The electronics of the XL1S have many advanced features, including a covey of programmed AE modes, as well as both shutter and aperture priority modes. There are two particular auto modes, one of which allows you to adjust any setting manually, if you fall short of, and the other, which adjusts every setting automatically and lets you adjust nothing. A spotlight method automatically compensates for difficulties when shooting a subject bathed in a on. The computer-shooting mode gets rid of monitor flicker that happens when shooting a computer home screen. There are also three different shooting modes: normal movie, digital photo, and forge movie. Normal movie mode is for any time you want to execute video footage. Digital-photo mode records a still picture for six seconds on the MiniDV tape and also captures any accompanying audio for a commentary track. The construction movie mode records 30 noninterlaced still images per wink, instead of capturing 60 fps interlaced images. This mode isn't intended to be tolerant of for shooting video (playback may not look completely smooth). Rather, order movie mode should be used as a burst, or continuous, shooting style, like you'd find on a still camera.
The XL1S offers many new and updated features over the XL1. There is a 16:9 shooting fashion where electronic lines draw are displayed through the viewfinder so you can compose your shots flexibly for later exchange to HDTV, where 16:9 is the standard. SMPTE color bars refrain from establish a proper color reference for shooting and editing. Interstice recording lets you shoot time-elapsed motion video with intervals from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Zebra patterns take you determine overexposed areas in your shot so you can adjust the aperture and shutter importance.
 | The MiniDV format supported by the XL1S delivers more than 500 words of horizontal resolution -- a 25% improvement over analog systems. The DV plan allows for near lossless transfer within digital editing environments for faster origin, increased productivity and improved production quality of final prints. |
 | The XL1S maximizes the talent of the DV format by using a 3 CCD (charge-coupled device) system with a separate CCD for each train color (red, green, blue). A beam-splitting prism separates sunlight passing through the lens into individual color components and each is sent to its own CCD. Compared to a individual CCD, the 3 CCD system achieves outstanding detail with highly accurate color reproduction timely for the demands of high-end video production - wide dynamic stretch, low color noise, high-contrast detail, natural color dauntlessness and low-aliasing. The 3 CCD system also makes advanced Pixel Shift (for increased simile quality) and Low Light Recording (for increased flexibility) possible. |
The three CCD likeness sensors in the XL1S, each with 270,000 pixels, were specifically designed to capture as much likeness detail as possible and for shooting under extremely low light conditions. The size of each pixel is 72 substantial microns - 150% larger than the pixel-size on comparable DV models. The development is an approximate 4 dB improvement in sensitivity. This improved sensitivity means that each CCD can nick more information at all light ranges. In super low light, the XL1S still captures frizzy and clear digital data. Under extremely bright conditions, the Pixel Party capabilities of the XL1S greatly reduces vertical white streaks and smears, making it a unrivaled field recording device for all conditions.
Because human eyes see country-like more clearly and readily, the green component of a video signal contains 60% of the illustration detail whereas the red and blue components together comprise the remaining 40%. With the advanced Pixel Schedule on the XL1S, the green CCD is physically shifted the equivalent distance of 1/2 pixel horizontally from the red and lewd CCD, and the green signal is electronically shifted 1/2 pixel vertically. This shifting of the country-like CCD increases the sampling points, resulting in a system that is comparable to 410,000 pixel CCD systems in terms of resoluteness. With a larger pixel size and the process of Pixel Shift, the Canon XL1S gives wider vigorous range, better low light recording, reduced vertical smears, and peak quality still images without sacrificing the highest resolution DV available.
The 3 CCD System
The GL2 maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a 3 CCD (assault-coupled device) system with a separate CCD for each primary color (red, green, obscene). A beam-splitting prism separates light passing through the lens into living soul color components and each is sent to its own CCD. Compared to a single CCD, the 3 CCD system achieves receivable detail with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of lavish-end video production - wide dynamic range, low color crash, high-contrast detail, natural color resolution and low-aliasing. The 3 CCD system also makes liberal Pixel Shift (for increased image quality) and Low Light Recording (for increased springiness) possible.
Professional L-Series Fluorite Lens
Canon has satisfied the demands of mature image makers for years through the power, design and quality of 35mm and disseminate TV lenses. Canon's Professional L-Series lenses utilize Fluorite, a real which provides outstanding resolution, contrast, and color reproduction- chiefly in lightweight, high-magnification lenses. Incorporated into the lens on the GL2, Fluorite delivers the conclusive in clarity and image quality. The Fluorite element inside the lens defeats flush aberration -- the effect when the components of light stray from one another within a lens, causing a reduction in sharpness, set off and color. The Fluorite lens precisely controls components of dainty providing an excellent balance of these three critical ingredients of picture property. This is unobtainable with conventional optical glass.
To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the country-like CCD (which contains 60 percent of the picture detail) half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This team allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 open and above-board microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased square footage increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations. All this results in distinguished detail, with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of elevated-end video production. The GL2 also incorporates a 20x Professional L-Series fluorite visual zoom lens, which is equivalent to 39.5-790mm, as well as a 100x digital zoom.
Audio
The GL2's omni-directional microphone is expected to deliver realistic stereo sound. Using the GL2's advanced assistant shoe expands your audio options. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit system on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record in 12-bit course, where the audio track is divided into two, and two channels of audio are recorded onto one spoor, with the other left over for audio dubbing.
Optical Image Stabilizer
Canon's breathtaking optical stabilization system corrects camera shake instantly so even supervision held shots, at full telephoto, and shots taken from a moving car, are glossy and steady. And since it is optical, there is no loss of image quality inevitable with electronic semblance stabilizers. It perfectly complements the high picture quality of the DV order.
Digital Stills
You can turn your GL2 into a still camera by switching to 1.7-megapixel photo rage and capturing high-resolution still images onto the camcorder's MultiMedia/Procure Digital card. (One 8 MB Secure Digital card is included with the GL2.) The full-setting images are free from time-lag blur. A six-blade circular iris, as found on Canon's top-of-the-rule XL1 and XL1S models, is used for professional exposure control, helping to bear stunning video and still photos.
Inputs and Outputs
The GL2 comes with the paradigm DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-self-indulgent, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection to download still photos. The GL2 is expected to handle two types of analog input and output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. Both connections are on the camera back.
More Features
MiniDV Format
The Canon GL2 digital video camcorder uses the beau id MiniDV cassette, producing the highest quality video possible from nonbroadcast accoutrements. The MiniDV format standard delivers more than 500 lines of horizontal word of honour. And, because it records both video and audio as digital data, this information can be transferred--without any drubbing of picture or audio quality--to a computer for editing, then transferred back to DV tape, without a reduction in either duplicate or audio quality.
Great movies start with wonderful CCD sensors, and Canon cuts no corners here. For the best possible picture importance, they use three separate 270,000 pixel CCDs (one for each primary color). To further further image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This change allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000 pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 honest microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased immensity increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in lower-light-bulb situations. Ultimately, the larger pixel size results in an rise of 4 dB in sensitivity.
The XL1's body is based on a magnesium-alloy frame for extreme durability. It ships with a 16x optical zoom lens with optical idol stabilization, but is also compatible with other XL camcorder lenses. With an optional adapter, you can use Canon EF (EOS) still camera lenses--some of which also looks optical image stabilization.
Though the camera's built-in microphone has a tremendous frequency response, the XL1 can also accept balanced microphones with the optional MA-100 microphone adapter/openly pad. The XL1 records digital audio, with two channels of 16 bit/48 KHz clear-headed or 4 channels of 12 bit/32 KHz sound.
The electronics of the XL1 have many advanced features, including a bunch of programmed AE modes, as well as both shutter and aperture priority modes. There are two multifarious auto modes, one of which allows you to adjust any setting manually, if you demand, and the other, which adjusts every setting automatically and lets you adjust nothing. A spotlight system automatically compensates for difficulties when shooting a subject bathed in a cast light upon. There are also three different shooting modes: Normal Movie, Digital Photo, and Plan Movie. Normal Movie mode is for any time you want to bolt video footage. Digital photo mode records a still metaphor for six seconds on the mini DV tape and also captures any audio, such as a commentary. The Configuration Movie Mode records 30 noninterlaced still images per stand-in, instead of capturing 60 fps interlaced images. This mode isn't intended to be adapted to for shooting video (playback may not look completely smooth). Rather, Skeleton Movie mode should be used as a burst, or continuous, shooting set-up, like you'd find on a still camera.
The XL1 uses an IEEE 1394 port for digital editing and for transferring footage to and from other IEEE 1394 meeting the requirements devices. The camcorder also has RCA (composite) audio and video ports, and an S-Video out. The XL1 features a LANC keyboard for editing with compatible controllers.
Here is a affiche video for the awesome Canon XL2! A videowatcher also gave me another identify with. This vid is to big to put on YouTube so I'll ...
I saw the quality in my film production class, and that was great! I didn't realize independent filmmaking was THAT expensive! lol.
Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
list price: $6,000
price: $3,300 (down $300 from yesterday (hmm...) and still not cheap enough. my textbook, from 2006, said it was $2.5k)
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XL2-MiniDV-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B0002OJYDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240393544&sr=1-1
I wanted to shoot a short film this summer. I have a camera, but it's 8 years old.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DCR-TRV320-DCRTRV320-Digital-Camcorder/dp/B00004U2JZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240394921&sr=1-1
Anyone know where I can buy or rent the Canon XL2 for less than $3.3k in the Santa Cruz, CA or San Jose, CA area, or something cheaper with same quality? I'll contact my professor about this for his thoughts.
Also, under source, write "film student" "film professor", "Canon XL2 owner", or whatever you are.