I vaguely remember back when the XL1 first came out there was some sort of an official Canon support group that you could sign up for. I think you could get an extended warranty and mainly access to quick service if you had a problem. Anybody know what I'm talking about? If so, does that still exist. Sort of an owner's club type thing as I recall, but with some pretty good benefits.

Yes. It used to be called the XL Owner's Club. Now it's called the XL & XH Owner's Club. There's a membership application included in the box when you get your camera. Benefits include priority phone and email support; an annual discount on maintenance check, clean, and adjustments to factory specifications; and a loaner camcorder which *might* be provided if repairs at the Factory Service Center exceed five business days.

Cool. Thanks. I saw this camera in person this morning and it is beckoning strongly. All I have to do is have one more meeting to be sure a doc I've been doing is still on, and I'm ready to get into debt. (I know, I could shoot it with the DSR500, but I'm tired of schlepping all that heavy stuff around for personal free projects.)

On another thought, Canon needs to do a training DVD (I volunteer--that's what I do for money: training shows) teaching dealers how to sell this gear. The guy this morning said, "This is a really great upgrade to the GL2." I then had to spend time telling him that it had nothing to do with the GL2 other than the general shape, that it had the same 1/3" chips and signal processing as the XL H1 and that if he wanted to compare it with something he should tell people it's the same basic thing as the H1 but with a fixed lens. Sheesh, I mean, the customer shouldn't have to educate the dealer.