Canon XL-H1 / H1A / H1S

71 reviews

May, 2024

Positive
image quality (19)
usability (15)
price (14)
design (11)
durability (4)

Negative
portability (8)
reliability (1)
zoom (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 71 reviews of Canon XL-H1 / H1A / H1S. The average rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Comments about the durability and design are generally positive. The price and image quality also get good feedback, whereas there are some critical opinions about the reliability and zoom.

usability, image quality, price, design, durability

portability, zoom, reliability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Canon XL-H1 / H1A / H1S is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 87/100 = Very good quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 71 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(49% of reviews)
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Features

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Showing 1 - 33 of 51 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (20)

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Canon XL-H1 / H1A / H1S

alaTest has collected and analyzed 23 user reviews of Canon XL-H1 / H1A / H1S from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. People are impressed by the price. The image quality is also appreciated, but some have doubts about the usability.

design, image quality, price

usability

78% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2024

Expert review by : Ben Wolf (cnet.com)

Canon XL review

Canon XL

Very high resolution; extensive image controls; interchangeable lenses; compatible with the Canon XL system of lenses and accessories; compatible jack pack is ideal for multicam studio work.

No true progressive shooting; strange ergonomics; stock lens hard to focus manually; pricier than the competition.

Canon's semipro high-definition XL H1 video camera is a winner for event, reality, ENG, and documentary shooters, but its price is high.

Feb, 2006

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Expert review by : Jeremy Stamas and David Kender (camcorderinfo.com)

Canon XL H1A Camcorder Review

The Canon XL H1A ($5999 MSRP) offers some small but useful improvements to the first-generation XL H1A. An upgraded 20x lens kit lens adds an iris ring to the focus and zoom rings. The in-camera color controls, already beyond what most camcorders...

The Canon XL H1A ($5999 MSRP) is a great budget option for those who need the size or handling that accompany shoulder-mount camcorders. The video quality is excellent, including accurate colors and high resolution. The level of fine detail control,...

Feb, 2009

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Expert review by : David Kender (camcorderinfo.com)

Canon XL H1 Camcorder Review

The Canon XL H1 - you've seen it, you've studied it, and you've put it on your wish list. Now we have the complete review. This HDV camcorder with a $8999 (MSRP) price tag has just about everything you want in a professional camcorder: 30F and 24F...

Nov, 2006

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Expert review by : Videomaker (videomaker.com)

Canon XL H1A HDV Camcorder Review

Ready, Aim, Shoot! Whether you feel you're ready to enter the professional realm of cinematography or you're a serious amateur, Canon's XL H1A is here to meet your expectations.

HD lens, Endless customization, Highly-accurate color reproduction

Front-heavy, Small LCD screen, Can't adjust the shoulder pad

Sep, 2010

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Expert review by : Jeremy Stamas and David Kender (reviewed.com)

Canon XL H1A

The Canon XL H1A ($5999 MSRP) offers some small but useful improvements to the first-generation XL H1. An upgraded 20x lens kit lens adds an iris ring to the focus and zoom rings. The in-camera color controls, already beyond what most camcorders offer,...

Feb, 2009

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Expert review by : Tom Skowronski (videomaker.com)

Camcorder Review Canon XL H1A HDV Camcorder

Whether you feel you're ready to enter the professional realm of cinematography or you're a serious amateur, Canon's XL H1A is here to meet your expectations. The latest of Canon's professional line is a loaded weapon that comes equipped with an HD 20x...

HD lens Endless customization Highly-accurate color reproduction

Front-heavy Small LCD screen Can't adjust the shoulder pad

Canon has given professional cinemaniacs a vast array of shooting options at an affordable price.

Dec, 2008

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Expert review by : David Kender (reviewed.com)

Canon XL H1

The Canon XL H1 features three 1/3" CCDs. Each CCD has a gross pixel count of 1.67MP. The effective pixel count during HDV recording is 1.56MP. In standard definition (DV) recording in 16:9 the effective pixel count in the same, 1.56MP per CCD. In DV...

Nov, 2006

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Expert review by : Andrew Burke (videomaker.com)

Camcorder Review: Canon XL H1 HDV

Although we used a tripod for most of the shots, we went handheld for a portion to test how well the camera felt as we moved around. Not surprising, the image stabilization offered by the 20x HD lens was top notch. Canon has placed all the important...

Excellent Resolution On-camera controls Canon HD lens

Lack of support for proprietary HD

A unique feature of the XL H1 is its ability to record better than HDV quality video to a hard drive for editing. HDV video goes through quite a compression feat to fit onto Mini DV tape, but Canon allows more options when tape is taken out of the...

Oct, 2006

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Expert review by : Bruce A. Johnson (studiodaily.com)

Focus, Zoom and Trick Out Your Canon XL H1

Getting precise focus has always been a bit of an issue with the XL series, and now that it's shooting HDV it has lots of company. There isn't one HD camera viewfinder that even approaches HD resolution, and the XL H1's is no exception. To try and...

Jul, 2006

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Expert review by : Dirck Halstead (digitaljournalist.org)

Camera Corner Review: The Canon XL H1

Canon has always taken a "wait and see" attitude when it comes to introducing its new video products. Then, once it has determined the direction the market is going in, they do their homework, and come up with something that is beyond anything the...

However, this is not a camera for a backpack VJ or an ordinary videophile. It is just too heavy. This is meant for heavy-duty, hard-core (sic) professional use. If you are a filmmaker you can put those "prime" Panavision lenses on it, and the camera...

Apr, 2006

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