I would personally go for the XA50. I own the consumer line Vixia HF G50 which is quite similar to the XA40 in terms of basic specs (e.g. same smaller sensor).
At the time, I should have saved up a bit more for the G60 (which is similar to the XA50). Along with the larger sensor, you're getting Dual Pixel AF.
Also, with a recent firmware update, the XA50 gains Canon Log 3. While the XA40 will gain some things with the firmware update, it won't gain Canon Log 3.
About the only con I see with the 1-inch type* sensor camcorders is that the variable aperture lens is f/2.8 to f/4.5. Whereas the XA40 line (with smaller sensor) has an f/1.8 to f/2.8 variable aperture lens. I'm assuming the larger sensor should make enough of a difference to compensate for the less bright apertures and perhaps go a bit beyond. Still, a bummer for those that want to keep the aperture fixed across the entire zoom range (e.g. I use f/2.8 on the G50). But if wanting to do the same on these larger sensor units, you'd be using f/4.5
* I really wish there never existed the nomenclature of "1-inch type" as that seems to imply a 1-inch diagonal sensor. Truth be told, these sensors are approx 5/8-inch diagonal. Pretty close to Super 16.
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Ricky
Camera: EOS 5D IV, EF 50mm f/1.2L, EF 135mm f/2L
Lighting: Profoto Lights & Modifiers
