PAL version announced in Europe !
 

3x 1/3" 800.000 pixel CCDs and 50i & 25p frame rate

http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home...PageID=26346#1

Looking good !

Thank you for this notice Steven. I will put this up in the specs
list which can be found:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=28853

wow, 800,000 pixels from 1/3" progressive 3CCDs, that's pretty mean. This will probably be the King of Prosumer SD cameras.

Thanks for the info, Steven-Marc. I agree, Glenn, those are impressive CCD specs.

Of course you guys are aware that the PAL version will have frame rates of 50i and 25p (there is no 24p mode on the PAL version in case any of you curious Americans were wondering).

XL2 PAL @ Pinewood
 

Hi All,

I have just returned from a 2 day shoot at Pinewood Studios where we shot a promo for Canon UK completely on PAL XL2's, this was shown at the press launch here in the UK today.

I will post the video on www.xl2.co.uk once I have it for all to see.

Enjoy!

Simon.

Simon, do you have info on pricing and availability of the PAL version ?

Thanks Simon -- good to hear from you again -- by the way I need to contact you by email. Keep an eye out for it please.

Hi Chris, Hi Steven,

Availability is expected around September.

If you want to get "hands on and dirty" we have a unit at our offices in New Barnet.

Cheers!

Simon.

Hi simon,

What company do you work for? Is it Optex UK? Just wondering since you don't mention it.

Why do they not have 24P on the PAL XL12? surely you would still need this for Film work etc?

Cheers,

PAL film is 25 fps if I'm not mistaken Ed.

Err... PAL film doesn't exist, Rob ! ;-)

Film is sometimes shot at 25 fps in Europe when the distribution is going to be limited to television.

Well that's what I meant. Not to say PAL film exists in deed. I
think I've heard multiple times that film in PAL is shot at 25 fps
instead of 24. Perhaps to ease transition to a TV indeed.

Sorry for the confusion!

Hi Ed,

Yes I do work for OpTex and would like to point out on a personal level I am also an XL1 owner.

Having the opportunity to shoot with the XL2 the last two days was brilliant.

We shot 25p 16:9 and the quality is stunning. We also had the XL2 rigged to the Mini35 and had a set of ultraprimes at our disposal, at the current time the Mini35 won't fit as standard and our machine shop had to knock up a spacer plate.

The Canon UK promo video was only shot with XL2 + 20x +3x lenses. We also used the brand new Steadicam Flyer for some great shots.

The real thing for me about the new XL2 is the viewfinder and the quality. The footage didn't look dv'ish (can't explain - you'll have to see for yourself), the viewfinder is simply massive when compared to the XL1.

Canon are going in the right direction with more switches (16:9 / 25p / bars) rescued from the menu, the switches don't work once you're recording so you can also save on gaffer tape! In my opinion a real plus - I hate menus.

Cheers!

Simon.

Funny you should mention that, Simon. I was looking over the
pictures and was wondering why they didn't make the aspect
and framerate selection knobs sunken like the others. I'm glad
it won't matter what you do to them when recording. However
I assume they change the setting as soon as you stop recording.
Would've liked them sunken though. Strange they should
change such a winning knob design!

Do you happen to have a chance to see if it can do straight
analog to digital conversion without recording on tape first?

<<<-- Originally posted by Simon Beer : Hi Chris, Hi Steven,

Availability is expected around September.

If you want to get "hands on and dirty" we have a unit at our offices in New Barnet.

Cheers!

Simon. -->>>

Simon,

Have you tried setting the white balance manually? My XL-1 always ended with very cool/blue images when doing so. I needed an assortment of colored gels to get it close. Hopefully this new camera is spot on.

Greg