OFF
Photo Capture
For applications such as storyboarding, continuity and publicity shots, the XF100 offers the ability to capture 1920 x 1080 still images. Photos may be captured to an SD memory card during the time of recording, as well as "frame grabbed" during playback.
Bundled Canon XF Utility Software
Compatible for use on both Mac and Windows platforms, Canon's XF Utility software provides a simplified first step in the process of managing and playing back your clips. Additionally, the software can manage lists of clips in a number of display formats, as well as tag, add and edit metadata. It also serves as an efficient means of backing up media.
Image Device 1/3" CMOS Sensor
2.37MP (2.07MP effective)
Lens 10x HD Zoom
4.25-42.5mm (30.4-304mm, 35mm equivalent)
f/1.8-2.8
58mm Filter Diameter
Horizontal Resolution 900 TV lines or more
Focusing System TVAF plus External Phase Difference Metering Sensor
Autofocus (Instant AF, Medium AF, Normal AF, Face AF, Face Only AF), Manual, Full Manual
Minimum Illumination 4.5 lux (full AUTO mode, 1/60 shutter speed, +24dB gain)
1.6 lux (Manual mode, 1/4 shutter speed, +33dB gain)
Built-in Filters Neutral Density (Auto or Off)
Minimum Focus Distance 20mm (wide macro), 60cm (entire zoom range)
Video Recording System Compression: MPEG-2 Long GOP
Color Space: 4:2:2 (at 50Mbps recording)
File Format: MXF

Recording Modes:
50Mbps (CBR) 4:2:2, 1920x1080, (60i/30p/24p),
1280x720 (60p/30p/24p)
35Mbps (VBR) 4:2:0, 1920x1080 (60i/30p/24p),
1280x720 (60p/30p/24p)
25Mbps (CBR) 4:2:0, 1440x1080 (60i/30p/24p)

Audio Recording Format 2-Channel, PCM digital recording, 16-Bit; 48kHz
Frame Rates 60i, 60p (720p mode only), 30p, 24p 1
Please Note:

50i, 50p and 25p optional upgrade available through Canon Factory Service Center

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Image Stabilization SuperRange Optical (Lens Shift) 4 modes: Standard, Powered, Dynamic, Off
LCD Monitor 3.5" Color, approx. 920,000 dots
Viewfinder 0.24" Color, approx. 260,000 dots
Microphone Stereo electret condenser microphone
Memory Card Slot CF Card: 2 Slots (movie files only)
SD Card: Still images, Custom Picture Data, Clip Metadata, Custom Settings
Shutter Speed Max 1/2000
White Balance Auto, Manual, Custom (2000K - 15000K in 100K increments), Daylight, Tungsten
Gain Selection Not specified by manufacturer
Maximum Recording Time 64GB Compact Flash (CF) card
(Greater capacity is possible when two cards are used.)
25Mbps: 310 minutes
35Mbps: 225 minutes
50Mbps: 160 minutes
Input and Output Connectors Component (x1 Output)
Composite: 3.5mm A/V (x1 Output)
HDMI: Standard Type A (x1 Output)
Mic/Line: XLR 3-pin (x2 Input)
USB: Mini-B USB 2.0
Headphone: 3.5mm Mini
Remote Control Terminal: LANC
Power Requirements 7.4VDC (Battery Pack)
Power Consumption Not specified by manufacturer
Operating Temperature 32-104°F (0-40°C), 85% relative humidity
Dimensions (WxHxD) 4.8 x 5.8 x 9.8" (12.1 x 14.8 x 25 cm)
Weight 2.2 lbs (1kg) - not including battery, memory card, lens hood, mic holder
Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder
  • Lens Hood
  • BP-925 Battery
  • CA-930 Compact Power Adapter
  • DC Cable
  • WL-D6000 Wireless Controller
  • Microphone Holder
  • Shoulder Strap
  • Component Cable
  • Utilities Disk
  • 1 Year Limited Warranty
  • REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

    by PowerReviews
    CanonXF100 HD Professional Camcorder
     
    4.4

    (based on 80 reviews)

    Ratings Distribution

    • 5 Stars

       

      (45)

    • 4 Stars

       

      (28)

    • 3 Stars

       

      (2)

    • 2 Stars

       

      (4)

    • 1 Stars

       

      (1)

    92%

    of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

    Pros

    • Great picture quality (66)
    • Easy to use (63)
    • Image stabilization (58)
    • Large clear LCD (53)
    • Zoom range/performance (48)

    Cons

    • Limited zoom (24)
    • Poor in low light (13)
    • Poor image quality (5)
    • Poor still image (3)

    Best Uses

    • Documentaries (60)
    • HD shooting (58)
    • Weddings (50)
    • Movies/short films (45)
    • Travel (40)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Pro videographer (37), Semi-pro (34), Enthusiast (8)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (78)

    Most Liked Positive Review

     

    Great Camera

    This is my 5th video camera I own (DVX100, JVC GY-HD100, JVC GY-HM100 plus a couple of Sony) and I shot numerous times with HMC150, HPX170, EX1, HPX370. By far this ...Read complete review

    This is my 5th video camera I own (DVX100, JVC GY-HD100, JVC GY-HM100 plus a couple of Sony) and I shot numerous times with HMC150, HPX170, EX1, HPX370. By far this camera is the best bang for the buck out there at the moment.
    Let's start with the sensor: 1/3" native 1080, yes it's not 3 sensor block, but the picture is extremely clean and noise free in the good light. Also it increases light sensitivity by about 2 F stops in 720 mode. I was able to shoot at 6dB with medium room light. Dark areas are showing a bit of mosquito noise, but really low levels and a lot can be cleaned up with filters. Which brings me to the fantastic codec. 50Mbs 422 is easy to edit native (I use FCP), doesn't give any color banding and footage out of camera has fantastic "flat" look, ready for color adjustments. This is a dream to edit and the footage can produce image way better then EX1.It has the same picture profile adjustment as XF300/305.
    LCD is really good, peaking is great, so is the edge focus assist tool. WFM allows to adjust exposure correctly as well. IR mode is just amazing, I shot my black cat in a completely black room and the results were just smashing.
    Even though it has one ring, you can use assignable button/knob to control iris, there are already 2 zoom rockers, so I use the ring for focus only. One thing I noticed that the iris knob is sluggish (one of the reasons I did not give 5 stars).
    You can record to two cards at once for instant backup. Get plenty of cards or a storage unit:16GB will get you only 40 minutes at 50Mbs.
    It really sits well in my hand, it's really light, but well balanced. Also because it's light you can get by with lighter tripod.
    My only true "gripe" with this camera is an auto ND. It starts kicking in at F4, you can turn it off in menu, but I would much prefer manual one. The other minus is it doesn't communicate with AB ElipZ battery, so you don't know how much time is left.
    Over all it is a great camera and IMO the best buy for the money at the moment. I only received it a couple of days ago, but I showed the footage to few of my friends on my 42" LCD and they were blown away by the quality. Canon waited for a long time with such camera, but it blows away any other camera in the price range. I would put it on parr with EX1, which costs more then double and forces you to buy really expen$ive media (SxS).

    VS

    Most Liked Negative Review

     

    Nice Camera for the $

    Use for cable tv production.
    Great Codec and resolution choices.
    It Does have external mic ports, in fact, both XLR and mini, which is awesome if you use both.
    T...Read complete review

    Use for cable tv production.
    Great Codec and resolution choices.
    It Does have external mic ports, in fact, both XLR and mini, which is awesome if you use both.
    The Picture can be a little noisy even when there is no gain added. Likely due to single chip.

    Reviewed by 80 customers

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    5.0

    Impressive Workhorse

    By KS Pete

    from Kansas City, MO

    About Me Semi-pro Videographer

    Pros

    • 422 Color Depth
    • Good Image Stabilization
    • Great Picture Quality
    • Zoom range/performance

    Cons

    • No Touch Screen
    • Oversized Mic Holder
    • Poor In Low Light

    Best Uses

    • Documentaries
    • Movies/Short Films
    • Travel
    • Weddings/Events

    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

    This is my first foray into a professional digital camcorder and I must say I'm impressed. There were two features I particularly needed for my projects, 24p recording and 4:2:2 color depth. Like many of the reviewers on here have said, high gain shots are very noisy, but in normal and daylight situations it's just beautiful. As I'm primarly a still photographer (and a Nikon snob at that), I love the manual controls afforded by the XF100 including the focus, shutter, and iris. It really allows the creative juices to flow.

    I'm a tad baffled by the microphone holder... I have several shotgun mics ranging from Neuman to Rode and all of them are too skinny for the holder and require foam or rubber bands to get them to stay. I really have no idea what Canon had in mind when they designed it. The built in sound leaves a lot to be desired, but that's really not a big issue since it takes an external.

    I'm also slightly less than thrilled with the lack of touch screen, where even the low end consumer cameras these days have them. Again, not sure what Canon was thinking there, especially where those types of screens are very cheap to produce.

    Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase and everything I've shot so far has been gold. I have not shot in 60i but I have shot a lot in 30p and 24p. Great looking stuff.

    Share this review

     
    5.0

    Great Camera

    By Bill

    from Bremen, GA

    About Me Pro Videographer

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Easy to Use
    • Good Image Stabilization
    • Great Picture Quality
    • Great Sound
    • Great Zoom
    • Large Clear LCD
    • Zoom range/performance

    Cons

    • Poor In Low Light

    Best Uses

    • Documentaries
    • HD Shooting
    • Travel
    • Weddings/Events

    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

    I use the camera for recording seminars and streaming them over the web. The picture IS broadcast quality, how ever with any camera like this it does need it's light to preform it's best. Only the lower end cameras do well in low light. At this point I have no real complaints about it. I love the fact it has two different locations for the zoom and the speed can be set to different speeds.

    • Was this a gift?:
    • No

    Share this review

     
    5.0

    Good small camera

    By Liam

    from Springfield MA

    About Me Pro Videographer

    Verified Buyer

    Pros

    • Easy to Use
    • Good Image Stabilization
    • Great Picture Quality

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Documentaries
      • Travel

      Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

      I got this camera cause it was the smallest camera the meet the brodcast specs I need. I am pleased with the camera

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

      Share this review

       
      5.0

      Powerful and compact

      By MPLUSM

      from Anchorage, AK

      About Me Semi-pro Videographer

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Easy to Use
      • Great Picture Quality

      Cons

      • Limited Zoom
      • Poor Still Image

      Best Uses

      • HD Shooting
      • Movies/Short Films
      • Weddings/Events

      Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

      This is my backup camera as I am using a Canon 5D Mark III. I needed something that i could just snatch out of my case and spraypaint with. This little guy is fast and has everything you need for full control.

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

      Share this review

      (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

       
      2.0

      Great with exception of noise problem

      By Kyle on Camera

      from Peoria, IL

      About Me Pro Videographer

      Pros

      • Easy to Use
      • Good Image Stabilization
      • Great Sound
      • Large Clear LCD
      • Zoom range/performance

      Cons

      • Poor Image Quality
      • Poor In Low Light

      Best Uses

      • Home Movies
      • Movies/Short Films

      Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

      I came on board to a new job where they had purchased this camera for me in advance. My previous experience was mostly with Panasonic P2 and DV/HDV.

      Right off the bat I noticed that even under great lighting, and with gain set to -6, there is undesirable noise in video. The content I produce plays back on an array of 9 1080p TVs (3x3), so the noise becomes overly apparent and quite shameful. In some cases I have filmed with a secondary camera, a Canon 60D DSLR. When comparing the two images of the same material in post, it is amazing how much of a cleaner image the DSLR produces.

      I have so far been able to reduce the problem with a Red Giant plugin called DeNoiser II, but I would not recommend this camera to anyone that is bothered by image noise. I especially would not recommend it for any chroma key usage.

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

      Share this review

       
      5.0

      Great low light capable camcorder

      By Eun

      from NSW

      About Me Pro Videographer

      Pros

      • Easy to Use
      • Good Image Stabilization
      • Good in Low Light
      • Great Picture Quality
      • Great Sound
      • Great Zoom
      • Large Clear LCD
      • Zoom range/performance

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Documentaries
        • HD Shooting
        • Home Movies
        • Indoors/Low Light
        • Movies/Short Films
        • Travel
        • Weddings/Events

        Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

        I would suggest try other top brand camcorder and DSLR in low light situation and find out by what's best for your need. I found the XF100 handle low light very well and minimise noise very well compare to my other DSLR and camcorder. I had to research and read manual settings to optimise low light condition. FX100 is very light weight, so I don't have to carry expensive DSLR rig and follow focus because it has excellence focus and image stabilise system. If I want to upgrade I camcorder next 3 years, I would try EOS 500 or 1D-C with all lenses lined up F2.8 and F1.8 or F1.4.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        50mbps-4:2:2

        By Mac

        from Monterey, CA

        About Me Pro Videographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Good Image Stabilization
        • Great Picture Quality

        Cons

        • Poor In Low Light

        Best Uses

        • Documentaries

        Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

        I'm a documentary filmmaker and occasionally need a discreet camera that delivers a broadcast image, this camera does the job. It's not great in low light, and it does get noisy, but for a camera this small and light it's pretty amazing. And it has buttons.

        I'd have given it 5 stars but for the viewfinder, it's horrible - (I'm old school and prefer a finder to the LCD).

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        5.0

        A lot of camera in a little package

        By jakebrake

        from Nebraska

        About Me Pro Videographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Weddings/Events

            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

            Professional features packed into a small form factor makes it great for non-intrusive filming. Just a touch smaller than the old GL2.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            Share this review

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            Great Little Camera!

            By MH

            from Tulsa, OK

            About Me Pro Videographer

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Easy to Use
            • Good Image Stabilization
            • Large Clear LCD

            Cons

            • Limited Zoom

            Best Uses

            • Weddings/Events

            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

            This is a great little camera with the ports, menu capabilities and more that you usually find on larger models. It works perfect for hand-held camera for events like concerts, weddings, etc., and does not wear you out. The large LCD is wonderful and the XLR jacks on the side along with multiple control features makes it a great bang for the buck!

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            • No

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            (0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            I like it

            By Limobob

            from Cary NC

            About Me Semi-pro Videographer

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Easy to Use
            • Large Clear LCD

            Cons

            • Poor In Low Light

            Best Uses

            • Documentaries
            • HD Shooting
            • Home Movies
            • Movies/Short Films
            • Travel
            • Weddings/Events

            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

            Compact camera easy to carry aroundLove the compact flashWorks great in FCP, Import "log and transfer" not captureNo more tapeI am not sure if you will be able to watch the video?Canon HV40 close up of handCanon XF100 side viewCanon XH A1 front viewView in HD setting 1080You will be able to evaluate the picture quality for yourselfPicture quality not as sharp as the A14 Stars because picture quality, however I don't want to spend another 3-4 grand to get a 3 chip unit and large to lug around.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

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            5.0

            Another excellent product by Canon

            By RGB

            from RP, NJ

            About Me Pro Videographer

            Verified Buyer

            Pros

            • Easy to Use
            • Good in Low Light
            • Great Picture Quality
            • Great Sound
            • Great Zoom
            • Large Clear LCD
            • Zoom range/performance

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Documentaries
              • HD Shooting
              • Home Movies
              • Indoors/Low Light
              • Movies/Short Films
              • Travel
              • Weddings/Events

              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

              A very good starter camera.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

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              (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Great little video camera

              By David

              from Warrenton, VA

              About Me Pro Videographer

              Pros

              • Good Image Stabilization
              • Great Picture Quality

              Cons

              • Complicated To Operate

              Best Uses

              • Documentaries
              • HD Shooting
              • Movies/Short Films
              • Weddings/Events

              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

              We purchased this little camera as a safety cam for a large outdoor event. The camera performed very well. It came out of the box with some unwanted features like auto white balance and gain. We disabled those and set them manually. I read the whole instruction manual so as not to miss something. The menu options and controls were not very intuitive to me, but once I disabled those two features, the rest of it was a snap.
              The image was sharp and colors were great! I have since used it in a few other settings and have been happy.
              Somehow I got the XLR audio disabled just before a shoot, even though the menu options were still active and I had tested it only moments before. I had to reset the whole camera in a pinch to get audio back on in time, but then I forgot to disable the gain and white balance! The image wasn't as good as before.

              Be prepared for a learning curve if you want to use it for anything professional, or if you have to change settings quickly. But for a quick grab and go camera I couldn't imagine anything better, especially for the price.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

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              (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

               
              4.0

              Heavy on Function, Light on Weight

              By Edge

              from Greensboro, NC

              About Me Pro Videographer

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Easy to Use
              • Great Picture Quality
              • Large Clear LCD

              Cons

              • Limited Zoom

              Best Uses

              • Documentaries
              • HD Shooting
              • Travel
              • Weddings/Events

              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

              Want a pro level cam without the weight or price? This is it!
              First, having manual controls over just about every aspect of shooting is a must for all videographers. Add to that the capability to have 26 different custom picture settings at you fingertips. Then you have broadcast standard 50mbps and 60i.
              It's not all pie though. MXF can be a pain if you're using a low end editor. There is no problem with Vegas Pro or Premier Pro. Another problem for some might be the CF cards. There is a list of compatible cards on the Canon site, but just order the SanDisk Extreme Pro and get to shooting.
              A big selling point for me was the weight. This sits nicely on my dslr rig. It saves my back while doing handheld shots. Also, it provides a bit of stealth while shooting in a crowd of people.

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              • No

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              (2 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

               
              1.0

              Huge image noise problem - sensor issue?

              By Steve the Baker

              from Chicago, IL

              About Me Semi-pro Videographer

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Good Image Stabilization

              Cons

              • Complicated To Operate
              • Poor Image Quality
              • Poor In Low Light

              Best Uses

                Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                Unfortunately, I experienced huge image noise problems with this camcorder. Even with custom settings, the image quality was not good.

                Here is an example: Custom picture set to the BBC Cine Mode (a custom picture setting for the Canon XF100 by BBC) . 50 MBit/s, 1920x1080, 24p, 1/48 shutter speed. 4000K white balance. Manual gain control/aperture set to -6/F1.8 or 0/F2.6 or 6/F3.4. Object: Living room with big windows on a bright, sunny day. At all gain levels, the camera produced nothing else than faded colors, grey blacks, and a lot of image noise. Even when I manually adjusted the camera just to gain -6, the image was still very noisy, especially the shadows. I experienced the same problems with other custom picture settings as well.

                I saw cleaner online videos shot with this camera even under low light conditions, so it looks like the sensor of the unit I bought is obviously malfunctioning.

                Or it points to a more general problem : I found a lot of people on forums and video sharing sites who are complaining about the same issue.

                Call me an amateur, if a camera produces such unbelievably noisy images that are definitely unusable for professional work, and no little people think there is something wrong with the camera or it must be a sensor issue, such a camcorder is not for me and needs to go back.

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                • No

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                4.0

                Excellent Image Quality

                By Rustable Ryan

                from Austin,Tx

                About Me Pro Videographer

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Easy to Use
                • Good Image Stabilization
                • Great Picture Quality

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Documentaries
                  • HD Shooting
                  • Home Movies
                  • Movies/Short Films
                  • Travel
                  • Weddings/Events

                  Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                  I was really impressed with the color and sharpness of this camera. It does take a little fine tuning out of the box and has some noise at 9db. But the auto iris and focus works excellent. I went from a 7d to this and will never go back. You just cant beat the auto features this camera has makes it a breeze to shoot. So you can concentrate more on composing your shot.

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                  • No

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                  (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Just the right next step

                  By PJM

                  from Owls Head, ME

                  About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Easy to Use
                  • Good Image Stabilization
                  • Good in Low Light
                  • Great Picture Quality
                  • Great Sound
                  • Great Weight
                  • Great Zoom
                  • Large Clear LCD
                  • Zoom range/performance

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Documentaries
                    • HD Shooting
                    • Indoors/Low Light
                    • Movies/Short Films

                    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                    I am moving up from a Canon HV30 and this is exactly where I need to be.

                    Share this review

                    (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    4.0

                    Saving up to get another one!!!!!!!!!!!!

                    By Deadman walking

                    from Gaffney,SC

                    About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Easy to Use
                    • Good Image Stabilization
                    • Good in Low Light
                    • Great Picture Quality
                    • Great Zoom
                    • Large Clear LCD
                    • Zoom range/performance

                    Cons

                    • Poor Sound

                    Best Uses

                    • Documentaries
                    • HD Shooting
                    • Home Movies
                    • Indoors/Low Light
                    • Movies/Short Films
                    • Travel
                    • Weddings/Events

                    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                    Movies
                    Everything
                    No RCA OUT

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

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                    5.0

                    An Overall Amazing Camcorder!

                    By Mikey

                    from Weirton, WV

                    About Me Video Enthusiast

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Easy to Use
                    • Good Image Stabilization
                    • Good in Low Light
                    • Great Picture Quality
                    • Great Sound
                    • Great Zoom
                    • Large Clear LCD

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Documentaries
                      • HD Shooting
                      • Home Movies
                      • Indoors/Low Light
                      • Movies/Short Films
                      • Travel
                      • Weddings/Events

                      Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                      This is an amazing camcorder overall. The only con is the zoom range and a little in low light, but you can adjust te settings until you get the picture you want. The image quality I great an I would recommend this to a friend anyday. The FREE shipping was great, and only about 3 days! That's unbelievable! B&H is the only place I am going to order camcorder supplies from again.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

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                      5.0

                      Excellent. I recomend!!!

                      By Luis Torres

                      from Miami, FL

                      About Me Pro Videographer

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Easy to Use
                      • Good Image Stabilization
                      • Good in Low Light
                      • Great Picture Quality
                      • Great Sound
                      • Great Zoom
                      • Large Clear LCD
                      • Zoom range/performance

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                        • HD Shooting
                        • Movies/Short Films
                        • Weddings/Events

                        Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                        This is the best camera that I ever had! I improved my work´s quality 100%.

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • No

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                        (0 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

                         
                        2.0

                        Grainy and yellow

                        By MJB

                        from Washington, D.C.

                        About Me Pro Videographer

                        Verified Buyer

                        Pros

                          Cons

                          • Poor Image Quality
                          • Poor In Low Light

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries

                          Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                          nice camera, but very grainy in low light and yellow yellow yellow, returned and got the sony nx30, for weddings and events much better.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

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                          REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

                          by PowerReviews
                          CanonXF100 HD Professional Camcorder
                           
                          4.4

                          (based on 80 reviews)

                          Ratings Distribution

                          • 5 Stars

                             

                            (45)

                          • 4 Stars

                             

                            (28)

                          • 3 Stars

                             

                            (2)

                          • 2 Stars

                             

                            (4)

                          • 1 Stars

                             

                            (1)

                          92%

                          of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

                          Pros

                          • Great picture quality (66)
                          • Easy to use (63)
                          • Image stabilization (58)
                          • Large clear LCD (53)
                          • Zoom range/performance (48)

                          Cons

                          • Limited zoom (24)
                          • Poor in low light (13)
                          • Poor image quality (5)
                          • Poor still image (3)

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries (60)
                          • HD shooting (58)
                          • Weddings (50)
                          • Movies/short films (45)
                          • Travel (40)
                            • Reviewer Profile:
                            • Pro videographer (37), Semi-pro (34), Enthusiast (8)
                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No (78)

                          Most Liked Positive Review

                           

                          Great Camera

                          This is my 5th video camera I own (DVX100, JVC GY-HD100, JVC GY-HM100 plus a couple of Sony) and I shot numerous times with HMC150, HPX170, EX1, HPX370. By far this ...Read complete review

                          This is my 5th video camera I own (DVX100, JVC GY-HD100, JVC GY-HM100 plus a couple of Sony) and I shot numerous times with HMC150, HPX170, EX1, HPX370. By far this camera is the best bang for the buck out there at the moment.
                          Let's start with the sensor: 1/3" native 1080, yes it's not 3 sensor block, but the picture is extremely clean and noise free in the good light. Also it increases light sensitivity by about 2 F stops in 720 mode. I was able to shoot at 6dB with medium room light. Dark areas are showing a bit of mosquito noise, but really low levels and a lot can be cleaned up with filters. Which brings me to the fantastic codec. 50Mbs 422 is easy to edit native (I use FCP), doesn't give any color banding and footage out of camera has fantastic "flat" look, ready for color adjustments. This is a dream to edit and the footage can produce image way better then EX1.It has the same picture profile adjustment as XF300/305.
                          LCD is really good, peaking is great, so is the edge focus assist tool. WFM allows to adjust exposure correctly as well. IR mode is just amazing, I shot my black cat in a completely black room and the results were just smashing.
                          Even though it has one ring, you can use assignable button/knob to control iris, there are already 2 zoom rockers, so I use the ring for focus only. One thing I noticed that the iris knob is sluggish (one of the reasons I did not give 5 stars).
                          You can record to two cards at once for instant backup. Get plenty of cards or a storage unit:16GB will get you only 40 minutes at 50Mbs.
                          It really sits well in my hand, it's really light, but well balanced. Also because it's light you can get by with lighter tripod.
                          My only true "gripe" with this camera is an auto ND. It starts kicking in at F4, you can turn it off in menu, but I would much prefer manual one. The other minus is it doesn't communicate with AB ElipZ battery, so you don't know how much time is left.
                          Over all it is a great camera and IMO the best buy for the money at the moment. I only received it a couple of days ago, but I showed the footage to few of my friends on my 42" LCD and they were blown away by the quality. Canon waited for a long time with such camera, but it blows away any other camera in the price range. I would put it on parr with EX1, which costs more then double and forces you to buy really expen$ive media (SxS).

                          VS

                          Most Liked Negative Review

                           

                          Nice Camera for the $

                          Use for cable tv production.
                          Great Codec and resolution choices.
                          It Does have external mic ports, in fact, both XLR and mini, which is awesome if you use both.
                          T...Read complete review

                          Use for cable tv production.
                          Great Codec and resolution choices.
                          It Does have external mic ports, in fact, both XLR and mini, which is awesome if you use both.
                          The Picture can be a little noisy even when there is no gain added. Likely due to single chip.

                          Reviewed by 80 customers

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                          5.0

                          Impressive Workhorse

                          By KS Pete

                          from Kansas City, MO

                          About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                          Pros

                          • 422 Color Depth
                          • Good Image Stabilization
                          • Great Picture Quality
                          • Zoom range/performance

                          Cons

                          • No Touch Screen
                          • Oversized Mic Holder
                          • Poor In Low Light

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries
                          • Movies/Short Films
                          • Travel
                          • Weddings/Events

                          Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                          This is my first foray into a professional digital camcorder and I must say I'm impressed. There were two features I particularly needed for my projects, 24p recording and 4:2:2 color depth. Like many of the reviewers on here have said, high gain shots are very noisy, but in normal and daylight situations it's just beautiful. As I'm primarly a still photographer (and a Nikon snob at that), I love the manual controls afforded by the XF100 including the focus, shutter, and iris. It really allows the creative juices to flow.

                          I'm a tad baffled by the microphone holder... I have several shotgun mics ranging from Neuman to Rode and all of them are too skinny for the holder and require foam or rubber bands to get them to stay. I really have no idea what Canon had in mind when they designed it. The built in sound leaves a lot to be desired, but that's really not a big issue since it takes an external.

                          I'm also slightly less than thrilled with the lack of touch screen, where even the low end consumer cameras these days have them. Again, not sure what Canon was thinking there, especially where those types of screens are very cheap to produce.

                          Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase and everything I've shot so far has been gold. I have not shot in 60i but I have shot a lot in 30p and 24p. Great looking stuff.

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                          5.0

                          Great Camera

                          By Bill

                          from Bremen, GA

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Easy to Use
                          • Good Image Stabilization
                          • Great Picture Quality
                          • Great Sound
                          • Great Zoom
                          • Large Clear LCD
                          • Zoom range/performance

                          Cons

                          • Poor In Low Light

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries
                          • HD Shooting
                          • Travel
                          • Weddings/Events

                          Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                          I use the camera for recording seminars and streaming them over the web. The picture IS broadcast quality, how ever with any camera like this it does need it's light to preform it's best. Only the lower end cameras do well in low light. At this point I have no real complaints about it. I love the fact it has two different locations for the zoom and the speed can be set to different speeds.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

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                          5.0

                          Good small camera

                          By Liam

                          from Springfield MA

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Easy to Use
                          • Good Image Stabilization
                          • Great Picture Quality

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Documentaries
                            • Travel

                            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                            I got this camera cause it was the smallest camera the meet the brodcast specs I need. I am pleased with the camera

                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No

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                            5.0

                            Powerful and compact

                            By MPLUSM

                            from Anchorage, AK

                            About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                            Verified Buyer

                            Pros

                            • Easy to Use
                            • Great Picture Quality

                            Cons

                            • Limited Zoom
                            • Poor Still Image

                            Best Uses

                            • HD Shooting
                            • Movies/Short Films
                            • Weddings/Events

                            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                            This is my backup camera as I am using a Canon 5D Mark III. I needed something that i could just snatch out of my case and spraypaint with. This little guy is fast and has everything you need for full control.

                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No

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                            (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            2.0

                            Great with exception of noise problem

                            By Kyle on Camera

                            from Peoria, IL

                            About Me Pro Videographer

                            Pros

                            • Easy to Use
                            • Good Image Stabilization
                            • Great Sound
                            • Large Clear LCD
                            • Zoom range/performance

                            Cons

                            • Poor Image Quality
                            • Poor In Low Light

                            Best Uses

                            • Home Movies
                            • Movies/Short Films

                            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                            I came on board to a new job where they had purchased this camera for me in advance. My previous experience was mostly with Panasonic P2 and DV/HDV.

                            Right off the bat I noticed that even under great lighting, and with gain set to -6, there is undesirable noise in video. The content I produce plays back on an array of 9 1080p TVs (3x3), so the noise becomes overly apparent and quite shameful. In some cases I have filmed with a secondary camera, a Canon 60D DSLR. When comparing the two images of the same material in post, it is amazing how much of a cleaner image the DSLR produces.

                            I have so far been able to reduce the problem with a Red Giant plugin called DeNoiser II, but I would not recommend this camera to anyone that is bothered by image noise. I especially would not recommend it for any chroma key usage.

                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No

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                            5.0

                            Great low light capable camcorder

                            By Eun

                            from NSW

                            About Me Pro Videographer

                            Pros

                            • Easy to Use
                            • Good Image Stabilization
                            • Good in Low Light
                            • Great Picture Quality
                            • Great Sound
                            • Great Zoom
                            • Large Clear LCD
                            • Zoom range/performance

                            Cons

                              Best Uses

                              • Documentaries
                              • HD Shooting
                              • Home Movies
                              • Indoors/Low Light
                              • Movies/Short Films
                              • Travel
                              • Weddings/Events

                              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                              I would suggest try other top brand camcorder and DSLR in low light situation and find out by what's best for your need. I found the XF100 handle low light very well and minimise noise very well compare to my other DSLR and camcorder. I had to research and read manual settings to optimise low light condition. FX100 is very light weight, so I don't have to carry expensive DSLR rig and follow focus because it has excellence focus and image stabilise system. If I want to upgrade I camcorder next 3 years, I would try EOS 500 or 1D-C with all lenses lined up F2.8 and F1.8 or F1.4.

                              • Was this a gift?:
                              • No

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                              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              4.0

                              50mbps-4:2:2

                              By Mac

                              from Monterey, CA

                              About Me Pro Videographer

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Good Image Stabilization
                              • Great Picture Quality

                              Cons

                              • Poor In Low Light

                              Best Uses

                              • Documentaries

                              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                              I'm a documentary filmmaker and occasionally need a discreet camera that delivers a broadcast image, this camera does the job. It's not great in low light, and it does get noisy, but for a camera this small and light it's pretty amazing. And it has buttons.

                              I'd have given it 5 stars but for the viewfinder, it's horrible - (I'm old school and prefer a finder to the LCD).

                              • Was this a gift?:
                              • No

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                              5.0

                              A lot of camera in a little package

                              By jakebrake

                              from Nebraska

                              About Me Pro Videographer

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                                Cons

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Weddings/Events

                                  Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                  Professional features packed into a small form factor makes it great for non-intrusive filming. Just a touch smaller than the old GL2.

                                  • Was this a gift?:
                                  • No

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                                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  4.0

                                  Great Little Camera!

                                  By MH

                                  from Tulsa, OK

                                  About Me Pro Videographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use
                                  • Good Image Stabilization
                                  • Large Clear LCD

                                  Cons

                                  • Limited Zoom

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Weddings/Events

                                  Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                  This is a great little camera with the ports, menu capabilities and more that you usually find on larger models. It works perfect for hand-held camera for events like concerts, weddings, etc., and does not wear you out. The large LCD is wonderful and the XLR jacks on the side along with multiple control features makes it a great bang for the buck!

                                  • Was this a gift?:
                                  • No

                                  Share this review

                                  (0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  4.0

                                  I like it

                                  By Limobob

                                  from Cary NC

                                  About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use
                                  • Large Clear LCD

                                  Cons

                                  • Poor In Low Light

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Documentaries
                                  • HD Shooting
                                  • Home Movies
                                  • Movies/Short Films
                                  • Travel
                                  • Weddings/Events

                                  Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                  Compact camera easy to carry aroundLove the compact flashWorks great in FCP, Import "log and transfer" not captureNo more tapeI am not sure if you will be able to watch the video?Canon HV40 close up of handCanon XF100 side viewCanon XH A1 front viewView in HD setting 1080You will be able to evaluate the picture quality for yourselfPicture quality not as sharp as the A14 Stars because picture quality, however I don't want to spend another 3-4 grand to get a 3 chip unit and large to lug around.

                                  • Was this a gift?:
                                  • No

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                                  5.0

                                  Another excellent product by Canon

                                  By RGB

                                  from RP, NJ

                                  About Me Pro Videographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use
                                  • Good in Low Light
                                  • Great Picture Quality
                                  • Great Sound
                                  • Great Zoom
                                  • Large Clear LCD
                                  • Zoom range/performance

                                  Cons

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Documentaries
                                    • HD Shooting
                                    • Home Movies
                                    • Indoors/Low Light
                                    • Movies/Short Films
                                    • Travel
                                    • Weddings/Events

                                    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                    A very good starter camera.

                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                    • No

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                                    (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                                     
                                    5.0

                                    Great little video camera

                                    By David

                                    from Warrenton, VA

                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                    Pros

                                    • Good Image Stabilization
                                    • Great Picture Quality

                                    Cons

                                    • Complicated To Operate

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Documentaries
                                    • HD Shooting
                                    • Movies/Short Films
                                    • Weddings/Events

                                    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                    We purchased this little camera as a safety cam for a large outdoor event. The camera performed very well. It came out of the box with some unwanted features like auto white balance and gain. We disabled those and set them manually. I read the whole instruction manual so as not to miss something. The menu options and controls were not very intuitive to me, but once I disabled those two features, the rest of it was a snap.
                                    The image was sharp and colors were great! I have since used it in a few other settings and have been happy.
                                    Somehow I got the XLR audio disabled just before a shoot, even though the menu options were still active and I had tested it only moments before. I had to reset the whole camera in a pinch to get audio back on in time, but then I forgot to disable the gain and white balance! The image wasn't as good as before.

                                    Be prepared for a learning curve if you want to use it for anything professional, or if you have to change settings quickly. But for a quick grab and go camera I couldn't imagine anything better, especially for the price.

                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                    • No

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                                    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                     
                                    4.0

                                    Heavy on Function, Light on Weight

                                    By Edge

                                    from Greensboro, NC

                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                    Verified Buyer

                                    Pros

                                    • Easy to Use
                                    • Great Picture Quality
                                    • Large Clear LCD

                                    Cons

                                    • Limited Zoom

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Documentaries
                                    • HD Shooting
                                    • Travel
                                    • Weddings/Events

                                    Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                    Want a pro level cam without the weight or price? This is it!
                                    First, having manual controls over just about every aspect of shooting is a must for all videographers. Add to that the capability to have 26 different custom picture settings at you fingertips. Then you have broadcast standard 50mbps and 60i.
                                    It's not all pie though. MXF can be a pain if you're using a low end editor. There is no problem with Vegas Pro or Premier Pro. Another problem for some might be the CF cards. There is a list of compatible cards on the Canon site, but just order the SanDisk Extreme Pro and get to shooting.
                                    A big selling point for me was the weight. This sits nicely on my dslr rig. It saves my back while doing handheld shots. Also, it provides a bit of stealth while shooting in a crowd of people.

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                                    (2 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

                                     
                                    1.0

                                    Huge image noise problem - sensor issue?

                                    By Steve the Baker

                                    from Chicago, IL

                                    About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                                    Verified Buyer

                                    Pros

                                    • Good Image Stabilization

                                    Cons

                                    • Complicated To Operate
                                    • Poor Image Quality
                                    • Poor In Low Light

                                    Best Uses

                                      Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                      Unfortunately, I experienced huge image noise problems with this camcorder. Even with custom settings, the image quality was not good.

                                      Here is an example: Custom picture set to the BBC Cine Mode (a custom picture setting for the Canon XF100 by BBC) . 50 MBit/s, 1920x1080, 24p, 1/48 shutter speed. 4000K white balance. Manual gain control/aperture set to -6/F1.8 or 0/F2.6 or 6/F3.4. Object: Living room with big windows on a bright, sunny day. At all gain levels, the camera produced nothing else than faded colors, grey blacks, and a lot of image noise. Even when I manually adjusted the camera just to gain -6, the image was still very noisy, especially the shadows. I experienced the same problems with other custom picture settings as well.

                                      I saw cleaner online videos shot with this camera even under low light conditions, so it looks like the sensor of the unit I bought is obviously malfunctioning.

                                      Or it points to a more general problem : I found a lot of people on forums and video sharing sites who are complaining about the same issue.

                                      Call me an amateur, if a camera produces such unbelievably noisy images that are definitely unusable for professional work, and no little people think there is something wrong with the camera or it must be a sensor issue, such a camcorder is not for me and needs to go back.

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                                      • No

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                                      4.0

                                      Excellent Image Quality

                                      By Rustable Ryan

                                      from Austin,Tx

                                      About Me Pro Videographer

                                      Verified Buyer

                                      Pros

                                      • Easy to Use
                                      • Good Image Stabilization
                                      • Great Picture Quality

                                      Cons

                                        Best Uses

                                        • Documentaries
                                        • HD Shooting
                                        • Home Movies
                                        • Movies/Short Films
                                        • Travel
                                        • Weddings/Events

                                        Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                        I was really impressed with the color and sharpness of this camera. It does take a little fine tuning out of the box and has some noise at 9db. But the auto iris and focus works excellent. I went from a 7d to this and will never go back. You just cant beat the auto features this camera has makes it a breeze to shoot. So you can concentrate more on composing your shot.

                                        • Was this a gift?:
                                        • No

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                                        (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                         
                                        5.0

                                        Just the right next step

                                        By PJM

                                        from Owls Head, ME

                                        About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                                        Verified Buyer

                                        Pros

                                        • Easy to Use
                                        • Good Image Stabilization
                                        • Good in Low Light
                                        • Great Picture Quality
                                        • Great Sound
                                        • Great Weight
                                        • Great Zoom
                                        • Large Clear LCD
                                        • Zoom range/performance

                                        Cons

                                          Best Uses

                                          • Documentaries
                                          • HD Shooting
                                          • Indoors/Low Light
                                          • Movies/Short Films

                                          Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                          I am moving up from a Canon HV30 and this is exactly where I need to be.

                                          Share this review

                                          (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                           
                                          4.0

                                          Saving up to get another one!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          By Deadman walking

                                          from Gaffney,SC

                                          About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                                          Verified Buyer

                                          Pros

                                          • Easy to Use
                                          • Good Image Stabilization
                                          • Good in Low Light
                                          • Great Picture Quality
                                          • Great Zoom
                                          • Large Clear LCD
                                          • Zoom range/performance

                                          Cons

                                          • Poor Sound

                                          Best Uses

                                          • Documentaries
                                          • HD Shooting
                                          • Home Movies
                                          • Indoors/Low Light
                                          • Movies/Short Films
                                          • Travel
                                          • Weddings/Events

                                          Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                          Movies
                                          Everything
                                          No RCA OUT

                                          • Was this a gift?:
                                          • No

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                                          5.0

                                          An Overall Amazing Camcorder!

                                          By Mikey

                                          from Weirton, WV

                                          About Me Video Enthusiast

                                          Verified Buyer

                                          Pros

                                          • Easy to Use
                                          • Good Image Stabilization
                                          • Good in Low Light
                                          • Great Picture Quality
                                          • Great Sound
                                          • Great Zoom
                                          • Large Clear LCD

                                          Cons

                                            Best Uses

                                            • Documentaries
                                            • HD Shooting
                                            • Home Movies
                                            • Indoors/Low Light
                                            • Movies/Short Films
                                            • Travel
                                            • Weddings/Events

                                            Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                            This is an amazing camcorder overall. The only con is the zoom range and a little in low light, but you can adjust te settings until you get the picture you want. The image quality I great an I would recommend this to a friend anyday. The FREE shipping was great, and only about 3 days! That's unbelievable! B&H is the only place I am going to order camcorder supplies from again.

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                                            • No

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                                            5.0

                                            Excellent. I recomend!!!

                                            By Luis Torres

                                            from Miami, FL

                                            About Me Pro Videographer

                                            Verified Buyer

                                            Pros

                                            • Easy to Use
                                            • Good Image Stabilization
                                            • Good in Low Light
                                            • Great Picture Quality
                                            • Great Sound
                                            • Great Zoom
                                            • Large Clear LCD
                                            • Zoom range/performance

                                            Cons

                                              Best Uses

                                              • HD Shooting
                                              • Movies/Short Films
                                              • Weddings/Events

                                              Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                              This is the best camera that I ever had! I improved my work´s quality 100%.

                                              • Was this a gift?:
                                              • No

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                                              (0 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

                                               
                                              2.0

                                              Grainy and yellow

                                              By MJB

                                              from Washington, D.C.

                                              About Me Pro Videographer

                                              Verified Buyer

                                              Pros

                                                Cons

                                                • Poor Image Quality
                                                • Poor In Low Light

                                                Best Uses

                                                • Documentaries

                                                Comments about Canon XF100 HD Professional Camcorder:

                                                nice camera, but very grainy in low light and yellow yellow yellow, returned and got the sony nx30, for weddings and events much better.

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                                                • No

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                                                Required item: Recording media is not included. A memory card is required to record your footage.

                                                SanDisk -  16GB CompactFlash Memory Card Extreme 400x UDMA
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                                                Microphones & Audio Adapters

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                                                Audio-Technica -  AT875 Short Condenser Shotgun Microphone
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                                                Create a more snug fit and vibration isolation for a shotgun mic when it is mounted in the camcorder's mic clip. (B&H # SAROCS)

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                                                Tripod, Sliders, Dollies, & Cranes

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                                                Magnus -  VT-4000 Tripod System with Fluid Head
                                                • Price: $149.95
                                                 
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