Canon XL2

Advantages: Easy to use for beginner, built in 16:9 field of view
Disadvantages: Heavy in prolonged use (3.545Kg), quite short battery life

...Canon suggests that the XL2 provides "unprecedented flexibility" for the digital camcorder user. So, how good is the XL2? Straight out of the box the camera seems impressive. The build quality is good and each camera component feels strong and well built. The supplied user manual leads you through the step-by-step assembly of the camera although some of the stages are not explained very clearly. However, the connection of each of the camera's components to the main body is very logical and could be undertaken without using the manual. Once assembled the camera does feel quite heavy with the centre of gravity leaning slightly towards the front of the camera. Initially this is not a problem but with prolonged hand-held use the camera can start to feel a little too heavy. The camera provides 3 1/3" progressive CCD sensors...

kollerto 20.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of Canon XL2 camcorder - Mini DV

canon xl1

Advantages: superb image quality
Disadvantages: weight

...The canon XL1 is without a doubt an excellent camera, though this is no reason to make a hurried buy. In my experience this camera is very suitable for specific purposes, but not for others. There are plenty of reviews telling you the good points about this camera, to which there are many, and the specs speak for themselves. But here are some things you may not have considered about it's suitability for specific purposes: 1) It's weight. The XL1 is a fairly heavy camera of substantial size, much bigger than it's fellow prosumer camera's. This does make it a sturdy, robust piece of equpment but it does make long day shoots at different locations very tiring. So consider: Are you buying a camera mainly for location shoots or will most of its time be spent in a studio? Will most of your work be shot handheld or tripod based? These...

coxcomb1 17.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Canon XL1 camcorder - Mini DV

Canon XL1S - A Camcorder For Serious Use!

Advantages: Interchangable lens, manual focus ring, shoulder mount, stereo sound
Disadvantages: Tape mechanism can be heard on some recordings

...The Canon XL1S is not your average camcorder. Its a 3CCD, Mini DV camcorder with interchangable lens facility, broadcast quality recording and enhanced manual functions - this camcorder is for users with professional needs. It comes with a standard 20x Optical Zoom lens but can be modified and tuned to your own taste if need be with the use of the additional lenses available. The lens is sorted with Optical image Stabilizer which for a camera of such size is very useful and will always come in handy when using a 20x optical zoom. Lenses like the XL Extender 1.6x , 3X wideangle zoom lens and not forgetting the XL Adapter making it compatible with the 35mm EOS EF Lenses. Other accessories include microphone adaptor shoulder pads giving the facility to add XLR input microphones for voice overs on recording or additional sound...

Torrence 09.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Canon XL1 S

Canon XL1s Camcorder

Advantages: Packed full of professional features
Disadvantages: Slow auto-focus

...I have used this camcorder for filming both corporate events and short films and for both it excelled. The camcorder produces excellent broadcast quality images and has full manual control over the image or can be set to full auto for less experienced users. Canon offer a wide range of accessories for the XL1s for the professional filmaker, these include a full manual lens, XLR audio adapter, black and white CRT viewfinder and many more. The camera is easy to use and is fairly lghtweight and portable which makes it ideal for electronic news gathering. The only issue I have with this camera is the slow autofocus speed, however unless you are doing very fast panning shots this is not a problem. In all a very good camcorder from Canon....

Tractorbob 08.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Canon DM XL1S

Semi-Pro XM2, excellence from Canon

Advantages: Lightweight, excellent picture quality, ease of use, hot-shoe for attachments
Disadvantages: Manual isn't so helpful. Not so good with low-light conditions.

...Myself and a few friends came up with a few ideas for short films and at the time we used my old Sony HC14E camera (before it was stolen in a burglary!). We called the HC14E our crash-cam as it certainly was put through the war-zones (paintball matches, in-car shots, drops and even ran over!). I decided I wanted something a bit more professional and decided to go for the Canon XM2. My first thought on this camera is it's size and weight. It's small enough to pack into a rucksack, and it is light enough to be used and carried for a whole day without straining the users arms or hands. I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this camera. I opted for a finance option as payment and as soon as I knew my forms had been recieved and ok'd I was jumping every time the doorbell went. I certainly wasn't disappointed! The 3CCD design (Red...

alexscott 11.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of Canon XM2 camcorder - Mini DV

Canon XM2 - the camera that nearly made it

Advantages: Picture quality, interface/functionability, weight, size
Disadvantages: Sound quality, can't charge and mains power simultaneously

...The picture quality is definitely commendable on this camera, except when using the photograph function - this is however a problem with many videocameras. Canon have concentrated on the lens and semi-professional, to professional functions on this camera and have not cluttered it with effects. It has many handy functions such as Zebra (which you can adjust the sensitivity on) which allows you to set your exposure to the right levels, preventing brilliant white. It also has all of your standard functions such as white balance (Manual and Auto), Exposure (Manual and Auto), 4:3/16:9 Aspect Ratios and seperate volume controls for the left and right audio channels. The battery life is pretty good on these, I have managed to use mine for 2/3 hours at a time with the LCD panel open. The only let down with this camera is the sound quality...

isitahumanoid 26.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Canon XM2 camcorder - Mini DV

Canon Quality

Advantages: Same Canon quality we have come to expect, great ISO capabilities.
Disadvantages: Buttons can get fiddly in the cold.

... Canon 500D Introduction Canons range of cameras is very impressive. Everyone can be accommodated for, there really is something for everyone. Camera Itself First off, the camera. The sensor on this model has a larger pixel count than many of its rivals and cheaper models in the range. The 15.1 megapixels on offer is more than enough for the market it is aimed at, these images will easily be blown up above A3 and still retain most of the detail. The new addition to this camera that sets it apart from the older models is the Full 1080p movies. Many photographers don?t like this new mode but if you don?t, then simply don?t use it. Having the functionality of a high quality video camera on family holidays and such will be welcomed by the enthusiast market at which this is aimed toward. One problem I found...

aadamm 23.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Canon EOS 500D

Canon Powershot SX200 IS

Advantages: Lots of zoom, lots of pixels, sturdy
Disadvantages: No internal memory, flash pops up whether you want it to or not

.... It's not as small as some compacts but if you manage to get hold of a Canon case then you can fit the camera, spare battery and a couple of cards inside it quite easily. It is 10cm wide, 6 1/2 cm high and 3cm deep (excluding zoom), and has a metal body which feels quite sturdy. It sort of curves outward on one side so you can get a decent grip and hold the camera steady. On the top of the camera body there is the on/off switch, dial with all the different modes (auto mode, easy mode, portrait, landscape, night snapshot, kids and pets, indoor, sunset, video, manual mode, aperture priority, shutter priority and program mode), and the shutter release button which also controls the zoom. The back of the camera is mainly taken up by the 3 inch viewscreen which does make framing shots very easy. There's a menu button, display button...

tor0908 26.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

Willing to spend £3700 to film a special event?

Advantages: Great for special events
Disadvantages: It is far too pricey.

...Yet another item that lurks in my brother's electrical goods shop is the 'Canon Camcorder'. As most top quality items do, we get a nicely packaged item, with all the appropriate information, such as the instruction manual, which is overall very easy to follow and it even includes diagrams for those of you out there who are not over technically minded. The Canon Camcorder is quite sturdy (measuring 22.5 cm x 49.6 cm x 22 cm) , also weighing in at 3.5 kg, although it doesn't induce any arm aches. The Canon camcorder is the ideal choice for recording broadcast or web content, making educational videos or registering an event like a wedding. A point worth raising is that the battery lasts for a fair while, and so makes it a lot more suitable for such events, just don't forget to charge up! The camcorder owns the ability...

benraiben 21.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of Canon XL2 camcorder - Mini DV

Canon Ixus II (APS version) Great Little Camera

Advantages: Very small, stylish, around £100
Disadvantages: no attatchments

...with the correct ISO for interior and darker shots ie not daylight. There is a problem you either just use up your film and compromise the quality of your work, or you have another camera set up for this not always practical or possible, or you waste the remainder of the film change film and continue in this manner. With APS you can stop, rewind the film , replace with a suitable film and continue, stop again rewind the film after a few shots, replace the original film fast forward to the place you stopped no.25 in my example and continue to use the rest of the first film. In other words you can have 2,3 4,5 or as many films as you like on the go at any one time, partially used until they are finished. The advantage to this is as I have already stated different films for different purposes and conditions. There are also different formats...

jouk04 22.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Canon Digital IXUS II