The XLH1 shipped with a 16MB SD card with Canon stamp on it. Can I use any SD card ok? I saw 4Gig for around $50 I think.

I think you can.
I'm using a 2 GB card, for prests and to store photo's on it.

Geir Inge

Yes, you can use other brands and sizes of SD cards in the Canon XL H1.

My recommendation would be to stick to a quality brand and avoid a cheap knockoff. There are counterfeit SD cards out there.

Even a 2GB is overkill in my opinion. You'd probably never fill a 4GB. Stick a 512MB or a 1GB in and forget about it.

Even a 2GB is overkill in my opinion. You'd probably never fill a 4GB. Stick a 512MB or a 1GB in and forget about it.

Well it all depends on how and to what you are using it.
When I am on a long trip filming, I'm glad I have 2 gb to put my stills on.
For common videoing I agree with you.
I also take alot of stills for use later in the editing prosess, stills are also nice to use in a storyboard as they are taken from the location.

Geir Inge

What about Canon providing a possible firmware upgrade which would allow you to record MPEG 4 video to SD card ? Now this would be a very cool option. Perhaps HDV codec to SD ? What about DIVX to SD ? AVC to SD ? The SD drive is already in the camera and the circuitry is already there.