Pro video kit for next-generation broadcasters

From music gigs and international sporting events to reality TV shows and 24-hour news coverage, the demand for live productions and livestreaming is booming. Audiences now also expect that footage to be of the highest quality – often 4K and HDR.

"Canon is revolutionising live production," says Canon Europe Product Marketing Specialist Matthew Koshy. "We now have incredible products, from streaming camcorders that are suitable for all to premium solutions for the high-end broadcast market."

Let's look at what's new in the Canon imaging ecosystem.

• Canon CR-N700 PTZ camera
• New automation apps
• Canon XA75/XA70 and XA65/XA60 camcorders
• Canon EU-V3 expansion module
• Canon CN8x15 IAS S E1/P1 Cine Servo lens
• Canon DP-V2730 reference display
• Firmware updates

Ever since the introduction of remote-controlled PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras, the quality of live event coverage has rocketed. We're now used to seeing broadcast material that can't be captured with conventional cameras, such as fly-on-the-wall reality TV footage. A PTZ setup for livestreaming means you need fewer people to create content, and you can control multiple cameras at once, which also makes it ideal for corporate use, higher education settings and in places of worship.

Designed specifically for indoor use, the Canon CR-N700 is powered by a DIGIC DV7 processor and features a large 1.0-type 4K UHD CMOS sensor, which provides a shallow depth of field for a cinematic look.

The first indoor PTZ camera to output via 12G-SDI, the Canon CR-N700 can stream 4K 60p at 10-bit 4:2:2 for impressive quality and colour fidelity, even in low light, and it can do it in HLG or PQ HDR, which is fast becoming an industry standard. A new Night mode makes it possible to stream that exceptionally detailed footage even from dimly lit rooms, beneficial for reality TV.

The CR-N700 is compatible with Canon's own XC Protocol, so it can be used with Canon Cinema EOS and XF products to introduce a cinematic look to footage. Custom Picture settings – including Canon Log 3 and Wide DR for maximum dynamic range – and user LUTs make it easy to match the look of other Canon cameras. It also supports all major IP protocols for easy integration into third-party workflows.

A 2023 firmware update brings new automation possibilities to the CR-N700. Once you install the free update and purchase a licence for the apps, both the RA-AT001 Auto Tracking and RA-AL001 Auto Loop apps become available directly in-camera. These bring useful and precise automated features without the need for expensive third-party hardware or a dedicated computer to run them.

Sophisticated yet intuitive, the Auto Tracking app builds on Canon’s intelligent face-recognition autofocus technology to automatically track subjects as they move around in-shot. You can create framing presets for anything from wide shots to tight head shots, define active and priority zones within a scene, and set a halting area that avoids continuous fine-tuning adjustments when people make small movements. Working directly in-camera, it ensures the utmost in reliable, accurate tracking performance and super-smooth movement, bypassing the need for a human operator to track subjects manually with a control column. The app is a fraction of the cost of third-party hardware solutions and can deliver big savings in labour costs.

The Auto Loop app enables you to pre-programme pan, tilt and zoom sequences, which you can put on a loop so they automatically repeat at the press of a button. Two alternative types of loop are available, including cycling A-B-C-A-B-C and reciprocating A-B-C-B-A-B-C progressions. This enhances creativity without the need for somebody to control transitions manually during a production. To ensure natural-looking transitions, the app enables you to programme complete PTZ routes with customised transition speeds and start-stop acceleration and deceleration at the beginning and end of movements, emulating the style of human operators.

“Both of these automation apps offer significant savings in time, effort and money for live productions,” says Canon Europe Product Specialist Paul Atkinson. “Levels of customisation ensure you get exactly the shots you want, for example setting up an ‘auto-select area’ so that people are automatically tracked if they enter a particular zone. You can also designate areas to be off-limits for tracking. The Auto Tracking app works particularly well for broadcasting and live streaming in any scenario where there’s a lot of movement going on, from shooting corporate presentations and online education to places of worship, concerts, theatre productions and sporting events. Both apps are driven by industry demand and user feedback, to ensure that next-generation video producers have the tools they need.”

Building on the success of the current Canon camcorder range used by professionals and prosumers for everything from live news to high-quality conference calls, the Canon XA75/XA70 and XA65/XA60 series offer significant benefits for efficient livestreaming and more.

Designed to integrate seamlessly into the live video ecosystem, both ranges feature a Custom Picture menu that enables image settings to be finetuned for close colour matching.

The XA75 and XA70 boast a large 1.0-type CMOS sensor and powerful 15x zoom lens, giving impressive 4K UHD performance even in low light. Codec choices include the highly detailed XF-AVC as well as MP4 recording to dual SD cards at up to 150MB/s in 8-bit 4:2:0. There's even Canon Log 3 gamma and Wide DR to maximise dynamic range in tricky lighting, as well as a larger and higher-resolution 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD and Ocular EVF to aid critical framing. The camcorders also have built-in IBIS and two professional XLR inputs on the top handle for audio excellence. Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system keeps everything in focus, and an OSD (on-screen display) recording function allows for an embedded time and date stamp on the footage.

A USB-C output allows easy internet streaming via Windows or Mac computers using popular and simple UVC technologies. The XA75 also has a 3G-SDI output to fit into broadcast TV and live event workflows.

The same UVC streaming technology via USB-C – as well as the larger EVF and LCD touchscreens – also feature on the 4K XA65/XA60 series, which have a smaller 1/2.3-type CMOS sensor.

A powerful 20x zoom provides even greater lens reach, and the camcorders have 5-axis image stabilisation and Hybrid CMOS AF III. The XA65 and XA60 both deliver XF-AVC and MP4 recording to twin SD cards, and feature two XLR inputs on the top handle with four-channel audio recording. The XA65 also has a 3G-SDI output.

For enthusiasts and corporate users who want streaming capabilities and Canon image quality in a more compact package, the LEGRIA HF G70 records two-channel audio in MP4 only, and lacks the top handle that is unlikely to be needed for this setup.

"The LEGRIA HF G70 has the same size sensor as the more professional XA65 and XA60 models, which is ideal for maximising depth of field to ensure as much of the image is as sharp as possible," explains Canon Europe Product Specialist Paul Atkinson.

"When shallow depth of field is needed, the XA75/XA70 models are perfect. Canon has all bases covered in terms of effortless streaming from a whole range of cameras."

Built for professional, live multi-cam productions, the Canon EU-V3 expands the functionality of the Canon EOS C300 Mark III and EOS C500 Mark II with new hardware and software features designed to support live broadcast workflows.

Features include SDI-return for monitoring the final broadcast feed via the camera body outputs, as well as a tally light that switches from green for a preview feed to red when on air. The expansion module also provides 12-pin lens communication for Cine Servo and broadcast lenses, and Ethernet connectivity for remote control and support for Canon XC Protocol.

In addition, the new Focus Position Meter allows operators to visually monitor and manually register focusing positions with compatible Cine Servo, Compact Cine Servo and broadcast lenses, providing even further intricate control of the image.

The growing trend for immersive, cinematic-style footage for live and pre-recorded TV productions has led to the development of the Canon CN8x15 IAS S E1/P1, a flexible Cine Servo lens that offers a wide angle of view and a powerful 8x optical zoom.

The widest lens in the Cine Servo range, the 15-120mm lens natively covers the Super 35mm sensor of cameras such as the Canon EOS C300 Mark III and EOS C70 but can also be used on full-frame sensors via the built-in 1.5x extender, which changes the focal length to 22.5-180mm.

The CN8x15 IAS S E1/P1 delivers outstanding image quality for both 4K and 8K productions and, like all the lenses in its cine range, has Canon's consistent organic warmth in colour.

The detachable drive unit, interchangeable EF/PL mount (lens mount service offered at authorised Canon service centres; fees may apply), and focus gears that suit most third-party accessories and supports mean this lens can be configured to fit in with multiple workflows. The lens also supports virtual systems using Canon's 16-bit absolute encoder and Cooke /i Technology and ZEISS eXtended Data communication (PL mount) for accurate recording of lens metadata for post-production.

"This is a workhorse lens that should give service for many years to come in a wide variety of uses," says Jack.

Canon's 18-inch DP-V1830 reference display was an instant hit at launch thanks to its superior colour fidelity and native 1000-nit brightness across the whole screen.

Fully compatible with international standards in terms of brightness criteria, HDR PQ for cinema and HLG for live sports broadcast as well as Dolby Vision certification, the monitor's advanced built-in tools to help with tricky HDR exposure – including HDR waveform, RGB parade, HDR false colour, pixel value check and frame luminance – revolutionised critical exposure measurement and took the worry out of live event broadcasting.

In response to demand for a bigger reference display, Canon has launched the DP-V2730, which uses the same powerful processing platform as the DP-V1830 but boasts a 27-inch screen.

"The DP-V2730 is the perfect size," says Canon Europe Product Specialist Aron Randhawa. "It's just what high-end users need to service the needs of 4K and HDR delivery with no compromises in terms of brightness and colour. The highlights are very bright and the shadows very dim, so it delivers outstanding contrast. The detail is simply incredible."

The Canon XF605 quickly established itself as a broadcast quality 4K camcorder of note thanks to its stunning image quality, ease of use and flexibility. In the fast-changing world of livestreaming and now cloud editing, users want even more. Canon has delivered with a host of improvements designed to make this leading professional video camera even better.

Support for XC Protocol, four-channel audio level display and face detection AF in S&F mode are also included in the firmware updates for the Canon EOS C300 Mark III and EOS C500 Mark II.

Designed to strengthen the capabilities of these cameras for live, cinema and documentary productions, the update also adds support for faster VPG400 CFexpress cards and compatibility with the latest Flex Zoom and CN8x15 IAS S E1/P1 lenses, along with AF when shooting 100p or 120p.

To download the latest Canon firmware update, visit the support section of the Canon website and select your product from the pop-up menu to get started.

This impressive range of new products for live production, plus updates to enable you to get even more from its existing products, demonstrates Canon's commitment to making high-quality broadcast and livestreaming easier than ever. It may be a brave new world for many, but Canon continues to innovate and lead the way towards an always-connected multimedia future.