Canon 16x IS II vs. XL2's 20x

[Clint Grant]

Hey everyone. I am soon to be using an XL1s. However, I just read a thread that had soem people debating over why someone didn't us ethe 20x lens. I think they called the 16x auto "white", and the 20x auti "flourite". So, I'm, just wondering, since they made the 20x sound much better, what the difference is between the two.

Thanks for any replies, Clint Grant

[Chris Hurd]

Both of these lenses are called white lenses because that's what color the barrels are. This helps to differentiate the 16x auto lens vs. the 16x manual lens (which has a black barrel). Both the 16x and 20x auto lenses have autofocus, optical image stabilisation and built-in macro capability. The 20x has fluorite lens elements, which is higher quality glass. The 20x has two neutral density filter settings compared to one on the 16x. The 20x includes focus and zoom preset positions, the 16x does not. At full wide angle, they have nearly identical fields of view. At full telephoto the 20x of course has a much longer focal length than the 16x. Hope this helps,

[Clint Grant]

Thanks a lot. I knew both barrels were white, I guess I just mixed up what the other people were talking about. I get it now - the flourite produces better image quality/better quality glass. Great. That's all I needed to know. Thanks once again, Clint Grant

[Patrick King]

Chris is being humble. Read what he assembled to explain Canon lenses here:
Guide to Canon XL2 Lens Options, an article by Chris Hurd

Most helpful. Not so helpful, but just plain fun to look at is this Canon lens page:
My Glass Is Bigger Than Your Glass
I never get tired of linking to that page!

[Clint Grant]

Already read it! Great guide, Chris! (very helpful)

Clint Grant