I finally broke down and bought the 16X manual lens. Wow. What a difference! I also bought the black and white viewfinder... had to: the lens is hard to focus with the stock EVF.

But since I really like to shoot in Frame Mode I've noticed there's more "jutter" with the manual lens... like one gets down around 1/30th of a second on the stock lens, nomatter what setting I'm using, and even when I'm in the f5.6 "sweet spot."

Am I the only one who noticed this?

I bought the Century Optics matte box. Any suggestions on how to make the mounting plate more centered when using a Bogen 501? Do I need to get an adaptor or something? It sits off to the side more than I like it to.

Are you sure there wasn't more stutter with the normal lens
in 1/30th frame mode as well? Most people should 1/60th in
frame mode. Keep in mind that this lens also has no stabilization,
so perhaps that has something to do with why it smoothes out
a bit more on the old lens?

On the old lens I never used the stabilizer while the camera was on sticks. The problem I'm describing happens when I'm on sticks, too, with the new lens. The only way to keep it from happening is to pan much slower than I could with the old lens.

But I still like the new lens more than the old one.

I'm assuming you can pan faster when you go to a shutter speed
of 1/60th for example?

Good for you, Charles. The FU-1000 and the 16x Manual Servo lens are two tools that will certainly help you hone your camera skills with the XL1s.

There is no reason I know of, or have observed, why the 16x manual lens would affect your imaging as you indicated. Indeed, since the lens has no stabilizer there is no image intervention at all.

The "juttery" image can only be attributed to (a) fast camera/subject movement in frame mode, (b) slow shutter speed, and/or (c) the manner in which you are viewing the footage.