Canon XF100 - User Manual

Canon XF 100 and 105

December 2010

1

Colorimetric and Resolution requirements of cameras

Alan Roberts

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

This document is a report of the results of tests that are the precursor of those described in the EBU technical
document Tech3335. It is not an endorsement of the product.

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, full-
resolution 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.