White Paper 034 Addendum 65: Tests and settings on a Canon XF100/105E

Alan Roberts

Abstract

Tests were made on a Canon XF105E, serial number 293109900023, believed to be a pre-production model, and a confirmatory check on a production model (serial number 293220000068). There appears to have been no change between the two cameras under test.

The camera has a single ⅓" CMOS sensor, presumably with Bayer-pattern, and an integral lens. It records MPEG2-compressed video; all the tests were made by recording in the camera, since this is the most likely mode for the camera’s use.

The XF100 and 105 are clearly lower-cost companions to the XF300 and 305, sharing many features between them. Sadly, the fold-out LCD panel on the 100/105 has been moved to the left-hand side of the camera from its much better position under the handle on the 300/305, where it can be swung out to either side of the camera. Also, there are only 10 user programmable buttons instead of the 13 on the bigger cameras, but 10 ought to be enough.

The 105 model has HDSDI output and can be genlocked, and has time-code connection, while the 100 has none of these connections. Both models are available in ‘E’ and ‘A’ versions, working at 50Hz and 59.94Hz respectively. A hardware upgrade can be installed in either to make the camera work at both rates. These tests were made only on an ‘E’ (50Hz, PAL) model, but it’s menus contain, under ‘Other Functions’ an item to select ‘PAL/NTSC’, so presumably this camera had been modified to be universal. All the tests were made in the ‘PAL’ mode, but the changes to the menus when switched into ‘NTSC’ mode have not been recorded here. The distinction between models is obscure, and is apparent only on the makers’ label underneath the camera. Casual users would not be aware of these differences.

The camera weighs 1.07kg. The built-in lens has 10:1 zoom range from 4.25mm to 42.5mm focal length (equivalent to 30.4 to 304mm in a full-frame 35mm camera), F/1.8~F/2.8. The sensor is CMOS, fullresolution 1920x1080, but with a Bayer pattern of colour filters, so full 1080-line resolution is not possible. Recording is onto Compact Flash card (two slots) in MPEG-2, long-GoP, with MXF file format. Three bit rate options are available: 50Mb/s CBR (constant bit rate) at 4:2:2 colour sampling (1920x1080 or 1280x720), 35Mb/s 4:2:0 VBR (1920x1080 or 1280x720) and 25Mb/s 4:2:0 CBR (1440x1080 only). Thus it complies with broadcast requirements for bit rate and offers more economic rates for greater economy. At these rates, a 64GB card can record 160, 225 and 310 minutes respectively. In 1080 mode, both interlaced and progressive modes are available. Off-speed recording at fixed speeds from 12 to 50fps is possible.

There is a conventional viewfinder (approximately 720x405 pixels), plus a separate LCD screen (approximately 1280x720 pixels) conventionally hinged on the left-hand side of the camera. Both displays are adequate for focusing.

There are neutral filters for exposure control, and manual control of the lens. Sensitivity is not exceptional, and is specified in an obscure way. On-screen video level monitoring is good, there are options for waveform monitoring on the LCD panel. There is also an image magnifier as a focus aid.

Connectivity is good, with HDSDI and timecode (only in the 105 model), plus HDMI and USB, analogue component, BNC analogue video, 3.5mm multifunction jack socket and XLRs for audio. Power consumption is about 6.2 watts at 7.2 volts.

The camera performed well under test.

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