The Canon XH G1S and XH A1S succeed the XH G1 and XH A1 video camcorders launched in the fourth quarter of 2006, whose high mobility earned favorable reviews from professionals in the fields of broadcasting and video production. Offering the superlative optical performance and imaging engine hallmark to the XH series, the new camcorders not only enable high-quality HD recording, but also feature improved zoom lens operability and revised audio specifications in response to the needs of professional users.

The XH G1S and XH A1S are equipped with three 1/3-inch CCDs, each with approximately 1.67 million pixels^*1 and the high-performance DIGIC DV II image processor to record high-quality HD video. The models’ 20x HD Video Zoom L Lens incorporates a fluorite lens elements to correct residual chromatic aberration and an Ultra Low Dispersion lens. The duo also features an optical image stabilization system to support the recording of steady images, even at long focal lengths.The zoom lens’s focus, zoom, and iris rings are now better separated to allow easier handling, and further improve operability by enabling users to customize driving torque and reaction speed while shooting. Focus and zoom operations have also been improved so that they allow manual focusing during zooming, increasing the range of image expression.

For audio input, the XH G1S and XH A1S can simultaneously record sound through the internal mike as well as via the XLR terminal, and allow users to independently adjust sensitivity settings for each channel during XLR input. Advents such as the ability to use the limiter function, which prevents aberrations in voice quality caused by sudden increases in audio volume, when recording audio manually provide extra convenience when shooting in professional settings.Additionally, the XH G1S and XH A1S incorporate a variety of functions suited for professional shooting, including an expanded white balance range that can be adjusted from 2,000–15,000K, and the Push AE function, which corrects exposure at the push of a button during manual shooting. The models also feature indentations around control buttons to prevent operation errors, allowing users to shoot with more confidence.

The XH G1S offers an expanded range of shooting applications through its three terminals, providing HD-SDI with embedded audio/TC (LTC) output,Genlock, and Time Code input/output.

*1 Effective pixels: Each CCD sensor utilizes approximately 1.56 megapixels when recording in HDV Mode of 16:9 SD Wide Mode, and approximately 1.17 megapixels in 4:3 Standard (SD) Mode.