XA20 Professional Camcorder

If you're shooting video with a Canon MkIII or a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema, you may not like this camera. If you're thinking of stepping up from one of the Canon Rebel cameras though, I've found it to be well worth it. Here a few reasons why... * 60 Frames per second - I shoot a lot of sports videos. The original XA-10 didn't offer 60 fps and I ruled it out right away. Some DSLR's might but I found the rolling shutter to be too much to overcome. My sport videos are pristine now. * Real audio - I need to have have a visual audio meter on the screen and a headphone jack. DSLR's might have a Magic Lantern firmware upgrade available but can you count on it? Nearly a year later, there still wasn't one for my T4i like I had with my T3i. Canon should build that into the firmware but they won't. And yes, real audio means real XLR microphones too but it still has a 3.5mm mic-in jack. * Fast start-up - I found trying to get a DSLR setup with audio and focus to be a bit of a pain for run & gun type shooting. The ergonomics of the XA-20 makes it much easier. The whole unit is easier to carry. * 20x Optical Zoom - I had all sorts of lenses for my DSLR. You need the gamut to get the right shot. It also meant having to take all the lenses with you. The built-in 20x optical zoom gives me enough wide and telephoto options without having to bring a whole camera bag with me. I've found the picture quality to be very good. No it's no the same as having a fast prime on my camera but you know what, it's pretty darn good and so much easier to work with. * Remote - It's nice having a remote again. I do a lot of self videos for training purposes and I forgot how convenient it is to have a remote to start/stop/zoom. There are lots of other reasons and some reviewers have covered those well already. Your mileage my vary but I do at least think it's a worthy consideration if you're looking to upgrade and you're primarily using a consumer DSLR for video.

I bought this video camera to upgrade my HG20. The HG20 is hard disk based and is overall a good camera. Has served me well. But I wanted an upgrade. Some of the earlier Canon cameras did not come with a Wide Angle - so that was an extra 200 add-on for my HG20. This camera has a nice wide angle, and if you disable Dynamic Image Stabilization - it gets even wider. You can have image stabilization going on - just not 'dynamic'. Has XLR inputs, standard 3.5mm, USB, HDMI and all the stuff you'd expect. Also has dual SDXC slots. **By the way - if someone cares to explain this to me ... I bought a 128 GB card, b/c in the manual, on page 37 it says "SD memory cards with a capacity of 64 MB or smaller cannot be used to record movies". Lord must only know what they are talking about, because on page 84 it shows spec for 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB memory cards for both MP3 and AVCHD. Can someone kindly let me know what they may have meant? (Update : Thanks to J.Wales : I totally overlooked MB vs. GB. So, you should be fine with any card from 8-12 8GB, per the manual). I went with the 128 which was a $150 add-on. I did try calling Canon, but their customer service department only knows how to look up spec (the same spec I already looked up before I called). In fact, because they are generalists - you'll most likely know more than the person on the phone - so hopefully that gives you 15 minutes of your life back. Don't bother. The only complaint is the stock battery does not have a long life. So, like on my HG20 (that I had to buy an upgraded lens), with this camera - I'll most likely be dropping another $200 on an extended battery. Truthfully - for $2000 - Canon should have included one. I don't like being nickeled and dimed when spending this kind of $$ ... Oh - if you add the $200 for the extra battery and the $150 I spent on the SDXC card - you're another $350 into a camera. I do believe I read somewhere that they have this same model for overseas markets that have built in flash mem option. Not sure why they didn't include for US markets??? Again - goes back to being nickeled and dimed. I don't like spending $2000 to realize I have to spend another $350 to get the camera how and where I want it to be. (Note to Canon : concentrate on getting NEW customers, not milking your existing customers!!!) Other than that - I'm happy. I do honestly believe this is the best prosumer camera out there. Despite the extra $$ I have to spend, and despite the fact that their customer service and policies on what is included is not what I'd like it to be - I think this is a good camera. (Oh, did I mention optical 20x zoom? That's huge!!). And, for what it's worth - I actually returned the Panasonic x920 to buy this. The Panasonic had trouble focusing in low light (was very twitchy). Canon handles without any problem at all. Plus - when you flip the screen around to film yourself, (podcast, etc.) .. all of the controls are present (unlike the Panasonic). Overall - I'm happy. NOT happy about the battery life. NOT happy that Amazon.com now charges NJ Sales Tax. Not happy that Canon customer service sucks ... But I am happy that I have the right camera that will serve many years of top notch video. Hope this helps the next guy (or gal). Rock ON!

Phenomenal Camera. I can't even begin to explain how amazing the function vs. the price weighs largely in favor of function. I bought this instead of a Sony 4k handy cam, and I have no regrets because of a few basic features. 1. local WiFi live feed control! I can control the camera from my MacBook! 2. Lens zoom is phenomenal and when you zoom in a long way and focus on a close object, the bokeh blur makes it have cinema quality look. 3. XLR inputs. Two of them. 'nuff said 4. Lens quality, Canon has amazing commercially available lenses. 5. Small and lightweight. (Smaller than initially expected) 6. Dual memory card slot and continuous recording. 7. Auto face tracking! 8. Manual zoom/focal ring as well as the very nifty rocker zoom. 9. The ability to shoot 60 fps in 1080p HD. 10. People ask me all the time if I'm 'with the news'

Very nice and easy to learn camera. I really like and will be using it to shoot some short films

Only does 60p in mp4 lower rate, if you want this camera consider the G-30 for about 500 less, no xlr audio, but basically the same camera poor low light, rolling shutter, poor slow motion... there are much better options. I returned it after 1 day. theres a newer model the XA30 and g-40, they claim its better, time will tell,

The view finder is very poor quality .And for the price you should get a memory card and extra battery.

Perfect camcorder