Canon XF305 XF300 / XF305 Instruction Manual - Page 4

Highlights of the XF305/XF300 The Canon XF305/XF300 HD Camcorder has been designed to fulfill the needs demanded by industry professionals. The following are just some of the many features that will help turn your creative vision into reality. HD Recording 3CMOS system and DIGIC DV III image processor The camcorder is equipped with three 1/3-in. CMOS sensors that each capture video at an effective pixel count of approximately 2.07 megapixels (1920x1080). Combined with the DIGIC DV III image processor and newly developed 18x zoom lens (29.3 mm, F1.6), the camcorder offers a center resolution of 1,000 TV lines. Furthermore, the camcorder produces spectacular video with true-to-life color reproduction while reducing noise and "rolling shutter" artifacts thanks to a twofold improvement (when the frame rate is 60i) over previous models in scanning speed. Superb HD video The camcorder uses the MPEG-2 Long GOP codec. When you record using the 50 Mbps bit rate (with 4:2:2 color sampling), the quality of your recordings will rival that of broadcast video. Your recordings are saved as Material eXchange Format (MXF) files, which are compatible with major non-linear editing (NLE) software. You can configure the video recording signal to suit your needs. By combining the bit rate/resolution setting with the frame rate setting, you can produce video from 1440x1080/24P at 25 Mbps to 1280x720/60P at 35 Mbps to 1920x1080/60i at 50 Mbps. You can select from a total of 15 different combinations! Operability Focus and zoom Enhancements were made to the focus and zoom systems. The newly added full manual focus mode (0 54) sets physical stops on the focus ring and also displays a distance indicator on the ring itself. With the physical stops on the zoom ring (0 77), you can easily go from full wide angle to full telephoto by turning the zoom ring about 90°. Overall design The various buttons, switches and other controls were redesigned after extensive research and interviews with industry professionals. Buttons and switches were repositioned for easier use and access and the ergonomic design of the grip was also refined for better balance. In addition, you can frame your shots more easily with the improved viewfinder and larger LCD screen, which both now have 100% coverage. Recording media The camcorder records video and audio to CompactFlash (CF) cards. You can even make lengthy recordings without worry because the camcorder features two CF card slots. When one CF card becomes full, the recording will automatically continue on the other one without interruption. Supplied Canon XF Utility software Managing your recordings is as simple as using the supplied Canon XF Utility software. You can transfer your recordings to your computer, where you can view and manage them. Using the supplied plugins, you can then use the recordings with major NLE software*. * Refer to Saving Clips to a Computer (0 150) for details on compatible software. Versatile Artistic Expression Special recording modes The special recording modes (0 104) give you more creative control over your recordings. You can create a slow motion or fast motion effect in your recordings, record a certain number of frames at a set interval (ideal for subjects with little movement) or record a certain number of frames every time you press a button (ideal for stop motion animation). Custom picture settings With custom picture settings (0 113), you can enjoy unparalleled image control to deliver the "look" you want by adjusting parameters, such as gamma and sharpness. The custom picture settings can be recorded onto an SD card, which allows multiple XF305/XF300 camcorders to use the same settings, or embedded in the recording itself. 4