Give me your questions for Canon USA

[Chris Hurd]

I'm here at COMDEX with the folks from Canon USA, the new 16x manual lens is in the booth, if you have some questions you want me to ask for you then please post 'em here.

I am giving them threads about tape eating. Anything else, you need to let me know right here... basically I have three more days, Wed - Fri Nov. 14 - 16 so this is your chance.

[Rob Lohman]

Hi Chris!

Sounds good there :) Wish I lived in the US too... oh well...

Ofcourse I'm very interested in your findings of the 16x
manual lens. please please let us know how it is!

And the big question ofcourse is; are they gonna make
a anamorphic adapter/lens for the XL1s ???

You may also want to take the problems that some
ppl had with the new 16x auto lens (II) in some other
thread? They had some zoom skip problems I think.

Furthermore I am interested to know if there are
gonna be more official accesories from Canon for
the camera!

Keep up the great work! And have some fun there!

Regards

[Ed Frazier]

Hi Chris,

I am really concerned about the "Tape Eating" problem and look forward to hearing what Canon has to say about that. Another problem that more than one person has reported is the high pitched sound that seems to be related to high capacity batteries and the MA200.

My camera and MA200 are scheduled to arrive TODAY! I will likely have more questions after using it for awhile, but am confident that answers can be provided by the knowledable members of this forum.

Thanks for all you do for the XL1 community.

Ed

[Michael Rosenberger]

Hi Chris,

I posted this in the XL1 threads but here is the message again:

Well, the last few days I have been trying to figure out if it was just me or my new XL-1s that was having problems. I have shot the GL-1 for over a year and never had problems focusing against Canon autofocus lenses. Currently though, my new XL-1s is not doing so well - very soft under most situations. I assume if I can foucs the GL-1 with that little viewfinder I should be able to focus the new camera.

I have included a couple examples for reference, using my GL-1 and the XL-1s. PLEASE take a look and see if anyone has any thoughts. I assume that with the number of satisfied XL-1 users I know and have talked to that this is the exception and not the rule.

I will cut off here and wait for a few comments and see where this goes. I have seen a few other posts on this topic but never read any resolutions yet.

And don't get me started on the zoom servo noise the on camera mic picks up. Geez, how can they even expect people not to notice! Maybe the foucs and overly loud zoom motor noise are related and the lens is actually faulty. ????

I appreciate the help and really appreciate this site as a resource Thanks Chris. (Yeah, I am brown nosing to try and get more response :).

Will be calling Canon in the a.m. and will post any feedback.

http://www.azuho.com/waveform/camtest.html

[Ed Frazier]

Hi Chris,

Well my XL1S finally arrived and I've got a couple of initial observations.

1. Fast forward and rewind of 60 minute tape DID NOT cause a problem. That was encouraging but certainly no basis for any conclusions.

2. Zoom motor and handling noise is VERY apparent. Even with the System Isolator the recorded noise is almost the same. I tried loosening the mic mount but that didn't help much either. I guess the next step is to order the Mini-Mount. Maybe Canon should include both items with the camera or design a better mount. Fortunately much of what I do is with external mics.

I haven't had time yet to check the focus problems described by Mr. Rosenberger, but will do that later today.

One other question, Canon says that the manufacture date is located inside the battery compartment. My unit has a label "Manufactured" but no date. There is a two letter code stamped above the label though. Is that a date code and if so, how do you decipher it?

This is no brown-nose, I sincerely appreciate all you do!

Ed

[Chris Hurd]

I'll pass all of this along.

The Mini-Mount does the most to kill zoom motor noise, more so than the system isolator. I think the bettr dealers should look into including these pieces as part of a package.

[Michael Rosenberger]

Still having a focus problem. Think I got a unit that was worked on right after the Halloween party. Seems nobody else is having issues. I posted a few more examples in that link.

http://www.azuho.com/waveform/camtest.html

Not really happy with the motor noise from the zoom in the on camera mic. Tried dampening and such, but it is rather dominant. Would like to hear what response Canon has Chris, and would also like to hear your focus results Ed.

And I wasn't brown nosing to tell the truth. Chris, I really do appreciate the help.

[Ed Frazier]

Here's one more question you might run by the Canon folks:

I'll be using my camera in some very dusty/windy conditions. With my Sony, I always used some canned air to blow it out as soon as I returned home. Is that advisable with the XL1(S) or do they recommend something else (other than sending it in for a good cleaning - I can't afford to do that on a weekly basis)?

Ed

[Rob Lohman]

Chris,

How did it all go? It's two weeks later now and I'd be
very interested in your take of things! How did it go?
What questions did you get an answer too? Any other news?

Thanks!

[Chris Hurd]

Rob,

According to Canon USA, a bad batch of cameras off the assembly line is the culprit behind the tape-eating problem. Anybody experiencing this issue should send their camera in for service, where it'll be tweaked for free if it's under warranty.

Regarding the zoom motor noise, this is why Les Drever created the LightWave Systems accessories for the XL1, and why Canon has licensed them as official Canon products. If you feel you need 'em, then buy 'em. Full product info has been on the Watchdog articles section for over a year now.

About focus problems, again a service issue where applicable. So many variables go into focus that it's difficult to diagnose a problem versus operator unfamiliarity. Also, *all* DV camcorders are soft at the full wide setting, due to pixel averaging (using 720 pixels of width to show a complex, detailed landscape will indeed soften an image no matter what camera it is).

A good rule of thumb is, "when in doubt, ship it out." Hope this helps,

[Nathan Gifford]

1. Is there going to be a GL-1S? What will be new on it? Will it compliment both the XL-1 and the XL-1S? Will the audio be souped up?

2. There seems to have been a close relationship between Canon and Cinestream for NLEs. Has or will Canon attempt a similar deal with Adobe (Premiere)?

3. Will there be any new lens options? For example, will we see an enhanced wide angle lens? I think Chris you had a WA you like and wondered if it would ever be adapted to XL-1.

4. Will we see a Canon that syncs the audio better? Some users have noticed audio sync problems due to Canon's timebase selection.

5. Will Canon offer a portable firewire drive as field recorder attachment?

I think that's more than they may want to answer....

[Henry Czuprinski]

Chris, I'll be brief-
Lots of low/no budget filmmakers want an XL1s with Manual as a package- Why should it cost an arm and more to get what we want? Get real, guys. Panasonic and JVC 1/2 inch minidv cams can be had in lots of config's without paying a cost penalty.

Beause someone wants to shoot a movie doesn't mean he's got Louis B Meyer bankrolling it. Show suppport of the arts where it counts and give us a break. Save marketing bucks. The projects will sell the cameras. (hint- this may be a rant but look again- just could be the sentiment of creatives worldwide)

wanted;
Anamorphic (16x9)everything (viewfinder? lens?)


A Canon lover and supporter- for now.
Henry Czuprinski

[Adrian Douglas]

Henry has a good point. The camera has many accessoriws and can be configured many different ways. Maybe a good way to sell it would be like Dell sell computers. The basic package, body 16x IS lens and colour viewfinder, then add or subtract the various components.

I understand that Canon looks at everything from a marketing point of view, but the XL1 is a specialised market item, unlike the Elura, Optura etc. The people that buy it usually buy it for it's interchangeability.

[Michael Rosenberger]

I enjoy my Canon cameras. Shot the GL-1 for over a year now and we are doing well being able to sell our show, so there is no doubt that they have a good product. My upgrade to the XL-1s hasn't been as impressive. Baring the mechanical problems, I really haven't seen the great increase in picture quality I thought, and was told, there was. My fault for not doing as much hands on testing before buying, I know.

My biggest gripe - look at Canon's literature or talk to any of their reps. Everything says this is a professional camera. But right off the bat there is a completely obvious audio problem with motor noise from the lens. Yes, companies have come up with solutions, but I didn't spend $3700.00 to upgrade to get rid of a problem that shouldn't even be there. Just can't accept that a product doesn't do what it says - "The XL-1s comes complete with a high quality microphone, that gives excellent performance." There should be a caveat that read "ONLY IF YOU DON"T ATTATCH THE MICROPHONE TO THE CAMERA." I am still working with Canon on this. Who knows.

I do know a couple good retailers that have done the Dell type XL-1 pick and choose setup. Not neat pull down menus, but offering packages at several levels.

I would like to know where you have found a company that sells the JVC in differnt configurations without paying different prices. I know several companies that offer ENG packages with lens, battery, etc configs and price is always based on what you get. I know the XL-1 is no different. Set me straight here, are you asking that Canon offer a complete 16x9 solution, with upgraded lens, viewfinder, etc. at the same price as a base Xl-1?

It is true, Canon looks at everything from a marketing standpoint, and relationally I am sure there are many less people who use the camera in anything but the standard configuration. The cost for a large company like Canon to self produce these limited use option would be more than the secondary companies who know what they are doing and can actually make money doing it. Yeah, it sucks, but after many years in the business I've had to come to terms with "everything is an option and costs more."

And to that end, how about giving the small productions companies a break. We are surely a bigger market segment than the "creatives".

[Nathan Gifford]

If the shooting conditions are good, the video differences between GL and XL are small. But under a variety of shooting conditions the XL will outperform the GL. I wish my XL had the low light performance of the S for shooting inside caves and stuff.

Audio wise, the XL-1 is certainly superior. I haven't shot with the S yet. However, I know from the XL-1 the majority of the noise comes from the same side the mic is mounted on...go figure!

That said, the mini-mount from Lightwave has cured almost all of that noise. Only under very quiet conditions is noise detectable, anything else swamps it out.

As far as lens goes, I do wish I had something more than the standard lens. I keep hoping for a real good review of WA or manual lenses, but that has not happened yet.

Yes, ENG packages vary widely. You got to believe the vendors must know how to maximize their profits! Certainly the OpTex or other lenses might make a really boss system, but then maybe that might crimp sales of other accessories. I do not think to can touch JVC for the price of a Canon, but that the same old story...