Post NAB 2015 Spotlight: Canon XC10

Now that the 2015 NAB show in Las Vegas is over it’s time to do some coverage! Starting on April 17th and going until the end of the month I will be doing a spotlight on what was good at the show. Each day I’ll focus on something new or exciting that I saw. These are being released in no particular order.

Canon XC10

I try not to cover a lot of the “bigger ticket” releases from NAB (there’s plenty of coverage put out about them), but going into the show this year I was really excited about the Canon XC10.

If you’re looking to move into 4K video, like me, then the XC10 is probably on your radar; and for good reason, it’s hard to dismiss internal 4K recording for only $2,500. But like all cameras it has its pluses and minuses.

First the ups. Obviously the 4K recording is a huge draw. But the XC10 also offers 12 mega pixel stills and up to 120fps through its 1″ CMOS sensor; and the built-in 10x zoom gives you a focal range from 27-273mm, making the XC10 a great option for broadcast/journalists or as a B-Cam.

Now the drawbacks. The first thing that jumped out at me was the HDMI mini output; it’s 2015, there’s no reason for the XC10 to not have SDI out. The audio input also is a little lackluster, only having a single 1/8″ jack. And while the XC10 does offer 120fps, it only does so in 720p.

I think that I went into the show with too high of hopes for the XC10 and it left me feeling very underwhelmed. It’s not the camera for me, though I do see uses for the XC10 (mainly in the news realm or as a B/C/D-cam). It’s basically a supped up DSLR, and has a lot of the same limitations.

Since the XC10 is only $2500 it’s a solid option for those looking to move up from DSLRs. All the information about the XC10 is available on Canon’s website; and if you’re interested in getting one, the XC10 is available on B&H now.

 

 

 

 

Post NAB 2015 Spotlight: Canon XC10