IBC 2018: Canon XF705 Goes Wild with 4K 10bit 4:2:2 in H.265/HEVC, 4K/60p and 1080p/120

Canon just announced a brand new XF705 flagship all-in-one camcorder to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canon Pro Camcorder line. To debut for the first time later this week at the IBC 2018 trade show in Amsterdam, the new Canon XF705 features a fixed 15x optical zoom lens, a 1-inch CMOS sensor and 4K/60p 10bit 422 recording in the H.265/HEVC format onto SD cards.

Sure, this is a fixed lens camcorder, and most of you I am sure would have loved to see these features in the new mirrorless EOS R, but the Canon XF line has always been a Canon stronghold and I can easily see why they threw everything but the kitchen sink in it. For starters, the XF300/XF305 camcorders have been a huge hit in broadcast and documentaries, even though they are small chip cameras – they have everything one needs to shoot an interesting story, hence why they are still being widely used in the broadcast world.

Canon XF705 IBC 2018

Quick Look at the Canon XF705 with Canon USA’s Technical Advisor Brent Ramsey

Going back to my camera selling days working for a major dealer here in the UK, I can clearly remember the Canon XF305 being a hot ticket item that was constantly in high-demand, mainly thanks to its broadcast-compliant codec, pro audio inputs, ease of use and well-thought out all-in-one package. The new XF705 seems like a logical evolutionary step in an already legendary lineup, and despite its $7,000 price tag I expect it to be a hit in the broadcast world.

Canon XF705

4K/60p is a big deal, and the inclusion of H.265 as a primary codec is not surprising at all – it is efficient and can easily be written onto SD cards. The new XF705 also sports Dual-Pixel AF, which has become a standard AF system on Canon pro camcorders, and a 5-axis image stabilization in both an optical and electronic form working in three different modes to suit your shooting style. They even threw in 1080/120p slow-motion, which will go a long way with many.

Sure this is a smaller, 1-inch sensor, but if you need an all-in-one 4K pro camcorder, the XF705 seems like it has everything you need. Read and see more about it below.

Canon XF705 Features

  • 1.0-inch 4K UHD CMOS sensor
  • Fixed 15x Optical 4K UHD Zoom Lens with OIS
  • Focus, Zoom, Iris lens rings
  • Dual DIGIC DV 6 Image Processors
  • Dual-Pixel AF
  • 4K UHD 60p 4:2:2 10-bit Recording
  • 1080p/120 slow-motion
  • H.265/HEVC Codec
  • Canon Log 3 and Wide DR Gamma (800%)
  • HDR Recording with HLG/PQ Shooting Assist
  • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
  • 4.0-inch Rotating Touch Panel LCD
  • 0.46-inch OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • Network Connections for:
    • FTP Transfer
    • Browser Remote (Wired and Wi-Fi Connectivity)
  • 4K UHD/60p HDMI 2.0 output
  • Price: $6,999 at Adorama

Introduction to the new Canon XF705 4K Pro Camcorder:

Canon have thrown in Canon Log 3 and WideDR, which are fantastic picture profiles for getting the maximum out of the camera, and in the case of WideDR, a top option for a quick turnaround where heavy grading is not required.

The XF705 also features an adjustable 4.0-inch rotating touchscreen LCD monitor and a built-in 0.46-inch OLED electronic viewfinder enhance usability and focusing ability.

For full specs head over to Canon’s website here.

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