One-stop solution: broadcast shoots with the Canon XF605

"In documentary and journalism, you've got to be able to shoot at the click of a button because you don't know where the action is going to happen," says Nina Stevens, who has shot for major broadcasters from the BBC and Channel 4 through to the Discovery Channel and Sky.

For Charles Rare, a DoP, colourist and co-founder of a topical debate show who turned to cinematography to give life to the stories people shared, a camera is a tool for storytelling. "I'm always looking for new ways to redefine creativity," he says.

Both self-taught filmmakers who have learnt on the job, Nina and Charles tried out Canon's XF605 camcorder upon its launch. It is one of the industry's smallest three-ring 4K camcorders, with a large 1.0-type CMOS sensor and DIGIC DV7 processor delivering exceptional image quality, a 15x zoom lens and Dual Pixel AF with EOS iTR AF X, an intelligent deep-learning technology that tracks a subject's head, even when they are looking away from the camera.

Charles is no stranger to filming roundtable discussions but has previously used cinema cameras. "I'd never thought of using a camcorder in this setting, so I didn't know how much time it would save me," he says. "When it comes to this kind of work, things like depth of field don't matter too much and I don't need a Super 35mm or Full Frame sensor. I'm looking for a clean image that looks great straight out of camera, supports the right codecs and is easy to work with in post.

"With this camera, everything is compact, you've got the XLR inputs and built-in ND filters. I could use it for filming talking heads, documentaries – that zoom range gives you so many options – and for roundtable discussions."

When filming three subjects in conversation, Charles was particularly impressed with the scope of the 15x zoom range, which increases to 30x (in FHD) when using advanced zoom. "There have been scenarios when I've hired a lens kit for a job and wished I had a bit more range," he says. "Being able to punch in so much creates new creative possibilities, because you don't usually get that range in a DSLR or cinema camera setup."

Despite working with a limited team, Charles also wanted to be able to shoot interviews on multiple cameras, so he paired the Canon XF605 with two PTZ cameras controlled with a Canon Remote Control RC-V100. "This setup made me realise I could shoot a roundtable discussion with a very small crew, knowing everything is being monitored behind the desk," he says. Since the firmware update, the XF605 now also features Canon XC Protocol, meaning a multi-cam setup like this can be monitored and controlled remotely from a single point in any location with a reliable internet connection.

As a colourist, Charles is always considering post-production when shooting. "The band performance was quite a low-light situation, which can result in artefacts in the shadows and noise in the image," he says. "Whatever processing was happening in the camera, to me there was no visible noise. That sensor was working magic. When I started to use false colour to see what was happening in the blacks and shadow area, I was quite surprised – I had to use other tools to double check my exposure just to make sure I was looking at the image that false colour was telling me.

"We shot in 4K and HD. What's useful about 4K is the flexibility it gives you in post if you're going to deliver in an HD timeline. I've also found in colour grading that having more pixels to work with helps keep the integrity of the image when you start to push or pull things in different directions or sharpen the image – 4K is great for image fidelity."

As well as gain, white balance, focus and iris buttons, the Canon XF605 has 11 assignable buttons and settings can be adjusted through the LCD vari-angle touchscreen. "When you're looking through the screen and think, 'Oh, I should change the settings for this', you don't have to look somewhere else," says Nina. "It sounds really simple, but it's really nice to have that in one place."

When recording interviews, clear audio is vital, so Nina welcomed the camera's multiple XLR inputs. "Four-channel audio means I have multiple options for mics," she says. "Sometimes I'll be shooting a conversation and it's great to have the option to shoot more than just two people and still get good sound."

With a lightweight design, 600g lighter and 10% smaller than the Canon XF705, the XF605 is a compact yet durable camera for use in the field. "It's definitely a camera for journalistic work," says Nina. "It's really light and easy to take wherever you need to go, but you've still got all the functions of a larger format camera. It's often just me shooting, so I don't want a lot of kit to worry about, but I need kit that's going to get me the results I require. The convenience of the Canon XF605 was great."

Across their diverse shooting scenarios both filmmakers made use of the camera's powerful autofocus capabilities. The Canon XF605 combines Dual Pixel CMOS AF with head detection and tracking via EOS iTR AF X, 'deep learning' autofocus technology which keeps subjects in sharp focus even when they turn away from the camera. It's also the first XF series camera to feature Eye Detection AF, which via a firmware update is also available in the Slow & Fast Motion mode.

"The head tracking kept my subjects in focus as they were moving," says Nina, who used it when filming people, but also to lock onto bees from a metre away. "To be able to watch and make sure the AF stayed in focus, as opposed to actually following and finding focus, was really handy. Quite often I'll be filming but also having to think about what I have to do next, who is walking into the back of my shot or my next question. If you let those things consume you, you can miss the shot."

For Charles, an "avid manual focus person", using the advanced AF and 5-axis IS allowed him to focus on other elements of his filmmaking. "Having that element removed because the AF does its job very well, saves so much time. You can focus on things like composition. When shooting a band with multiple camera setups, I like to roam with the camera handheld. The flexibility to move and know that the camera is just going to nail focus is great."

Using the AF in combination with intuitive controls on the vari-angle touchscreen made for a particularly seamless experience. "The touchscreen is so responsive, and you can tap focus to the left or right of frame and the camera will change focus," says Charles. "You still have that level of flexibility and control – it's not locked in AF. The face tracking in combination with the tap focus made it feel like manual focus. You don't have to sacrifice the outcome of your creativity."

Since Nina and Charles first used the XF605, Canon has further invested in the camera with a range of firmware updates that improve productivity. Canon Europe’s Paul Atkinson takes us through the key improvements that they can now enjoy, with the headline feature being Canon XC Protocol support, first introduced in Canon's PTZ cameras, and now implemented in the XF605 in response to the growth in demand for livestreaming capabilities.

"There are various protocols within the industry that allow either control or IP streaming. Canon XC Protocol does both, using Canon's free software controller or the paid-for RC-100 hardware controller," says Paul. Previously, the XF605 could be remotely controlled as a solo camera, but now crucially it can be used as part of a multi-camera setup, for example with PTZ cameras as seen in Charles' roundtable discussions and live gig shoots, all controlled via a single point.

"The most likely scenario is that the XF605 would be a static central master camera – for example, filming a wide shot of the main speaker at an event – integrated into a multi-camera system of PTZ cameras doing their thing, panning, tilting and zooming." The core technology inside the XF605 and Canon's PTZ cameras is similar, too, so the image quality will be comparable, making for an ideal system of cameras for livestreaming and for easy grading in post.

The firmware update doesn't stop there. Further highlights include higher quality 4K ALL-I IntraFrame data rates. "Users were previously limited to a data rate of 410MB/s, but now with the latest firmware update, they can enjoy 4K ALL-I 50p at up to 500MB/s or 60p up to 600MB/s," says Paul.

Vertical shooting has also been added to accommodate how smartphones have changed the way in which we consume images and the trend for high-resolution vertical signage within retail environments such as airports.

"Obviously you will turn the camera to film vertically, but in a normal camera the orientation of the image on the screen remains the same, which makes viewing impractical," says Paul. "Now, if you turn the camera onto its side in vertical mode, it will correct the live view image to vertical format for you. Moreover, it will then change the GUI to be vertical, and touchscreen operation works in this format, too."

For something like Nina's football shoots, Face and Eye Detection AF really comes into its own and it's now available in the Slow & Fast Motion modes up to 120p. "There are two modes of face detection; Face Priority and Face Only," says Paul. "Face Priority sticks on subjects that remain in the frame, while Face Only keeps the point of focus even if the subject leaves the frame, and then activates again when it detects a face re-entering the frame."

With a host of other improvements made in response to user feedback including from broadcasters, the XF605 continues to improve and accommodate for a range of shooting scenarios.