Canon USA introduces two new professional HD camcorders today – the XH A1S and XH G1S HD camcorders. These new camcorders build on the XH A1 and XH G1 camcorders and offer improved operations, greater image control, and improved audio capabilities. Some of the common features found in these new camcorders include the following:

• Canon 20x HD video lens offers manual zoom and focus. It can operate simultaneously in manual or autofocus mode
• Three independent manual adjustment rings – focus, zoom, and iris – have been redesigned for easy access and comfortable operation
• Three sensitivity settings for manual focus ring
• Normal, fast, and slow zoom speeds
• Canon SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) system
• Customizable “operational feeling” of the camcorder
• Video can be captured and output in multiple frame rates including 60i for mainstream production; 30F for perfect frame grabs or Web delivery; and 24F for emulating the look of motion-picture film – The camcorders can be switched in all frame rates between 1080-line 16:9 aspect ratio HD video and 480-line 4:3 aspect ratio SD video (or 576 lines in 50i or 25F mode).
• Total Image Control for customizing image and color settings – with a total of 23 custom presets available
• Wide array of camera functions and operational settings available to user
• Audio refinements include: two-channel audio performance; two built-in XLR terminals with separate audio-input sensitivity settings; the ability to simultaneously record sound from the supplied internal microphone and an external microphone; line output level switching; an audio (manual) limiter and a new metal headphone jack for reliable connectivity

Features exclusive to the XH G1S HD camcorder include:

• HD-SDI/SD-SDI Output, SMPTE Timecode Input/Output, and Genlock Input
• The model adds flags when in 24F frame rate mode which allow compatible hardware or software to locate the frames needed for removal during professional editing, resulting in native 24F video.

Other features of the XH G1S include:

• Three 1/3 inch native 16:9 CCD image sensors with 1.67 megapixels
• DIGIC DV II HD Image Processor
• SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer

The Canon XH A1S and XH G1S HD camcorders are scheduled to be available in late December for an estimated retail price of $3,999 and $6,999, respectively.

Here is the Canon XH A1S

Here is the Canon XH G1S

Technorati Tags: Canon XH A1S, XH G1S HD Camcorders