BBC Approves Canon XF300

Professional just got a whole lot less expensive
Many thanks to Kevin Johnson at b-roll.net for this update

The BBC, the premier quality broadcaster in the world just released its new production guidelines for 2010.

Among the many requirements that The BBC lists for independent producers are the cameras that The BBC find acceptable for broadcast.

The BBC, being among the most traditional broadcasters in the world lists 3 that are approved for independent producers:

The SONY PDW 800  – $38,990.00

The Red One -  $35,000 (all in)

Canon XF300E – $6799.oo

This is clearly a sea-change for The BBC.

The Canon XF300 is the first 1/3 chip allowed in HD shows.

And this is not for news. This is for all programming – documentary, drama, comedy and so on.

The BBC is and always has been the technical standard bearer for quality television and in opening the door to the Canon XF they are sending a clear message that it is their intention to support lower budget productions and clearly more ‘independent’ production companies.

Some might call this a ‘lowering of standards’, or perhaps it’s just an indication that the technology has gotten that much better.

In either case, it clearly paves the way for more people to get into the independent television production business.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 30 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.

3 Comments
  • Dan O’Connor March 01, 2013

    I’m hoping more 1/3″ cameras make it into the BBC’s camera list. They are a highly underestimated method of image capture. Well done Canon and BBC.

  • Peter Melly July 10, 2010

    This certainly is a seismic shift for programme making, the only option in this price range before this was the Frankencam, a Sony EX3 with bolt on external hard drives on a custom built chassis and even that was considered a compromise image wise.
    It truly was a monster to carry never mind shoot with.

    This new Canon has lots of nice new touches, one being the flip out LCD screen can rotate to either side of the camera, there are too many other cool features to list.

    Its on my Christmas list, well done Canon.

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