Buying Advice: Canon XA30 VS Canon XC10

For a few things my documentary group uses the XA35 and HFG30 -- they are pretty good, easy to use, and have excellent stabilizers. However they ultimately produce video-like footage, not cinema-like footage as from a larger-sensor camera.

We usually use large-sensor cameras like the Sony A7RII and Panasonic AG-DVX200 camcorder. However we also have a Sony RX100 II which has a constant-aperture f/2.8 zoom, 1" sensor and shoots 4K. I have not used the Canon XC10 but it would be interesting to see a side-by-side comparison with the less-expensive RX100 II which uses the same size sensor and has a faster lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1159880-REG/sony_dsc_rx10_mark_2_digital.html

If you want to save money get the HF-G30 or G40 and add a hot-shoe shotgun mic and/or use a wireless lav or field audio recorder. They have the same lens, sensor, image pipeline and image quality as the XC-series, just no XLR or handlebar.

This area is always a dilemma. The camcorders work well are reliable and easy to use, yet increasingly customers expect a more cinema-like appearance. Lots of lower-end Vloggers just use an inexpensive DSLR and they look great. However those aren't ideal for run-and-gun.

Large-sensor camcorders are still very expensive, e.g, Canon C100, Sony VG900.

One of the least expensive larger-sensor routes is using a Panasonic GH4 and a few lenses. It is "only" micro-4/3 but it's way better than a 1" sensor. However you have to commit to micro-4/3 ecosystem and lenses. It will probably be updated relatively soon; maybe September. Our group a GH4 for some things and it's very nice.

 

I just got a HF-G40 a few weeks ago. Very happy with it so far. I usually record audio separately, so the lack of XLR is not an issue for me. No 4K, but great looking 1080p video. For run-and-gun in particular, I think the wide DR gamma and image stabilization modes are pretty darn useful.

 

Quoting from http://camcorders.reviewed.com/news/canon-2016-vixia-camcorder-lineup

If you're looking for substantially more power from your camcorder, the Canon HF G40 is a consumerized version of the excellent professional-level XA30.

You won't get the built-in handle, XLR microphone jacks, or HD-SDI port, but you do get the same lens, image stabilization, and sensor combination from the more expensive XA-series models.