Jacques,

I'll see you at ShowBiz Expo for sure.

Canon doesn't recommend the 100-400 IS because of the way the IS works on that lens (differently than how IS works on other IS lenses). However, I know many XL1 shooters who *are* using this particular lens without complaints. There should be a whole thread about this particular lens in here somewhere.

See ya in L.A.,

While we're talking about the 100-400 mm IS lens, don't forget
the 75-300 mm IS. It's almost as good for bird footage, and costs a quarter as much. Also, as far as extenders, I have found that the EOS 2X positioned between the lens and the XL adapter gives a sharper image than the 1.6 X XL-1 extender (and is cheaper, too).

<SNIP>
> as far as extenders, I have found that the EOS 2X
>positioned between the lens and the XL adapter gives a sharper image
>than the 1.6 X XL-1 extender (and is cheaper, too).
-------------------

You lost me. I don't yet own an EOS adapter or that
EOS 2X extender. Seems like those items will cost more than the
1.6 extender, which is like what . . . $400?


& yes, the 1.6 is pretty soft. The 16X alone is soft enough for me, but
the 1.6 is even softer. Sometimes soft looks good. That said,
I would still prefer a MUCH sharper image as one can always blur it later.
Ah, pixel shift technology.

When is some camera company going to hook up three "cheap"
mega pixel CCDs and give us HD resolution for what it should cost?
I need feather detail :)

Meanwhile, I still love my XL1.

Sorry Jacques,
I assumed that you already used the EOS adapter ($450), because you can't mount a 100-400 zoom, or any other 35mm
lens without it.
At any rate, the images you get with EOS lenses and the adapter and an EOS extender are sharper than what you get with the 16X and the 1.6 extender.

I used the standard 16x lens with the 1.6 extender while videoing in the Amazon. I was videoing tree sloths...handheld, full zoom, against the sky, sitting in a moving boat. Image...magnificant! You have the best combo right there. Oh, I always shoot first in auto to get "a shot", then go full manual to get the great shots.