mushyosh

another question about the standard 20 lense vs the 16 I hear that the 16X servo is alot more tricky to use than the 20X, and that you might get tired of constantly twiddling away when shooting. Is there some sort of option to switch the 16X lense into a more automatic mode like the 20X ??

Thanks for all your tips. I dont have the option of waiting to see what happens from shoot to shoot to buy equipment. I'll explain: Im going to Hong Kong in a couple of months, where some of my family lives. I'm going to buy a camera there because its so much cheaper. And I want to buy the camera, and perhaps an extra lense, as well as a good mic. I have never used an XL2, but my thinking is since Im going to be in Hong Kong, use the opportunity to buy a good camera and learn from there (Im finishing a 3 year film course soon. I was an editor, but want to learn camera now so i can shoot my own films) People have been telling me the 16X lense or the Wide angle lense. Could you please explain roughly what these lenses are good for, and what kind of shooting you would use them for? To help you narrow it down: I'm going to be using the camera almost totally for filming short films, so will be using mostly the 25p mode (PAL). So I want a lense that is going to help me with the film look. Also, I will be doing alot of indoor shooting i.e inside houses with people talking to each other. I dont know if that helps at all. Is there a book on the XL2 I can buy for info so I am more clued in?

I just read up on this Magic Bullet software which sounds interesting. Is anyone using the plugin for Avid or Final Cut? If so, what were the results like? How good is this software at simulating Film? HAs anyone got any links to some screens.

Cool thanks

Is the viewfinder always a 4:3 image? When shooting in 16:9 mode does the viewfinder squeeze the image?

OK I was just wandering what extras you reccomend for the XL2... Since I'm going to be completely new to the camera, I guess I'll just go with the standard package. Or is it cheaper to just get the body and choose a specific lense? The type of filming I'll be doing will be pretty much everything. The whole range from low light indoors, to bright light action outdoors. Is the standard lense that comes with the XL2 best for this? Could anyone give me any tips on any other kinds of lenses and what they are good for? I know thats an incredibly general question, but I just want to get an idea of what some other lenses can do i.e shoot more filmic looking video, or low light , or close ups etc. Also, what other things should I be looking at? Does the mic that comes with the XL2 work well, or will I need to get myself an external mic? Thanks for any help

Hi, Does anyone know of any Feature films or short films shot on the XL2? Basically I want to order them on DVD to check out what the camera can do. Cheers

Ok thanks. and just to clarify: When I shoot on 16:9 and then playback on a 4:3 TV, will it somehow automatically be letterboxed? :P

I'll never be using an external monitor because my style of filming would be much more free i.e just me and the camera running around the pace with a couple of actors. Is there anywhere on the web where I can view actuall screen grabs of the XL2 compared to other cameras?

Hi there, Im a film student about to graduate in a couple of months. Going to buy a camera, and after alot of internet researching, I've narrowed it down to the Canon XL2 and the Panasonic AG-DVX100A. The main reason I favour the XL2 at the moment is the fact that it has true 16:9. But to be honest I dont know what any of the tech stuff means because in College I specialise in editing and never use the cameras. These are the things I want to know: 1. I hear the XL2 has better 16:9 resolution that the DVX, but the DVX is better in 4:3. But why would I ever want to shoot in 4:3 ?? I will be making short films on the camera, and I prefer the look of 16:9 so cant see why i would use 4:3. But is there some sort of problem when playing it back on a normal TV? Or will it automatically be letterboxed? 2. What is the XL2 actually like to handle? It looks big and I havent got my hands on one before, so any info would be appreciated. I am particularly wary of the viewfinder. I would like to film holding the camera in front of me alot, so is that 2" screen troublesome or what? 3. Are there any other selling points that make the XL2 better? Are the ergonomics tricky to master? Thanks for any help you can give this newbie. All the best