Canon XA20 Professional Camcorder review and best price

I am glad to review Canon XA20 Professional Camcorder provided by Canon.

Bought this to document work and trips I take. A recent trip to Panama sparked the purchase, but it was something I've been meaning to look into for a while (and a camcorder I will use for some time to come). Before leaving I had the chance to check it out and was very impressed with the quality and zoom capabilities. I knew this would be a great camcorder to record video.

I really became impressed with this during my Panama trip when we were hiking through the jungle on a very slick and steep trail (well not really a trail or even a path, more like following someone through the thick of the jungle not sure where you are headed). I had a colleague using the camcorder while I took stills (also with a Canon, 5D Mark II) and he slipped quite a few times, landing the camera in the mud and muck. I was worried it might be damaged, but safety and getting through this was a bigger concern. I am very happy to say that after cleaning off with a damp cloth you would never know if had even been in the jungle, let alone hit the deck a few times. I wouldn't recommend abusing it, but it seems like it can take a hit or two by accident.

So far I am extremely pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend this to anyone.

Where to buy Canon XA20 Professional Camcorder:

With Canon XA20 Professional Camcorder you get:

• Newly designed Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens (35mm equivalent: 26.8mm-576mm) with 8-Blade Circular Aperture and Manual Focus Ring.
• 1080/60p recording in MP4 (35 Mbps) and AVCHD Progressive (28 Mbps) for high-quality capture of moving subjects; Slow- and Fast-Motion recording; plus Native 24p Recording.
• New Canon 2.91 Megapixel HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor and new DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor provide high sensitivity and wide dynamic range
• Built-in Wi-Fi® technology (Dual Band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz) allows you to wirelessly share your images and video or send to a PC.
• A detachable handle provides expanded audio performance and flexibility including two built-in XLR audio input terminals with phantom power and manual gain control, an infrared emitter and diffuser light, an accessory shoe (cold), an external microphone holder, and zoom control. Infrared shooting mode for extreme lowlight conditions.

The XA20 is a compact, "run-and-gun" HD camcorder with an impressive optical performance from a powerful new Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Lens with a new 8-Blade Circular Aperture, capable of focusing down to just 23.6 inches (60cm). Other features include a 3.5-inch OLED Touch Panel Display with the equivalent of 1.23 million dots of resolution, Tiltable electronic viewfinder, multiple HD/SD recording rates - including 24p for a "cinematic" look - together with a choice of industry-standard MP4 (up to 35 Mbps) and AVCHD (up to 28 Mbps) codecs. The high image quality and recording versatility make the XA20 ideal for independent and documentary filmmaking, as well as event videography and educational institutions. In addition to reducing horizontal and vertical shaking, five-axis SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization eliminates rolling and other artifacts, for sharper images no matter how the camcorder is moved. A new automatic correction circuit can substantially reduce image distortion, thereby producing better-looking videos. A detachable handle offers increased control functionality, with a built-in microphone holder and XLR-format audio inputs. Infrared shooting with little to zero ambient light offers additional flexibility during, for example, surveillance and wildlife projects; the detachable handle also includes an IR light. Dual-band, built-in Wi-Fi technology allows easy FTP file transfer and upload to the internet. And intelligent lithium batteries report remaining power and battery-wear levels in one-minute increments to the camcorder, thereby taking the guesswork out of battery management. Dual SD Card Slots, Using Readily Available, Consumable Media Intelligent Optical Image Stabilization System with Powered and Dynamic Modes and Auto On/Off Full Manual Control Two Phantom-powered XLR Audio Inputs with Manual Gain Ultra-compact Form Factor with De

Regular price for this product is about $2199 but it is on sale