Video University: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders: Canon L2 vs. XL-1 Zoom lens comparison ?

VideoUniversity.com
Home	Free Library	Store
Free Catalog Please support VU by making your B&H purchases and links through this B&H ad. Doesn't cost a penny more.

See The New VU Postcard Catalog

To post in the forums see the Forum Guidelines.

Join or Renew Today.
New Benefits for all VU Members

Forum Guidelines and FAQ
Main Index	Search Posts
Who's Online	Log In

Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
Canon L2 vs. XL-1 Zoom lens comparison ?

X-Paul
Imported Account

Jan 27, 2001, 9:23 AM

Post #1 of 2 (702 views)
Shortcut

Canon L2 vs. XL-1 Zoom lens comparison ?	Can't Post

Has anyone else noticed that Canon actually reduced the zoom lens potential of the XL-1, as compared to the earlier Canon L1-L2 family? The lens on my L2 is 8mm to 120mm. The lens on my XL-1 is 5.5mm to 88mm. But Canon claims the XL-1 is 16x zoom, the L2 being 15x. Canon fooled me with this one-I thought I was meeting or exceeding the zoom capability of the old L2 by upgrading. Even with the spendy 1.6 tele converter, I can't catch my old L2's zoom power. Both are 1/3 CCD as I recall. Go figure.
Anybody ever do a zoom lens "shoot-out" to see who actually has the best zoom capability, without going into the nasty "digital Zoom", where two or three pixels quiver on the viewfinder....giving you the impression of more zoom.
We use these cameras for law enforcement, and are not movie makers really. We just need the best, biggest zoom we can get to stay far from the bad guys. Anybody know who makes the biggest zoom, as compared to the L2 ?????
Thanks!
Paul.

X-don
Imported Account

Jan 27, 2001, 12:10 PM

Post #2 of 2 (702 views)
Shortcut

Re: Canon L2 vs. XL-1 Zoom lens comparison ?	Can't Post

: Has anyone else noticed that Canon actually reduced the zoom lens potential of the XL-1, as compared to the earlier Canon L1-L2 family?
Not really. Details follow.
:The lens on my L2 is 8mm to 120mm.
Zoom ratio is 120/8 = 15x
: The lens on my XL-1 is 5.5mm to 88mm.
Zoom ratio = 88/5.5 = 16x
:Both are 1/3 CCD as I recall.
Actually. The L2 has a 1/2" CCD.
The field width is very nearly the same. 5.5 mm lens with 1/3" CCD is very close to 8 mm lens with 1/2" CCD. The L2 teleconverter gave a bit more reach because it was 2x while the XL1 teleconverter is 1.6x, but with OIS you get steadier shots with the XL1, which may be importat to you.
The XL1 electronic zoom is not that bad, as digital zoom goes. Noticeably better than 'close up' the L2. Try it some time. FWIW, the Canon GL1 has a bit longer zoom ratio, about 20x.
If you want a really long lens, consider the EF Adapter for the XL1 and use a Canon EOS 35mm lens. using the adapter and a 400 mm lens on the XL1 would give you a field of view similar to using a 3000 mm telephoto lens on a 35mm camera, if yo can hold it steady enough to get usable video.