Best Canon camcorders: which all-in-one video camera should you choose?

Canon's professional video cameras combine some of the best Canon video technology with a familiar, easy-to-use camcorder design. As dedicated all-in-one video cameras, they are easier to control than DSLR or mirrorless cameras, and their compact design makes them more portable than Cinema EOS cameras. This makes them an excellent standalone choice for fast-paced productions, from newsgathering and live events to documentaries and weddings. But which is the best Canon camcorder for you?

And there is certainly plenty of choice available. Canon's XF and XA series of professional camcorders range from broadcast-focused 4K video cameras to budget-friendly Full HD models. As the latest addition to the XF Series, the Canon XF605 sets a new benchmark for convenience and performance, with intelligent AF tracking that can keep a subject's head in focus even when they're not looking at the camera. But even advanced Canon LEGRIA camcorders have features that will appeal to professional filmmakers and videographers, including outstanding image quality and professional-level control – see the section on the Canon LEGRIA GX10 below.

To help you choose the ideal video camera for your needs and budget, we've put together a guide to some of the best camcorders available today.

Just like the Canon XF705, the Canon XF605 features a premium L-Series 15x optical zoom lens and a large 1.0-type 4K UHD CMOS sensor. In addition, the XF605 is equipped with a DIGIC DV 7 processor that works in harmony with the sensor to deliver high-quality image processing with impeccable clarity and low noise.

Capable of recording 4K UHD 60P/50P in 4:2:2 10-bit XF-AVC and MP4 to dual SD cards, the Canon XF605 is a practical choice whether you need to run footage through post-production or broadcast it directly. A wide dynamic range is captured via Canon Log 3, while PQ and HLG formats are available when your production requires HDR formats. Slow & Fast Motion mode allows Full HD clips to be recorded at up to 120p, too.

An expanded range of Custom Picture profiles and support for Look Files (3D LUTs) enable users to achieve distinctive footage straight out of the camera. "We introduced Look File support in the EOS C70," adds Mehdia. "I think the concern with many people when they shoot Log is post-production and how much time they spend editing. But when a Look File is baked into the footage it can help to minimise the workflow."

The Canon XF605 is also one of the most connected camcorders. In addition to 12G-SDI, Ethernet and XLR, it comes with a multi-function shoe that can be used to add additional XLR inputs, and it's the first XF Series camcorder that can be connected to the RC-IP100 Remote Controller. A new Content Transfer Mobile app allows video to be transferred directly to an FTP server via an iPhone, and video output over USB-C enables the XF605 to be used as a webcam.

Choosing between the Canon XF405 and the Canon XF605 mainly comes down to whether you need the flagship camcorder's 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording option, compared with the Canon XF405's 4:2:0 8-bit. "The XF405 does enable you to record 4:2:2 8-bit or 10-bit externally, depending on the resolution, but that requires getting additional equipment," explains Mehdia. "Canon Log 3 has also been added in a recent firmware update, which gives you maximum dynamic range straight out of the camera."

As well as two XLR terminals plus a built-in mic for four-channel audio, the Canon XF405 features a 3G-SDI output that supports Full HD. It boasts Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity for FTP transfer and IP streaming, and benefits from wireless control via a smartphone or tablet with Browser Remote. Factor in its fast and accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF and built-in ND filters, and you've got a robust camcorder that offers all the professional controls newsgatherers need.

The Canon XA55's diminutive dimensions and standalone weight of approximately 970g means that it's a great option for discreet journalism. "Cameras in the XA range can be used as professional camcorders, but if you remove the handles with the XLRs then you're basically down to a compact camcorder that's easy to go travelling with," says Mehdia.

In addition to recording 4K UHD in XF-AVC and MP4, the Canon XA55 features Over Sampling HD Processing for incredible Full HD image quality. It also boasts a useful infrared mode that is an advantage for some low-light newsgathering and documentary filming.

The camera's 4K CMOS sensor is smaller than the 1.0-type sensor offered by the other Canon 4K professional camcorders in this selection, but it's twinned with a longer 20x wide-angle zoom that delivers an equivalent reach of 29.3-601mm. A 5-axis optical image stabiliser helps to cut through camera shake when shooting at telephoto focal lengths too.

"It's the perfect video camera for covering corporate events and creating online content," explains Mehdia. "The price reflects the smaller sensor size, but you still have all the professional controls, dual card slots and XLR inputs."

At the heart of the Canon XA15 is an advanced HD CMOS Pro sensor and DIGIC DV4 image processor, delivering high-quality Full HD 50p video in AVCHD and MP4. A Canon high-definition 20x optical zoom lens gives the 35mm equivalent range of 26.8-576mm, with its 8-bladed aperture ensuring beautiful background blur.

"Probably the easiest way of thinking about the Canon XA15 is that it's pretty much the Full HD version of the XA40," says Mehdia. "And the Canon XA11 in particular has been a popular model for users who've been streaming during the lockdowns."

"If XLR audio inputs are not an essential requirement, the Canon LEGRIA GX10 would be one of the camcorders I would recommend," says Mehdia. "In terms of specification it probably shares about 70% of what the Canon XF405 offers. So you have Full HD high frame rate recording up to 100fps, Wide DR, a 5-axis optical Image Stabilizer, built-in Wi-Fi and dual SD card slots.

"The main difference is that the Canon LEGRIA GX10 can only record in MP4, so it doesn't have the XF-AVC option which some people might require. But for online content, MP4 is the main format that you're going to need."

Mehdia suggests that as well as online content creators, the Canon LEGRIA GX10 is a great video camera for events, corporate work and education. "For documentaries and newsgathering, the XA and XF series camcorders, with their professional audio options, may be the better choice, but the Canon LEGRIA GX10 still gives you all the manual controls that you need."