For years I have shot the XL1, XL1s and XL2 with 35mm lens and achieved great results. (I shoot and sell stock wildlife footage) I just purchased the XL H1...tonight I attached a 300mm F2.8 lens to the camera and I get a message in the viewfinder "HD INCOMPATIBLE LENS." The research I did before my purchase confirmed the use of 35mm lenses...has anyone shot with the 35mm lenses on the XL H1 in HD mode? If so were there any issues?

Hi Michael, the warning in the viewfinder goes away after a few seconds and you can continue to shoot as usual.

Thanks Chris. I noticed that it went away...I was just concerned that the video may have issues if I ignored the message. Have you talked with anyone who has used 35mm lenses? If so, were they happy with the results?

Hi Michael, several of our members here are using the XL H1 and the EF adapter with 35mm photo lenses. For example see this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=57663

I use the canon 70-200/2.8 with the EF adaptor on H1 for wildlife photography, and I find no problem so far with the footage or camera. The picture detail and sharpness is as good as the stock lens.

So I am really considering the Canon xl-h1
(I am haunted by cartain HVX200 issues)

But I really want 35mm Depth of field.
and have been considering adapters.
But this thread seems to sugggest that I can avoid that, (and the light loss)
by using a 35mm lens straight away with the XL-H1
?
it seems I still need some kind of adapter (say EF...)
if this is true, then why do people put adapters on the XL's
?
Sorry for the naive questions, but I seem to find myself switching from the Pany HVX200 camp.