Logo Logo

/// HD Camcorder Comparison



multiple selection by CTRL + left mouse button
lowest US price max
Manufacturer
On the market since
Video formats ?
Recording Medium ?
more filters
sorted by
models per page
Best values highlighted
view only tested models
diese Seite auf deutsch
 Jump to: Model | Test preview | Video | Configuration | Audio | Still | Misc. | Product Shots | Test results | More information |
2 models found [ Permalink for this page ]   

models compared on this page: Canon XL H1A and Sony HDR-CX550V

display: 3 models per page sorted by score Best values highlighted
Model

Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
Picture ?
Manufacturer Canon Informationen zu Canon

Sony Information on Sony

Name XL H1AHDR-CX550V
European name ?XL H1AHDR-CX550VE
US name ?XL H1AHDR-CX550V
lowest US price  1899 $
On the market since June 2008 March 2010
Manufacturers URL link to Canonlink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
slashCAM rating ?Very good
Good
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
Video formats ? MiniDV
HDV
AVCHD
SD MPEG2
Recording Medium MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
video resolutions EU ?HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25F
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
video resolutions US ?HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
MiniDV 720 x 480/30p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
Max Bitrate ?25 Mbit/s24 Mbit/s
Compression format ? DV
MPEG2
MPEG2
MPEG4
on-board memory ? 64 GB
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ? Canon
Sony
Optical Zoom ?20 x10 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?39 mm29,8 mm
Filter diameter ?72 mm37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optical
optically and electronically
ND Filter ?2No
Exchangable optics ?Yes
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?31
Size of image sensor ?1/3 inch1/2,9 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?1560000 Pixel 4150000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CCD
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/16.0001/10.000
Maximum shutter time ?1/31/6
Apperture control ?auto
manual
AE-Shift
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?No
 
Expanded Focus ?Yes
 
Peaking ?Yes
 
Signal Processing
Zebra ? Off
70-100%
No
Histogram ?No
No
adjustable sharpness ?Yes
 
Adjustable color ?Yes
 
Cinegamma ?Yes
 
Black Strech ?Yes
No
Knee ?Yes
No
Colorbars ?Yes
No
Misc.
Shot Transition ?Yes
No
Custom Presets ?Yes
 
Set Time Code ?Yes
No
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 In
Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		 In
Out
About Special Equipment
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		 Out
Out
HDMI ?No
 Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		 In
Out
-
USB ?No
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ? XLR
Cinch
Mini-jack
Headphones ?3.5 mm mini-jack
3.5 mm mini-jack
Lanc ?Yes
No
Time-code interface ? No
Genlock ? No
Accessory shoe ? Standard
AI
HD-SDI ? No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 3435 g440 g
Weight (with battery) 3750 g490 g
Battery type Canon BP-950G
Sony NP-FV50
Battery capacity 5200 mAh 
Charger ?external
internal
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height 226 mm66 mm
Width 220 mm74 mm
Depth 496 mm143 mm
Relative Size ?2466
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
Color
Viewfinder format ?16:916:9
Viewfinder pixels ?215000 Pixel 201600 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 2,4 Inch3,5 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?215000 Pixel 921000 Pixel
Touch Screen ? Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Ring
Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
Manual Focus ? Ring
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?Menu
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Focus switcher ?Yes
No
ND Filter ?Yes
No
Exp Lock ?Yes
No
Gain ?Yes
No
White balance ?Yes
No
Push AF ?Yes
No
Audio Levels ?Yes
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		 No
Audio

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
Audio Formats ?MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
HDV: 4x48kHz 16bit MPEG 2
AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Microphone ?Stereo internal
external XLR
Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
display
 
Still

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
Recording Medium ?SD Card
Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
SDHC card
Medium included ?16 MB
No
Effective pixels ?1560000 Pixel  
Resolutions ?1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480		4000 x 3000 - Max
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?No
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
Specials optional upgrade for NTSC recordingsimulataneous video signal at RCA and BNC outputGPS with geo-tagging functionality
Product Shots

[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
View 1
View 2
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ? 
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?GoodVery good
Resolution ?Very goodVery good
Color performance ?Very goodGood
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySufficient
Wide Angle ?Satisfactory Excellent
Configuration / image ?Very goodSatisfactory
Configuration / sound ? Excellent Poor
Handling ?Very goodGood
Portability ?SufficientVery good
Photo function ?SufficientSatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?Very goodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Very good
Good
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		405390
Pros + Excellent resolution in brightness and color
+ interchangeable lenses
+ 4 audio channels for HDV
+ Very well equipped
+ multi functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good lowlight sensibility
+ wide angle
+ Display with high resoultion
Cons - unergonomical on the shoulder
- image characteristics cannot be modified
- no focus or exposure assist
Conclusion The Canon XL H1A has excellent CCDs, which in some aspects tap the full resolution potential of HDV.In combination with very good dynamic behavior and the consistent colors this provides a very good image impression.The standard lens is not satisfying: for less distortion and chromatic aberrations as well as for more wide angle pros need to go for an additional (more expensive) optics.The wide angle (which shrinks a little with active image stabilization) as well as the low light performance is better than on all competing modells.But in terms of sharpness, manual control options and color reproduction the Sony is not quite on par with the class winners.The automatics work solidly in a Sony-typical way.Remarkably good is the high-resolving display, but a focus assist option is nevertheless missed when setting the focus manually.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Canon XL H1ASony HDR-CX550V
slashCAM Review
XL H1A Review
external reviews/tests www.camcorderinfo.com
 
Forum posts Canon xl h1a or SonyHVR-Z7E
buy a Canon XL H1a
Canon XH A1 and XL H1A + I Mac G5?
Canon XL H1A, or XH A1
Canon XL H1s XL H1a - nothing new in the East
noname Batteries for SonyHDR-CX550VE
HDR-CX550VE - clipping of live concert recordings
Replacement Battery for HDR-CX550VE - alternative to the original NP-FV100 Accessories!
Panasonic HDC-TM700 or SonyHDR-CX550VE??


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 24.Mai 2012 - 14:40
slashCAM ist ein Projekt der channelunit GmbH
*Datenschutzhinweis*