Today, Canon releases two new camcorders in the professional range. They are the XA25 and XA20. They will be available end-June 2013. The RRP for XA25 is S$4,199 and the RRP for XA20 is S$3,199. More information in the Press Release.
Press Release
The Newly Designed Canon Professional Camcorders Offer Users Better Image Quality with Improved Sensor and Lens
Field videographers will enjoy the boost in Wi-Fi connectivity, simultaneous dual recording functions and Full HD capabilities of the XA25 and XA20
SINGAPORE, 11 June 2013 – Canon has released two new camcorders in its professional range – the XA25 and XA20 – that will improve the image quality of TV, commercial and independent movie productions. These camcorders feature a compact body, an improved zoom lens and powerful components like the new DIGIC DV 4 image processor and improved HD CMOS Pro sensor. Operation of these cameras has been streamlined with advanced controls that include the ability to dual-record a shot simultaneously onto two different video formats. The new lens is also one of the firsts in Canon’s camcorder range to have a circular aperture design, which creates a natural blur resulting in expressive shots.
“With the new high-end DIGIC DV 4 image processing platform and HD CMOS PRO sensors, the XA25 and XA20 are equipped to weather many shooting hassles such as shaky camera handling, low-light situations and blurring of fast-moving subjects. This makes these camcorders a reliable and rational choice for professional filmmakers looking for sharp and detailed images,” said Andrew Koh, General Manager of Consumer Business, Canon Singapore.
Enhanced video performance
The HD CMOS PRO image sensor’s extremely high pixel count of 2.91 million effective pixels, coupled with the new zoom lens, performs superbly when recording at both wide-angle and telephoto zoom distances. The surface area of the sensor has also been enlarged to a 1/2.84-inch for increased sensitivity to produce an even wider dynamic range. The DIGIC DV 4’s potent processing ability strengthens vibration control, achieves better color reproduction and records high quality video in low-light conditions with minimal noise.
Together, the HD CMOS PRO and DIGIC DV 4 power the Intelligent IS (Image Stabilizer) function, allowing for stable and clear video at all times. The five-axis Dynamic IS function is able to detect all types of handheld camera shakes and vibrations possible and correct them to provide users with distortion-free images.
For greater versatility when composing shots, the XA25 and XA20 are equipped with a newly developed wide-angle zoom lens constructed from 6 optimally-positioned lens elements. This gives the lens a wide focal length of 26.8mm and a 20x optical zoom while still maintaining a compact design. Its 8-bladed circular aperture helps create natural blurring, resulting in expressive shots great for films or TV shows.
The XA25 and XA20 are also capable of recording fast and slow motion shots, as they can be set to shoot at doubled or reduced frame rates. By shooting at these frame rates, creative motion shots can be captured with smooth clarity and detail.
Multiple encoding options
Through the power of the DIGIC DV 4 imaging processor, theXA25 and XA20 are able to produce 1080p/Full HD videos in either AVCHD or MP4 format
The powerful DIGIC DV 4 also makes simultaneous dual recording onto both of the cameras’ SD-card slots simultaneously, giving professionals shooting in the field more options when deciding on their workflow. For example, the first SD-card slot can be set to record video in high quality 24Mbps AVCHD format, while the second slot simultaneously records in the smaller 4Mbps MP4 format, allowing rapid transfer and uploading to the Internet.
Should users want to upload shots onto the Internet or quickly transfer them via FTP, the XA25 and XA20 are also able to internally transcode videos after they are recorded. Any recorded AVCHD movies can be down-converted to MP4 formats for convenience.
The Power of Wi-Fi
Both the XA25 and XA20 have built-in Wi-Fi support, expanding their functionality tremendously. Once connected to a network, users can use any smartphone, tablet or PC to remotely control the cameras via an interface that works over a web browser. This interface gives the user extensive control options, including exposure settings, focus, white balance, zoom and more. This way, the camera can be fully utilised even when mounted on a crane or another distant location.
Wi-Fi also enables the XA25 and XA20 to transfer files via FTP, making the transmission of important videos of breaking news possible even without the aid of a broadcast van.
Many Wi-Fi capable devices use the 2.4GHz band, so transferring files over this band might be met with a lot of interference. To overcome this, the XA25 and XA20 have Dual-band support and can use both the common 2.4GHz and the 5GHz band*.
Advanced controls and design
The XA25 and XA20 are designed with functionality and ease of use in mind for professionals who shoot on their camcorders for prolonged periods. Focus and zoom controls are readily within reach, with a new “seesaw” style zoom lever for precise zoom control and a focus ring that also doubles as a zoom ring at the touch of a button. In addition, there are five customisable buttons that a user can assign with to his most frequently used functions.
The XA25 and XA20 can also be operated via the 3.5-inch 1.23 million dot OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) electrostatic touch screen, allowing users to adjust settings via efficient swiping gestures. These camcorders are also the first amongst Canon’s products to feature an OLED screen.
Both the XA25 and XA20 come with a detachable handle that grants users the flexibility to choose between different shooting styles. This handle comes with a start/stop button, zoom controls to make it easier to shoot low angle shots and two XLR terminals along with a cold shoe as additional accessories.
Price and availability
The XA25 and XA20 are available at authorised Canon dealers at the following prices and dates:
| Model | Price | Availability |
| XA25 | $4,199 | End-June |
| XA20 | $3,199 | End-June |
About Canon Singapore Pte Ltd
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte Ltd is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company leads 18 other countries including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc has a global network of close to 300 companies and employs close to 200,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits about 10% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is consistently one of the top few companies to earn the most number of patents over the last 20 years. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.
More information is available at www.canon.com.sg
[ad#boxlist]