The waiting is over for the prosumer mini-DV world as Canon (finally) releases the XL2, the follow-up to the wildly successful (some would say ground-breaking) XL1S. With both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (film-like and TV-like, respectively), variable frame rates (again, to more closely emulate film or TV), interchangeable lens (the same as the XL1S had, including a new 20x optical zoom lens), and more, all wrapped around a 3 CCD system for maximum image, you know, fantasticness.
More after the jump.
It’s all built around an “Open Architecture Design,” which I honestly have no idea what means — I think they’re talking about the ability to switch the XL lens around. There’s just so much to this camera, though, it’s sort of hard to explain. Things like the ability to sync up the settings on two different cameras so that the film quality will remain identical make the XL2 the next logical choice for not only budding film-makers and home users who want the best, but increasingly, well, anyone. Expect the street price to be at least five grand, and it’s possible that demand will send it higher for a while. (Thanks, ML!)
Read – Product Page [Canon]
Read – Press Release [Canon]
