Using XL body only for digital audio recording or playback?
 

If you were to remove the lens and EVF (if camera mic was not needed), would the body still record audio (XL-1) through the mic or XLR inputs? Would it be the same for audio and/or video for the XL-1s & XL-2 since they can input both? I understand that there is an error message showing that the lens is missing but does that prevent recording something whethere it's just black, bars or just audio. I know you're not suppose to attach or remove a lens while the camera is powered up, but can this recording operation be damaging to the camera without the lens being attached before powering up?

I've been using my GL2 lately for audio-only recording -- just don't bother pointing it at anything meaningful ('am planning to upgrade to a CD recorder soon, but it was a good test system).

I can't say if any damage will occur without a lens -- does this leave the CCD's exposed in any way?

I would definitely put the factory cover over the CCD window.

Another question, do XL lenses have a seperate internal hour meter/recorder for usage?

Doubt if XL lenses have an hour usage meter and no one has yet reported finding an accessable hour meter on the XL1 body.

If recording audio only, leave the lens cap ON if a lens is installed. Body cap if no lens is present.

Removing the lens (and thus having the lens warning displayed) will not prevent the XL1 from recording sound and what ever blur of light reaches the CCD

A miniDV recorder may be more convenient for local sound recording than an XL1 body, although you do not get 48kHz sample rate or firewire capture of the audio.