XL2 Body Only Kit at DVinfo.net

Justin Streitler · August 18th, 2004, 05:22 PM

I was just thinking, Im planning on buying the body only version, and getting the 16x manual lens. What I didnt think of earlier is will I also have to buy a viewfinder and mic for the camera as well. If so do you think ZGC will have good deal for that. Also if I do indeed need a mic what would be a good one for on camera and then mount that same on on a boom when I shoot planned setups.

Thanks,

Justin S.

Jean-Philippe Archibald · August 18th, 2004, 05:29 PM

The color viewfinder and mic are included in the body kit only. In fact, it is much a lensless kit than a body kit. But ZGC will also provide some costum kit with differents choices of lenses and B&W view finder.

Hope this help,

Justin Streitler · August 18th, 2004, 05:48 PM

Thanks for the info. I just saw somewhere that it does not come with lens and viewfinder. Ohh well I guess ill just wait like everyone else. Im sure ZGC will give me a good deal any way I decide to go. What is a good mic though for mounting on a boom and all around getting good quality audio? I was thinking about the ME66.

Nick Hiltgen · August 23rd, 2004, 08:58 PM

Jean-Phillipe

Just wanted to double check that you're POSITIVE that the body only includes a mic and viewfinder, as I was speaking with a retailer today and he said that some of the XL1s last year didn't come with a VF body only literally meant body ONLY. As it is neither of us were positive on what the body kit's would included with xl2 as they haven't shipped yet but if you're sure I was wondering where you read or saw it so I could relay the info.

Thanks
Nick

Jean-Philippe Archibald · August 24th, 2004, 06:37 AM

Hi Nick,

Jeff Donald confirmed this to me in this thread

And since then, the body only kit is on the B&H site so you can check by yourself in the included items : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...#goto_itemInfo

Hope this help,

Bill Ravens · August 24th, 2004, 07:13 AM

If you look carefully at the accessory list on the B&H website, the accessories listed for the XL2 body kit come from the XL1 body kit.
Regardless, the XL2 body kit does, in fact, come with the viewfinder and mike.

I 've successfully verified this thru zotzdigital.com who has graciously accepted my order for a body kit. I would suggest contacting them.

Joel Guy · August 24th, 2004, 09:04 AM

Bill,

Did they happen to give you an approximate date when the body only kits would be available? Thanks.

Bill Ravens · August 24th, 2004, 09:18 AM

Last indication I had was October.
After the full XL2 kit hits the market.

Yi Fong Yu · September 15th, 2004, 11:30 AM

anyone have further updates on when body ONLY will be available? i plan on keeping my xl1s's lens.

David Lach · September 15th, 2004, 12:10 PM

Oh would I have liked the body only kit to be in fact body only, and therefore even less expensive, with no lens, no mic and no viewfinder.

I have my own shotgun mic, a very good one, and will only be shooting with a soundman and a fishpole anyway.

Also, I wanted the B&W CRT viewfinder instead of the color EVF bundled, but I Emailed ZGC about it and they told me they couldn't do that since they'd be the ones stuck with the EVF afterwards. Makes sense, but does not make me happy, as I don't want to put an extra $1500 for the FU-1000 just to end up throwing the EVF in the closet and never use it again. If I can find a dealer that will allow me to swap the EVF and the B&W viewfinder, they'll get my money.

My main concern for wanting this viewfinder of course is critical focusing. I'll be using a manual lens, don't know which one yet, but it'll be manual, I know that much. So I'll have to try the new EVF 1st to see if it's possible to obtain precise focus with it. But I'd much rather go with just the CRT viewfinder if it was possible, since it should do a much better job than a simple EVF.

Joel Guy · September 15th, 2004, 01:18 PM

David,

Try www.zotzdigital.com, one of this sites sponsors. When you get to the site, look on the left side, and click on "camcorder shooting combo's". When that comes up, click to go to Page 2 of the combo's, and at the top of that page, you should see something called the "Canon XL2 custom." That package comes with the B&W viewfinder and the 16x manual lens. At the bottom, you can request a quote. Brian over there is really friendly and helpful, and I'm sure he'd be willing to work with you if it was at all possible. Hope this helps.

David Lach · September 15th, 2004, 01:45 PM

Thanks Joel, but I already did get a quote from him for that package, and the price was more than decent if you want both viewfinders, but he too cannot swap the EVF for the CRT. I guess I'll have to find a dealer that is in contact with someone that needs the EVF and work some kind of 3-way deal. Yeah right, I stand a bigger chance to win the Nobel price...

Yi Fong Yu · September 15th, 2004, 02:34 PM

so you guys saying that the body-only kit is out RIGHT NOW? i can't see it on bhs

David Lach · September 15th, 2004, 10:56 PM

It's not out yet. But you can pre-order.

Christopher Go · September 23rd, 2004, 10:04 AM

Just visited ZGC's website and saw that they are expecting the body only kits in November. I was under the impression that they would be coming out in October?

August 18th, 2004, 05:22 PM	#1
Justin Streitler Registration incomplete -- contact admin Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2	XL2 Body Only Kit I was just thinking, Im planning on buying the body only version, and getting the 16x manual lens. What I didnt think of earlier is will I also have to buy a viewfinder and mic for the camera as well. If so do you think ZGC will have good deal for that. Also if I do indeed need a mic what would be a good one for on camera and then mount that same on on a boom when I shoot planned setups. Thanks, Justin S.

August 18th, 2004, 05:29 PM	#2
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	The color viewfinder and mic are included in the body kit only. In fact, it is much a lensless kit than a body kit. But ZGC will also provide some costum kit with differents choices of lenses and B&W view finder. Hope this help, __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

August 24th, 2004, 06:37 AM	#5
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	Hi Nick, Jeff Donald confirmed this to me in this thread And since then, the body only kit is on the B&H site so you can check by yourself in the included items : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...#goto_itemInfo Hope this help, __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

September 15th, 2004, 11:30 AM	#9
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	anyone have further updates on when body ONLY will be available? i plan on keeping my xl1s's lens. __________________ bow wow wow

September 15th, 2004, 02:34 PM	#13
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	so you guys saying that the body-only kit is out RIGHT NOW? i can't see it on bhs __________________ bow wow wow

August 18th, 2004, 05:48 PM	#3
Justin Streitler Registration incomplete -- contact admin Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2	Thanks for the info. I just saw somewhere that it does not come with lens and viewfinder. Ohh well I guess ill just wait like everyone else. Im sure ZGC will give me a good deal any way I decide to go. What is a good mic though for mounting on a boom and all around getting good quality audio? I was thinking about the ME66.

August 23rd, 2004, 08:58 PM	#4
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	Jean-Phillipe Just wanted to double check that you're POSITIVE that the body only includes a mic and viewfinder, as I was speaking with a retailer today and he said that some of the XL1s last year didn't come with a VF body only literally meant body ONLY. As it is neither of us were positive on what the body kit's would included with xl2 as they haven't shipped yet but if you're sure I was wondering where you read or saw it so I could relay the info. Thanks Nick

August 24th, 2004, 07:13 AM	#6
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	If you look carefully at the accessory list on the B&H website, the accessories listed for the XL2 body kit come from the XL1 body kit. Regardless, the XL2 body kit does, in fact, come with the viewfinder and mike. I 've successfully verified this thru zotzdigital.com who has graciously accepted my order for a body kit. I would suggest contacting them.

August 24th, 2004, 09:04 AM	#7
Joel Guy Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NYC, NY Posts: 151	Bill, Did they happen to give you an approximate date when the body only kits would be available? Thanks.

August 24th, 2004, 09:18 AM	#8
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Last indication I had was October. After the full XL2 kit hits the market.

September 15th, 2004, 12:10 PM	#10
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	Oh would I have liked the body only kit to be in fact body only, and therefore even less expensive, with no lens, no mic and no viewfinder. I have my own shotgun mic, a very good one, and will only be shooting with a soundman and a fishpole anyway. Also, I wanted the B&W CRT viewfinder instead of the color EVF bundled, but I Emailed ZGC about it and they told me they couldn't do that since they'd be the ones stuck with the EVF afterwards. Makes sense, but does not make me happy, as I don't want to put an extra $1500 for the FU-1000 just to end up throwing the EVF in the closet and never use it again. If I can find a dealer that will allow me to swap the EVF and the B&W viewfinder, they'll get my money. My main concern for wanting this viewfinder of course is critical focusing. I'll be using a manual lens, don't know which one yet, but it'll be manual, I know that much. So I'll have to try the new EVF 1st to see if it's possible to obtain precise focus with it. But I'd much rather go with just the CRT viewfinder if it was possible, since it should do a much better job than a simple EVF.

September 15th, 2004, 01:18 PM	#11
Joel Guy Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NYC, NY Posts: 151	David, Try www.zotzdigital.com, one of this sites sponsors. When you get to the site, look on the left side, and click on "camcorder shooting combo's". When that comes up, click to go to Page 2 of the combo's, and at the top of that page, you should see something called the "Canon XL2 custom." That package comes with the B&W viewfinder and the 16x manual lens. At the bottom, you can request a quote. Brian over there is really friendly and helpful, and I'm sure he'd be willing to work with you if it was at all possible. Hope this helps.

September 15th, 2004, 01:45 PM	#12
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	Thanks Joel, but I already did get a quote from him for that package, and the price was more than decent if you want both viewfinders, but he too cannot swap the EVF for the CRT. I guess I'll have to find a dealer that is in contact with someone that needs the EVF and work some kind of 3-way deal. Yeah right, I stand a bigger chance to win the Nobel price...

September 15th, 2004, 10:56 PM	#14
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	It's not out yet. But you can pre-order.

September 23rd, 2004, 10:04 AM	#15
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Just visited ZGC's website and saw that they are expecting the body only kits in November. I was under the impression that they would be coming out in October?