Grant Sherman from Lundy Island, UK
 

Hi folks,

I'm hoping to get a XL2 soon take wildlife footage. The plan is to get some good close-ups of Guillemots (Murres), Razorbills, and Puffins next Spring/Summer. I was watching Guillemots feed their chicks this year, but I didn't have a video camera. Hopefully, I'll learn how to use the camera this winter.

This site has been very useful. It's helped to decide what equipment I need and I hope you'll all tell me how to use it when I get it. I'm thinking of getting an XL2, Vegas 6, and a cheap Sony handycam to use as a deck/spare camera. I'll also get an EF lens adaptor (I have a friend who has a couple of EF-L lens). Any thoughts?

Grant

Hi Grant, welcome aboard (H)DV Info Net, good to have you with us!

Do keep in mind that a different brand camera (like a Sony) might very well
have trouble reading a tape from the XL2 (without any problems). So I would
get the main camera (XL2) first. Shoot a tape and then bring that with you
to buy the cheap deck camera (make sure you shoot in 24p as well etc.)

If I'm not mistaken the EF adapter with an EF lens will result in a focal lenght
multiplication (so the lens will become much more of a tele lens). See the
following article page for a comparison of different lenses:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article10.php

Next week Vegas 7 (!) is introduced, just so you know...

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the info. The stuff about the cheap deck camera is very useful. I was going to buy the cheap camera first to learn on. I thought Sony because they are reliable and I have a Sony Vaio laptop that I'm very pleased with.

I knew about the effective focal length multiplication with the EF adaptor. I've been taking still pictures this year with an Olympus e500 dslr attached to a telescope. I've been using e.f.l. of 2600mm and 5200mm to get some shots but the light reduction with this set-up was poor. My friend is thinking of getting a Canon 100-400mm L lens :-)

Grant

You guys might get a kick out of this then:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/images/images17.php

That's a seriously impressive lens. My telescope is 1300mm but it's f13 and very difficult to get good focus. But at £200 it's a lot cheaper! I might have to get a T-mount and see what it can do with the XL2 ...