Featuring a 20x optical zoom that covers focal lengths from 26.8mm (wide-angle end) to 576mm (telephoto end), the XA11 utilizes Hi-UD (Hi Index Ultra Low Dispersion) glass in its lens, the same found in Canon’s top-of-the-line camcorders, providing clear images with minimal chromatic aberration. The large-diameter lens, which features an aperture of f/1.8 at its wide-angle end and f/2.8 at its telephoto end, when used in combination with the DIGIC DV 4 imaging platform, is capable of shooting footage with low noise even in scenes with little illumination. The 8-blade circular aperture diaphragm produces bokeh with excellent quality.

The XA11 features a 5 axis image stabilization method that combines a lens-shift optical system with electronic stabilization built into the camera body. With this, vertical, horizontal and axial rotation and camera movements in the yaw and pitch directions are corrected. If Dynamic mode is enabled, image stabilization takes place even when shooting while walking. When shooting at the telephoto end, where camera shake is particularly likely to occur, Powered IS mode can be utilised, which is especially ideal for fixed-point shooting. Such a wide selection of image stabilization features provide solid support for Full HD shooting and the high-resolution imaging required.

The XA11 is not only capable of recording in Full HD 50p/60p, it also provides various recording formats to suit your applications, such as AVCHD format which provides excellent quality and recordability, and MP4, widely accepted format employed for fast delivery used online. The two SD card slots allow long duration recording through relay recording, as well as simultaneous recording for backup purposes. The dual recording function makes it possible to record an AVCHD or MP4 recording in the main slot either while another recording or mirror recording, or while 3 Mbps MP4 recording is simultaneously being recorded in the sub-slot - a powerful feature for producing video snippets for fast-breaking news.