 |
Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
Price: Too low to display (Add To Cart To See Your Price)
|
|
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|
| Professional 3CCD DV camcorder with open architecture design for cinema attachments |
| 20x optical zoom lens, XL interchangeable lens system |
| Color viewfinder, interchangeable with optional professional monochrome viewfinder |
| 16:9 widescreen and 4:3 ratio, 3 selectable frame rates: 60i, 30p, and cinema 24p |
| Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack |
|
Accessories |
Customers Reviews  2008-12-23 Great for Film students!! This camcorder is a must for film students. I'm a student at USC, and this camcorder really made my short films look great!!! We don't get to use the schools' really awesome gear until our Junior or Senior year. If you have the money, its an amazing buy! |  2008-06-01 Having a blast learning I was a bit nervous buying a camera at this level. But I have learned so much from it. I'm still learning. It's an impressive piece of equipment. Very versatile. You have to take it out and experiment, but that's the fun of it. I would recommend that you read, read, read all the reviews. Boy, it gets attention when you are out in public (what fun!)
People ask for my business card often because they assume I'm a pro just by using it. Or they ask, what TV station I work for. There are lots of add-ons to consider owning. Its not High Definition but who needs it? I take it everywhere. Just remember you will eventually need a good travel case,a wind screen, extra batteries, a heavy-duty professional tripod and additional lenses to complete your experience. The camera is a bit heavy(as I expected) and takes some getting used to.......but wow, its worth it ! The sound you get is great. I just bought some wireless microphones for my XL2. I'm glad I own it.
|  2007-07-20 I really like this camera I have used this for a year at my college. I do not know why some people dislike it. I love it! and on my opinion, It is the closest to HD your gonna get while not getting HD. You guys gotta realize that this camera has shot some big movies like Cold Mountian. I must say though the panasonic dvx100b is quite comparable, because I have used that too. But I like this camera I do not care what people say about it. It is so customizable that you will be surprised when you mess around with it's advance functions. nice camera, a little pricey, but all in all it's more professional than some other people say. |  2007-02-04 Best Purchase Now, some individuals will try to convince you the XL2 is a poor Prosumer camcorder and will give seemingly good arguments. Don't buy into it.
For instance, a reviewer lower down this page complains the camera arrived broken and thus reviews it as a horrible machine. Unfortunately, this said reviewer doesn't talk about the actual functionality of an actual undamaged product, rather his own broken camera. Needless to say, his opinion is vastly slanted.
Another compares the XL2 to the DVX100 series from Panasonic and prefers the latter. He states the XL2 is too heavy and doesn't achieve the same calibre results as the cheaper Panasonic camcorder.
First of all, Canon has continued to revolutionize the photography industry for decades. They have proven themselves in both film and digital formats, for both still camera and camcorder. True, the XL2 lacks some features other more expensive cameras have (compare the JVC GU1000) but that's okay. And, yes, the camera has a very large body and is definately heavier than the Panasonic DVX100, but this is for specific reasons.
You have to first consider why you want a prosumer camcorder. If you just want to shoot hobby short films and want a professional look, I suggest you stick with either the higher-end Canon or JVC or Panasonic or even Sony (god forbid) consumer camcorders which run around $900. On the other hand, if you're considering becoming a serious hobbyist and don't intend to turn it into some sort of profession then Panasonic's DVX series is a good buy. The DVX 100's are cheaper, smaller, and somewhat easier to use. They are far more "point-and-shoot" than the other prosumer camcorders on the market. And they do a fairly good job.
Yet, the XL2 manages to not only hold its own, but also triumph over all other camcorders in the industry. First and foremost, the XL2 has the option to change lenses. This is a great boon for any serious shooter because attaching an actual lens to a camera gives far better results than slapping on some sort of adapter, which distort the image. Canon offers two lens types for the XL2: the included 20X zoom lens and a 3X wide angle lens; both are very expensive by themselves. But, with an optional Canon ring adapter running for $300, you could take your normal Canon SLR still camera lenses and attach them to the body and have them function perfectly. This allows the user a plethora of imaging options when shooting. Now, the normal user won't ever use anything other than the 20X zoom lens (a remarkable piece of machinery in itself), but that's just fine. You're buying the camera for its options and potentials as well as the physical benefits. Think of it like buying a BMW: you buy the car for its physical features you're likely to use (the radio, heated seats, leather, sunroof, etc.) but you also buy it for its safety and cumstomer service, things you'll hardly ever need. It just makes you feel good you have those options available.
Furthermore, the XL2 is a wonderful camera. It shoots beautifully without problems of any sort. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but that's because it has a lot of fuctions and options. The physical body design is simple enough that all the necessary shooting options (i.e., 24P, 30i, 60i, mic adjustments, white balance controls, presents, etc.) are easily accessible. The end product of a regular shoot is stunning. The Canon lens captures colors almost perfectly and the image stabilization built into the camera is a great help. The large body design (though awkward for some) is actually a benefit. The camera can be placed on the shoulder, giving greater stability to the shoot. You can't do that with a Panasonic or Sony.
No, the camera doesn't have a LCD screen on the side, but do you really need one? An LCD screen is not only distracting but also a battery hog, and takes precious room for control options or accessories that could other wise be placed where the LCD is built in. An LCD is great for consumer cameras because they're small and nobody wants to look through those one-inch viewfinders. But the XL2 has a very nice, large color viewfinder, and can be comfortably used with the camera on your shoulder. For those running hand-held shots you can flip part of the viewfinder open and can see a 1.5" LCD display. It's not dazzling or great, but it gets the job done. You're out in the field to get footage, not admire the LCD screen.
Finally, the XL2 offers XLR microphone inputs, a big bonus for people who want good sound in their video. You won't find this feature in either Panasonic or Sony prosumer camcorders.
In the end, Canon's XL2 is a beautiful camcorder. It offers you a lot more than you know at first glance, and delivers near-perfect results. The closest competitor would be the far more expensive (by at least $1000) Panasonic GU1000, which is very similar to the XL2. If you're still not sure about the camera, I suggest you take a ride down over to your nearest Fry's to experiment. Or, you can visit the local TV station and ask them to tell you a little bit about why they're all using XL2's over the other camcorders on the market. No...seriously...they are.
Go figure. |  2006-08-07 Standard Definition doesn't get much better The Canon XL2 is as good as the Panasonic equivalent. Both of these cameras are better than eachother depending on who you ask. If you ask me, the Canon's picture is more pleasing, less noisy, and more capable in difficult shooting situations. I love Canon's controls, everything you need is available without searching through menus. The Panasonic is lighter, less awkward to use, and more compact; but Canon's lens and features more than make up for it in my opinion. Best camera you can get for the money. | |
|
Product Details
Batteries Included:
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Canon
Color:
EAN: 0036725301078
Floppy Disk Drive Description: None
Has Red Eye Reduction:
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Canon
Legal Disclaimer:
Manufacturer: Canon
Model: XL2
Publisher: Canon
Release Date:
Special Features:
Studio: Canon
System Memory Size: |
Canon Cameras HistoryCanon Corporation is a world-known manufacturer of office equipment ranging from printers and fax machines to scanners and copying machines.
The amount of photographic equipment produced by Canon is rather moderate in comparison to their other products. But it is in demand around the world. Don’t forget that it is the photographic cameras that the company began its business with.
As early as in 1933 Goro Yoshida and his brother-in-law, Sabura, founded the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory in Tokyo. Their goal was to create a Japanese camera and make it known throughout the world. To begin with, the young people bought up and examined most advanced German models of that day. The enterprise was sponsored by Takeshi Mitarai, best friend of Uchida, a prosperous doctor, who later became president of the company.

In the following year, 1934, Japan's first domestically-made 35mm focal-plane shutter camera “was born” and was named "Kwanon" - after the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The trademark Canon was registered a year later.
The first consumer model Hansa Canon appeared in 1937 and the le... More About Canon Cameras |
Canon Powershot SD940 aka IXUS 120 IS
What's New: Photographyblog have reviewed this camera!
Canon Powershot SD940 also known as Digital IXUS 120 IS in Europe is a 12.1-megapixel digital camera with 4x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD Screen and HD video capabilities – all housed in a credit-card sized body.
The camera succeeds the popular SD780 aka IXUS 100, from which it borrows most of its features. At its heart lies DIGIC 4, Canon’s fast, intelligent image processor that is capable of delivering superb image quality and ...
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera
Canon introduced the next addition to the EOS 1D series, the EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera. The camera was called “high-speed multimedia performance monster” with its 16-megapixels, fast 10 fps continuous shooting and full HD video capabilities.
The EOS-1D Mark IV employs Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors for full 14-bit A/D conversion at 10 fps. The 14-bit per channel conversion provides smoother tonalities in final images. It is also responsible for the Highlight Tone Priority feature t ...
Canon VIXIA HF S11 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder
Canon U.S.A introduced a new flagship model to its 2009 VIXIA high-definition camcorder line, the VIXIA HF S11 Dual Flash Memory camcorder. It offers advanced HD video capture and professional-level manual controls.
The HF S11 features 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor and Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor that allow it to produce 1920 x 1080 full HD video in 24p Cinema Mode or 30p Progressive Mode and also 8.0 megapixel photos.
Incorporating the 10x zoom HD video lens, the camc ...
Canon Legria HF21 HD Camcorder
Canon Legria HF21 is a new sleek & stylish camcorder from Canon that is capable of shooting HD movies. It gives you the freedom to record every moment on a day out with your family and friends, confident that you won’t miss a second.
The HF21 can take still images as well with its 3.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, and delivers brilliant and sharp photos in any conditions.
This video camera with dual-flash memory delivers 64GB of internal memory, enough for over 24 hours of continuous reco ...
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS aka Digital IXUS200 IS Touchscreen Camera
What's new: Cameras.co.uk have added the camera's review!
The Canon SD980 IS is a new 12.1-megapixel compact digital camera also known as the Digital IXUS 200 IS in Europe. It spots 24mm ultra-wide angle lens with 5x optical zoom for capturing stunning landscapes and get everyone in the frame even when shooting large groups of people.
The SD980’s touch-screen system allows you to select your shooting settings with a single finger-press. You tap the 3.0 inch widescreen to ‘point’ a ...
|
 |
|
|