Appreciate the feedback. I'm cross shopping the XA70 with the Panasonic HC-X20, and I'm trying to see why I would get the XA70... This helps me decide that isn't the right choice.
Ooh... Looked up the new Panasonic releases.... Nice looking camcorders! As much as I love my XA40, if I were in the market for a new Pro camcorder right now...I'd be checking out the other options too.
In the video market there are different view points to consider. There are people who want an all-in-one package, others want something that just works no matter what, while yet others are who want all the pieces and all the bells and whistles. A Camcorder is targeted to those who want something all-in-one and just works. In my personal experience, I have found with my Canon DSLR, I'm carrying so much more gear to do the same job, or record a video, than I am with my XA55. The primary use of the XA55 is for a online live stream broadcast over SDI, and my DSLR does not cut it. Something also to consider the XA50/55 and XA70/75 have 1" Sensors, but only have a 15x optical zoom. While the XA40/45 and XA60/64 have a 1/2.3" Sensors offer a 20x optical zoom. It would be like comparing a DSLR/Mirrors Full Frame to a Crop Sensor and saying everyone just needs the bigger sensor. Even in Cinema they use the Super 35mm sensor all the time. Alexa, Red, Etc. So sensor size is not everything. Something else to think about is the recording and delivery codecs of a camera. Does the average person need Canon Raw, or ProRes? Probably not. Having the option of XF-AVC and MP4 is what most Prosumers want and need. One additional thing. The Processing chip on the last gen and current gen are the same. Digic DV 6. If you look at the next series up, the XF605 or 705, they have dual Digic DV 6. The difference of one or two processor chips is 4k30 or 4k60. And this makes sense because, look at their mirror less line up. Outside of the EOS R and RP the rest of their R# series have the Digic X processor. From the R3 down to the R10. Same Processor reduces the R&D and Manufacturing costs. Perhaps Canon has a large inventory of their Digic DV 6 chips. And to put dual chips on the XA series would increase the cost up to the XF series prices. I will also point out in the computer market there are incremental refreshes like this all the time. Because older chips become unavailable or a new manufacturing process makes things inaccessible. I apologize if this comes across as rambling.
Not rambling at all. Could read camcorder discussions all day and agree with your points (I play around with the Sony Alpha now and again but just enjoy using my XA40 so much more!)
@@DanielSRosehill Thanks! I would agree with your point that the new cameras aren't great upgrades from the previous generation. But are pretty solid upgrades from 2 generations ago. I think Canon is updating some components, keeping the Camcorder relevant with marketing and using up some stock parts they have pre-supply chain slow down. Most likely we'll see a nicer improvement in the next iteration of this series of camera. Taking the current model number and add 20 to it. The XA80/85 and XA90/95 generation. ☺️
I think since making this I've made peace with not having the very latest and greatest *whatever* in their series. Even the earlier 1080P only XAs are amazingly capable cameras (I only real use 4K for work stuff... Otherwise HD is good enough for my needs)
@@DanielSRosehill I agree. I've researched the needs of 4k and UHD. For me the amount of extra HDDs needed for 4K compared to FHD 1080p is not worth it. Plus with RUclips putting up a Pay Wall for 4K content, upload bandwidth concerns, and even consumer devices limiting 720p / 1080p viewing content makes the desire for 4K outside for a dedicated job really difficult say it's worth the cost to upgrade everything in your life. I think a higher bit rate and better code of 1080p is worth more than any format of 4k / 6k / 8k / 12k. In my opinion.
It is a good review I have to say, but there is a very important point you are missing. No company would ever deliver a product today and a few months later come up with an upgraded version in a way that makes you feel your purchase is now obsolete. You won't find that anywhere as long as you are purchasing from a reputable company. As you said throughout the entire video, you really love your XA40 and you don't feel you missed out on a way more robust product if you had waited a few more months. That is a very good thing, you still feel your purchase is relevant and it meets all your expectations and if there is a new upgraded version out there, well, good for those who want to consider it, you are already happy with your camera. I personally was waiting for a bigger sensor and finally, we have a 1-inch sensor on the XA70. I can now use XF-AVC (MXF) file format which was not available previously. It would have been nice to have HEVC instead or even 10 Bit at 4K but if they do that then your XA40 would become sort of obsolete. Canon and most high-tech companies out there would make sure you don't purchase a product now and it becomes a piece of crap down the road. You would lose credibility and confidence thinking they are going to make you feel you wasted your money if you purchase from them again. Most minor upgrades like these ones often target a marketing goal, either to lead the market or to catch up on features available at a certain consumer level. Your XA40 is not second to any other camcorder in this segment. it produces amazing videos, it is very capable and it is a fantastic choice for anyone not needing the new features and Canon knows that very well. They won't hurt your level of satisfaction in any way.
Hey man! Just wanted to quickly say that I really appreciated this comment (in particular) and the perspective shift that you gave me. I guess innovation is a natural tendency for manufacturers trying to stay ahead of the game but that doesn't do anything to "devalidate" their previous product offering (I guess I must have been feeling like a bit of a mug for not holding out when I recorded this vid). I inferred from what you wrote that you picked up an XA70 so hope you have a great time recording with the camcorder! Daniel.
"No company would ever deliver a product today and a few months later come up with an upgraded version in a way that makes you feel your purchase is now obsolete." Most might not but not all... I have several friends who have been burnt by Apple like this. They bought a high end MacBook Pro or iMac only to find that a month or two later something is released that either blows it away or just really hurts like when they reintroduce ports they took away far too early and never should have or they completely redesign the product like the old TV looking iMac when it became the first G5 flat screen type version or worse they bought a high end Intel MBP only to discover than a few months later the M1 version is released (same if you bought a G5 Mac just before the first Intel version came out). Apple will sell you something today they know for a fact will be obsolete tomorrow and good luck taking it back for that reason... "finally, we have a 1-inch sensor on the XA70. I can now use XF-AVC (MXF) file format which was not available previously." Actually Canon introduced these features on the XA50 which was released back in 2019. But yes you're right, over all the XA series goes though a lot of minor upgrades before something comes along that is really worth upgrading to (like from the original XA10 to the XA40 would be worth it) and that is kind of nice because as you say it doesn't hurt so much if you just missed out on the latest version (unlike what can happen with Apple).
Hi Daniel. I bought the XA40 which you seem to favour but I wasn't happy with the image. Highlights seem overexposed to me and there is a strange green tinge. Otherwise I'd really love it. I ended up having to get the XA50 which I find has great image and colour. My only complaint is that the image stabalisation is very jerky. It's strange that my iphone can cope with me walking and filming but my expensive XA50 can't. Just checked your video because I was hoping the 70 might have improved this but I seriously doubt it. It does annoy me that they don't improve much with the upgrades.
Hi Daniel. We're interested in investing in the XA60B for recording sports, specifically swimming, and based on the reviews it seems to be a great cam at the budget...it's what we can afford right now. Based on @Julezguides and another review on RUclips, the stability isn't great when walking, and in swimming you have to walk the length of the pool to capture the action. Would it be better to invest in 2x GoPro 11 - as they'll be roughly the same price?
No idea I'm afraid. I'm guessing you might have luck asking people doing videography for stuff like amateur swim meets what they use for stabilisation. For stuff like poolside footage in the Olympics I'd imagine it's either things like steadicams or cameras on track (rugby is more my sport and I know that's what's used for the 'roving' cams in that context. My bias would always be towards camcorders and figuring out the details later but... I also have only very limited experience with action cams to draw on.
@@DanielSRosehill Lol...no sweat, yes, for top end events like Olympics and World Champs they use cameras on dolly tracks. I guess we'll have to run with it and see what works best. Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.
Seems the only significant difference between the XA50 and the new XA70 is the size of the LCD screen. However, the 3.5" on the new XA70 (3.0" on the XA50) has a much lower resolution: 2,760,000 Dot vs.460,000 Dot. The new screen is an OLED screen. Not sure if that offsets the lower resolution. The size of the screen on the XA50 was the major complaint about that camera, especially as the predecessor (XF400) had a 3.5" screen.
the xa 70 has wide dr like the xa 11 which i have. the xa 60 does not. Do you think it is a significant loss and worth going for the xa 70 over the xa 60?
I use my canon xa15 for surveillance. Just ordered the xa60 for the same. I live stream police activity in my home town and the usb output is a major improvement for me. This is a huge improvement for me. My XA60 will be here tomorrow. It’s what I use for this RUclips channel I’m using to comment from. Just subbed btw.
The reason they keep introducing new models is to keep the price point up. It's quite similar to the racket going on with university professors and text books. Change a couple words and introduce an updated textbook each year. Otherwise the market becomes saturated with used textbooks and nobody buys the new. Same thing with the camcorders. No radial innovations, but change one or two things and call it a new model. I'm in the market for one of these cameras right now and was frightfully confused by all of the different model numbers. After studying the specs, just minor differences are apparent. And these differences are not groundbreaking. Just more cosmetic than anything else.
The only way Canon (or any camcorder mfr.) could impress me with a new camcorder is if they made one with the following: 1. At least Super 35 sensor. JVC is the only company that I know of that put a Super 35 sensor that in a camcorder form factor (albeit sans lens), but I heard the build quality wasn't that good, and they ended up abandoning it for some reason and never made such a product again. 2. Canon at least, could stand to put a 20x zoom in their 1-inch camcorders, which is kind of standard these days - Panasonic and JVC have easily accomplished this, so it's not like it's technically not feasible. The best we get from them is 15x. 3. SOMEBODY should make the flip-out LCD BRIGHTER, like 1500 or 2000 nits; otherwise, when you're shooting in direct sunlight, you can barely see a thing. I could almost care less about how many megapixels an LCD screen has. At 3 or 4 inches diagonal, you're not going to see much scrutinizing detail anyway. It's much more important that it's bright enough to compete with the sun, while being as energy efficient as possible for battery life. All that said, I really like what Canon have done with their XF605 camcorder. It's the closest thing I've seen in a camcorder to a cinema camera. Anything after that should have been a step UP, not down. Give us a Super 35 sensor. Give us ProRes in-camera, maybe raw output to a recording monitor. Give us 20x (well, that might be a challenge for a zoom lens that needs to work with a Super 35 sensor). Yeah, I know that all exists in mirrorless hybrids, but maybe there are some of us who would prefer the camcorder form factor, especially with integrated lens and servo zoom (along with connection for remote zoom on tripod handle), and would still like to shoot cinematically on the (relatively) cheap.
Hi Daniel ! question ? did you noticed something having the camera this long now like me, i was using it today and didn't even noticed until i saw the settings, the shutter speeds in the manual are different than in the camera suppose to be 1/6 but its 1/8 and has different intervals maybe it was a firmware update ?
To the very best of my knowledge ... not really. When I was looking for a camcorder with specific criteria (4K capable ... 1/2.3 CMOS or above ... XLR inputs) ... the XA40 was actually the cheapest thing that I found (you could skip some features and go for an XA60?)
I just bought this camcorder today (xa70) all for the 1inch sensor. I am coming from a canon rebel SL1 and that will tell you how much of a leap this is. I got a new tri pod memory card and Rhode wireless mic for around 3,200. I just hope this camera was the right choice for low light conditions. That where my decision to purchase this came from.
They're incredible cameras. By the way - and just in case this wasn't clear - my "criticism" in this video was specifically about the rather modest nature of the upgrades between the XA40/50 and XA60/70. I still think that they're absolutely incredible cameras and - if I had a little bit more cash when I was buying them - I would have certainly gone for the one inch sensor in the XA50 (and now the 70 and 75). I plan to do a video at one point about how they're actually incredible value (if you break down the components, like pricing a lens + body + audio mixer separately .... they're something of a steal!). Wishing you plenty of great shooting with it!
7:00 Disagree on the screens. Canon and every camera company should try and put in better screens. I mean it's literally how you interact with the camera, vast majority of people will end up using them for many things instead of an external monitor and any improvements make your time with the camera easier/more enjoyable. I'm not saying it's a crucial feature and they shouldn't price gouge it but it's something everyone benefits from.
You say “you might as well spend the extra 200 dollars”, I completely disagree. Save the 200 dollars, get the lesser expensive yet ultimately comparable camera… buying these new camcorders would be telling canon Yes you love no substantial upgrades.. hopefully they do better next time around.
I have decided to opt for the XF camcorders from Canon instead of the XA as they offer so much more and I think can justify the admittedly much higher price on a number of better features. I wish there was a way to let Canon know how strange their breakup of camcorder range is.😊
Daniel, I am planning to buy a Canon XA60. Please let me know if the Canon XA60 got overheated if I recorded my kids playing outdoors for over an hour.
I really, really doubt it. Camcorders are built for continuous video recording. I've used mine at conferences for hours at a time. Outdoors the camcorder might get a bit hotter but .. I reckon you're going to be okay (although in life of course there are no guarantees). (Check out the spec sheet. You'll notice that it's rated for up to 495 minutes continuous recording at 17 Mbps: en.canon.co.il/video-cameras/xa60/specifications/)
Yeah it seems bizarre but to be honest this is how the XA series has always been. Every two to four years or so they release an 'upgrade' that really isn't. I worked for a company that had the original XA10 which was great. When I left to go freelance I went to buy one and discovered they had released the XA20, I was excited as I figured I was getting a major upgrade but no... aside from a larger screen (same upgrade they have done from the XA50 to the XA70) and a few other minor things like perhaps slightly higher bitrates or whatever, and from memory a very subtle design change, it was especially the same camera. It was still nice to own the latest version but it I had bought the XA10 I wouldn't have upgraded. In fact I wouldn't have bothered to get the 20, the 11 or 15 or even the 30 if I had the 10. The first time I would have seriously considered upgrading to the same type of camera with the same sensor and design would have been the XA40 for the 4K as all previous versions only shot in 1080 (and it also finally had the updated menu system similar to the XF series) but then they released the XA50 at the same time which was more of a baby XF camera than a XA camera and so I bought that instead in 2021 and I'm not annoyed that a few years later they released the 70 because aside from the webcam stuff (which I won't use) the only thing I miss is the larger screen (which I have on the XA20) but it's not ideal breaker. Oddly the only other change I can see is that they reintroduced 720p recording which both my 20 and the 50 don't have... why? Who shoots in 720p anymore?? Anyway I don't expect there to be an XA camera worthy of an upgrade from the 50 for at least 2 more versions so we're looking at about 6 to 8 years before I will look at buying one assuming I'm still making videos by then. I can't see the XA90 offering too much more to tempt me... maybe the XA110 might though. Time will tell.
A couple points... Usb-c tethering for power and streaming is a really handy feature. One of the reasons I would look at the xa70. Today, I have to run a camcorder through an Elgato device to convert the output signal for live streaming. Plus have extra power cables. The feature will save me setup hassles. The timestamps aren't for you and I, they are for the legal profession. Lawyer depositions and recording evidence. That must be a bigger piece of the market and selling point for those organizations that require it for evidence in court. Not so much as security cameras but for recording illegal events or depositions so the video can be later used in court. The xa70 has a 1inch sensor. Still not big enough. 4k, still not enough resolution. But as you said.. $200 for those features is worth it. One thing you missed is dual pixel autofocus.... thats a good thing, but was also on the xa40, yes? I wonder if there were improvements between then and now. I'd like an xa70 please. But difficult to justify an upgrade if you already have an xa40/50. Also difficult choice between a Sony fx30 +lens... similar cost and function.
XF100 was my favorite camera. Just so darn compact and useful. Don’t like the combination cameras they made, where they crammed the XF100/205 into the XA series. Removing the viewfinder from the top handle is a major reason I don’t like them. Have an XF605 now, it’s great, but honestly I’m considering buying a now 13 year old XF100 for when I need a camera I can shove in a backpack. If they put the XF605 sensor in the XF105 body, and also the XF205 body, I’d buy both. The XA70 and XA60 are not cameras I will buy.
I would use these for mobile surveillance as a Private Investigator following people around, however, not for security type surveillance as there are whole camera systems that are significantly cheaper and the same video quality.
Yup. It looks like it was my bad and I totally misunderstood the spec sheet. And yes ... having spent some time playing around with the zoom range recently ... I can see now why and how camcorders are the perfect tools for PIs (I didn't realize that was already what they used ... I always assumed mirrorless cams but never really gave it much thought)
@@DanielSRosehill That being said, I still don't see any reason to go for the xa70 over xa50 other than the screen and "just $200 more for the newer one"
Yeah. Although if I were buying this thing again I'm not even sure I'd go for the XA70 TBH. The smaller 1/2.3 CMOS has actually sort of made it easier for me to (attempt to!) learn lighting because in low light conditions .... you know the sensor's only going to help so much.
Hi Daniel, i had Covid a few weeks ago and it took some time until i was fully recovered, i am fine now, though and i hope you get well soon too. now to the camcorders: i own a XA50 which i bought not long ago and i too thought, that i missed out, because i didn't wait. but when i looked into the XA70 i found: it is 200€ more expensive, it lacks the remote control and according to the manual it has around 10% shorter battery life (i guess because of the bigger screen). otherwise, it is more or less exactly the same camera. of course, it has gained the bigger lcd and the bigger and better viewfinder, but i still think, that the XA50 is probably the better camcorder for me).
Thank you much for the well wishes. Yes - I would buy one of the new cams just to have the latest model but overall a pretty perplexing feature release!
And I love my XA40 and will wait until I can really afford a 1" CMOS before even thinking about upgrading. Always great to meet a fellow camcorder fan!
I bought an XA50 right before they released the XA70 and I was like “wait… it’s the same camera isn’t it?” I just wasn’t impressed. I’m fine with my XA50.
Surveillance app - not at all silly. I've sat with news crews all pointing at the same house waiting for someone to emerge with guns blazing. Camera can now be left unattended or with minimal babysitting. Maybe? Law enforcement can use this unit for monitoring as well. Unlikely anyone would waste resources using this camera for a security system - that's silly. Nonetheless thanks for the review. I'm scaling back from 2 Sony Z150 cameras and 2 Black Magic to a single Canon XA60 as I no longer need the kickass quality of the workhorse Z150s or the cumbersome Black Magics. Sad to see the Sonys go but excited to try out the Canon.
8:10 It's not for home security lol. Private investigators uses camcorders for surveillance work all the time and I personally know people who do that job and they use camcorders .
To make a crappy camcorder even worse, the UVC usb output does not include audio!! This is beyond pathetic. All the new cameras that support uvc output include audio.
For real? I mean unless I'm mistake the single advantage of USB out over HDMI out would be that you don't need a capture card to get it into a computer. But.... who would want vid only for streaming!?
Lol. I can't hate them because they introduced me to camcorders (I purchased basically based on what I could afford to spend for a minimum spec). When I can finally afford to upgrade to the next level of pro camcorder though I reckon I'll be looking at Panasonic or Sony.
Cool RUclips channel BTW! If you're ever curios what the XA40 looks like straight off the memory card I have a few demo reels scattered across RUclips (but at least a couple on All About The Canon XA40)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you think about the Legeria G70? I somehow struggle to find around the camcorder range and what's up-to-date and what not.
Appreciate the feedback. I'm cross shopping the XA70 with the Panasonic HC-X20, and I'm trying to see why I would get the XA70... This helps me decide that isn't the right choice.
Ooh... Looked up the new Panasonic releases.... Nice looking camcorders! As much as I love my XA40, if I were in the market for a new Pro camcorder right now...I'd be checking out the other options too.
In the video market there are different view points to consider.
There are people who want an all-in-one package, others want something that just works no matter what, while yet others are who want all the pieces and all the bells and whistles.
A Camcorder is targeted to those who want something all-in-one and just works.
In my personal experience, I have found with my Canon DSLR, I'm carrying so much more gear to do the same job, or record a video, than I am with my XA55.
The primary use of the XA55 is for a online live stream broadcast over SDI, and my DSLR does not cut it.
Something also to consider the XA50/55 and XA70/75 have 1" Sensors, but only have a 15x optical zoom. While the XA40/45 and XA60/64 have a 1/2.3" Sensors offer a 20x optical zoom.
It would be like comparing a DSLR/Mirrors Full Frame to a Crop Sensor and saying everyone just needs the bigger sensor.
Even in Cinema they use the Super 35mm sensor all the time. Alexa, Red, Etc. So sensor size is not everything.
Something else to think about is the recording and delivery codecs of a camera. Does the average person need Canon Raw, or ProRes? Probably not. Having the option of XF-AVC and MP4 is what most Prosumers want and need.
One additional thing. The Processing chip on the last gen and current gen are the same. Digic DV 6. If you look at the next series up, the XF605 or 705, they have dual Digic DV 6. The difference of one or two processor chips is 4k30 or 4k60.
And this makes sense because, look at their mirror less line up. Outside of the EOS R and RP the rest of their R# series have the Digic X processor. From the R3 down to the R10. Same Processor reduces the R&D and Manufacturing costs. Perhaps Canon has a large inventory of their Digic DV 6 chips. And to put dual chips on the XA series would increase the cost up to the XF series prices.
I will also point out in the computer market there are incremental refreshes like this all the time. Because older chips become unavailable or a new manufacturing process makes things inaccessible.
I apologize if this comes across as rambling.
Not rambling at all. Could read camcorder discussions all day and agree with your points (I play around with the Sony Alpha now and again but just enjoy using my XA40 so much more!)
@@DanielSRosehill Thanks!
I would agree with your point that the new cameras aren't great upgrades from the previous generation. But are pretty solid upgrades from 2 generations ago.
I think Canon is updating some components, keeping the Camcorder relevant with marketing and using up some stock parts they have pre-supply chain slow down. Most likely we'll see a nicer improvement in the next iteration of this series of camera.
Taking the current model number and add 20 to it. The XA80/85 and XA90/95 generation. ☺️
I think since making this I've made peace with not having the very latest and greatest *whatever* in their series. Even the earlier 1080P only XAs are amazingly capable cameras (I only real use 4K for work stuff... Otherwise HD is good enough for my needs)
@@DanielSRosehill I agree. I've researched the needs of 4k and UHD. For me the amount of extra HDDs needed for 4K compared to FHD 1080p is not worth it. Plus with RUclips putting up a Pay Wall for 4K content, upload bandwidth concerns, and even consumer devices limiting 720p / 1080p viewing content makes the desire for 4K outside for a dedicated job really difficult say it's worth the cost to upgrade everything in your life.
I think a higher bit rate and better code of 1080p is worth more than any format of 4k / 6k / 8k / 12k. In my opinion.
It is a good review I have to say, but there is a very important point you are missing. No company would ever deliver a product today and a few months later come up with an upgraded version in a way that makes you feel your purchase is now obsolete.
You won't find that anywhere as long as you are purchasing from a reputable company.
As you said throughout the entire video, you really love your XA40 and you don't feel you missed out on a way more robust product if you had waited a few more months.
That is a very good thing, you still feel your purchase is relevant and it meets all your expectations and if there is a new upgraded version out there, well, good for those who want to consider it, you are already happy with your camera.
I personally was waiting for a bigger sensor and finally, we have a 1-inch sensor on the XA70. I can now use XF-AVC (MXF) file format which was not available previously. It would have been nice to have HEVC instead or even 10 Bit at 4K but if they do that then your XA40 would become sort of obsolete.
Canon and most high-tech companies out there would make sure you don't purchase a product now and it becomes a piece of crap down the road. You would lose credibility and confidence thinking they are going to make you feel you wasted your money if you purchase from them again.
Most minor upgrades like these ones often target a marketing goal, either to lead the market or to catch up on features available at a certain consumer level.
Your XA40 is not second to any other camcorder in this segment. it produces amazing videos, it is very capable and it is a fantastic choice for anyone not needing the new features and Canon knows that very well. They won't hurt your level of satisfaction in any way.
Hey man!
Just wanted to quickly say that I really appreciated this comment (in particular) and the perspective shift that you gave me.
I guess innovation is a natural tendency for manufacturers trying to stay ahead of the game but that doesn't do anything to "devalidate" their previous product offering (I guess I must have been feeling like a bit of a mug for not holding out when I recorded this vid).
I inferred from what you wrote that you picked up an XA70 so hope you have a great time recording with the camcorder!
Daniel.
"No company would ever deliver a product today and a few months later come up with an upgraded version in a way that makes you feel your purchase is now obsolete."
Most might not but not all... I have several friends who have been burnt by Apple like this. They bought a high end MacBook Pro or iMac only to find that a month or two later something is released that either blows it away or just really hurts like when they reintroduce ports they took away far too early and never should have or they completely redesign the product like the old TV looking iMac when it became the first G5 flat screen type version or worse they bought a high end Intel MBP only to discover than a few months later the M1 version is released (same if you bought a G5 Mac just before the first Intel version came out). Apple will sell you something today they know for a fact will be obsolete tomorrow and good luck taking it back for that reason...
"finally, we have a 1-inch sensor on the XA70. I can now use XF-AVC (MXF) file format which was not available previously."
Actually Canon introduced these features on the XA50 which was released back in 2019.
But yes you're right, over all the XA series goes though a lot of minor upgrades before something comes along that is really worth upgrading to (like from the original XA10 to the XA40 would be worth it) and that is kind of nice because as you say it doesn't hurt so much if you just missed out on the latest version (unlike what can happen with Apple).
Hi Daniel. I bought the XA40 which you seem to favour but I wasn't happy with the image. Highlights seem overexposed to me and there is a strange green tinge. Otherwise I'd really love it. I ended up having to get the XA50 which I find has great image and colour. My only complaint is that the image stabalisation is very jerky. It's strange that my iphone can cope with me walking and filming but my expensive XA50 can't.
Just checked your video because I was hoping the 70 might have improved this but I seriously doubt it.
It does annoy me that they don't improve much with the upgrades.
Hi Daniel. We're interested in investing in the XA60B for recording sports, specifically swimming, and based on the reviews it seems to be a great cam at the budget...it's what we can afford right now.
Based on @Julezguides and another review on RUclips, the stability isn't great when walking, and in swimming you have to walk the length of the pool to capture the action.
Would it be better to invest in 2x GoPro 11 - as they'll be roughly the same price?
No idea I'm afraid. I'm guessing you might have luck asking people doing videography for stuff like amateur swim meets what they use for stabilisation. For stuff like poolside footage in the Olympics I'd imagine it's either things like steadicams or cameras on track (rugby is more my sport and I know that's what's used for the 'roving' cams in that context. My bias would always be towards camcorders and figuring out the details later but... I also have only very limited experience with action cams to draw on.
Sorry for a long answer that provides almost no actual information haha
@@DanielSRosehill Lol...no sweat, yes, for top end events like Olympics and World Champs they use cameras on dolly tracks. I guess we'll have to run with it and see what works best. Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.
Seems the only significant difference between the XA50 and the new XA70 is the size of the LCD screen. However, the 3.5" on the new XA70 (3.0" on the XA50) has a much lower resolution:
2,760,000 Dot vs.460,000 Dot. The new screen is an OLED screen. Not sure if that offsets the lower resolution. The size of the screen on the XA50 was the major complaint about that camera, especially as the predecessor (XF400) had a 3.5" screen.
the xa 70 has wide dr like the xa 11 which i have. the xa 60 does not. Do you think it is a significant loss and worth going for the xa 70 over the xa 60?
I use my canon xa15 for surveillance. Just ordered the xa60 for the same. I live stream police activity in my home town and the usb output is a major improvement for me. This is a huge improvement for me. My XA60 will be here tomorrow. It’s what I use for this RUclips channel I’m using to comment from. Just subbed btw.
The reason they keep introducing new models is to keep the price point up. It's quite similar to the racket going on with university professors and text books. Change a couple words and introduce an updated textbook each year. Otherwise the market becomes saturated with used textbooks and nobody buys the new. Same thing with the camcorders. No radial innovations, but change one or two things and call it a new model. I'm in the market for one of these cameras right now and was frightfully confused by all of the different model numbers. After studying the specs, just minor differences are apparent. And these differences are not groundbreaking. Just more cosmetic than anything else.
The only way Canon (or any camcorder mfr.) could impress me with a new camcorder is if they made one with the following:
1. At least Super 35 sensor. JVC is the only company that I know of that put a Super 35 sensor that in a camcorder form factor (albeit sans lens), but I heard the build quality wasn't that good, and they ended up abandoning it for some reason and never made such a product again.
2. Canon at least, could stand to put a 20x zoom in their 1-inch camcorders, which is kind of standard these days - Panasonic and JVC have easily accomplished this, so it's not like it's technically not feasible. The best we get from them is 15x.
3. SOMEBODY should make the flip-out LCD BRIGHTER, like 1500 or 2000 nits; otherwise, when you're shooting in direct sunlight, you can barely see a thing. I could almost care less about how many megapixels an LCD screen has. At 3 or 4 inches diagonal, you're not going to see much scrutinizing detail anyway. It's much more important that it's bright enough to compete with the sun, while being as energy efficient as possible for battery life.
All that said, I really like what Canon have done with their XF605 camcorder. It's the closest thing I've seen in a camcorder to a cinema camera. Anything after that should have been a step UP, not down. Give us a Super 35 sensor. Give us ProRes in-camera, maybe raw output to a recording monitor. Give us 20x (well, that might be a challenge for a zoom lens that needs to work with a Super 35 sensor). Yeah, I know that all exists in mirrorless hybrids, but maybe there are some of us who would prefer the camcorder form factor, especially with integrated lens and servo zoom (along with connection for remote zoom on tripod handle), and would still like to shoot cinematically on the (relatively) cheap.
Hi Daniel ! question ? did you noticed something having the camera this long now like me, i was using it today and didn't even noticed until i saw the settings, the shutter speeds in the manual are different than in the camera suppose to be 1/6 but its 1/8 and has different intervals maybe it was a firmware update ?
Is there an alternate for the cannon xa75 that's cheaper from a competitor?
To the very best of my knowledge ... not really. When I was looking for a camcorder with specific criteria (4K capable ... 1/2.3 CMOS or above ... XLR inputs) ... the XA40 was actually the cheapest thing that I found (you could skip some features and go for an XA60?)
I just bought this camcorder today (xa70) all for the 1inch sensor. I am coming from a canon rebel SL1 and that will tell you how much of a leap this is. I got a new tri pod memory card and Rhode wireless mic for around 3,200. I just hope this camera was the right choice for low light conditions. That where my decision to purchase this came from.
They're incredible cameras.
By the way - and just in case this wasn't clear - my "criticism" in this video was specifically about the rather modest nature of the upgrades between the XA40/50 and XA60/70.
I still think that they're absolutely incredible cameras and - if I had a little bit more cash when I was buying them - I would have certainly gone for the one inch sensor in the XA50 (and now the 70 and 75).
I plan to do a video at one point about how they're actually incredible value (if you break down the components, like pricing a lens + body + audio mixer separately .... they're something of a steal!). Wishing you plenty of great shooting with it!
Thanks from USA, Chicago, IL
7:00 Disagree on the screens. Canon and every camera company should try and put in better screens. I mean it's literally how you interact with the camera, vast majority of people will end up using them for many things instead of an external monitor and any improvements make your time with the camera easier/more enjoyable. I'm not saying it's a crucial feature and they shouldn't price gouge it but it's something everyone benefits from.
You say “you might as well spend the extra 200 dollars”, I completely disagree. Save the 200 dollars, get the lesser expensive yet ultimately comparable camera… buying these new camcorders would be telling canon Yes you love no substantial upgrades.. hopefully they do better next time around.
I have decided to opt for the XF camcorders from Canon instead of the XA as they offer so much more and I think can justify the admittedly much higher price on a number of better features. I wish there was a way to let Canon know how strange their breakup of camcorder range is.😊
Daniel, I am planning to buy a Canon XA60. Please let me know if the Canon XA60 got overheated if I recorded my kids playing outdoors for over an hour.
I really, really doubt it. Camcorders are built for continuous video recording. I've used mine at conferences for hours at a time. Outdoors the camcorder might get a bit hotter but .. I reckon you're going to be okay (although in life of course there are no guarantees).
(Check out the spec sheet. You'll notice that it's rated for up to 495 minutes continuous recording at 17 Mbps: en.canon.co.il/video-cameras/xa60/specifications/)
Yeah it seems bizarre but to be honest this is how the XA series has always been.
Every two to four years or so they release an 'upgrade' that really isn't.
I worked for a company that had the original XA10 which was great. When I left to go freelance I went to buy one and discovered they had released the XA20, I was excited as I figured I was getting a major upgrade but no... aside from a larger screen (same upgrade they have done from the XA50 to the XA70) and a few other minor things like perhaps slightly higher bitrates or whatever, and from memory a very subtle design change, it was especially the same camera.
It was still nice to own the latest version but it I had bought the XA10 I wouldn't have upgraded. In fact I wouldn't have bothered to get the 20, the 11 or 15 or even the 30 if I had the 10.
The first time I would have seriously considered upgrading to the same type of camera with the same sensor and design would have been the XA40 for the 4K as all previous versions only shot in 1080 (and it also finally had the updated menu system similar to the XF series) but then they released the XA50 at the same time which was more of a baby XF camera than a XA camera and so I bought that instead in 2021 and I'm not annoyed that a few years later they released the 70 because aside from the webcam stuff (which I won't use) the only thing I miss is the larger screen (which I have on the XA20) but it's not ideal breaker. Oddly the only other change I can see is that they reintroduced 720p recording which both my 20 and the 50 don't have... why? Who shoots in 720p anymore??
Anyway I don't expect there to be an XA camera worthy of an upgrade from the 50 for at least 2 more versions so we're looking at about 6 to 8 years before I will look at buying one assuming I'm still making videos by then. I can't see the XA90 offering too much more to tempt me... maybe the XA110 might though. Time will tell.
don't worry, canon is working on a 16k prosumer camera with the same frame and they sent me the prototype and it's amazing
Damn. Canon are catching up!
A couple points...
Usb-c tethering for power and streaming is a really handy feature. One of the reasons I would look at the xa70. Today, I have to run a camcorder through an Elgato device to convert the output signal for live streaming. Plus have extra power cables. The feature will save me setup hassles.
The timestamps aren't for you and I, they are for the legal profession. Lawyer depositions and recording evidence. That must be a bigger piece of the market and selling point for those organizations that require it for evidence in court. Not so much as security cameras but for recording illegal events or depositions so the video can be later used in court.
The xa70 has a 1inch sensor. Still not big enough. 4k, still not enough resolution. But as you said.. $200 for those features is worth it.
One thing you missed is dual pixel autofocus.... thats a good thing, but was also on the xa40, yes? I wonder if there were improvements between then and now.
I'd like an xa70 please. But difficult to justify an upgrade if you already have an xa40/50. Also difficult choice between a Sony fx30 +lens... similar cost and function.
OSD recording is particularly important for legal/depositions, law enforcement, and other government use cases.
Good to know, thank you!
XF100 was my favorite camera. Just so darn compact and useful. Don’t like the combination cameras they made, where they crammed the XF100/205 into the XA series. Removing the viewfinder from the top handle is a major reason I don’t like them.
Have an XF605 now, it’s great, but honestly I’m considering buying a now 13 year old XF100 for when I need a camera I can shove in a backpack.
If they put the XF605 sensor in the XF105 body, and also the XF205 body, I’d buy both.
The XA70 and XA60 are not cameras I will buy.
I would use these for mobile surveillance as a Private Investigator following people around, however, not for security type surveillance as there are whole camera systems that are significantly cheaper and the same video quality.
Yup. It looks like it was my bad and I totally misunderstood the spec sheet. And yes ... having spent some time playing around with the zoom range recently ... I can see now why and how camcorders are the perfect tools for PIs (I didn't realize that was already what they used ... I always assumed mirrorless cams but never really gave it much thought)
@@DanielSRosehill That being said, I still don't see any reason to go for the xa70 over xa50 other than the screen and "just $200 more for the newer one"
Yeah. Although if I were buying this thing again I'm not even sure I'd go for the XA70 TBH. The smaller 1/2.3 CMOS has actually sort of made it easier for me to (attempt to!) learn lighting because in low light conditions .... you know the sensor's only going to help so much.
I am thinking about getting the cannon. xa70 because I will veteran off location. Let me know your thoughts. I am a 1 man show that dose interviews
Hi Daniel, i had Covid a few weeks ago and it took some time until i was fully recovered, i am fine now, though and i hope you get well soon too. now to the camcorders: i own a XA50 which i bought not long ago and i too thought, that i missed out, because i didn't wait. but when i looked into the XA70 i found: it is 200€ more expensive, it lacks the remote control and according to the manual it has around 10% shorter battery life (i guess because of the bigger screen). otherwise, it is more or less exactly the same camera. of course, it has gained the bigger lcd and the bigger and better viewfinder, but i still think, that the XA50 is probably the better camcorder for me).
Thank you much for the well wishes. Yes - I would buy one of the new cams just to have the latest model but overall a pretty perplexing feature release!
And I love my XA40 and will wait until I can really afford a 1" CMOS before even thinking about upgrading. Always great to meet a fellow camcorder fan!
I bought an XA50 right before they released the XA70 and I was like “wait… it’s the same camera isn’t it?” I just wasn’t impressed. I’m fine with my XA50.
Surveillance app - not at all silly. I've sat with news crews all pointing at the same house waiting for someone to emerge with guns blazing. Camera can now be left unattended or with minimal babysitting. Maybe? Law enforcement can use this unit for monitoring as well. Unlikely anyone would waste resources using this camera for a security system - that's silly.
Nonetheless thanks for the review. I'm scaling back from 2 Sony Z150 cameras and 2 Black Magic to a single Canon XA60 as I no longer need the kickass quality of the workhorse Z150s or the cumbersome Black Magics. Sad to see the Sonys go but excited to try out the Canon.
The usb c charger is honestly worth the $200 for me lol that one less big cable to stuff in my bag!
They got rid of the XF400, which was awesome, and replaced it with THIS junk?? What a joke.
8:10 It's not for home security lol. Private investigators uses camcorders for surveillance work all the time and I personally know people who do that job and they use camcorders .
Ugh, embarrassing for me. That makes a lot more sense. Thanks for the correction. Sorry, Canon!
To make a crappy camcorder even worse, the UVC usb output does not include audio!! This is beyond pathetic. All the new cameras that support uvc output include audio.
For real? I mean unless I'm mistake the single advantage of USB out over HDMI out would be that you don't need a capture card to get it into a computer. But.... who would want vid only for streaming!?
@@DanielSRosehill canon must do everything they can to make us hate them.
Lol. I can't hate them because they introduced me to camcorders (I purchased basically based on what I could afford to spend for a minimum spec). When I can finally afford to upgrade to the next level of pro camcorder though I reckon I'll be looking at Panasonic or Sony.
Cool RUclips channel BTW! If you're ever curios what the XA40 looks like straight off the memory card I have a few demo reels scattered across RUclips (but at least a couple on All About The Canon XA40)
@@DanielSRosehill thanks! I only recently started with this concept. I always find myself looking for real world examples.