Hey, I had the possibility to do some shooting with the XL H1.

I became disappointed when I tried to make a slow zoom and change the focus at the same moment with the servo 20x HD lens. It was not possible!
Tried the same with the autofocus on. It didn't change focus while it was zooming!

Anybody who knows if this is correct? Has it been the same with the XL2? Or have I missed to change a setting in a menu somewhere?
Perhaps it is a safety feature to not operate several controls by accident?
Nevertheless, I didn't like this feature.

Like some over-engineered new cars: A friend had a car which steering wheel lock failed. Then he couldn't lock the doors either because the modern electronics checked the steering lock should be engaged before being able to lock the doors ... so one safety problem turned into two.

Anybody with XL H1 out here: Could you zoom and focus at the same time?

PS. I am an engineer in electronics myself.

I just checked that on my xl2 and it has the same problem.

What do you need that for anyways.I've had this camera for...as much as possible(I preordered it)and I never even noticed that.I tend not to zoom much while shooting.

I can confirm, you cannot zoom and focus simultaneously.
Additionally, the "Position Preset" option on the lens only allows you to either Focus OR Zoom, but not both at the same time.

This is something the Sony Z1U spanks the Canon XL-H1 in. The Z1U can focus and zoom at the same time no problem (the distance markers disappear if you try doing both at the same time though, but it still functions)

Pete,
You're probably a moviemaker so no, there is no reason why you would zoom and focus at the same time. However for videographers, that feature is used quite often. Especially whip-pans or neededing to change the shot abruptly from a close up wide to a far away zoom shot.

- ShannonRawls.com

The 16x allows you to do this. With the talk on the boards about the 16x on the XL-HL1 looking positive, that might be the solution?
(Untill a 'manual' lens comes out specifically for the HL1)