On Wed, 27 Feb 2002 01:49:44 -0500, "Dirk J. Bakker"
[....]
>"Surely you realize you can
>take a variety of shots with the SAME lens (i.e. just because you want
>to go from a wide shot to an extreme close-up doesn't mean you have to
>change your lens, just walk closer to your subject!)"
>While it may be true, it is STILL limited by the inherent limitations
>(focal and focus ranges, etc.) of the one and only lens you've got stuck
>on that camera.
Lens converters work very well on some fixed-lens
camcorders, such as the VX2000/PD150, unlike on the
XL-1 standard zoom (at least with the two Century
converters I tried on it...).
>>[...] You are yet another XL-1
>>supporter than stands and cries 'interchangeable lenses!' while your
>>camcorder falls miserably short on nearly every other aspect of video
>>production. One of us has a weak argument, but it isn't me. :)
>If that lame line of reasoning were factual, then professional, rather
>mostly low-end, cameras would have fixed lenses. But you know the
>opposite is true! DUHHHH.
I think he meant that while the XL-1 provides for
interchangeable lenses (a plus), the basic imaging
quality of the XL-1 is inferior to some camcorders
without interchangeable lenses (but which do accept
lens converters well...), more than negating the
the XL-1 advantage...
>>Keep changing the lenses on the low-resolution, no-XLR input having,
>>color viewfinder sporting, non-zooming-worth-a-dern, awkwardly
>>weighted, slow tape loading camera, and be sure to remind us how lucky
>>you are from time to time. :)
>Misinformation is your ally. But fact is, in spite of what you want to
>claim or wish were so, the XL1s is offered as a body only. A B&W
>viewfinder is available to attach to this body IF one chooses. Likewise,
>a number of lenses can be purchased instead of the one available in the
>KIT, which you need to harp on as if it were the only option.
>
>Lenses available are those by Canon for the camera itself:
>a. Canon 3x,
>b. Canon 14x manual,
>c. Canon 16x, (one with the "kit"),
>d. Canon 16x manual,
>e. Canon 3D zoom,
>f. XLPRO 14x manual,
>
>
>AND with or as adapters:
>
>g. 1.6x extender,
>h. Canon EF lenses,
>i. Nikon lenses,
>j. Sony (yes SONY) B4 lenses,
>k. Canon FD lenses,
>l. Arriflex PL lenses,
>m. Wide angle attachments by various manufacturers.
>
>Have any idea how much one can "save", if one already has some of these
>lenses? But that's the beauty of modularity. The MA-100 or MA-200,
>respectively, provide 2 XLRs, or 4 XLRs AND a BNC connector. And when
>they're not needed, you can choose to NOT attach or buy them.
But, if the basic part of the module, the body, images
with relatively lower resolution, relatively lower color
depth, relatively greater oversharpening effects, and
relatively poorer low light ability, even if you had
the expensive B&W finder, an LCD panel, the $1200
Anton-Bauer battery pack, and a good lens lying around
(kinda unuasual, but...;-), the XL-1 STILL represents
poor value relative to, say, a VX2000 "lightly" equipped...
>And just as with a component sound system, if an item needs fixing you
>don't have to do without the WHOLE camera while it is away being fixed.
>Perhaps you use a boombox and have no clue what I mean. But I jest. The
>XL1s can be held braced against the shoulder or if loaded with a number
>of options can be balanced ON one's shoulder.
If you have only one lens, one finder, etc., this
arguement does not work... And, options like side-handles,
belt-pods, shoulder-braces, side-bars, or whatever else
you want to use can be added to other cameras...
[....]