Canon XL2 user reviews

Pros Great camera to shoot off the shoulder. Easy operation. Good picture quality.

Cons - Tapes recorded with this camera can't be played back in a Sony environment This is due to an alignment issue (internal mechanics).
- Cannot record signal of both front mic and mic connected via XLR at the back.

Summary Disappointing. When you need your client the tape(s) you recorded with the XL2 you know there's going to be trouble. It seems Canon failed to produce a camera that complies with the strictest DV standards.

Pros Interchangeable lenses

Cons Somewhat hefty

Summary The Canon XL2 is a fantastic non-HD system that's perfect for entry-level professional videography.

Pros 16:9, 30p, amazing lens

Cons not true 24p poor color processing 4:1:1?

Summary so, I purchased an RCA CC9390 in 2001 for $499 I was very pleased with the camera and I always drooled when I saw the Canon Xl2 hoping that I would someday own a camera like that.

In 2005 I did some green screen shooting with my RCA cc9390 and the results weren't good, but they were ok, they worked and my boss loved them. Amazing that it worked at all considering the lighting was horrendous and the camera was cheap.

I started getting more clients wanting more greenscreen filming, so I purchased the Canon xl2 and did some light green screen stuff also with some bad lighting. The results were a tiny bit better than before with the rca. I thought maybe just because of the poor lighting. Later, I purchased a whole bunch of professional lighting equipment allowing me to evenly light the greenscreen and my subject using keylights, fill lights, and backlights, etc. I was very excited to see the results with my xl2, but to my dismay, the results were no better than before. I pulled out my RCA cc9390 and got the same results. THE SAME RESULTS! I started tweaking around with different features on the xl2 to see if I could get a little better color, but no. my green screen still showed up very dull and my baby blue shirt was still gray. There could be something that I'm missing, but there's no excuse for my $4,000 canon xl2 to behave like my $400 RCA cc9390.

the Verdict
The canon xl2 is merely a $400 camera with a $1200 lens.

Pros Intercangable lenesInterchangeable lenses, Image control, 4 audio channels

Cons Size, Cost, Ergonomics are a little strange, can’t adjust shoulder rest.

Summary This is a great camera until today… It “was” working perfect until I went to turn it on and nothing happened battery was charged and outlet power didn’t work; now I have to send it in to have work done on it and it is only six days old. The store I bought it from would not let me exchange it because I cut part of the box out for the rebate, so now I get to seat around for a month before I get my camera back. Other then that this is a wonderful camera, and out performs all other cameras in its class.