Video Direct Electronics Newsletter

Canon XL2

Canon's Prosumer XL2 Digital Camcorder - Variable Frame Rates and More

In the world of digital camcorders there are consumer models, professional models for broadcast and the small number of "prosumer" models that effectively blur the line between the first two categories. One of the blurriest lines has long been created by Canon. The Canon XL1 digital camcorder revolutionized video and filmmaking with its interchangeable lens system and the superior image quality of its 3 CCD image sensors with pixel shift technology. It soon achieved legendary status and an extremely loyal following of professional videographers.

Three years later the Canon XL1s, with its open architecture and modular design, continued the XL1 tradition, allowing users to build their ideal camcorder system by changing lenses, viewfinders and shoulder mounts. Canon added a host of creative controls, including picture set-up controls to customize the mood and tone of the video image prior to recording.

The evolution continues -- and takes a quantum leap forward -- with this summer's release of the Canon XL2. The 3-CCD system employed by the XL2 camcorder, featuring new 680,000 pixel progressive scan CCDs, together with improved signal processing improves signal-to-noise ratio to realize higher resolution than XL1s camcorder. The XL2's selectable aspect ratios offers a choice of standard aspect ratio 4:3 recording at 720 x 480 pixels resolution and widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio recording at 962 x 480 pixels resolution.

One of the big headlines stories -- perhaps the biggest -- of the XL2 is its new frame rate options that allow users to achieve a wide range of film-like looks and feels. The XL2 features 60i, 30p, 24p (2:3 and 2:3:3:2) frame rates, offering a wide range of options from standard video for television or video for transfer to film. At the 30-frames-per-second progressive setting, users can freeze a full-frame image or slow the motion down for a sports "instant replay" effect.

The 24p (2:3:3:2) frame rate is now widely adopted by those transferring video to film. This makes it also perfect for creating the "cine" look, even for productions that are not going to be transferred to film. The XL2's 1/48-second shutter speed at this frame rate, which is the standard for movie cameras, helps achieve that film-like look. An incredible array of variables: Gamma, Knee, Black, Color Matrix, Vertical Detail, Sharpness, Coring, Noise Reduction, Color Gain, Color Phase And Film Grain, can each be adjusted independently, giving the camera operator precise control over the particular cine look for which he or she is striving.

Another major upgrade is the XL2's new 20x optical zoom lens, incorporating Fluorite elements for superior contrast, resolution and color fidelity. When shooting at the 4:3 aspect ratio, the lens' zoom range is an impressive 51.8mm to 1036mm (35mm equivalent). Canon's Super Range Optical Image Stabilization system corrects camera shake instantly with no loss of image quality. The lens offers a fast f/1.6 to f/3.5 aperture for the most demanding lighting conditions.

I love writing about a new Canon XL series camcorder, but I'm always frustrated by the impressive features I don't have time to cover. The Canon XL2 is available now from Video Direct. Call us at 1-800-368-5020 and we will do our very best to meet or beat the price of any authorized dealer. For pictures and much more detailed information on the XL2,
go to the Web page.

Yours Truly,

The Video Direct Team
www.video-direct.com

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