What is the best lens you can buy for the Xl-H1?

[Philipp Steiner]

Sorry.. Too much free time on my hands ;)

So.. what do you think?

[John Richard]

The 6X lens option from Canon made specifically for the H1

[Dave Gosley]

I rarely take the 6X off...

[Tony Davies-Patrick]

I love my Canon AF 6X lens, although the 20x is still a wonderful zoom lens in one package. The only thing I would have liked extra on the 6X is IS. Yes for most work the wide end of the lens doesn't require IS, but there has been the odd occasion when it would have come in useful.
The best lens outside the XL line that I've used is the Nikon Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF.

I'm not looking forward to the day of selling my 6X lens because it has become a firm favourite.

[Philipp Steiner]

Thanks :) ..

I own the 6x lens and its great but recently I am doing little Newsspots about cars.. and I am getting them in full Tele and Zooming out while they drive by.. Not possible with the 6x lens.. The 20x is ok but i dropped it Years ago and it seems that in full Tele, even when I am not touching it and its stuck to the Tripod the picture vibrates.. OIS is turned off.. But its ok when your using it a little wider... Thats the reason why i need a good Lanc with very sensible control.. and a good Zoom lens.. The 16x seems a good choice and its rather cheap for about 700 Euros over here.. Ok.. Its not HD ready.. But People like Steve Rosen are happy with it, so i probably just give it a try..

[Tony Davies-Patrick]

I've not found any problems with vibration on the 20x lens on a tripod. With IS off there should be no vibration, especially if you turn off the AF as well. It has to be remembered that the 20x lens equates to a super-telephoto in 35mm comparisons, so requires a very sturdy tripod with pro-level tripod head to get the best out of this optic when zoomed in to full-tele.

It is obviously best to film locked down at full tele, and if you are going to pan or tilt at the long end, make sure it is combined with a smooth-actioned tripod head and steady grip. I find that it is best to hold frame at the long end and only twist slowly into a pan during a slow pull-back when the mid-range zoom is reached. The Manfrotto lanc remote control is a huge help towards smooth zooms and pans; although lock everything down when you can to produce the sharpest, vibration-free footage.

Regarding the 16x MF lens, I doubt if you'll see any difference in sharpness or lens shake when compared to the 20X when both lenses are zoomed to equal telephoto range.

[Philipp Steiner]

Hi,

This vibrating is very soft and nearly not noticeable.. IS and Autofocus is turned off.. And i only discovered it after this little accident i had with the lens..

Can it be that there is anything broken inside the lens? And this causes the vibrating?
I mean when I am not touching it shouldnt it stay rock solid?
Tripod is a Miller Compass and i think its not his fault.. It just happens in full Tele and of course your right.. In this case every little touch of the camera resolves in a giant earthquake on the picture.. but I am not touching it!.. I still feel there is something not right with the lens...

[Tony Davies-Patrick]

It is possible that one of the many glass elements in your lens is loose following the incident when you dropped it, or the IS may not be disengaging correctly. Try to test it alongside another 20x lens to see if there is a marked difference, or get it checked out by a repair specialist.

[Philipp Steiner]

Yeah.. Your probably right.. I should just do a practical Test.. Its the easiest way to find out.. Thanks..