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The Canon XL2 is the long-awaited successor to the legendary XL1 and XL1S, the two cameras that brought functionality and respect to DV cinematography for the first time. Introduced in the dark ages of August 1997, the Canon XL1 precipitated a revolution in digital video, transforming a format intended to be an economical alternative to Betacam SP into a serious storytelling vehicle for the masses. After extensive testing of the new Canon XL2, it's clear to me that the difference between the new and previous models is not subtle; it's a huge and dramatic, life-altering difference.
The performance of the original XL1 was startling when the camera was first introduced over seven years ago, but let's be honest here. By 2004 the look and feel of the XL1 and XL1S had become rather long in the cassette, with a harsh, grating character due in large part to a now-primitive 8-bit processor. All that is ancient history now with the introduction of the vastly improved Canon XL2, built on the latest-generation high-density, 640K-pixel CCD and robust 12-bit processor.
Joining the modern world
With the advent of the new model, Canon has trained its viewfinder (and every other part of the camera) on the more serious professional shooter. Joining the ranks of competing JVC and Panasonic models, the XL2 benefits handsomely from 12-bit sampling, yielding markedly better detail in the shadows along with resistance to clipping in the brightest highlights. Of course only 8 bits can actually be recorded to tape in NTSC, so there is room for debate regarding the merits of such oversampling. Suffice it to say that in today's DV cameras that utilize 12-bit sampling, a dramatic improvement in image quality can immediately be perceived on screen. The advantage of the XL2's new processor is especially evident when Black Stretch is enabled along with a reduced ("Low") Knee setting.
Another major reason for the improved performance in the XL2 is the camera's new 640,000-pixel, high-density CCD. The increased fineness afforded by this new-generation chip translates directly into more professional-looking, high-resolution images - which is, after all the techno-babble has subsided, what really matters to most DV shooters.
For current XL1 and XL1S owners, the advantages of moving up to the XL2 are obvious,...