Tony, With regard to your comments about the XL-1. Ive got one so I feel qualified to speak on Canons behalf. The case is magnesium. The black coating which appears to be plastic is in fact some kind of rubberized substance. Sort of like the non- slip coating applied to the handgrip of Canons high end lens. The 16x lens is all glass no plastic. The lens casing is cast aluminum. The feel of the entire unit is rock solid. The filter size is 72mm. This lens while not good for pulling focus has a great quick focus button and does not hunt except in low light. The optical stabilizer imitates very much the actions of my Steadicam. The two together kick butt.(posted 9260 days ago)Other features: 4 channel audio with built in mixer, Audio in and out , 27 f-stop increments (f1.6 to f16), 1/8 sec to 15,000 sec shutter, full auto or manual, aperture priority or shutter priority, AE shift (add or subtract up to 2 stops via thumbwheel),and the "usual" other features. Turn the gain up on ANY camera under $15,000 see the grain? Do it with the XL1. No grain visible - just a better pix. How does it work? My 1st Music video on this camera got the band 4 jobs in 2 weeks. The last gig is being the house band at a State Fair Conference in Laughlin, NV, where they will be seen and heard by at least 500 state fair entertainment managers. How they get the gig?
Two reasons. First, they were picked because of their talent. Second, the Judges said to them this was the BEST quality video entered. It sat on a BOGEN 3046 for 3 minutesI DID nothing but turn it on in Green Mode full auto and pan a little. Most cxomparison equate the XL1 with the Betacam SP. The pix quality looks very much the same.
This is an awesome camera. But it does have shortcomings. The viewfinder and the lens. Both are replaceable. OPTEX of England sells a FUJI 14X ready to go for $1700 US funds. A lot of money. Yeah, I guess. Try changing the lens on a VX1000. Or ANY other DV cam. Canon also sells a 3x wide angle. And yeah it does look weird!!! Ive taken advantage of this as my new letterhead/cards now has the XL1 outline as logo.
And there is a lot more. Look in all the film mags. XL-1s are everywhere. Betacam SP owners are switching, citing the low weight 6 lbs and high quality picture. This camera is a compromise as are all cameras.
If your thinking of a new camera check ALL the DV cams and compare them. Shoot an XL1 for a day. Youll never go back, I didnt.
teddy
PS Not using your camera? XL1s rent for $225 a day here in Arizona...