XL2 pricing
 

XL2 body: $4,999.00

lenses:

20¡ßzoom XL5.4-108mmL IS
200,000yen=2,300.00U$
size: 97.5¡ß157.4mm(without hood)
weight: 960g(body only)
5.4-108mm 35mm (film convert)
42.2-844mm(16:9)51.8-1036mm(4:3)F1.6-3.5

3¡ßzoom XL3.4-10.2mm
170,000yen=2,000.00U$
size:91.5¡ß116mm(without hood)
weight:670g(body only)
focal length: 3.4-10.2mm 35mm(film convert)
26.6-79.8mm(16:9)32.6-97.8mm(4:3)

16¡ßzoom XL5.4-86.4mm
280,000yen=3,100.00U$
size:81¡ß158mm(without hood)
weight: 920g(body only)
focal length:5.4-86.4mm 35mm(film convert)
42.2-675.2mm(16:9)51.8-828.8mm(4:3)F1.6

Thank you, but this information was already up on the site,
including all the pricing information. I think the only thing missing
was the weight of the new 20x lens.

Rob,

street price:
Chris says 3,999U$ just a body; lense are below 2,000.00U$.
Correct?

That is what it says on this page:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/xl2skinny.php

indeed. Now keep in mind that prices of individual components
are usually higher then when you buy them bundled as seems
to be the case here.

$2000 for a lens?? Yipes! Still lenses are higher resolution and a fraction of that. I don't get it. (Sorry never looked seriously at XL lens prices before because I always looked at fixed lens cameras). Are these lenses just incredibly fast?

A video lens (in this case) needs to have:

1) servo motors to control zoom / focus

2) have builtin ND filters

3) have a highly complex optical stabilizer

4) in this particular 20x lens it also has some sort of memory function (store zoom / focus position)

5) a video lens has a special function to keep focus while you zoom (when possible) that a still lens does not have (it might, but it isn't engineered for this)

Most still lenses do not include such things. There are probably
even more things different. But this is what I could think of.

"$2000 for a lens?? Yipes!"

I've actually always been surprised as to how cheap Canon's lenses are.

I'm a bit dissapointed that the only new lens they announced is the 20x lens. What's stopping them from putting out more lenses? They definitely have a unique product in that it is the
only 1/3" camera with a removable lens. I've never felt like they
have ever fully exploited that fact.

Why not more lenses, of varying quality and pricepoints?
How about a set of primes?
Or a 'real' wide angle lens?

It would be nice for people who wouldn't mind spending the needed amount of money for quality glass.

-Luis

20x lens comes with camera for $4,999
 

If you look at the button "whats in the box" on the page for the XL2 on the Canon website, you'll see whats included with the XL2 kit which is what they are selling for $4,999.

Its a nice little kit. I cant wait to get my hands on that camera!

There are 3 lenses.
http://cweb.canon.jp/dv/lineup/xl2kit/index.html
http://cweb.canon.jp/dv/lineup/xl2kit/point.html#point01

http://cweb.canon.jp/dv/lineup/xl2kit/images/option_item03.jpg
http://cweb.canon.jp/dv/lineup/xl2kit/images/option_item02.jpg
http://cweb.canon.jp/dv/lineup/xl2kit/images/option_item01.jpg

The others are optional models Chosei. The camera comes with
the new 20x serve optical stabilized lens per default.

Rob,

I got it, thanks.

Indeed, $2,000 seems like a pretty good bargain if the lens' performance is pretty good. A Canon 20x lens for the 1/2" world costs multiples of this.

<<I can't speak for Europe or anywhere else in the world, but within the U.S. market, the official word from Canon USA is August 2004 for the XL2 kit, complete with body and lens. The MSRP for the kit is $4999,.........There will be the option to purchase the body kit without the lens for $3999.>>

This is a snip from Chris' (amazingly fast) watchdog overview. Here's my question if it's at all possible to answer. Will Canon be making the body only option available immediately for everyone who already has the lenses, B&W VFs and all the extras and want to integraste this sytem now. I'd hope that they wouldn't put out only XL2 kits at first...that would be really not good.

Jim,
Purely speculation, but I suspect the torso-only kits will be available early. They were when the XL1S was introduced.

<<Jim,
Purely speculation, but I suspect the torso-only kits will be available early. They were when the XL1S was introduced.>>

I agree Ken, it had just occured to me, as I was planning all the shoots I was going to put off till late August, that I might not be be able to get a first off the plane model if they were shipping in kits. I'm pretty psyched to do a first Mini 35 test at 24p, 16:9.