Canon XL1

I own more than two dozen (24) Canon camcorders! As a professional I have the choice of which camcorder to use, yet I only own Canon. The interchangeable lenses are perfect for swapping out for different filming conditions. The footage is absolutely stunning. I use mostly XL2 and XL1s.

If you want to know more about the Canon XL2, XL1s and XL1 series camcorders, visit this eBay PowerSeller: http://stores.ebay.com/CANON-XL. They sell a lot of Canon items in their eBay store and many replacement parts and accessories for Canon XL series camcorders I have not been able to find anywhere online. Check them out. They also have a very cool and informative web site.

It takes miniDV tapes. On extended play you get no more than 120 minutes, and those tapes are fragile. I use my XL1 for professional use, and find you have to change tapes for long productions.
You HAVE to make sure the inner bay door is closed first, or the tape does not engage.
Manual focus is a tricky art with this camera.


Lots to master on it.

It is sturdy and heavy.
It seems to drain battery life quickly.
I really feel it is overpriced.

This is THE most versatile miniDV pro-sumer camera on the market to date. I used one of these cameras to shoot a concert series in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico one week, a feature film the next and a documentary the next. If you have any concept of photography, you can figure this camera out. Everything is pretty cut and dry. The lens is top quality and controls are cake. I recommend this to everyone.

I purchased this camera with very little knowledge of DV cameras altough this is an old model compared to the new XL2, this is a great camera very friendly user. If you deside to jump from avarage camcorders to a DV semi-pro camera this camera is for you and since is an older version, you can find this camera for a great price compared to the newer ones.
Easy to use, tons of features and you can integreat and change a lot of periferals such as a wide variety of lenses, audio inputs etc. that makes this camera a great tool for rookie film makers.

I first bought the Xl1 but found that it didn't like low light situations ie... spoken word / wedding reception dances after most of the lights were turned off. If you have decent to good even light, it will be hard to beat this camera. I loved this camera so much that I bought two more XL1s camcorders. With the ability to gain up 30db ( I only go to 18db. 30db is to grainy ) , the ability to adjust the shutter speed and the to us the 1.6 standard zoom lens, I'm ready to tackle the world. I didn't choose the XL2 because my style of video shooting is mostly hand held and the XL2 ( although the best of the three ) was even heavier then the XL1 & the XL1s.

What attracted me to the XL1 over all of the other competitors ( and I did rent them before I decided to buy this one ) is the ability to adjusts " on the fly ". You can adjust your white balance while still recording. The Xl1 has one manual white balance setting / Xl1s has three seperate manual settings that can be preset before your shoot. You can connect XLR mic inputs into this camera ( using the MA100 or Ma200 ) which means you can plug into most mixer boards at conncerts and weddings. This is BIGGGG. Let the sound people do all of the mics and sound checks and all you have to do is plug into their board and WALLAA, instant CD quaility Proffessional sound all with jsut the cost of one XLR cable. You can adjust the sound manually or let the camera do it automatically. Did you know that the XL1s and the XL2 ( not 100% about the XL1) has the ability to switch the audio from line to mic inputs. How cool is that. If you don't know what I just said do a little research and you will find that Most Full Size & Mini DV camcorders can not switch audio inputs without spending 2-3 times as much money as you would on a XL series camcorder. PEOPLE THIS IS HUGE.

I cann't say enough good things about the XL camcorder line. If you are able to controll your lighting situation, I challange ANYBODY.... ANYBODY to get a better video AND better sound then the XL canon mini dv camorder series ( apples to apples / pound for pound ).

Still reading.... that means you want more info. The 3X lens is an available option and is very impotant if you plan on using this camera " in the feild ". If you are at a small church and there is a large choir or if you are on the dance floor next to the Bride & Groom how do you plan on getting a wide angle without a wide angle lens. Please don't say a screw on attachment. Did you know that most of the screw on attachments interfer with the auto focus system and MOST IF NOT ALL attachments give you a distorted fish eye view. Did you know that if you had two or more XL1s or XL2 systems ( not 100% sure about the XL1) that you can set your white balance, gain, apperature, sharpness etc ... on one and with the use of a fire wire set the second , third etc... camera to have the exact same settings as the first camera. If you EVER used more then one camera on a shoot you know how hard it is to make all of your cameras show the same color.

Want more info.... Most of the thngs I am telling you can only be done with the Canon XL Camcorder line. I sound like I work for Canon don't I. Well I don't. I own a Bay Area Based Photo & Video Co. and I can buy what ever I want and I am telling you that this camera system has NEVER NEVER NEVER let me down. One of the other reviewers said it already. I walk into a video shoot, literally next to the big TV channels, and they give me my props!

This is a superior cam that takes a beating and just keeps on working.
Canon has made this camera for years and is the professionals favorite.
The biggest flaw is that there is no flip out screen to view or shoot and so a secondary monitor becomes a required piece of extra gear... the XL1 and XL1s are essentially the same cam except the XL1s is newer and has better audio. Does not shoot well indoors or low light conditions but outdoors the colors and clarity are excellent.

Bottom Line: This is a popular cam because its a great cam

I have 3 XL1s, and 1 GL1. If I had to do it all over again I would have bought 4 XL1s. What can I say.... I shoot weddings and events, the camera is excellent in low light settings and the picture quality is out of this world. I used to wonder why spend this kind of money for a camcorder but one shoot with it and review of the footage... there is no comparison. You can set this thing on automatic if you dont know a lot and walk in and cammand the respect of a pro just by carring your self right. The camera does all the work. Dont get me wrong... nothing is absolutely correct but tell you what... I got 3 used camcorders.... the only problem I had was one of the headphones jacks need serviced but I have still used it with just the indicator, no sound to judge... and it came out great. Light, sharp and ready to go just about anywhere.

This camera is excellent for the seasoned veteran but if your new in the business then stick to something smaller. Knowledge about equipment is worth more than a pocket full of money!

I shoot my commercials with the Canon XL1. It has been dependable and durable. You can't go wrong whether you're an amateur or professional, you still get great qualitative footage good enough for television. I bought it because it delivers footage what I need to accomplish on my projects, even the top producers can't tell. The only qualm I have about it that the battery life quickly runs down.

I have used the XL1 for weddings and special events and love it. The lens is most awesome. We can set the camera up in a balcony and get head and shoulder shots of bride and groom and is great for catching the exchanging of rings from a distance. It is well balanced and we usually use an off camera levelour mike for sound pickup. The color balancing and exposure capabilities are great for hard to get situations like kids christmas ballet in a darkened theater. We can avoid the "firefly" effect most cameras have while depending on the theater lights. The sensitivity and controls are good. The camera can be hooked up to a TV for preview even before we leave an event if desired. All in all it is a great camera and a valued part of my work.

These cameras used to be very expensive, but now they are much more affordable. There are great cameras for someone seeking to do films or who wants to shoot weddings or other videography projects. This could easily pay for itself. There are many nice features and one could always make quality better in post if it not being HD is an issue.

great camera. very compact.light weight and i have seen very good coments about it. we always wanted one.

The camera worked, but there was no manual with it. I could not get the charger to work. I sent the camera back and the seller received it on Oct. 26. The seller wrote on Nov. 12 that he sent a refund to PayPal. However, I have not heard anything from PayPal.

I don't like having to wait weeks after sending an item back to receive my refund!

i bought this item to replace a old one that got broken, it works very good it only need it a little use

Lack of LCD display makes using this camera little bit discomfort.
Has a lot of manual options which helps you to act as you want.

The Canon XL1 is a great camera with broadcast quality look. Film makers starting, this is the one to buy. It will give you enough to tell your story and to see if this is the business you want to be in. However, rewind with caution. Although it will give you a great look, this canon gets hungry at times. I have had problems getting it to record and rewind without tape damage. But once it is in and recording, all is good.

Have it serviced as recommended and it should buy the HD camera you really want, later.

The Canon XL1 or at least the first generation is not the best performer on any automatic mode, though it improves on fully manual. The lense is slow to focus and the camera is a maintenance hog. The newer generations are better performers but are still not quite worth the money. A better choice would be the GL-1 \2.

Camera was shipped immediately and looked great but it ate tapes. Seller replaced the camera body right away. All other aspects of the item were great.
Very professional and pleasant seller highly recommended.

The camera records a good picture, but the microphone was broken on the camera. When recording sound it chop very bad even when the sound levels are turned to low! I shot my hold project with this camarea to only get choppy sound from a mircophone that dosent work the correct way! I wish I can get my money back and bid on other camera but I guess I got to lose a thousand bucks gone down the drain! It sucks! I am very unhappy! the product could of had a warning saying broke microphone or something!

Southern Vision Entertainments
Jawaund D Ramsey
850-459-3157

The seller said he hoped I loved the camera as much as he did. It showed, the camera is as close to new as possible, and has obviously been lovingly cared for. A great buy for me.

I bought the Canon XL 1, because a friend and I formed our own production company and needed a reliable, quality camera which was also easy to use. People are familiar with the workmanship of the Canon. My business partner already had a pro-consumer camera, but in order to be more in control of scheduling projects, we decided to buy this camera. We bought a Canon because it was a familiar camera. Other film friends have GLs and XLs. We are able to find useful info still on the Canon website.

it's a pretty old camera for the semi pro department. But it does its job and it does it well. It's standard definition and it's good for starting up in digital filmmaking.

Hello I purchased a Canon XL1s about a week ago. I have never shot with a Canon product, I only shot with Panasonic and Sony. I am very impressed with the XL1. I have been on 2 commercial shoots this weekend and the Canon produced a amazing picture at both locations. The only bad thing I can say about this camera is that it doesnt have a XLR conection.

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