Just wondering - XL1/XL2 focus and zoom system
 

Hello,

I'm an owner of VX2100 and am not thinking of buying those Canon cams in the nearest future, but as I've been looking at different DV cameras when I was deciding which one to buy, then there is something I want to know about the Canons (just out of curiousity). While most of the DV cameras operate settings like focus and zoom electrically even if you use the dedicated rings, then does XL1 and XL2 do the same or do they have the possibility to zoom and focus directly so that you mechanically move the lens elements by hand?

Thanks!

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, but I'll give it a try.

On the Canon 20x, 16x and 3x servo lenses, there are manual controls rings for zoom and focus on the lens barrels. However these are not direct controls. Turning these rings by hand sends control inputs to a motor, which in turn moves the lens elements for zoom and focus. The VX2100 works the same way.

There is one XL lens, the black 16x manual, which does have true manual control, so that when you turn the zoom and focus rings by hand there is no motor involved (there is no autofocus at all, and for manual zoom the motor must first be turned off by a switch on the bottom of the lens). Hope this helps,

Thanks, Chris! Exactly what I wanted to know.