The Canon XA70 is a professional 4K camcorder built around a 1.0-inch CMOS sensor and a 15x optical zoom lens covering approximately 25.5 to 382.5 mm (35mm equivalent). It records 4K UHD at 25p, with XF-AVC up to 160 Mbps and MP4 up to 150 Mbps. Dual Pixel CMOS AF with touch, face detection and tracking holds focus on moving subjects, optical and electronic stabilisation steadies handheld shots, and a built-in three-density ND filter (ND 1/4, 1/16 and 1/64) copes with changing light.

A detachable handle unit adds two XLR inputs with 48 V phantom power, a cold shoe and an infrared lamp for low-light work. Two SD slots support simultaneous or relay recording. Framing uses a 3.5-inch touchscreen and a tiltable 0.36-inch OLED viewfinder. Outputs are mini HDMI and USB-C with UVC support for connecting to a computer; there is no SDI output. It suits ENG-style, documentary and event work, from one operator to a full crew.