Canon XL1 Digital Camcorder Kit

Great movies start with great CCD sensors, and Canon cuts no corners here. For the best possible picture quality, they use three separate 270,000 pixel CCDs (one for each primary color). To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000 pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased size increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in lower-light situations. Ultimately, the larger pixel size results in an improvement of 4 dB in sensitivity.

The XL1's body is based on a magnesium-alloy frame for maximum durability. It ships with a 16x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, but is also compatible with other XL camcorder lenses. With an optional adapter, you can use Canon EF (EOS) still camera lenses--some of which also feature optical image stabilization.

Though the camera's built-in microphone has a great frequency response, the XL1 can also accept balanced microphones with the optional MA-100 microphone adapter/shoulder pad. The XL1 records digital audio, with two channels of 16 bit/48 KHz sound or 4 channels of 12 bit/32 KHz sound.

The electronics of the XL1 have many advanced features, including a number of programmed AE modes, as well as both shutter and aperture priority modes. There are two different auto modes, one of which allows you to adjust any setting manually, if you want, and the other, which adjusts every setting automatically and lets you adjust nothing. A spotlight mode automatically compensates for difficulties when shooting a subject bathed in a spotlight. There are also three different shooting modes: Normal Movie, Digital Photo, and Frame Movie. Normal Movie mode is for any time you want to shoot video footage. Digital photo mode records a still image for six seconds on the mini DV tape and also captures any audio, such as a commentary. The Frame Movie Mode records 30 noninterlaced still images per second, instead of capturing 60 fps interlaced images. This mode isn't intended to be used for shooting video (playback may not look completely smooth). Rather, Frame Movie mode should be used as a burst, or continuous, shooting mode, like you'd find on a still camera.

The XL1 uses an IEEE 1394 port for digital editing and for transferring footage to and from other IEEE 1394 compliant devices. The camcorder also has RCA (composite) audio and video ports, and an S-Video out. The XL1 features a LANC terminal for editing with compatible controllers.

First off, let me mention that progressive scan is absolutely incredible. I can no longer stand the home-userish look of interlaced video. What progressive scan (or "frame mode") does is it takes 30 full frames per second. Interlaced records 60 FIELDS per second, creating a supposed 30 fps (giving it that unrealistic, slimy-smooth motion like a home Hi8 camera). What FULL frames do is make it have a somewhat "jerkier" effect which gives the footage a much more film like look. It's beautiful, you've got to see the difference side by side, sometime (or just switch between interlaced and frame on the XL1, or some other Canon).

The Color: There are many sites with side by side comparisons of the XL1 and the VX1000 (perhaps the VX2000, too). The thing is, there is no comparison. Sony's lenses lean toward the blues, giving it a very cold, unnatural feeling (not to mention interlaced un-naturalness!). The blueness is so apparent, that at times you must add color corrections, wasting time in post. Canon leans towards the reds, giving it a much warmer, more realistic coloring, and shading. But, what do you expect? Canon has been in the business of lens making for a long time. Who ever heard of Sony making a 35MM cinematic lens? Yes, some Sony cameras have Carl Ziess lenses, but they still have the blue tint to it. In fact, those are the lenses I was speaking of earlier as being cold, and blue.

Optical Stabilization: The stabilization is incredible to see when zoomed all the way! There is virtually no visible shake, whatsoever. Of course, this does not replace the rock solidness of a tripod shot... but for handheld work outdoors, it is indispensable. Some people have mentioned that when shooting a tripod shot across a canyon or some such thing, that it tends to "stick." All you have to do when shooting tripod shots is simply turn off the image stabilization.

All that, and the ability to control the shutter speed, the aperture, the exposure, the focus, the ability to change lenses... even to 35MM Canon EOS lenses (with an adapter)! All these things and much, much more make this the camera to own. I would take it over a $15,000 interlaced beta cam any day (unless I could sell that camera, and buy a few XL1s!;).

This camera is highly recommended be me. Canon even made a commercial with it ... for their ZR10! Buy today, you won't regret it (and no, I don't work for Canon:). If you're just considering buying a MiniDV camera, but can't afford this one, still, go Canon. Most of them have a lot of the of the same features (GL1, and Optura), or slightly dumbed down HIGH quality home cameras that still have progressive scan (Optura Pi, Elura, Elura 2).


Quality at it's best   October 10, 2000
James Costa (Upland, CA, USA)
60 out of 61 found this review helpful

The Canon XL1 is a great piece of equipment. My company uses this very same camera to do most of our commercials. Since its got such great graphic quality (~360,000 pixels per frame) and can capture at high speeds, its the clear choice for our high-speed shooting. The sound quality and zoom on the mic is also incredible. If youre still not sure on buying it, I suggest you find a local video or camera store and rent and play with one for a day, its a tremendously worthy investment...


Best Camera At Any Price   November 20, 2000
30 out of 31 found this review helpful

I've used Digital Betacam that isn't as nice as this puppy. Recently shot behind-the-scenes at an Indy Racing League event, and this camera easily kept up with the 220+ racecars. I can't say enough nice things about this camera!

The only negative... I think it could be a little more comfortable to shoot with. Get a better shoulder brace or the balanced audio input, the Balanced Audio adaptor makes a better shoulder pad than the standard one... and gives you better sound quality to boot! That's saying a bunch cause the standard mic is pretty damn fine!


This is not a toy!!!   August 15, 2001
23 out of 24 found this review helpful

I have owned one of these for over a year and a half and love this thing. I work at a full digital TV station with a the latest equipment and the first thing I did was do a side by side comparo against a ...Panasonic DVCPRO broadcast camera. The technicians and cameramen were shocked at the image being equal to their cameras. When we explored the camera further and found the ability to also use the ANTON BAUER battery packs it only got better. They looked at the lens quality and lens swapping ability, plenty of manual setting available for video and audio, hundreds of accesories for the proshooter, and the frame mode made it shine brighter in their eyes. The general manager and chief engineer evaluated the camera and said at the same time "imagine what this could do for our budget!". I use this camera for personal use and have also used it for news gathering, Many requests from the news department have come my way to go on a shoot due to lack of cameras. If you are looking for a camcorder to have many bells and whistles, this is not for you. This is a serious tool. I have read reviews where it dosent take very good still pictures, it lacks the LCD viewer!, It wont shoot in total darkness or see through womens clothes. They forget serious shooters have a main priority in their camera and that is the choice of different lenses. No current consumer camcorder has a interchangable lens system. Something to remember many tools have the ability to do many tasks but they never exceed at one. The Canon XL1 EXCEEDS at shooting video to a professional level....


Beautifully designed   October 21, 2000
Turner Johnson (Providence, RI USA)
17 out of 20 found this review helpful

Design and construction is first class. I use it as a "point and shoot" - but it is fully equipped to handle heavy pro work. Flip-down shoulder brace, variable speed zoom and excellent mike are great features. Can't say enough about the quality of workmanship.