Canon XH A1s

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tick.png HD OK

The Canon XH A1s was a former FilmSoc camera, bought by the society sometime in 2009. Following the failure of FilmSoc to re-ratify in 2014, the camera was kept by YUSU for the purposes of filming meetings and events. Like the Sony HVR-HD1000E cameras, it recorded at 1440x1080i50 (anamorphic) onto HDV tape for capture, and does live video out over a 'proprietary' component connector (HD/SD) or a BNC composite connector (SD).

Canon XH A1s

Due to lack of usage, lack of accessories (no tapes, no charger - both of which we have many of), and the fact that we'd be asking to borrow it a lot anyway, the camera was later given to YSTV to look after. In return, we got to use the camera whenever YUSU didn't need it (which was pretty much 99% of the time) - making it a third usable HD camera for pre-recorded shoots. This was an informal agreement in place between YSTV and Student Activities Officer (and ex-Station Director) Chris Wall.

In December 2014, one of the internal fuses blew when a firewire cable was connected to the camera for capture, causing a short for some reason. Apparently, this is a common problem. Repairs have proven too costly, so the camera has been retired.

HD output

 
D-Terminal breakout cable

The camera lacks the usual HDMI output of YSTV's other HD cameras. Instead, it has a somewhat proprietary analogue component connector. The D-Terminal connector is a common method of component output in Japan, and pins 1-6 are in fact the standard Y/PB/PR outputs with ground. While not usually found on European and American devices, Canon uses this on some of their professional camcorders of the late-2000s - presumably so they can charge £60 for a new breakout cable when you lose the original. Such cables can in fact be imported from Japan for about £10.

For HD output, the breakout cable should be connected to the connector labeled 'HD/SD Component' (the viewfinder output is SD and dirty). Use the Blackmagic Analogue to SDI converter to change this to an SDI signal, which can then be run through the rest of the vision path.

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