Canon XL2 for wildlife ?
 

HI,
I have recently decided to get back to my passion - wildlife film-making after not doing so for too many years.
I have serious intentions to produce film professionally as I live in Australia and the wildlife around me is just amazing.
Any advice as to whether the Canon XL2 is a good choice, what other equipment do I need, everything that comes to mind as I basically start from scratch.
Thanks,
Ofer (-;

Hi Ofer,

Please take a look at my answer to your same question posted elsewhere in the forum:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...732#post309732

In a word... "yes."

My suggestion would be get the camera, then go out a shoot. Let your needs determine what "extras" you need, not someone elses.

Jay

'...Let your needs determine what "extras" you need, not someone else’s...'

I couldn't agree more, Jay, and my suggestions were merely that, suggestions, in an attempt to offer some guidance in Ofer's quest for the right equipment to video wildlife.

In the end it's Jay's choice, and all depends on his own actual requirements and needs - according to subject matter and locations etc, to obtain the best possible results within his budget limits.

I've been very pleased with the Xl1 and Xl2, and I do only wildlife filming --wildlife TV-programs for broadcasting. I would suggest dual battery holder and several batteries (or Anton Bauer battery), sturdy carrying case, sturdy tripod with a fluid head, lenses from wide angle to telephoto, and external microphones.

Lauri,
could you explain more precisely which kind of lenses you use?
Do you use any larger (more telephoto) lenses than the 20x + 1.6 extender

I am filming wildlife myself here in Scandianavia (Norway) and would like to know what kind of lenses that are common to use other than the 20x + 1.6 extender?

- Per Johan

The lenses I typically use are: the XL-series 3x and 20x lenses and the following EF-lenses: 70-200mm/f2.8, 400mm/f2.8, 600mm/f4.0, 100mm/f2.8 macro. This is to say, typically I try to take all these lenses with me, where ever I go to film. If nothing else (and instead of the 1.6 extender) I highly recommend the 70-200mm/f2.8 lense. That extends the range significantly, and the drawing of the lense is very accurate.