Canon XF605 Professional Camcorder
It will be difficult for me to remain unbiased in this particular review since, in the past, I have personally owned Canon video cameras from the GL, XL, XH, and XF lines. In my time using these cameras in the studio and on location, I found them to be of excellent value, and I know that owning some of them was the sole reason I was hired for certain gigs. So with my history with the Canon camcorder line, I was extremely excited to get my hands on the XF605. This camera, to me, feels like the 4K big brother of my XF300, which is ironic because the 605 is noticeably smaller than the 300.
The 605 can record up to 3840 x 2160 MXF/XF-AVS 4:2:2 10 bit. The complete list of recording modes would take this entire article, but suffice it to say, there are plenty of options from high-quality 4K to very compressed 720, at all the frame rates and file size options you could want. Beyond recording to the SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, the 605 can stream MPEG2 up to 4K. The camera is capable of recording Canon Log 3, HDR-HLG.
The lens
The lens on the 605 has a red ring; anyone familiar with the Canon product line knows what that means. For those unfamiliar, the red ring is featured on the L-series lens from the Canon product line. These lenses are constructed to the highest standard, which is reflected in the cost, priced several times over the comparable kit lens costs.
The lens of the Canon XF605 camcorder is a variable 2.8-4.5, 15x L-series, giving it a focal length of 25.5mm to 382.5mm (35mm equivalent), notes reviewer Mark Hanna, shown here.
The lens on the 605 has a red ring; anyone familiar with the Canon product line knows what that means ...
The lens of the 605 is a variable 2.8-4.5, 15x L-series, giving it a focal length of 25.5mm to 382.5mm (35mm equivalent). If 15x isn’t enough, there are digital teleconverters for 1.5x, 3x, and 6x, which multiplies the zoom by a factor of 1.5, 3, or 6, respectively. There is also a digital zoom that extends to 300x, and while it does cause the image to fall apart, 300x zoom is just fun. If you don’t need 4K, the HD resolutions can utilize the oversampled image to give you a combination of optical and digitally processed zoom up to 30x.
I/O
For anyone familiar with the Canon naming conventions, the five at the end of the model number in their video cameras denotes there is an SDI connection on the camera. In this case, it is a 12G-SDI, alongside the standard HDMI 2.0 output. There are two standard XLR connectors on the audio input side and one 3.5mm TRS connection. The back of the chassis is bristling with other connections, including RJ45 for streaming; D-Sub 8 Pin for connecting to the RC-V100 remote; 2.5mm sub mini for LANC control; 3.5mm TRS for headphones; USB Type-A for future functionality expansion; USB Type-C for computer/smartphone connection; and BNCs for Timecode, as well as Genlock.
If those ports aren’t enough, the 605 also features a multi-function shoe, a feature you can expect to see on many cameras moving forward. The multi-function shoe allows accessories to be connected to the camera that uses the contacts in the shoe, rather than cables, to send information. In this case, an accessory can add two more XLR ports to the camera. While this feature is more exciting on DSLR or mirrorless cameras, its addition to the 605 camera is appreciated.
... the XF605 also features a multi-function shoe, a feature you can expect to see on many cameras moving forward.
The Canon XF605's 3.45-inch touchscreen EVF will feel right at home to cinema and mirrorless users, reviewer Mark Hanna finds.
In use
The XF605 is easy to set up and get rolling right out of the box. I tested it in the studio. Having never used the 605 before, I had it set up and ready to record in just a few moments. The 3.45-inch touchscreen EVF will feel right at home to cinema and mirrorless users, while the vast menu will feel familiar to anyone who has used any modern camera recently. The overall size was a surprise; it’s far smaller than I expected. With the small size, it feels good in the hand and is comparable in weight to a fully rigged mirrorless camera.
The 3.45-inch touchscreen EVF will feel right at home to cinema and mirrorless users, while the vast menu will feel familiar to anyone who has used any modern camera recently.
To summarize, the Canon XF605 is an excellent all-around general use camera. Personally, for IMAG, I prefer cameras like the 605 because they have servo lenses as opposed to the cinema cameras, which typically have manual zoom lenses. Though the Cine-Servo lenses muddy those waters a little bit, those lenses are in a radically different price bracket. The ability to receive camera information from the RC-V100 controller allows the 605 to be used far more like a studio-style camera. The RC-V100 not only has the standard paint box controls but also features zoom and focus, making this combination an excellent option for IMAG. The XF605 is also not out of place on location. And while it wouldn’t pair well with a cinema camera for a doc-style shoot, it’s a great run-and-gun camera, which makes the 605 a good seven-days-a-week [option] for churches who need their gear to pull double duty.
One of the things I have been critical of Canon for in the past on their video cameras is that the two card slots are located under one door. In some models, you couldn’t swap out the card not in use because of the shared door. In the 605, when it’s recording, if you open the door it tells you not to access the card in use, but allows you to swap the other card. Meaning this camera can essentially record forever. With an MSRP of $4,699, this is not a budget camera. However, I think the value of the 605 warrants the price tag. Honestly, I enjoyed this camera and will have a tough time returning the demo unit to Canon. Maybe they will take my 10-year-old XF300. It still runs great even after a decade of hard use, which is a testament to the build quality of the Canon video camera line.
