Got one now!!
 

Just ordered my XL2!! Can't wait!!
I was also looking at a few other items:

Vinten Pro-5 tripod - Opinions>????

Looking for a good radio mic - cheapish!!

and has anyone used the Anton Bau batts that go on the acc back of the XL2? Where can i get these? are they any good?

thanks for your time

Ant

p.s- i know there is a BIG debate on what tapes to use, but does any1 have any personal views on what tapes they use and stick with ???

Anton Bauer are pretty much the Cadillac of battery systems. Look at the back of practically every news camera and that's what you'll see. I've just recently aquired an A/B system for my XL-2. There are several different batteries available. Depends on how power hungry your camera rig is. The best thing is the weight it puts on the rear of the camera is very helpful at bringing it to a more balanced state. This is especially helpful when shooting from the shoulder.

Look to some of the DV-INFO sponsors to buy the A/B system for your camera. They'll take good care of you.

-gb-

Greg... a little off topic but "Cadillac" is no longer an analogous to "best of breed." Aren't there about 20 other cars out there that you would buy before you would buy a Caddy? ummm, yep!

o.k. I'll shut up.

Ok, I'll bite. How about 'creme de la creme'? Although, Caddy has some cool designs on the market these days. They definitely aren't your father's Caddy!

-gb-

i use panasonic tapes. don't use sony. it's kind of annoying when i work with a university of TExas student cuz they get an endless supply of sony tapes. make sure you have canon head cleaner. use panasonic tapes.

I've been using and Anton Bauer set-up for years now on the XL-1 and XL-2. I wouldn't use anything else. They balance out the camera great for shoulder shooting.
We started using Trimpacs and they gave us great power, we eaisly can run for 8+ hours on ONE Trimpac!
However, we just upgraded to the Hytron 50 and wow, what an upgrade. They weigh about half as much (great for travel) as a Trimpac and give wayyy more power. We have run for more than 18+ hours (total daytime hours, like 4 tape hours) on one battery and haven't run the Hytron down more than 50%!!!
Just get yourself the Anton Bauer Gold mount made for the XL-2 and a few Hytrons, you'll love em. We also use only Panasonic tapes.

Tape stock does not matter at all. Go with a major brand and stay with it. The only time you see tape related issues is almost always with someone using multiple brands. As far as Sony, I have shot close to 5000 hours on Sony tapes with no consistent issues.




ash =o)

Agree, which tape you choose is not so important. But once you pick a kind of tape, stick with it. If you switch, you'll need to clean the heads.

Not to necessarily discourage anyone from using the "BMW of batteries" (Anton Bauer), but as a "be aware"...we did just have a recent thread highlighting that 3rd party battery use CAN void your warranty:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=49445

..
 

thank you guys :)

batteries
 

You might want to think about a lower cost alternative as well. Buying a Canon CH-910 battery charger/holder with two BP-945's mounted on the rear of the camera. The Anton's are extreme quality and their superior power is useful especially if you will be using accessories such as camera lights, etc.
The problem is they cost out the nose. The Hytron battery for example is close to $500.00 street price. Although they do have lower cost alternatives they are still well above your standard fare lithium ion battery.
Determine your shooting requirements and what your power consumption needs will be.
My set up works fine for what I need it for as I don't run an on camera light or monitor(sans the 2" LCD).
I've used this set up and ran the camera a total of 9 hours before needing to switch out to a charged BP-945.
The Anton Bauer's are indeed nice if you can afford them, but it's all about options. Just giving you another.

Doesn't the 945 mounted on the left side hit you in the head? I had heard this was an issue with the XL-2.

DV-INFO classifieds to the rescue again. I was fortunate enough to find a good deal on a used set-up with two batteries, twin charger, and mounting plate. The batteries aren't the latest and greatest, but that's just it. I can buy newer battery technology from A/B and know it will work. Should I step up to a high end eng type camera, the batteries and charger will be usable. So, I look at it as a long term investment.

-gb-

Hey, Greg. I heard something like that, but mine comes flush with the side of the camera body (viewfinder side)
So either I did something wrong in mounting it or someone else messed up. (probably the former) All I know is that it fits well and balances the camera out beautifully.
But, if someone can swing cheap Anton Batteries they should go for it. Just trying to lay any and all options on the table.

Eric,

Good to hear that about the left side 945 not bothering you. Maybe it was just a nasty rumor that has now been put to rest. I agree that having the dual batteries on the 910 is a good setup. Rest assured, I'm not looking forward to laying out big bucks for those newer battery packs.

-gb-

910 Viewfinder side
 

I did find that with the larger battery on the left hand side of the 910 it was banging my head when wearing headphones. Easily overcome by adjusting the viewfinder out further to the left and forward. Also makes the camera more comfortable.

Howdy
 

Hey Declan, just saying hello, didn't realise you were a member!

(I posted the FU- this morning and they said you'd get it tomorrow.

All the best

Not just a nasty rumor. It did hit me in the head! Overall I found the whole rig was just too much for the back of the camera for me. I use a couple of Power2000 6000mah batteries and each one lasts about 4+ hours easily.....coupled with the BP930? that came with it I am happy as a lark.

There is something to be said about a clean setup without too many extras all over your rig. It allows for a more streamlined approach to shooting.

Re: Howdy
 

Hi Martin

It arrived this morning (sadly I'm at work), so I'll give it a whirl tonight.

Interesting, Marty. Mine comes nowhere close to my head. Is it posible Canon did a re-design on the brackets of later model XL2's? If they got rid of the "film grain" button and effect and fixed that firewire problem they had with the earlier models anything is possible.
I'd say the BP-945 is at least 4-5 inches from my head.
Hmmm...maybe I just have a tiny -ss head.
Oh, well.

I bought an XL2 about a week and a half ago, I guess...brand new...still has the film grain button. So what's up with that?

Nick, then you should have an old model, right?
Because indeed, Canon said they would bring out new models without the grain button.
Not that it's a big difference, though.

I believe they discontinued that feature very early this year. It sounds like the store you bought it from is trying to clear out its older models first.
I think it's definitely grounds (if it matters to you) to take it back and ask for a newer style unit.
I don't want to alarm you but only suggest this because some (not all) of the earlier XL2s had some kind of a master fuse problem when plugging/unplugging the firewire cable or connecting certain accessories with the camera powered up.
The cases were fairly isolated, but...you never know.

FWIW, my XL2 was among the very first batch sold in the US upon release of the camera. Works great...although I've never used the film grain button so can't verify that feature! ;-)

True, manufacturers always reserve the right to update their products as they see fit, but I have heard nothing of any other design changes to the XL2. A rare few people have reported fuse problems, either with the camera body or a lens, but not enough that it was clear to us out in end-user-land whether or not it was a design problem or simply misfortune. Has there been an announcement or other objective indication that Canon has changed anything other than removing the film grain button? If so, please advise us, because based on what I know at present, I wouldn't care whether I got a camera with or without a film grain button.

I purchased mine in January from B&H. It seems they run through their stock pretty quickly on choice items. I believe it was not long after the announcement that they were discontinuing the 'film grain'. Mine did not have the feature, so it was one of the updated models. To note that your brand new item still includes the discontinued feature leads me to believe that it sat in that vendor's stock room for at least 8 months.
-Jon

Yeah, the film grain button isn't the issue at all. It would just concern me a little to think it could potentially have the firewire problem. But as stated in my previous post and echoed by yourself. It was a seemingly isolated incident that has seemed to go away.
I think there's something interesting, though, about Nick recently buying an incarnation of the XL2 that hasn't been manufactured in a very long time. Makes me wonder if Canon had problems moving the XL2 because of the very high sales of the DVX100A? Sad, actually, as I much prefer my XL2. It is indeed a sweet instrument.

Well, I bought my XL2 through Best Buy, and I highly doubt they sell more than one a month out of any particular warehouse location. Luckily, I bought the service plan, so they can't screw me too bad. If the master fuse blows, it's covered under surge/manufacturer defect (I know Best buy's service plan inside and out because I sold computers there for a year) in their service contract. I'll make them give me a new one. So easy for them because they either get to tag Canon with the bill, or their insurance picks it up. I haven't even put a tape in the damn thing yet (let alone a firewire cable) because I'm waiting on some computer parts. Hopefull, the IEEE1394 won't be faulty.

Congrats on the new purchase, Nick. I'm sure you'll be very satisfied with the camera. Once you start getting into the menu system and tweaking stuff you're going to start seeing some nice looking images coming out of this camera.
Best of luck.

Thanks. Hopefully I'll have some stuff online to show you guys before the end of next month.