I'm tired of all the inaccurate crap I've been reading about the XL2, especially the misleading or totally wrong information that some are bandying about (on other boards). I am not a Canon aficionado, and in fact I am not one of those guys who likes their overwarm, soft look on previous models of the XL series. I do like their 16:9 chips in the new model...BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE YET.

It may look better than the other 1/3" chip camcorders, it may not look quite as good, or it may look so close that you can't tell the difference. From the specs there are things I like about it and things I don't like about it. Same for all the other cameras. There are things on my DSR500 I like and things I don't like. Just because I have one doesn't make it the best camera ever built, and just because I may buy something else next year doesn't make what I don't buy the worst camera ever built.

There is so much total BS circulating about the XL2 now that I feel almost compelled to defend it. Hell, even things I have written have been taken out of context and misquoted. I believe that some of the people throwing out the crap are simply shills for Panasonic or Sony.

So, OK, flame away. I hereby declare a moratorium on any further comments by me on the XL2 until I actually see one in the flesh...except that when I see total, blatant misquotes or outright lies, I probably will not be able to contain myself and will jump in and point to the Canon website.

Welcome to marketing's brave new world.

Canon would have helped itself greatly had it been ready post footage to the XL2 Web site and have some respected professionals lined up to talk about their take on the XL2.

Apple does a good job with this kind of marketing. They did a very good DVD for Final Cut that featured people using the product in the real world everyday who could speak from informed experience.

Just to be clear, given other posts, I think the XL2 looks like a great buy, but time will tell.