Not quite that bad. The CRT viewfinder is available. As is a manual lens. And in the next step up, Canon offers a 12x wide angle lens with optional doubler.

Just make a 1/3" version of the lens available for the XL chassis.

I assume you're referring to the 1/2" Canon YH12x4.8 IRS-A (with 2x extender), which carries a pricetag of more than $7,000 USD. The 1/2" Canon YH12x4.8 KRS-A (without 2x extender) sells for more than $5,000 USD. And these are the inexpensive ones which Canon Broadcast markets as "semi-pro."

A 1/3" version with an XL mount would really not be much less expensive. Plus, the zoom motor / hand grip would have to be removed in order to clear the built-in hand grip of the XL2. So you'd lose a lot of functionality right there. Given the current pricing, how much would you be willing to pay for that lens?

Really? That's a minor thing, but always a major irritant for me when I'm shooting with the 250. At the end of takes I like to flip on the bars and record a few seconds, and that's a pain when you have to go into the menu.
From all I've read about the XL2, and heard, it should be a very cool camera for shooting 16:9, which I like to do. A friend of mine who works for IFP-L.A. saw one a few weeks ago when the Canon rep took it by their offices, and he was impressed. They're doing a workshop in about a month or so with it, so I'll get a report from somebody whose eyes I trust.

When you hear from IFP-L.A., Bill, please pass it on here. I'm also interested in what they think about it.

I though it was closer to $3k without the doubler. I was wrong.

What I would like is a wider angle and maybe a shorter range in a lens that can use a follow focus. Something more or less similar to the DVX100A, but going even a little wider still (just under 4mm).

When I can find what I am looking for--16:9, progressive scan (24 and 30 f/s), WA lens, significant electronic controls, and hopefully 1/2 CCD--I would expect to spend $8-10k.

If I want a LCD monitor, a 7" Panasonic can be clipped on top. Or use a portable CRT.

If everything is in order, I think I will rent one later this year with the Mini35. However in the camera that is purchased and sits around to be used ad hoc, the desired features are needed. The two Panasonics (DVX100A, DVC-200) are close, as the XL2 seems to be.

The DVC200 doesn't do progressive scan or 24fps. No other half inch camera does either. You're stuck with 1/3" or jump up to 2/3".

"When I can find what I am looking for--16:9, progressive scan (24 and 30 f/s), WA lens, significant electronic controls, and hopefully 1/2 CCD--I would expect to spend $8-10k."


Like Bill said. The next cheapest camera with these features than the XL2 (it has WA - the 3x and 'significant electronic controls', but no 1/2" CCD) is the Panasonic SDX900 DV50 camera - and you'll have to pay a lot more than $8-10k.

It's great that the XL2 has a 12bit DSP, but it kind of stood to logical reason IMO.

> It's great that the XL2 has a 12bit DSP

It is. But is it 12 bits for each primary color or for the full RGB?

Ignacio, I understand the scepticism - companies always tell mistruths about this sort of thing. BUT really would cannon have what would amount to an average of 4 bits per RGB? No F@*&#ing way they would - they couldn't be that cheap. If they do I'll eat my XM2 ;)

Aaron

12 bits for each primary colour would be 36bit surely?

This is really starting to be obsessive. It is a 12bit DSP that ends up producing an 8 bit 4:1:1 NTSC or 4:2:0 PAL processed DV25 signal. It is the same as the DVX100A.

BTW the 2/3" chip Sony DSR 570 DVCAM only has a 10 bit DSP and nobody complains about that camera's image.

Nobody complains about the 500/570 because it's not in the same market as the XL2. If it sold for the same price as the DVX100a, then people would complain about it.

The DSR3x0 and 5x0 came out when 10-bits was leading edge. New Panasonic and Ikegami cameras are 12-bit, and presumably the next generation of Sonys will be 12- or 14-bit.

My current Sony does 14-bit processing.

I don't care if the XL2 is ONLY twelve bit and 720x480, I'm still going to buy one as long as they're still white.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jacques Mersereau : I don't care if the I'm still going to buy one as long as they're still white. -->>>

Is white the school color?