Canon XF705 Review, Unboxing, User Manual
HIGHLIGHTS:
CANON XF705 VIDEO CAMERA- OVERVIEW
Canon knows what professionals really need for filmmaking and has launched this best 4K filming camera - The Canon XF705. This single-lens camcorder is built for ease of use with advanced AF, great lens, image sensor, processor, and stabilization mechanism.
The 10-bit 4:2:2 colored 4K UHD video quality is just a stunner, while the Premiere Pro or FCP X compatible updated codec recording adds extra benefits for post-production. Moreover, the wide dynamic range with ready-to-go HDR and Log recording modes deliver 90% ready video footage.
CANON XF705 REVIEW
Design & Features
Most run and gun shooters expect their cameras to respond fast and provides an easy handling. The Canon XF705 is not exceptional; it offers tons of control and function buttons, including dedicated control rings for focus, zoom, and iris.
Canon has incorporated the controls and function buttons in the right place at the XF705 camera body, which is very nice. The controls for adjusting optical ND filters, white balance, and gain are exactly where they should be. The rest of the settings may take a little time to get accustomed to, but once you become familiar with them. You will love using this video camera!!
The dot touch-friendly LCD screen offers everything at your fingertips - various touch focus controls, recording controls, and options for other camera settings. The tilt-and-slide 4” monitor (1,560,000 dots resolution) can be used from both sides of the camera, and provides a natural-looking preview.
Moreover, you can analyze the scene by looking through the 0.46-inch OLED electronic viewfinder, which also has 1,770,000 dots color-rich resolution. The EVF has arrived with an eye cup for lighting noise-free viewing and focus assisting features for easy shooting.
This digital video camera has a great lens with a fast and extended zooming capacity of 15X optical and 30X digital magnification ranges. The nine-bladed round aperture gives decent bokeh quality and shallow depth of field. These two features make it an excellent video camera for filming live sports and wedding events.
The internal motor-driven ND filters have three densities - ND 1/4, ND 1/16, and ND 1/64. The ND filters enable you to achieve a shallow depth of field and desired focus effects while eliminating overexposing issues when shooting in bright light.
Along with the lovely Canon L series lens, the 1-inch type large format CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC DV-6 image processors deliver high sensitivity in light capturing. The camcorder produces crystal clear natural-looking images and videos even in low lighting conditions.
The 5-axis image stabilization system produces stable footage in handheld position on the go or tripod mode with three different recording modes. The powered IS captures stabilized images when the camcorder is in tripod mode. On the other hand, the dynamic and standard stabilization modes work all the time.
Canon imaging features and color schemes are designed to deliver noticeable noiseless image quality and easier color grading. The camcorder ensures the best natural-looking picture quality with a wide dynamic range Gamma and dual pixel CMOS autofocus technology. The hybrid log gamma (HLG) and PQ HDR recording modes offer impressive color latitudes.
The dual pixel autofocus technology is an upgraded version of the traditional phase detected AF system. Before recording each shot, it defines whether the image frame is in focus or not? It gives you immediate and accurate focus constantly by analyzing the pixels on the image sensor. The graphical guide, face detection, and object tracking options on the LCD screen genuinely support fast and accurate focusing while making manual focus adjustments.
The upgraded firmware version increases focus speed while zooming, improves zooming response in control ring and rocker modes, and includes a vertical anti-aliasing filter function to decrease odd visual artifacts like jagged edges or moiré.
Image and video quality
Canon XF705 records 10-bit 4:2:2 colored 4K ultra HD quality videos in H.265/HEVC codec and H.264 4:2:0 8-Bit 1080P HD quality videos at up to 120 FPS speed. The HEVC encoding format is two times more efficient and lighter than H.264/AVC codec; that means the XF-HEVC files of UHD footage are more manageable and take less space in the memory card.
The XF705 also uses this HEVC codec for IP transmission; you can live stream 4K UHD or full HD videos at 16 Mbps bit rate and 60 fps frame rate in H.265/HEVC or H.264/AVC format.
STORAGE
The camcorder comes with a battery of Canon BP-A series and a battery adapter, Canon CG-A20. The Canon BP-A30 battery has a 3100 mAh power capacity, and the camcorder consumes 45 watts of power each hour; that means the battery lasts for a long time.
Having a digital video camera with dual SD card slots is always beneficial for professionals. Most journalists always prefer the dual recording or relay recording for long interview shoots; the simultaneous recording on two memory cards also provides a great way to create and keep backup files during filming live events. After all, you could not miss capturing a single precious moment while filming someone’s wedding like a once-in-a-lifetime event; Right?
Connectivity and Compatibility
The camcorder features 2.0 HDMI, mini-B USB, genlock BNC, time code BNC, 8-pins D-sub control, 2.5 mm control, RJ45 LAN Ethernet, and RS-422 ports.
On the audio side, it has dual XLR ports for taking four channels of LCPM audio inputs from microphones with manual/automatic recording levels
Canon XF705 also has wireless interfaces; it supports 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) connection. The built-in WI-FI lets you control the camcorder using browser and proxy files; plus, the included WL-D6000 remote controller enables remote control operation for basic camera settings, zoom, and focus control.
BEST FEATURES OF CANON XF705 PROFESSIONAL UHD CAMCORDER
As a do-it-all camera, the Canon XF705 earns full marks on all counts with the benefits of high bit rate 4K output in the latest HEVC video format, instant HDR footage with stunning image quality, logically placed hands-on controls, and streamlined IP streaming technology.
SPECIFICATIONS OF CANON XF705
LENS SPECIFICATION
Focal Length | 8.3 to 124.5mm |
Zoom |
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Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 to 4.5 |
Minimum Focus Distance | 1 cm |
Filter Size | 58 mm |
Control Rings | Focus, Zoom, IRIS |
Focus Control | Auto-focus | Manual Focus |
IMAGE SENSOR
Sensor Size | 1" |
Sensor Type | Exmor RS CMOS sensor |
Effective Resolution | 8.92 Megapixel |
CAMERA SPECIFICATION
Image Stabilization | Optical 5-Axis Image stabilization with Standard, Dynamic and Powered IS Modes |
Built-In ND Filter | Clear, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 |
Shutter Speed | 1/1 to 1/2000 sec |
Gain | -6 to 33 dB |
Minimum Illumination | 3 Lux at 1/30 Shutter Speed |
White Balance | 2000 to 15000K |
VIDEO RECORDING
Recording Formats | XF-HEVC and XF-AVC |
Video Resolution | H.265/MXF/XF-HEVC 4:2:2 10-Bit:
H.264/MXF/XF-AVC 4:2:0 8-Bit:
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DISPLAY SCREEN
Screen Size | 4" |
Resolution | 1,560,000 Dot |
Display Type | Articulating LCD Touch Screen |
EVF
EVF Display Type | OLED |
Screen Size | 0.46" |
EVF Resolution | 1,770,000 Dots |
Connectivity
Wired Connection | Video Connectors
Audio Connectors
Other Input / Output
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Wireless Interfaces | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) |
Mounting Feature
Accessory Mount | Multi-Interface Shoe / Cold Shoe |
Power
Battery Model | Canon BP-A30 Lithium-ion battery |
Battery Capacity | 3100mAh |
CANON XF705 TEST FOOTAGE
CANON XF705 UNBOXING
CANON XF705 USER MANUAL
You will be receiving a detailed user manual while purchasing a Canon XF705. But, you can also view the user manual from the Company's official website. The user manual will have a complete guide on the different camera settings, firmware, and safety precautions you will need to follow while using this camcorder.
If you wish to check the official user manual of this Canon XF705 camcorder, click here.
CANON XF705 ACCESSORIES
Microphone
Most people think that everyone would appreciate their filmmaking skill only when; they make a creative video with innovative cinematic aspects. That is not true! If you present a simple video with the best image quality and professional studio-quality sound, it attracts your audience.
The big plus is that Canon XF705 gives you the opportunity to record four channels 24-Bit / 48 kHz LCPM audio. Only you need to purchase a dedicated 3-pins XLR jacked microphone separately to give the best quality sound along.
TRIPOD
Despite activating an image stabilization mode, for getting the best-stabilized footage a tripod is recommended. Choose a sturdy and stable tripod that has a standard 1/4 “-20 or 3/8 “-16 mounting screw.
Conclusion
Fleeting moments generally happen often in a wedding ceremony, birthday, or anniversary party. Being a professional, you could not stop recording to change the gain, exposure, or other composition aspects. Say a big thanks to the HDR and Log recording modes, the automated AF, the pre-selected camera settings, and the fast responding composition controls of the Canon XF705; that enable you to scale up or down the creative and camera settings quickly without defocusing the subjects.
Beginners may take a few times to train their brain in gaining muscle memory about the placement of all extra features, but hoping the excitement of using such a pro-level filmmaking camcorder would make them accustomed within a short time.
