The new Canon XL H1S and XL H1A camcorders represent the top of the line of Canon’s HD-series camcorder lineup. They succeed the XL H1, which was introduced in November 2005 and earned high praise from industry professionals working in the fields of broadcasting and video production.

The XL H1S and XL H1A incorporate the same outstanding optics and high-performance image processor as other models in the XL-series and support the recording of high-definition video. They also include a range of new features to meet the needs of professional users, such as improved operability through the addition of a manual iris ring, and enhanced customization for image-quality and shooting-function settings.
Furthermore, in response to advanced professional needs, the XL H1S incorporates an HD-SDI terminal that supports the output of uncompressed video with embedded audio and LTC time code.

The XL H1S and XL H1A feature three 1/3-inch CCDs with 1.67 million pixels^* for each primary color and Canon’s exclusive DIGIC DV II HD digital signal processing chip, making possible the recording and playback of high-resolution HDV 1080i-format video.

The XL H1S and XL H1A come equipped with Canon’s newly developed 20x HD Video Zoom Lens XL 5.4-108 mm L IS III. In addition to a fluorite lens element, which corrects residual chromatic aberration that optical glass lens elements cannot entirely remove, and an optical image stabilization system, the new lens incorporates a manual iris ring. Multi-coating enables the lens to also correct for a variety of aberrations while an SR coating reduces ghosting to ensure exceptional HD imaging performance.

* Effective pixels: Each CCD sensor utilizes 1.56 megapixels when recording in HDV mode or 16:9 SD Wide Mode, and 1.17 megapixels in 4:3 SD mode.