The XA11 Professional Camcorder features a Genuine Canon 20x HD Zoom Lens that provides a highly versatile zoom range with 35mm equivalent of 26.8–576mm, and a minimum object distance of just 23.6 inches (60cm) to help capture powerful recordings near and far. The impressive image quality is enhanced by an 8-blade Circular Aperture design, which helps to avoid the “starburst” effect of point light sources in non-circular aperture designs. Out-of-focus areas are smooth, natural and appealing. An endless-type focus and zoom control includes user-programmable direction and sensitivity modes. Zoom speed can be set to either a variable or constant (with 16 levels) speed setting, with Fast, Normal or Slow zoom speed levels.

For incredibly sharp and detailed high-definition video recording, the XA11 Professional Camcorder features a 1/2.84-inch, 2.91 Megapixel HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor that captures approximately 2136×1362 pixels. Thanks to the sensor’s high sensitivity, the XA11 helps provide vivid, accurate recording through an excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

Superb Low-light PerformanceFeaturing a low-luminance noise rating of +3 dB, the XA11 Professional Camcorder is able to capture clear, sharp images with incredible detail even in low light.

Multiple recording modes, resolutions and frame rates make the XA11 Professional Camcorder creatively flexible and adaptable to virtually any production environment. It can record in Full HD resolution in both AVCHD and MP4 recording codecs, at multiple bit rates, and even simultaneously.

Simultaneous HD- and Web-version Dual RecordingDual Recording offers format choices that are useful for various post-capture options. The DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor and dual SD card slots enable simultaneous recording in AVCHD format and web-ready MP4 format, as well as MP4 at different bit rates.

Native 24p RecordingA must for serious filmmaking work, Native 24p matches the frame rate of a traditional film camera, giving the same cadence and temporal motion for “film-like” quality.

The XA11 Professional Camcorder represents Canon’s Full HD System, delivering truly excellent image quality and reproduction in a wide range of shooting situations. With its 20x Optical Zoom HD Video lens, its HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor and the powerful DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor working together to capture and process the images at hand, the XA11 is positioned to deliver HD video that is nothing short of stunning.

The 3.0-inch 460,000 dot LCD display provides vivid colors and high contrast. A wide-view angle (over 80° at all angles) aids in composition versatility, and regular chromaticity adjustments, which are prompted by the camcorder, help ensure correct brightness and faithful color reproduction.

Electronic ViewfinderThe 0.24-inch tilt-type color electronic viewfinder on the XA11 Professional Camcorder has 100% field of view, and 1.56 million dots of resolution help ensure critical focus adjustment, with peaking applied if necessary. A joystick located to the right of the viewfinder, where the thumb rests, enables control of camera settings on the viewscreen without having to use touch panel controls.

SDHC/SDXC Card-compatibleThe XA11 Professional Camcorder is compatible with universal SDHC and SDXC memory cards, which provide super-high capacity and ultra-fast data transfer.

When AVCHD/MP4 recording has continued for 12 hours, it will automatically stop.
A variable bit rate is applicable in each case.

Double-slot SD Card Recording for Instant BackupFor safety and convenience, double-slot recording allows you to record simultaneously to each of the two SD memory card slots, providing an instant backup for your footage.

Relay Recording for Continuous, Long-run RecordingWith Relay Recording, the XA11 Professional Camcorder automatically switches video recording from one SD memory card to the other when the first memory card becomes full.

For natural and realistic-looking image capture that faithfully represents the scene at hand, the XA11 Professional Camcorder features a Wide DR Gamma mode. By suppressing overexposure in high brightness areas of the composition, this mode helps achieve a wide dynamic range of 600% to produce seamless tone gradations, resulting in smooth detail, accurate color and virtually no blown-out highlights.

To capture highly saturated, realistic colors and to convey gradation characteristics as perceived by the eye, the XA11 Professional Camcorder has a Highlight Priority mode that achieves effects similar to HDR modes in other camcorders. By reducing the mid- to high-brightness compression of the standard gamma mode, the Highlight Priority mode helps to prevent loss of detail in high brightness areas. Designed for display on a bright LCD TV, videos captured in Highlight Priority mode should be shown at a high brightness setting to help ensure accurate portrayal of the effect.

When using the XA11 Professional Camcorder in Highlight Priority mode, the View Assist function increases brightness and medium tone gamma in the camera’s viewfinder or LCD panel. This allows images to be displayed with the brightness and gradation with which they are being recorded or reviewed, helping to ensure the subjects look natural and realistic.

The XA11 Professional Camcorder offers a powerful optical image stabilization system suited to help reduce image blur in a wide variety of shooting situations. The different image stabilization options can be selected manually, or Intelligent IS can use an automatic detection system to identify the proper stabilization mode for the situation. Featured on the XA11 is Dynamic Mode, which provides electronic correction of roll and tilt.

Dynamic ISUsed for image stabilization at the wide end, Dynamic IS builds on translational (up-down/left-right) stabilization, adding roll axis correction, horizontal roll correction and vertical roll correction for five-axis correction. Image distortion is substantially reduced, even when shooting while in motion.

Macro ISMacro IS corrects angular and shift-type shake in wide-angle shots.

Powered IS*Used for image stabilization in telephoto shooting, Powered IS corrects for low-frequency camcorder shake.

* During Intelligent IS (AUTO mode), Powered IS can be set to ON or OFF.

Custom Key and DialA Custom Key and Dial feature allows you to assign functions to an easily accessible key and adjust the settings with a control dial. The functions include:

• Tv/Av: Use the dial to adjust shutter speed (Tv mode) or aperture (Av mode), as needed. In this mode the key has no effect.
• Manual exposure: When manual control is selected, the dial can adjust aperture, shutter speed or gain. Select items to adjust, such as aperture or other settings, with the key.
• Exposure Lock can be set on or off as can the AGC Limit.

Composition AidsWith the Level Marker feature, it’s easy to keep the camcorder level for more accurate framing. The Grid Marker provides a reference grid in your viewfinder. Depending on the background color of your shot, you can choose between two different colors (white or gray) for better viewing contrast.

Gain ControlGain may be manually set from 0 dB to 24 dB in 1 dB increments. Additionally, Auto Gain Control Limit allows you to set the maximum gain limit for the image sensor’s sensitivity. With this function, brightness and noise can be balanced as required, and image quality can be maximized in low-light situations.

Power ZoomPower zoom is available in Variable and Constant settings in 3 modes: Fast (approx. 1.9–60 seconds), Normal (approx. 2.5–180 seconds) and Slow (approx. 4.0–285 seconds). To provide added control, there are 16 predefined steps in Constant mode.

Weighing less than three pounds including the detachable handle, battery and lens hood – and less than two pounds without – the XA11 Professional Camcorder is ideal for high-action shoots when both speed and mobility are essential, and where keeping a low profile is an added benefit. Though small in size, this camcorder sacrifices nothing when it comes to professional functionality. It features a “seesaw” style zoom lever, manual focus/zoom ring and joystick for easy control and an electronic viewfinder that can tilt up to 45° for low-angle shooting. It also has five Assign Buttons to help it fit to your operational needs.

A stereo microphone is incorporated into the XA11 Professional Camcorder, and two XLR audio inputs with +48 V phantom power are on the detachable handle unit. The built-in microphone provides outstanding audio in fast-paced situations while the XLR inputs provide connectivity to external microphones and other professional audio devices. If you choose, the built-in microphone and XLR input can be used simultaneously.

Audio is recorded in 16-bit PCM format at 48 kHz for amazing quality and fidelity. And both the built-in microphone and XLR inputs have the option for automatic or full manual gain control. To prevent variations in the recorded audio level, the dial can also be locked.

The XA11 also includes a 3.5mm headphone terminal with 16 volume settings for accurate audio monitoring.

A detachable handle provides the user with expanded audio performance and added flexibility. Removing the handle allows the camcorder to be made more compact for convenient storage when travelling. Included on the handle are the following terminals, controls and monitors:

• Two built-in XLR audio input terminals with phantom power
• Accessory shoe (cold)
• External microphone holder
• Manual audio level control
• Zoom control and record start/stop button
• Infrared light
• Tally lamp

To enhance focusing capability, the XA11 Professional Camcorder provides Focus Assist. It includes enlargement, which helps in capturing your subject in razor-sharp focus. It works by providing a 2x magnification of your subject, which is automatically cancelled when you start recording. Also included is color peaking, which shows the shooting object’s focused areas in actual colors.

The XA11 Professional Camcorder is equipped with five assignable buttons so that the camcorder can be tailored to the specific preferences or needs of the user.

Button 1 is preset as AF/MF.

Button 2 is preset as Pre REC.

Button 3 has no preset.

Button 4 has no preset.

Button 5 is preset as Rec Review.

The XA11 Professional Camcorder features an Infrared Mode allowing the capture of video in conditions with little to no ambient light. Compared to the XA25 and XA20, the XA11 can shoot at brightness levels that are approximately 1.4 times more sensitive, and allows low-light capture by removing the infrared cutoff filter from the optical path. Its specially designed lens coating allows the infrared light to pass through to the image sensor. Additionally, the detachable handle of the XA11 features an infrared emitter with a diffuser to shoot appealing infrared imagery even in complete darkness. For nighttime videographers or law enforcement users, the benefits of a compact, high-performance camcorder for shooting in such conditions are obvious. Without the need to add lights, the shooter can save time on set-up. Also, the XA11 gives the option of recording in white or green mode.

Not only does the XA11 Professional Camcorder provide the user with incredible control over the image, it also provides immense creative freedom when it comes to inputs and outputs, including:

• HDMI Output (HDMI mini connector, time code can be superimposed)
• Composite Video Output (3.5mm)
• USB Hi-Speed Terminal
• (2) XLR Audio Input (when handle is attached) (See audio section for more details)
• Microphone Input (3.5mm) (See audio section for more details)
• Headphone Jack (3.5mm) (See audio section for more details)
• Accessory Shoe (when handle is attached)

Color bars and test tone can be selected and recorded. The color bars comply with the SMPTE standard. -12 dB, -18 dB or -20 dB can be selected as the test tone.

Enhanced zebra pattern (70% or 100%) indicates “blown out” or high brightness areas to help you set the proper exposure.

The white balance control has six available presets selectable through a variety of day and artificial light conditions (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H and Tungsten), as well as two manual white balance settings. Color temperature may also be manually set from 2,000K to 15,000K in 100K increments for more precise adjustment.

Slow and Fast Motion Modes allow the XA11 Professional Camcorder to record a different frame rate than the playback frame rate (only in MP4 recording modes), for a fast or slow motion effect during playback. Since the camera is recording real frames and modifying the playback rate, there is virtually no quality loss and maximum image quality is maintained. Additionally, interval recording allows the user to record frames at specified intervals, providing time-lapse recording of up to 1200x and slow motion down to 0.4x of the original speed.