Canon XF300 HD Camcorder PAL

by Canon
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Canon XF300 HD Camcorder PAL
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The Canon XF300 is a professional HD camcorder which offers an MPEG-2, 50Mbps, 4:2:2 codec with a Canon L-series lens and 3 Full HD CMOS sensors for HD video stored on CF card.

* MPEG-2 MXF recording to CF cards at up to 50Mbps (4:2:2)
* 18x wide angle Canon L-series lens
* 3 x 1/3 type Full HD Canon CMOS sensors
* 10.1 cm LCD (1.23M dots); 1.3 cm (1.55M dots) Viewfinder
* Variable frame rates

Specifications

Camera

Image Sensor
Sensor: 1/3 type 3CMOS
System: RGB Prism
Total pixels per sensor: 2.37 megapixels
Effective pixels per sensor: 2.07 megapixels
Horizontal Resolution: 1000 TV lines or more (1920 x 1080i mode)

Lens
Zoom ratio: 18x
Focal length: 4.1 - 73.8mm (35mm equivalent: 29.3 - 527.4mm)
Minimum focus distance: 1m; 20mm (MACRO)
ND filter: 3 glass filters - 1/4, 1/16, 1/64
Zoom control:Ring, Rocker or Handle
Zoom speed:
- Zoom Rocker - Variable speed/Fixed speed (16 speed level settings available); Handle zoom: Fixed speed (16 speed level settings available)
- Focus control - Manual ring or automatic (Instant AF, TV AF or Face Detection AF)
Iris control: Manual ring; Full Auto; Push Auto Iris
Aperture range: f1.6 - f22
Filter diameter: 82mm
Lens elements/groups: 17/14
Image stabilization system: Optical lens shift system (angle & vector movement detection); 3 modes: Dynamic, Standard, Powered
Digital zoom: 1.5X

Image Processor: DIGIC DV III

Recording

Video storage media: Type 1 Compact Flash memory cards (2 card slots)
Type: UDMA4, 30MB/s or faster (40MB/s or faster for Fast/Slow recording)
Recording time: 32GB CF card: Up to 80mins (1080/50i @ 50 Mbps)
Recording file format: Material eXchange Format (MXF)
Recording formats:
- MPEG-2 Long GOP
- 50Mbps CBR (4:2:2) MPEG-2 422@HL;
- 35Mbps VBR (4:2:0) MPEG-2 MP@HL;
- 25Mbps CBR (4:2:0) MPEG-2 MP@H14
Recording frame rate:
- 50Mbps: 1920 x 1080/50i, 25p; 1280 x 720/50p, 25p;
- 35Mbps: 1920 x 1080/50i, 25p; 1280 x 720/50p, 25p;
- 25Mbps: 1440 x 1080/50i, 25p
Slow/Fast motion:
- 720p: 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 37, 42, 45, 48, 50fps
- 1080p: 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25fps
Interval Record: 2, 6 or 12 frames, 25 time intervals
Frame Record: 2, 6 or 12 frames
Pre Record (cache record): 3 seconds
Scan Reverse: Up/down, left/right image inversion
Photo storage media: SD/SDHC memory card
Still quality:
- During video recording: 1920 x 1080;
- During playback: 1920x1080, 1280 x 720

System

LCD
Size: 10.1 cm (4")
Dots: 1.23 million
Image quality adjustments: Brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness, backlight, black & white
Adjustable: Left/right switchable
Waveform Monitor: Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope
Focus Assist: Peaking; Magnifying; Edge Monitor (using waveform display)
Peaking: Peaking 1, Peaking 2 (Colour, Gain, Frequency customisable for each)
Zebra: Level 1; Level 2; Both; Output via HD-SDI or HDMI
Markers: On/Off (Aspect ratio, Aspect marker, Select area, Safe area, Grid, Horizontal, Centre)

Viewfinder
Size: 1.3cm (0.52")
Dots: 1.55 million
Image quality adjustments: Brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness, backlight, black & white
Adjustable: Vertical tilt
Correction lens: + 2.0 to -5.5 diopters

Inputs/Outputs
Audio in: XLR inputs with 48V phantom power x 2
Headphone output: 3.5mm stereo jack
Video monitor output: BNC, composite Standard Definition video, output only
HDMI: Type A, output only
IEEE 1394 (Firewire): NO
USB: Mini-B, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, output only
HD/SD-SDI output: NO
Time code: NO
Genlock: NO
Component out: D connector, output only
AV terminal: 3.5mm mini jack (output only for video and audio)
DC input: YES
Remote Control Terminal: 2.5mm mini jack
Colour Bars: Type 1/Type 2

Misc
Tally lamp: YES (x2)
Accessory shoe: Hot shoe, EOS Flash units supported
Custom key: 13 assignable buttons; select from 30 functions

Shooting functions

Exposure
Exposure metering: Standard (centre weighted), Spotlight, Backlight
Exposure range: 50 - 100,000 lux
Exposure compensation: -2 to +2 EV (14 steps)
Auto Exposure mode: Full Auto
Push Auto Iris: YES
Auto Gain Control setting: Full Auto / AGC On / Manual
Auto Gain Control limit: 3dB; 6dB; 9dB; 12dB; 15dB; 18dB; (OFF/21 dB)
Gain setting: Assignable L, M, H switch positions (-6dB / -3dB / 0dB/ 3dB / 6dB/ 12dB / 18dB / 21dB / 33dB / TUNE (0.5 dB increments from 0 to 21 dB))

Shutter speed
Control Modes: 3 position switch: OFF (Full Auto) / ON / SEL (Auto; Speed; Angle; Clear Scan (CS); Slow Shutter (SLS))
Shutter speed: 1/18 to 1/2000 depending on frame rate
Shutter Angle: 11.25o to 360o depending on frame rate
Slow Shutter (SLS): 1/3, 1/6, 1/12, 1/25
Clear Scan:
- 50i/p: 50 to 251.15Hz;
- 25p: 25 to 251.15Hz

Custom picture
Stored Configurations: 9
Storage Medium: SD/SDHC memory card (all customisation data and metadata)
Gamma: 6 profiles
Master Pedestal: -50 to +50
Master Black: -50 to +50 for each of R,G,B
Black Gamma: Adjustable height width and apex
Low Key Saturation: -50 to +50 adjusts colour saturation in low brightness area
Knee: Adjusts over exposure characteristic, start, slope, saturation
Sharpness: Adjustment for Detail level, Detail frequency, Coring, HV balance, Detail limit, Detail select, Knee aperture and Level dependent sharpness
Noise reduction: Off, Automatic, On (1 to 8)
Skin detail: Off, Low, Middle, High / Hue, Chroma, Brightness
Selective Noise Reduction: Off, Low, Middle, High / Hue, Chroma, Brightness
Colour matrix: -50 to +50 hue and gain R,G,B, in tandem with Gamma selection
White balance: -50 to +50 white balance offset for R,G,B
Colour correction: Area selection / area revision of two areas
Setup level: -50 to +50 On/Off
Clip 100% IRE: Limits output to 100% after setup adjustment

White balance
Auto: YES
Preset: A, B, Preset (Daylight, Tungsten)

Time code
Countup system: Regen, RecRun, FreeRun, External, Hold
Start value setting: "00:00:00:00", Set/Reset selectable

Audio
Recording: 16-bit 2ch (48 kHz) linear PCM
Control: Independent limiters and auto/manual settings
Microphone attenuation: YES
Microphone level meter: YES

Physical

Dimensions: Approx 180 x 192 x 394 mm
Weight (camera only): Approx 2700g
Operating Temperature range: -5oC to +45oC, 60% relative humidity

In the Box

Component cable DTC-1000
Battery pack BP-955
DC lead DC-930
Compact power adapter CA-930
Wireless controller WL-D6000
XF Utility and NLE Plug-ins
Shoulder strap
Eyecup
Canon XF300 manual

Reviews

Reviewed by 8 Customers
Rating: 5.0
Write a review
Canon XF300 HD Camcorder PAL
Rating: 5.0
By from Luxembourg on
Excellent produit que je connaissais plus ou moins par rapport aux différents sites, en faisant également des comparaisons avec d'autres appareils du même type.
Aussi, la communication avec Globalmediapro via mail a été vraiment très bien ainsi que le délai de livraison avec le suivi du colis.
Aucun reproche, tout c'est vraiment bien passé.
Canon XF300 HD Camera
Rating: 5.0
By Verified Buyer from Brisbane, Australia. on
I have made a number of purchases through Globalmediapro. Their communication is excellent and the camera arrived within 4 days of payment, well done!
Love the camera. I have been using the Canon XHA1 for the past few years and have always been impressed with Canons image quality. The Canon XF-300 is no exception and is the next logical step to tapeless acquisition. I spent a few months investigating different camera options with the Sony EX-1 being the nearest rival worth consideration within a similar price range. From the many reviews on YouTube and Vimeo to me the XF-300 seemed to have the edge in quality and certainly had the functionality I was looking for. Having now used the XF-300 for a few days I couldn't be happier with the results. Image is clean and sharp and have been able to replicate the scene files from the XHA1 to achieve a similar look that I was using. Having got used to using the XHA1 switching to the XF-300 was easy and got to understand it functionality and workflow in just a few hours. I will keep the XHA1 for two camera applications now that the scene files have been duplicated.
This camera is slightly bigger and heavier than the XHA1 due to the huge lens, but most of my videos are tripod lockdown shots with minimal handheld applications anyway. The EX-1 is smaller and lighter. All the most essential buttons are placed on the outside of the camera with just a handful needing to get into the menu to turn on. Everything about this camera is professional and will serve my needs for a few years to come.
My only dislike is the damn on/off switch. What was Canon thinking with such a stupid design. It works fine but you need to be very careful to not switch from record direct to media playback mode with off being in-between the two. This is not a deal breaker but took me a while to get used to. There are some things missing on the camera that I would have liked but can work my way around these using other techniques, so all in all I am very happy with this Camera. A bonus is being able to use all my batteries from the XHA1.
Great camera
Rating: 5.0
By from Rotterdam, The Netherlands on
I had only held the camera for a few minutes and reading several reviews on the internet, before ordering it . Not the most usual approach for a camera in this price range, but I believe I made a good decision.

There are two minor things with this camera, one is the power switch as has been mentioned in various reviews, and the other is that the image quality is SO GOOD, that women hate to be in the picture, because it shows every wrinkle, every blemish, every minor mistake with their eyeliner, that they would want a visagiste to prepare them before they get into the picture.

It is a great camera, but it does require extensive reading of the documentation to get the correct settings with the numerous settings available.

I had an alternative, the Sony EX3, but the ergonomics of that camera, the limited color-space (4:2:0 versus the Canon's 4:2:2) and the heavier compression (35 Mb versus 50 Mb of the Canon) won me over, plus the better price and the low cost of CF cards, and I don't regret it a moment.
Perfect HD camera
Rating: 5.0
By from Switzerland on
This camera will replace most of HD broadcast camera. It is a big pleasure to shoot with.
Great Camera Good Price
Rating: 4.0
By from Saudi Arabia on
I saw the camera first at CABSAT-Dubai. Picture quality was awsome: sharpness, color and quality in general.
When I bought the camera my opinion still the same but I noticed in the noise is more than expected.
It depends on the .
I like dealing with Global Media Pro, but I find it little bit difficult doning the wire transfer especially in Saudi Arabia.
Worth the upgrade
Rating: 5.0
By from Sydney, Australia on
The XF300 has been really good for theatre documentation, I think the lens is better than the XHA1, the rings turn more smoothly, the picture is much more substantial at 50Mbps, it reminds me of quality of much larger 1/2 inch cameras, a more solid image. Because of 4:2:2, there's more lattitude to the image, and though I havn't done a direct comparison, the footage looks like the gutsyness of the EX1-3's. I'm shooting on 9db, which for me is ok, very fine grain but balanced out on a very nice picture.
Good Camera and excellent service
Rating: 5.0
By from Norway on
Good camera. Upgraded from the XH A1 and the workflow is pretty similar. 80 minutes of footage on 32 gig. This took about 19 minutes to upload to my computer. Easy camera to operate. easy to adapt my needs.
Was skeptical to buy the camera from Globalmediapro because of their payment method. Everything went perfectly. Good feedback from globakmediapro throughout the process. From ordering, payment and shipping, it took less than 13 days to Norway. VAT claim was sent by DHL after 14 days. Very tidy trade. Can recommend to buy from you again
Canon XF300 XF305
Rating: 4.0
By from Belgium on
I did not see the essential EXP LOCK button from the HX-A1 camera on the new XF300/305. This button is necessary to instantly lock the exposition (aperture/speed) on the current values. According to Canon, if you work in manual focus, it is possible to lock the speed at the current value but with a more complex manipulation (that will shake the camera). I think this is a serious lack.

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