Canon’s flagship HDV camera, the XL H1, just got an overhaul. It would be an exaggeration to describe it as major; the most significant change from the XL H1 to the XL H1S is the new included 20X zoom. It’s still the same tape-based, compact shoulder-mount camcorder, but Canon clearly has been listening to user feedback in devising its updates.
The guts of the new XL H1S are the same: three 1/3in. CCDs with an HDV tape transport and interchangeable lenses. But again, there’s a new standard lens, the Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III. Its focus and zoom rings features a different texture for better control; there’s also a brand new iris ring on the lens. Zoom control is also refined — there’s a more gradual “step in” and “step out” to a zoom in order to avoid what the Canon guys call “zoom shock.” Canon has extended control over zoom to the point that you can do a slow, “creepy” zoom that lasts up to 5 minutes.
Many of the updates to the camera itself allow more customization of the camera settings. White balance control has a greater range, as does the gain. As for the body itself, the two biggest changes seem to be the exchange of a four-pin FireWire port for a new, sturdier six-pin FireWire port; and the stripping of two XLR inputs. Canon officials asserted that most users couldn’t employ the XL H1’s four audio channels in their editing suite, so the new XL H1S offers only two. The XL H1S will be available in mid May.
