In his www.Pixelmonger.com website, Scott Billups says:
"Canon will introduce the XL2 by the end of 2003 and even though the JVC will throw up more pixels, the new XL series will blow it away with its native 16 X 9, third generation chips, multiple frame rates (including 24P and more importantly 30P ) and most importantly ... the ability to use a manual lens. "

Scott is a very high end professional and is a beta tester for many companies and he's well known to be always inside the scoop of things. If it's true, I can barely wait for this camera. I hope they mention something on NAB 2003 already. Can you image this XL2 with a P+S mini35 and a set of Zeis? It will be insane.

Cheers

If Scott Billups really knew what Canon is developing, he would be under a Nondisclosure Agreement. NDA's protect the companies trade secrets and are enforceable in court. Employees get fired and pay heavy civil penalties for violating the agreements and the awards have stood up under appeal.

Mr. Billups is just engaging in speculation like the rest of us. If he really knew, he wouldn't be saying. It sure would be nice if at least some of his wish list came true.

Canon has an established track record of not mentioning new products until they're ready to ship. When you see big rebates on existing models, that's when you know something new is coming within 4 to 6 weeks from that announcement. Hope this helps,

Late 2002 would make the XL1S about 2 yers old? Canon's track record is about 3 years with their top-of-the-line models, but 2 might fit given that the XL1s was an incremental change to the XL1.

Interesting to note that that Supervideo has nothing to say about an XL2 in the near future.

DVShooter. Non of us know when the XL1S replacement will come. But when Canon drops the price or offers a huge rebate, you'll know it'll be coming within a month or so. Chris mentioned this, and from what I noticed over the years, this is exactly what Canan does. If you're worried that a new version is around the corner, don't buy anything new, and just wait. In fact, wait for the announcements at NAB.

Oh, and about Ken..., he's one smart fellow---a lot smarter than me; and a hell of a nice guy to boot.

All that being said, I'm still drooling just a bit. A canon with native 16x9 AND 24 fps, man I really hope it's true.

I apologize for my strong remarks regarding Scott Billups. (I've removed them from this thread since they did not significantly add to its information content.) I have a strong aversion to Billups' style which I will keep to myself in the future.

My apologies.

If this new camera would have 24p mode, and you shot something that was trasferred to 35mm. Would you not be better served to shoot in native NTSC 60i?

It is my understanding that the frame movie mode is great if you intend to watch it in on video playback and not transferred to film and projected.

Keep in mind I know nothing, but want to learn.

The reason why the current XL1's Frame Movie Mode is not suitable for footage meant for film transfer is precisely because it's 30P, not 24P. (Or more precisely, 29.98P vs. 23.976P.)

Temporal resampling postprocessing algorithms have more material to work with when the footage is 60i. But if the footage is native 24P to begin with, no such resampling is necessary.

The only hurdle then would be to have a Final Cut Pro that would handle 24P, Correct?

For Editing on your computer.

FCP can already handle 24P. See Adam Wilt's presentation (http://www.adamwilt.com/24p/MWSF2003-24p.htm) for detailed workflow information.

I can't imagine Canon will not go HD at this point. JVC's camera is supposed to be about $3000 -

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=238461&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

If Canon is going to charge MORE for an XL2, then don't you think it needs to be HD? In any case, I'll wait for Canon's 3-chip HD cam rather than go with JVC's. I have not been hearing or seeing good things about the new JVC model.

I don't think it needs to be HD. I just think it needs to have a better picture than the other cameras.

I would love to see the XL2 come with a manual lens. When I get it I sure will not want to pay for that old stock lens. I could never get used to that focus ring on the standard lens. I guess the viewfinder could use a little work also. I really don't see them doing a flip out screen but I never really got into that anyway.

Marcus

yeah, i hope they avoid the flip out screen. it takes up resources needed for other things.

All depends if they change the body style or not I guess.

It seems unlikely that Canon will ad an LCD screen to the XL-series. Canon's reputation and history demonstrate that they tend to stay with an established body-style once it has caught on, such as they have with 35mm SLR cameras like the Rebel. Even the new digital cameras use the same body style in that series.

The XL-series body style is part of their branding because it is recognizable, and I suspect they'll be loath to change it in any significant way just to accomodate a flip-out screen. Corvette's from 1950 look an awful lot like the Corvette of today, specifically because the shape itself = brand recognition. Just an observation.

I've always thought flip-out LCD screens give video cameras a 'consumer' look and feel to them anyway. And with the multitude of add-on LCD screens available, it isn't an absolute necessity.

Justin

Gotcha. For me I don't care about the looks. Logisitcally, it takes power and space on the camera to have a lcd flip out screen. I'd rather have a lot of other features besides a teeny tiny blurry color lcd that flips out. One more thing that is easy to break, and adds nothing to the actual job of crafting and image.