xl1s - was it a mistake?

[Afonso Campos]

so far for this price the only thing going for this camera is it's lens changing ability...

negative points:
- bad in low light
- gain jumps from 0 to 6dB
- no xlr inputs
- no LCD
- focusing problems
- not very sharp image
- so so resolution
- very poor headphone jack..

i'm really considering selling it... but i don't want to lose mone ... someone please, give me reasons to not sell it...

help!

[Rob Lohman]

I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think you did a very good job
of looking at the camera before buying, because you would've
known it didn't have a flipout LCD screen or XLR inputs.

Secondly, it is a prosumer camera, don't expect too much from
the auto controls:

1. all camera's are bad in low-light. The XL1S is actually pretty acceptable. But there are better camera's for that. If you go full manual you can get a pretty decent performance. Research before buying might have pointed you to a better low-light camera

2. then you are running the camera in auto mode or left the gain on auto. I have my gain always at -3 db in full manual and it never jumps

3. that is correct. There are several appliances you can get to get XLR in on the XL1 range. As said, research had told you this before buying

4. same as 3, seperate screen available

5. mostly only during zooming and on some low contrast stuff. Run it in manual focus mode (almost always better anyway)

6. that depends on how you are shooting. In interlaced it shoot be pretty sharp and otherwise you can always turn up the sharpness a notch under custom presets. Canon's have a tendency to be a bit softer. Most people like those for it usually is closer to film than video

7. that also depends on what mode you are using. If you shoot at interlaced with a 1/60 shutter at f5.6 you'll have very good resolution. Again, with research you could've seen how much pixels are on the CCD's if that is your concern

8. what's bad about the headphone jack? That's the first time I've heard someone complain about it

[Afonso Campos]

i knew the camera didn't have XLR inputs or LCD when I bought it... I just never thought they would be so handy.

as for the gain thing i meant that on the controls there is no setting between 0 and 6.

about the headphone jack... i've heard many people complain.. the sound that comes out is just too soft.. not loud enough

[Jeff Donald]

The headphone issue if probably due to not matching the sensitivity and impedance properly. I have no problems with the Sony headphones I use. Canon makes several adapters to add XLR connections.

[Frank Granovski]

You know, over the years I've come to appreciate the XL1 and XL1s, especially with the "rich" footage they capture.

[Heath McKnight]

Frank and all,

I've shot several shorts and a feature (plus oen feature we shelved):

1. SKYE FALLING (2001)

2. PUSH/PULL (2003)

3. A REMINDER (2004)

4. SUZY'S OUT (2004)

These are movies, except SUZY, that have gotten into film fests and on movie screens in digital format. It always looked killer, even when we shot stuff in dim lighting. The XL-1, which I still use a friend's (I sold mine to buy the JVC HDV camera), is a GREAT camera! That doesn't include other things I've done, like TV shows, documentary stuff, etc.

heath

[Charles Papert]

As much as I admire the DVX-100 for its many great features and great resolution, I'm still convinced that the XL1 delivers the most pleasing skin tones. This is not something that can be detailed in a technical spec or quantified simply as a "warmer" color palette, it's an entirely subjective thing. Most video cameras (including Panasonic and Sony) tend to "gray out" faces when underexposing, the Canon seems to retain the color better.

[Keith Loh]

The Mini35 adaptors and other extensions give the XL1/S new life. Take a look at Oliver's superb film:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=21567

[Adam Burtle]

you forgot the best trait of all. people in public will walk up to you when you're shooting and say, "wow that's a nice camera!" haha.

[Don Berube]

Hi Alfonso,

For what it is worth, I really don't have any issue with the sensitivity on the Xl1S. Compared to the cameras I have used previously, it is a treat to use. Think of the Xl1S as having an ISO rating of around 320 ISO. On that note, I shoot in -3db most of the time. I'm not a big fan of using no lighting at all. I also mostly shoot in Frame Mode, unless it is for ENG broadcast.

- don

[Chris Hurd]

Alfonso

One of the best features of the XL1S system is its modular design and "open architecture" system. Need XLR inputs? Simply add them. Need an LCD display? Just add it. My own XL1 is equipped with XLR inputs and a 5.5" LCD screen, and there's no reason why yours can't be similarly configured.