XA40 Overview

Genuine Canon 20x High Definition Optical Zoom Lens

The XA40 Professional Camcorder features a Genuine Canon 20x Optical Zoom Lens that provides a highly versatile zoom range with a 35mm equivalent of 29.3-601mm to help capture newsworthy recordings near and far.  The impressive image quality is enhanced by an 8-blade Circular Aperture design, which helps to avoid the “starburst” effect of point light sources in non-circular aperture designs. Out-of-focus areas are smooth, natural and appealing. An endless-type focus and zoom control includes user-programmable direction and sensitivity modes. Zoom speed can be set to either a variable or constant (with 16 levels) speed setting, with Fast, Normal or Slow zoom speed levels.

Advanced 4K UHD CMOS Pro Image Sensor with Impressive Low-light Performance

For incredibly sharp and detailed high-definition video recording, the XA40 Professional Camcorder features a 1/2.3-inch, 8.29 Megapixel 4K UHD CMOS Pro Image Sensor that captures approximately 3840x2160 pixels. Thanks to the sensor's high sensitivity, the XA40 helps provide vivid, accurate recording through an excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

Superb Low-light Performance

Featuring a low-luminance noise rating of +3 dB, the XA40 Professional Camcorder is able to capture clear, sharp images with incredible detail even in low light.

4K UHD and Advanced Full HD Recording Capabilities

Multiple recording modes, resolutions and frame rates make the XA40 Professional Camcorder creatively flexible and adaptable to virtually any news-gathering environment. It can record to an SD card in 4K UHD and Full HD resolutions using the MP4 recording codec, at multiple bit rates- and even record simultaneously.

HDMI Terminal

An HDMI terminal supports FHD 60p output, which can be connected to a standard external SSD/HDD recorder, enabling conversion to ProRes and DNx formats for efficient editing and storage.

Dual SD Card Slots

The XA40 Professional Camcorder features dual SD card slots that are compatible with universal SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards, which provide super-high capacity and ultra-fast data transfer.

Double-slot SD Card Recording for Instant Backup

For safety and convenience, double-slot recording allows you to record simultaneously to each of the two SD memory card slots, providing an instant backup for your footage.

Relay Recording for Continuous, Long-run Recording

With Relay Recording, the XA40 Professional Camcorder automatically switches video recording from one SD memory card to the other when the first memory card becomes full.

Simultaneous Dual Recording

Dual Recording offers format choices that are useful for various post-capture options. The DiG!C DV 6 Image Processor and dual SD card slots enable simultaneous recording the web-ready MP4 format, at different bit rates.

Native 24p Recording

A must for serious documentary work, Native 24p matches the frame rate of a traditional film camera, giving the same cadence and temporal motion for "film-like" quality.

Slow and Fast Motion Recording

Slow and Fast Motion Modes allow the XA40 Professional Camcorder to record a different frame rate than the playback frame rate for a fast or slow motion effect during playback. Since the camera is recording real frames and modifying the playback rate, there is virtually no quality loss and maximum image quality is maintained. Additionally, interval recording allows the user to record frames at specified intervals, providing time-lapse recording of up to 1200x and slow motion down to 0.4x of the original speed.

Advanced Full HD Image Quality

Our Full HD image quality from our XA series camcorder is now even better thanks to Over Sampling HD Processing, which enables Full HD recording by effectively utilizing the outstanding capabilities of the 4K UHD CMOS Sensor.

Outstanding Image Reproduction

The XA40 Professional Camcorder represents Canon's 4K UHD System, delivering truly excellent image quality and reproduction for most any news-gathering application. With its 20x Optical Zoom Video lens, its 4K UHD CMOS Pro Image Sensor and the powerful DiG!C DV 6 Image Processor working together to capture and process the images at hand, the XA40 is positioned to deliver HD video that is nothing short of stunning.

3.0-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen with Tiltable Electronic Viewfinder

The 3.0-inch 460,000 dot LCD display provides vivid colours and high contrast. A wide-view angle (over 80° at all angles) aids in composition versatility, and regular chromaticity adjustments, which are prompted by the camcorder, help ensure correct brightness and faithful colour reproduction.

Electronic Viewfinder

The 0.24-inch tilt-type colour electronic viewfinder on the XA40 Professional Camcorder has 100% field of view, and 1.56 million dots of resolution help ensure critical focus adjustment, with peaking applied if necessary. The viewfinder can tilt up to 45° for low-angle shooting. A joystick located to the right of the viewfinder, where the thumb rests, enables control of camera settings on the viewscreen without having to use touch panel controls.

Intelligent Optical Image Stabilization System

Dynamic IS

Used for image stabilization at the wide end, Dynamic IS builds on translational (up-down/left-right) stabilization, adding roll axis correction, horizontal roll correction and vertical roll correction for five-axis correction. Image distortion is substantially reduced, even when shooting while in motion.

Macro IS

Macro IS corrects angular and shift-type shake in wide-angle shots.

Powered IS*

Used for image stabilization in telephoto shooting, Powered IS corrects for low-frequency camcorder shake.

* During Intelligent IS (AUTO mode), Powered IS can be set to ON or OFF.

Full Manual Control

Custom Key and Dial

A Custom Key and Dial feature allows you to assign functions to an easily accessible key and adjust the settings with a control dial. The functions include:

• Tv/Av: Use the dial to adjust shutter speed (Tv mode) or aperture (Av mode), as needed. In this mode the key has no effect.
• Manual exposure: When manual control is selected, the dial can adjust aperture, shutter speed or gain. Select items to adjust, such as aperture or other settings, with the key.
• Exposure Lock can be set on or off as can the AGC Limit.

Composition Aids

With the Level Marker feature, it's easy to keep the camcorder level for more accurate framing. The Grid Marker provides a reference grid in your viewfinder. Depending on the background colour of your shot, you can choose between two different colours (white or gray) for better viewing contrast.

Gain Control

Gain may be manually set from 0 dB to 24 dB in 1 dB increments. Additionally, Auto Gain Control Limit allows you to set the maximum gain limit for the image sensor's sensitivity. With this function, brightness and noise can be balanced as required, and image quality can be maximized in low-light situations.

Power Zoom

Power zoom is available in Variable and Constant settings in 3 modes: Fast (approx. 1.9–60 seconds), Normal (approx. 2.5–180 seconds) and Slow (approx. 4.0–285 seconds). To provide added control, there are 16 predefined steps in Constant mode.

Ergonomic, Portable Design

Weighing less than three pounds including the detachable handle, battery and lens hood – and less than two pounds without – the XA40 Professional Camcorder is ideal for high-action shoots when both speed and mobility are essential, and where keeping a low profile is an added benefit. Though small in size, this camcorder sacrifices nothing when it comes to professional functionality. It features a “seesaw” style zoom lever, manual focus/zoom ring and selection switch, a joystick for easy control and an electronic viewfinder that can tilt up to 45° for low-angle shooting. It also has five assignable buttons to help it fit to your operational needs.

Two Phantom-powered XLR Audio Inputs

A stereo microphone is incorporated into the XA40 Professional Camcorder, and two XLR audio inputs with +48 V phantom power is on the detachable handle unit. The built-in microphone supports plug-in power, and provides outstanding audio in fast-paced situations while the XLR inputs provide connectivity to external microphones and other professional audio devices. If you choose, the built-in microphone and XLR input can be used simultaneously.

Audio is recorded in 16-bit PCM format at 48 kHz for amazing quality and fidelity. And both the built-in microphone and XLR inputs have the option for automatic or full manual gain control. To prevent variations in the recorded audio level, the dial can also be locked.

The XA40 also includes a 3.5mm headphone terminal with 16 volume settings for accurate audio monitoring.

Flexible Audio Inputs with Linear PCM 4-channel Support*

The XA40 Professional Camcorder offers a variety of ways to record audio: through two XLR terminals, an internal stereo mini-jack mic terminal or from the camcorder's internal stereo mic. In addition to AAC 2ch audio, XA40 offers support for high-quality linear PCM 4ch audio and manual gain control. The on-board 4ch audio independent settings let users set recording levels, input sensitivity and limiters for each channel.

*Not available during 720 recording

Ultra-compact with Detachable Handle

A detachable handle provides the user with expanded audio performance and added flexibility. Removing the handle allows the camcorder to be made more compact for convenient storage when travelling. Included on the handle are the following terminals, controls and monitors:

High Definition Peaking for Focus Assist

To enhance focusing capability, the XA40 Professional Camcorder provides Focus Assist. It includes enlargement, which helps in capturing your subject in razor-sharp focus. It works by providing a 2x magnification of your subject, which is automatically cancelled when you start recording. Also included is colour peaking, which shows the shooting object's focused areas in actual colours.

Assignable Buttons for Custom Shooting

The XA40 Professional Camcorder is equipped with five assignable buttons so that the camcorder can be tailored to the specific preferences or needs of the user.

Infrared Shooting Mode for Extreme Low-light Conditions

The XA40 Professional Camcorder features an Infrared Mode allowing the capture of video in conditions with little to no ambient light. Compared to the XA25 and XA20, the XA40 can shoot at brightness levels that are approximately 1.4 times more sensitive, and allows low-light capture by removing the infrared cutoff filter from the optical path. Its specially designed lens coating allows the infrared light to pass through to the image sensor.Additionally, the detachable handle of the XA40 features an infrared emitter with a diffuser to shoot appealing infrared imagery even in complete darkness. For evening camera crews or nature documentary makers, the benefits of a compact, high-performance camcorder for shooting in such conditions are obvious. Without the need to add lights, the shooter can save time on set-up, or blend into the background to reduce their chance of being seen by the subject. Also, the XA40 gives the option of recording in white or green mode.

Connectivity to Various Inputs and Outputs

Not only does the XA40 Professional Camcorder provide the user with incredible control over the image, it also provides immense creative freedom when it comes to inputs and outputs, including:

• HDMI Output (HDMI mini connector, time code can be superimposed)
• Composite Video Output (3.5mm)
• USB Hi-Speed Terminal
• (2) XLR Audio Input (when handle is attached)
• Microphone Input (3.5mm)
• Headphone Jack (3.5mm)
• Accessory Shoe (when handle is attached)

Advanced Display Features: Zebra, Colour Bars and Test Tone

• Colour bars and test tone can be selected and recorded. The colour bars comply with the SMPTE standard. -12 dB, -18 dB or -20 dB can be selected as the test tone.
• Enhanced zebra pattern (70% or 100%) indicates “blown out” or high brightness areas to help you set the proper exposure.
• The white balance control has six available presets selectable through a variety of day and artificial light conditions (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H and Tungsten), as well as two manual white balance settings. Colour temperature may also be manually set from 2,000K to 15,000K in 100K increments for more precise adjustment.