Canon shows 4K to handheld at NAB

The annual NAB show in Las Vegas is America’s biggest broadcast expo, and Canon is using the opportunity to demonstrate everything from high-end 4K workflows to a three new handheld cameras that should be useful for professional use.

You can get the full details on the small new XA25, XA20 and Vixia/Legria HF G30 camcorders on our Canon XF Notebook blog, but these palmcorders should appeal because they promise to be an improvement on one of our favourite small camcorders, the XA10. Plus, the XA25 includes HD-SDI output for uncompressed signals for broadcast use.

Other notable features include: full manual controls, XLR audio for both XA models, dual codecs (AVCHD Progressive and MP4 – up to 35Mbps), dual SD card slots for relay or dual recording (including two different formats at once), Canon's first use of an OLED screen, and WiFi support, so you can upload quickly to the web or to your office. List prices range from £2,099, $3,199 or €2,799 for the XA25 down to £1,299, $1,699 or €1,699 HF G30 (pictured above).

Canon’s live 4K Workflow Demonstration at NAB will include live colour grading of 4K footage from Canon's C500 camera (pictured above) and a first look at Canon's prototype 4K reference displays. There will also be a live demonstration of 4K Remote Broadcast, highlighting how spectacular HD broadcast footage can be captured, digitally rendered and cropped for live-action broadcast applications (including sports) using Canon's Cinema EOS equipment. A 90-seat Canon Theatre will show footage of HD, 2K and 4K projects, including behind-the-scenes footage on how each project was captured.

It will also show the new Cinema EOS C100 EF 24-105 Lens Kit, which it claims will come in at an affordable price-point, as well as a prototype version of its latest cinema prime lens for large-format single-sensor digital cameras (from super35mm to full-frame 35mm). The newly announced EF-mount 35mm lens (pictured above)will become the sixth prime lens in the EF Cinema lens line-up, filling the gap between the existing 24mm and 50mm lenses – again, more on that on our Canon XF Notebook blog.

Canon is also hosting a three-hour learning session on the C500 led by Los Angeles-based Director of Photography, Suny Behar, who will explore camera set-up choices from System Priority, Recording Mode and Resolutions to file output options. Behar will also demonstrate a step-by-step configuration of the Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera with external recorders. “The Cinema EOS C500 4K digital camera Workflow: 2K/4K From Set-Up to Shoot” will take place on Tuesday, April 9th in rooms N239 and N241with two sessions - the first from 9:30am to 12:30pm and the second from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

The company has also just announced impending firmware updates for the EOS C500, EOS C300, EOS C100 camcorders, as well as improvements for its Cinema Raw Development software – with full details on the Canon XF Notebook blog.

By David Fox