Canon XA30 Professional Camcorder

The Canon XA30 Professional Camcorder is a compact, feature-rich professional camcorder offering a combination of portability, image quality, and reliable operation, well suited to event coverage, wedding videography, independent and documentary filmmaking, and mobile news gathering where discreet, reliable capture matters.

At the core of the XA30 is a 1/2.84-inch HD CMOS Pro image sensor (3.09MP total, 2.91MP effective, capturing approximately 2136 x 1362 pixels), offering improved sensitivity and a +3dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio over the previous model for clearer, sharper footage in low-light conditions. Minimum illumination reaches 1.0 lux in Auto mode, or 0.1 lux with Auto Slow Shutter and Low Light Mode selected. The integrated Canon 20x HD optical zoom lens covers a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 26.8-576mm (28.8-576mm with Dynamic IS engaged), with a maximum aperture of f/1.8-2.8 and a minimum object distance of just 23.6 in. (60cm), extendable to a combined 400x zoom with digital zoom, plus a built-in 2x digital teleconverter.

The camera records Full HD 1920 x 1080 video at up to 59.94p, with native 23.98p (24p) recording available for a more cinematic look, saved to dual SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slots that support seamless relay recording (automatically switching to the second card when the first is full). Wide DR Gamma (600%) and Highlight Priority modes help preserve an extended range of highlight and shadow detail, closer to how the human eye perceives a scene, with a View Assist function available to accurately monitor the final image. Slow and Fast Motion modes (2x to 1200x) and interval recording add further creative flexibility in MP4 recording mode.

Five-axis intelligent optical image stabilization (combining optical lens-shift with electronic stabilization) offers four modes, Intelligent (Auto), Dynamic, Standard, and Powered, for steady handheld footage across a range of shooting situations. Handling centers on an 8.77cm (3.5″) capacitive OLED touchscreen with 100% view and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, supporting touch and drag operations, along with a 1.56-million-dot color electronic viewfinder that tilts up to 45 degrees for flexible shooting angles. Professional monitoring tools include peaking, zebra bars, color bars, and reference tone, along with a pre-record buffer.

Audio capability includes two XLR terminals with manual gain control and phantom power, a built-in microphone, and a 3.5mm input jack, supporting high-quality linear PCM and Dolby Digital recording. The camcorder’s detachable handle integrates these XLR inputs along with a built-in IR lamp for shooting in complete darkness. Connectivity includes built-in dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) Wi-Fi for remote control, FTP file transfer, browser preview, and Canon Movie Uploader app compatibility, along with a headphone jack and mini-HDMI output.

Build quality centers on a compact, ergonomic, portable design, measuring approximately 4-3/8 x 3-3/8 x 7-3/16 in. and weighing approximately 40 oz. with battery, and includes a lens hood with lens barrier, a BP-820 lithium-ion battery pack (1780mAh), and a CA-570 compact AC power adapter.

Key Features
– 1/2.84″ HD CMOS Pro sensor (2.91MP effective) with DIGIC DV 4 processor
– Minimum illumination of 1.0 lux (0.1 lux with Low Light Mode)
– Canon 20x HD optical zoom lens, 26.8-576mm equivalent, f/1.8-2.8
– Up to 400x combined zoom; built-in 2x digital teleconverter
– Full HD 1920×1080 recording up to 59.94p; native 23.98p (24p) mode
– Wide DR Gamma (600%) and Highlight Priority modes with View Assist
– Slow and Fast Motion (2x-1200x) and interval recording (MP4 mode)
– 5-axis Intelligent OIS with Dynamic, Standard, and Powered modes
– 3.5″ capacitive OLED touchscreen (100% view, 10,000:1 contrast)
– 1.56M-dot color EVF with 45° tilt
– Pre-record buffer, peaking, zebra bars, color bars, reference tone
– Two XLR audio inputs with manual gain and phantom power
– Built-in microphone and 3.5mm audio input
– Detachable handle with built-in IR lamp
– Dual-band (2.4/5GHz) Wi-Fi with FTP transfer
– Headphone jack and mini-HDMI output
– Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots with relay recording
– Includes lens hood, BP-820 battery (1780mAh), and CA-570 AC adapter
– Approximate weight: 40 oz. with battery