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XH A1S
For the professionals who require a smaller, lighter weight HD camcorder but who won’t give up capability and performance, Canon offers the XH A1S. Our latest in a family of high quality HDV camcorders, the
XH A1S delivers advanced features and a wide range of image parameter controls to make your vision a reality- and at a very attractive price.
Starting with the superb Canon Genuine Canon 20x HD lens with Professional L Series Fluorite, the
XH A1S adds 3CCDs, each of which is at 1440 x 1080 pixels. It also means you can be sure that your shooting in the field will be the best it can be with Canon’s SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization. It corrects for a wide range of camera movement and vibration, and combined with Instant AF (Auto Focus) you’ll get ultra-quick, accurate focus. The DIGIC DV II HD image processor finishes the picture with improved color reproduction and noise reduction - for a final result that delivers excellent image quality.
To further ensure that your vision is realized, the XH A1S gives you features that let you make manual adjustments to fine-tune your video- the ultimate in total image control. For those situations in which you need to let your camcorder take care of exposure and image controls, the automatic settings on the
XH A1S will expertly assist you.
You’ll find flexibility, versatility and capability in the extensive array of features and optional accessories of the XH A1S. It is bound to meet and exceed your highest expectations.
Average Customer Rating:
4.9
out of 5
9 out of 9(100%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for XH A1S
Review 1 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
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5
Features
5
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5
Performance
5
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5
Price/Value
5
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5
Quality
5
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5
Satisfaction
5
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5
Nickname: gmark45
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Used this product for: 6 to 12 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Product replacement: Yes
Best HD camcorder for Beginner Videographer
Date: February 3, 2010
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity
Cons: can't record video to sd card
I purchased this camcorder in August 2009. I’m still learning how to use all of the functions. If you’re a point and shoot person and do not use the manual features / presets then just get a consumer rated camcorder. I am a Beginner Semi-pro Videographer; this is my first prosumer camcorder. The Canon XH A1S is simply the best camcorder for the price. This camcorder is great in low light when using the correct settings such as gain, shutter speed and aperture. I record weddings, training, home and music videos. The 10 watt light accessory for this camcorder works great for weddings and other lowlight recordings. The iris ring, focus ring, custom presets buttons and zoom controls are very easy to access. The only negative is the onboard microphones; they are not bad, but you can get much better sound quality by using a decent shotgun microphone; this is what makes the XLR inputs an excellent tool for recording audio.
In closing, I have never experienced any drop frames during recording or editing. My recordings before compression i.e. :( connecting the camcorder to the HD TV component inputs) are just as clean as blue ray movies.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
4
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
4
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Nickname: Video It
Location: Central Idaho
Used this product for: 6 to 12 months
Expertise Level: Professional or Expert
Product replacement: Yes
Great Camera
Date: November 30, 2009
Pros: good battery life, Good Low-Light Performance, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, easy to use, accessory connectivity, phantom power for microphone
Cons: a few dropped frames, plug in port covers come loose, changing the mic input is a menu function, rocker switch for the zoom is squeeky
Bought this Camera 7 months ago and have used it hard under varying outdoor situations. Hot and dusty, rain, cold and snowy, you name it. The camera has produced accurate colors and is very easy to use. The auto functions adjust to the changing conditions well and the extra XLR audio inputs are great. The bad stuff would be some scenes with dropped frames. Using better tape may help with this. Also the covers over the accessory ports are flimsy and one has already fallen off. I'd also like to see the audio input switches on the outside, instead of going into the menu each time. That said, I don't know of any other camera in its class thats better. Its an excellent camera.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Nickname: Bad Bear
Location: Plant City, Florida
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Professional or Expert
Product replacement: No
It is about time....
Date: November 5, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, Great sound/audio, Ergonomic/comfortable to hold, durable, easy to use, Good Software Compatibility, Good Low-Light Performance
Cons: Flimsy Construction, extra mic holder needs reinforcing
My research into a new camera purchase was extensive. The more I read about the XH A1s the more I heard that one of the CONS of the camera was that most of the controls were located on the LEFT side of the unit. This was a major PRO factor in selection for me.
I like the selection of the Tape vs Card, most commercial gigs do not need to be archived, some do. I have a problem understanding the people that debate over tape vs hard drive. Tape is safe and solves archiving issues. Anyone debating this issue does not shoot enough to own a Professional Grade camera or money is not an issue for them. I own a small production company and if I had to archive on hard drives, I would go broke. The idea of archiving digitally is insane.
I shoot a weekly fishing show and the XH A1s has performed very well under the harsh marine environment. I would recommend this unit to any working professional as either a primary or secondary camera.
45 of 45 people found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
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5
Satisfaction
5
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5
Nickname: GADGSTR
Location: Georgia
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Professional or Expert
Product replacement: Yes
HD Video
Date: September 14, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, Great sound/audio
Nice Camera, is a nice addition to my other cameras. Great image quality, sound construction,
10 of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Nickname: Legends Studio
Location: New Albany, Indiana
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Professional or Expert
Product replacement: Yes
Love It !!! Love It !!! Love It !!!
Date: September 8, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, Great sound/audio, durable, easy to use
This camera is not for the novice by any means because once you step out of the auto everything mode it can be quite complicated.
Now that being said if it wasn’t for all the manual settings and adjustments I would not want it anyway.
I have a Canon XLH1 and this camera make the perfect workmate for it.
The picture quality is virtually the same so for a two camera shoot it’s great.
Although it’s about half of the weight of it’s big brother the XLH1 it’s still a little hard to hold steady since you can’t rest it on your shoulder but the image stabilization is very helpful.
Also the auto focus is very fast and really comes in handy when you have to run and gun so to speak.
All in all this is a great camera with a awesome picture and I simply love it.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
4
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Nickname: media mechanic
Location: Waterbury, CT
Used this product for: 3 to 6 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Product replacement: Yes
Excellent overall
Date: August 10, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, Great sound/audio, Ergonomic/comfortable to hold, durable, easy to use, Good Software Compatibility, Good Low-Light Performance
This camera is excellent and does all that it should...The picture quality is excellent...I recommend using the add on 10w light accessory that is avialable for this camera as well...The camera does well in lower light situations, but, adaquate lighting should always be available for difficult lighting situations and to highlight the subject...
For me that debate over tape (miniDv) over a hard drive camera is over...I have a hard drive video camera...I much prefer the safety of tape and solves the archiving issue...The idea of archiving digitally is crazy, especially with video... the file sizes and storage capacity needed to save stuff is rediculous...
The one negative comment I do have about th XH-A1s is controling sound levels...If you are trying to get sound using the camera mics there is not much control...Just a switch to attinuate -12db...Not enough if your client is a musician and you are shooting a loud gig...granted there are many ways to set up and work around this, but, if conditions are such that you want to work off the camera mics the sound using the -12db setting can get very close to peaking or does occationally peak and the sound is now distorted...
Otherwise this camera is really very good and I am very happy with it...
10 of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
4
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
4
out of
5
Nickname: Rj44319
Location: Akron, Ohio
Used this product for: 1 to 3 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Product replacement: No
Good Cam
Date: August 8, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, durable, easy to use, Good Software Compatibility, Good Low-Light Performance, good sound if using ext mic
Cons: Difficult TV Connectivity, Poor sound/audio, Uncomfortable to hold
I like the cam overall. One problem i have is that it dos not have SDI. For the price i think it should. The LCD in my opinion works well for framing but dos not show the best quality of the video that is being captured. The XLR inputs work great. The only thing i would change would be the ways you could record. I wish i could record to the SD socket on board. I also wish it had a HDMI connector to connect it to HD tv's for instant playback.
4 of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Performance
5
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
5
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Nickname: Jiffer
Location: North Saint Paul, MN
Used this product for: 3 to 6 months
Expertise Level: Advanced Amateur
Product replacement: No
Amazing
Date: May 29, 2009
Pros: Compact Design, excellent image quality, Easy TV Connectivity, Easy Computer Connectivity, Accurate, Vivid Colors, good battery life, Great sound/audio, Ergonomic/comfortable to hold, durable, easy to use, Good Software Compatibility, Good Low-Light Performance, price
Amazing quality. This is not something you use for family events, this is for professional and amateur videos. Once you use this camera with a DOFA (depth of field adapter) like the Letus35mm and a SLR lens it becomes Hollywood film. Buy this camera you will not be dissapointed
43 of 44 people found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for XH A1S
Overall Rating
out of
5
Features
4
out of
5
Performance
4
out of
5
Price/Value
5
out of
5
Quality
4
out of
5
Satisfaction
5
out of
5
Nickname: Lewis
Date: May 16, 2009
amazing price/quality. Image is beautifull, dont be scared to use presets.
23 of 38 people found this review helpful.
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