If you need a dedicated camera for recording video only, then choosing one of the best camcorders seems to make sense. They're easy to handhold, you don't have to (and indeed can't) change the lenses, and they produce decent results without too much tinkering. And yet, every time I review a camcorder, I struggle to understand why you'd buy one over the best cinema cameras or the best phone for video recording - depending on your skill level and budget. But then, perhaps I'm not the target market.
Canon released the Canon XA75 camcorder in September 2022 alongside a flurry of similar 4K-capable models; the XA65, XA60, XA70, and HF G70. It's the company's most expensive professional camcorder and top of the lineup in terms of specs, which include a 1-inch type CMOS sensor, 15x optical zoom with 40x digital zoom, and 5-axis Image Stabilization. Unlike cheaper camcorders, the XA75 also comes with a detachable handle unit, which lets you carry it from the top but also adds two XLR terminals for the best XLR microphones - the standard for recording crisp audio.
