The Canon XA65 Professional UHD 4K Camcorder is a compact, lightweight camera that features many similarities to its XA45 predecessor, including UHD 4K capture, a 1/2.3" CMOS sensor, two XLR audio inputs, and one each mini-HDMI and BNC 3G-SDI output, making it suitable for the ENG category for documentary or journalism-style productions. This streamlined model features a larger 3.5mm LCD capacitive touchscreen display, a higher-resolution tiltable 0.36" OLED EVF, XF-AVC and MP4 recording formats, OSD metadata recording, and fast USB-C video-only output with UVC support for live streaming to a computer.

The lens optics include an integrated 20x 4K/HD optical zoom and an eight-bladed circular iris for more natural highlights. The camera's pro-style features include Hybrid, Normal, Face Only, manual focus, Instant, and Canon's Medium autofocus; fast- and slow-motion recording, full manual control, optical and electronic image stabilization, a 3.5" touchscreen LCD, user-assignable buttons, infrared mode, and a DIG!C DV6 image processor with high sensitivity and low noise.

The camera records UHD 4K30 and Full HD 1080p60 captured to dual SD card slots, and it outputs to mini-HDMI and 3G-SDI ports. The dual SD card slots allow for automatic switching from one card to another, as well as simultaneous recording to both. The camera can output up to 1920 x 1080p 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 59.94 fps via its mini-HDMI and 3G-SDI outputs. On the audio side, the XA65 features up to four channels of LPCM audio in 720p mode with manual/automatic recording levels, two XLR inputs with phantom power, and a 3.5mm stereo mini input. It features a built-in stereo microphone as well as a headphone jack.