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?

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 DV7 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 and fast (S&F) mode allows Full HD clips to be recorded at up to 120p, too.

The Canon XF605 also supports less compressed 4K ALL-I recording, which is enabled via a firmware update. Additional features which are added in firmware v1.0.1.1 include XC Protocol support, which allows the Canon XF605 to be used as part of a multicamera solution with other Canon hardware, plus Face Detection AF when shooting in S&F mode, and the ability to monitor all four audio channels in the display – a useful addition when it comes to managing multiple microphones during an interview.

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 can be connected to the Canon RC-IP100 remote camera controller. The 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.

"The USB-C output supports UVC streaming protocols," explains Ram Sarup, Canon Europe Product Marketing Specialist. "That allows you to not only use these cameras as a webcam, but for any form of livestreaming in Full HD at 30fps directly through a PC or Mac. That could be livestreaming a child's sporting event to family who live abroad on the LEGRIA HF G70, for example, or streaming a service at a place of worship, a lecture or a corporate event with the XA75/XA70 or XA65/XA60 – there are so many uses."

Deciding whether the Canon XA75/XA70 or the XA65/XA60 is the best camcorder for your livestreaming setup will come down to budget and whether you need the higher performance of the XA75/XA70 (which pairs its larger sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF) or the smaller form factor of the XA65/XA60. If you need an even more compact livestreaming camcorder, then the LEGRIA HF G70, which doesn't have the top handle or the two professional XLR inputs on the other models, is the perfect choice.

In addition to their livestreaming capabilities, these camcorders feature high-quality zoom lenses (15x for the XA75/XA70, 20x for the XA65/XA60 and LEGRIA HF G70) with 5-axis IS for sharp, stable images. They also include OSD (on-screen display) recording for embedding a time/date stamp into footage, and a useful infrared mode that's advantageous for low-light newsgathering, documentary filming and security work.

The camera's 4K CMOS sensor is smaller than the 1.0-type sensor offered by many of 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 Stabilizer 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.

"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."