Optura Xi discontinued? NOT at DVinfo.net

Stephen van Vuuren · June 30th, 2004, 01:56 AM

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=294238&is=REG

Chris Hurd · June 30th, 2004, 06:45 AM

That's news to me. Which upgrades would you like to see in a replacement? Be realistic now. Here's my wish-list:

Top-loading cassette
16:9 letterbox in the display
30p progressive scan CCD
What the heck, 24p too.

Michael Wisniewski · June 30th, 2004, 08:10 AM

Better low light
16:9 letterbox output to regular 4:3 displays
Adjustable zebra stripes
Video overlay for "rule of thirds" and "golden mean" bars.

Accessories:
Front threaded wide angle lens
Top handle - at least as an accessory.

* This is great news, it's probably wishful thinking, but I hope Canon pulls a D60 or Digital Rebel maneuver in the video world.

Tim Borek · June 30th, 2004, 04:49 PM

I have a knack for picking camcorders that get discontinued. I had my Panasonic DVC80 for only five months when it was discontinued.

Circuit City still has Optura Xi's in stock, but they rape you with the $1,400 price tag.

Rokta Bija · June 30th, 2004, 04:59 PM

If they are going to stick with 1ccd, then how about 1/2", or what the heck, a 2/3" high res ccd.

True 16:9 ccd.

Letterbox display.

Dave Perry · July 1st, 2004, 06:02 AM

Top loading cassettes
LANC port

Tommy Haupfear · July 1st, 2004, 01:04 PM

How about 3CCD and some decent low light performance?

Better yet a 400k CCD that is native 16:9 (853x480 acquisition - 720x480 anamorphic to tape) like Rokta mentioned? That way we could have low light performance and quality widescreen. Of course this system would have to keep the Xi's optical image stabilization system since there would be no spare pixels for digital image stabilization.

Ok, back to reality..

Dan Peterson · July 4th, 2004, 12:21 PM

Does anyone have OFFICIAL word that this has been discontinued? It's still shown on Canon's website and is available in numerous places. Maybe B&H just took it down because that $200 rebate offer just ended and they haven't set a new price for it yet....

I hope it hasn't been discontinued, since I'm still gathering my pennies to buy one (couldn't do it in time for the rebate offer).

My hope is that they put out an upgrade with the 16:9 LCD display.

Dan

Stephen van Vuuren · July 4th, 2004, 12:38 PM

Dan:

My local cam shop, a pretty big Canon dealer, said it's official. Most of the shops listed as still with it (pricegrabber etc.) are not authorized Canon dealers or a may have a few left order. My dealer said you cannot order it from Canon.

Tommy Haupfear · July 4th, 2004, 02:35 PM

Quote:

My hope is that they put out an upgrade with the 16:9 LCD display.

My hope is that they don't strip features or degrade performance (recall Optura 100MC to 200MC).

Of course the Panasonic NV-GS400 is just a couple of weeks away...

Rokta Bija · July 4th, 2004, 06:30 PM

Dan, They extended the rebate.

I'm glad the GS400 is not coming out till Aug. Hopefully there will be some news about XI's replacement, to help decide.

Stephen van Vuuren · July 4th, 2004, 07:10 PM

Interesting about the rebate extension. Though B&H has removed the camera from it's web-site and my local Canon dealer cannot order one. Maybe their are surplus Xi's in the distribution channel yet Canon is trying to sell out?

Maybe the Canon reps at DVExpo will have more info.

Chris Hurd · July 5th, 2004, 10:15 AM

I'll ask, but CUSA tends to stay tight-lipped regarding this sort of thing. And yes, they almost always sell out completely before announcing something new.

Rokta Bija · July 5th, 2004, 11:47 AM

If they don't get out some kind of info on it before the GS400 is released, they are going to lose a lot of sales to customers for a cam in that range. That is, assuming it will be good enough to compete.

You'd think a marketing guy from Canon would at least give us a teaser. If it's good enough, I'd wait.

Michael Struthers · July 6th, 2004, 03:48 PM

I like my lil Optura XI but I have to admit a top loader would be better. And forget the odd 46mm lens...

All the other stuff will be on top end cams.

Still waiting for something SERIOUS here canon ;-)

June 30th, 2004, 01:56 AM	#1
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Optura Xi discontinued? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=294238&is=REG __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

June 30th, 2004, 06:45 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	That's news to me. Which upgrades would you like to see in a replacement? Be realistic now. Here's my wish-list: Top-loading cassette 16:9 letterbox in the display 30p progressive scan CCD What the heck, 24p too. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 30th, 2004, 04:49 PM	#4
Tim Borek Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Westfield, IN Posts: 353	Damn! I just got a bonus and was going to order one. I have a knack for picking camcorders that get discontinued. I had my Panasonic DVC80 for only five months when it was discontinued. Circuit City still has Optura Xi's in stock, but they rape you with the $1,400 price tag.

July 1st, 2004, 06:02 AM	#6
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	Top loading cassettes LANC port __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net

July 4th, 2004, 12:38 PM	#9
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Dan: My local cam shop, a pretty big Canon dealer, said it's official. Most of the shops listed as still with it (pricegrabber etc.) are not authorized Canon dealers or a may have a few left order. My dealer said you cannot order it from Canon. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

June 30th, 2004, 08:10 AM	#3
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Better low light 16:9 letterbox output to regular 4:3 displays Adjustable zebra stripes Video overlay for "rule of thirds" and "golden mean" bars. Accessories: Front threaded wide angle lens Top handle - at least as an accessory. * This is great news, it's probably wishful thinking, but I hope Canon pulls a D60 or Digital Rebel maneuver in the video world.

June 30th, 2004, 04:59 PM	#5
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	If they are going to stick with 1ccd, then how about 1/2", or what the heck, a 2/3" high res ccd. True 16:9 ccd. Letterbox display.

July 1st, 2004, 01:04 PM	#7
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	How about 3CCD and some decent low light performance? Better yet a 400k CCD that is native 16:9 (853x480 acquisition - 720x480 anamorphic to tape) like Rokta mentioned? That way we could have low light performance and quality widescreen. Of course this system would have to keep the Xi's optical image stabilization system since there would be no spare pixels for digital image stabilization. Ok, back to reality..

July 4th, 2004, 12:21 PM	#8
Dan Peterson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 61	Does anyone have OFFICIAL word that this has been discontinued? It's still shown on Canon's website and is available in numerous places. Maybe B&H just took it down because that $200 rebate offer just ended and they haven't set a new price for it yet.... I hope it hasn't been discontinued, since I'm still gathering my pennies to buy one (couldn't do it in time for the rebate offer). My hope is that they put out an upgrade with the 16:9 LCD display. Dan

July 4th, 2004, 06:30 PM	#11
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	Dan, They extended the rebate. I'm glad the GS400 is not coming out till Aug. Hopefully there will be some news about XI's replacement, to help decide.

July 4th, 2004, 07:10 PM	#12
Stephen van Vuuren Space Hipster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,508	Interesting about the rebate extension. Though B&H has removed the camera from it's web-site and my local Canon dealer cannot order one. Maybe their are surplus Xi's in the distribution channel yet Canon is trying to sell out? Maybe the Canon reps at DVExpo will have more info. __________________ stephen v2 www.insaturnsrings.com

July 5th, 2004, 10:15 AM	#13
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	I'll ask, but CUSA tends to stay tight-lipped regarding this sort of thing. And yes, they almost always sell out completely before announcing something new. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 5th, 2004, 11:47 AM	#14
Rokta Bija Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 61	If they don't get out some kind of info on it before the GS400 is released, they are going to lose a lot of sales to customers for a cam in that range. That is, assuming it will be good enough to compete. You'd think a marketing guy from Canon would at least give us a teaser. If it's good enough, I'd wait.

July 6th, 2004, 03:48 PM	#15
Michael Struthers Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: SF, Ca Posts: 421	I like my lil Optura XI but I have to admit a top loader would be better. And forget the odd 46mm lens... All the other stuff will be on top end cams. Still waiting for something SERIOUS here canon ;-) __________________ Michael Struthers www.buzzdigital.com