Canon XL1S videocamera

[photoworks]

Ok don't fire on me :flame: but I'm planning to buy the Canon XL1s MiniDV videocamera for filming the wetlands and the highlands of the place I'm moving to live forever.
Any opinions on this camera?

[Swampy]

It's a toss up between that and the Sony VX series or the Sony DSR-PD170.

They're all really good cameras. I hear nothing but good things between the Canon you're looking at as well as the Sony VX series. I think there's more options on the DSR-PD170 though. Not positive on that though.

[Igor]

Vasilis, I studied this subject a lot myself, and found the Sony VX2000/2001 would be better unless size of the camcorder is a critical factor for you (Canon is a bit smaller/lighter).

[photoworks]

Thanks for the reply Swampy.
I've seen many films in the Discovery Channel with cameramen using this Canon in extreme conditions, jungle, glaciers and so on.
I'm not getting it for that purpose but I like the way it handles,the quality of the optics and to be fair the design.

Igor I know that Sony, but as you said the size is a critical factor.
Trekking is my hobby so I have to be light.
Don't forget the S2 will be in my bag too.


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Vasilis

[JetEye]

XL1S rocks!!!
I was going to buy one too but it was too expensive. Instead, I bought a Canon GL2. These video cameras are build extreamly well. If you watch the war coverage on TV, you'll see GL2 in action. You cannot go wrong with XL1S. I would buy this if I had money.

[photoworks]

XL1S rocks!!!
I was going to buy one too but it was too expensive. Instead, I bought a Canon GL2. These video cameras are build extreamly well. If you watch the war coverage on TV, you'll see GL2 in action. You cannot go wrong with XL1S. I would buy this if I had money.


Thanks for the info.
Street price in Athens is 4600€ (multiply by 1,2 for the US equal) including the 5,5-88 lens and battery.
I'm planning to order it tomorrow, I'll let you know about the final price.

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Vasilis

[Serge]

Vasilis,

Image quality wise the XL1S is on par with any of the 3 chip Sony models already cited here. It boils down to ergonomics, I have shot with it, and its quite cumbersome to use in some situations. We had one here at the School, but opted to replace it with the current Sony VX and PD series. Our Documentary Dept. shoots with the Sony's. There were some sound sync issue when editing and TC (timecode) issues as well, with some Non Linear editing systems. Depends on your intended end product and post production environment.
Interchangeable lenses, EOS, may be an advantage, but you're an F mount guy :D It doesn't have the very usefull flip out LCD screen either, and if you want to look un noticed, then this one draws definite attention.
I'd go with the Sony's.

[photoworks]

I bought it (the XL1s)!!
Sure it looks like a tiny beast, but it has a built quality that sounds loud.
Very few plastics, magnesium alloy chasis, very rugged body and what a lens.
I'm just playing with it for the time, it seems I have to buy Adobe Premiere for intergation.

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Vasilis

[Igor]

Congrats Vasilis! I hope nobody will mind if you post a couple of your video clips here, avi or mpg, 10-15 minutes each, not more :D

[photoworks]

Thanks Igor.
I'm feeling like a small kid playing with his new toy now.
The final price was 3.850€ at Adorama, far lower than street price.
I'm on a dial-up connection for the time being in my new house, so I don't think that the bandwidth is enough for uploading video clips.
The camera performs like the S2, with excellent skin tones and contrast.
Maybe I'll post some photos with this WRC rallye looking machine.

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Vasilis

[Serge]

Good on you Vasilis, enjoy playing with your "new toy", although it's anything but! You are now an independent digital video content creator, ready to broadcast to the world :cheers:

I use Premiere 6.01 on a Pinnacle DV500 card (now discontinued), and it's a very capable NLE system. Premiere Pro is the current version and you will be able to run it on a generic OHCI compliant firewire card.
When you earn some extra mula with the XL, the Canopus DVStorm II Pro with Premiere Pro will give you up to 5 streams of realtime DV out to the Firewire port, then all you will need is a satellite dish to sell to CNN :rockon:

[photoworks]

Thanks Serge.
As a beginner :guzzle: in this video world I'm now standing in front of a tool I always hated :VIDEO CAMERA.
Being a photographer to the bone for 20 years I never wanted this thing, not even to hold it in my hands.
Things hane changed since and I'm standing in front of reality now.

I'll let you know when Vasilisat4 (my 4th personal sattelite) launches next week :rofl: :rofl:

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Vasilis

[Linda G]

okay, so where are you moving to stay forever? We need ALL the details! And good luck with your new camera. Video has it's place but I've invested too much in still photography to go that route....that is, until I'm rich!

[photoworks]

okay, so where are you moving to stay forever? We need ALL the details! And good luck with your new camera. Video has it's place but I've invested too much in still photography to go that route....that is, until I'm rich!

Thanks Linda,
I'm in front of my laptop now in my new house and I'll continue my posts from here in a few days when everything will be in working order.
You may visit the Municipality of Styra website (the place I live now) athttp://www.dimos-styreon.gr to see pictures I shot back in 1999 with 35mm Nikons.
You may also visit the neiboring Municipality of Distos site athttp://www.distos.gr (http://www.distos.gr) with pictures I shot last year with the S2 (all of them).

As for the videocamera I think it fits better to my brother's hands :lol:


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Vasilis