Canon XM2 > Reviews (12)

Myself and a few friends came up with a few ideas for short films and at the time we used my old Sony HC14Ecamera (before it was stolen in a burglary!). We called the HC14E our crash-cam as it certainly was put through the war-zones (paintball matches, in-car shots, drops and even ran over!). I decided I wanted something a bit more professional and decided to go for the Canon XM2.

My first thought on this camera is it's size and weight. It's small enough to pack into a rucksack, and it is light enough to be used and carried for a whole day without straining the users arms or hands.

I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this camera. I opted for a finance option as payment and as soon as I knew my forms had been recieved and ok'd I was jumping every time the doorbell went. I certainly wasn't disappointed!

The 3CCD design (Red, Green and Blue individually) improves the colour and contrast of the pictures substantially over a standard 1 CCD (RGB compressed into one signal). We tested this by setting up a table football match at my work and having both goals covered from each end by the XM2 and the older HC14E. Compared side by side it was easy to see which was the winner. On saying this the Sony HC14E is not a semi-pro camera, and is mainly designed as a simple point and shoot camera, so perhaps comparing both side-by-side isn't fair. However the point of this review is to say that it is glaringly obvious which one has superior image quality.

The microphone is also of a high quality, however I would suggest the use of tie-mics or boom mics as seperate items if you are more of a serious film maker. I haven't bought any external mics as yet but will be sure to edit this review to compare the standard attached mic with an external mic. There is no issue with the supplied attached, please be aware of that. Also be aware that the mic does not pick up the sound of the tape turning unlike some other cameras.

I have purchased a small but powerful light which fits onto the accessory shoe on the top. It takes the power from the camera's battery and is exceptionally good at filling areas with light and picking up detail that wouldn't normally be seen. The acessory shoe is a great addition and there are plenty of additional lights, microphones, etc, that will fit this socket. Also note that this socket WILL supply power to the attached accessory if necessary.

I also took the liberty of purchasing (from eBay) a set of filters for the lens. I highly recommend buying a simple UV filter to screw onto the 58mm thread to cover the lens. The last thing you want is dust and grit to damage your very expensive lens. It's much easier to replace a £20 UV filter than it is to get the Canon lens replaced. There are many deals on the internet for filters, I suggest getting a set which contain a UV filter for basic lens protection, Polarised filter to remove glare as well as increasing light contrast and an FD filter for removing the yellow flourescent tint and increases colour saturation and bringing true colours to life.

I would also like to suggest purchasing an aluminium case from your local music store, one designed to hold CD's. Preferrably one with a lock on it too. I bought one from HMV on Oxford Street for £24, ripped out the inside plastic for the CD's and lined it with thick foam (including the lid). Not only does it serve as protection, it allows you to carry your expensive equipment from shoot to shoot in a padded secure holder without anyone actually knowing what you have. I was lucky enough when i was burgled that they thought it was just a CD collection, so they left it. Thank God!

There are basic settings on the XM2 to allow you to go out and shoot your stuff right away, however these settings can be switched to manual mode and you have full contol over everything this camera has to offer.

There are plenty of tutorials online and even DVD's for sale on eBay giving guides as to how to get the best use from your camera. I highly suggest investing in these tutorials and guides if you are serious about film making. Simple suggestions can improve your shots ten-fold.

Overall I highly recommend this camera. It's functionality is top-notch, the picture quality (although not High Definition) is outstanding, the microphone is very good as a standard mic, it's lightweight and easily portable and very user friendly.

Well done, Canon.