On Sat, 08 Sep 2001 21:13:01 GMT, wstrmyr@cts.com (R. Westermeyer) wrote:

>Thanks everybody for the very helpful info. I've been researching all
>the cameras you mentioned. The Canon X1-s seems like the best one in
>my budget. What a radical camera!The removable lens seems like a cool
>feature. Anyone used the Wide Angel lens accessory for this camera?
>
>Now I notice price range between 3100 and 4400. I checked out
>pricegrabber, and I quickly learned that a great many online camera
>merchants are skumbags, if not crooks. Anyone have a good experience
>with one of the online merchants?

The XL-1 (not "s"...) and the VX-2000/PD150 are
(critically...) reviewed on my web page at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
Unless several very basic items have been improved
on the XL-1 in the "s" version (and in any case,
really...;-), I would look at the VX-2000/PD150
also... (BTW, a properly equiped XL-1 is FAR more
expensive than its base price, unlike some others.
Consider the cost of a decent power source,
viewfinder, WA capability, etc. - things that
are included, or are relatively cheap to add for
others [which may also have a better picture...].)
Frame grabs from the XL-1 standard zoom with two
Century converters added (not cheap!) are in the
review - and are not impressive (soft edges, and
color fringing). The Canon WA is only 3X, without
stabilizer, and not cheap... The XL-1 is a neat
concept ("pro-type" camera with interchangeable
parts, cheaper than shoulder-mount cameras), but
the execution leaves much to be desired, alas,
especially in comparison with its cheaper or
similarly-priced competition... (VX-2000/PD150/
JVC500).