It isn't for your average videographer who wants to just take video of family and vacations. It is actually being used to film documentaries and for professional services such as filming events such as weddings (which is what I use it for).

Due to its size, weight, complexity, and cost (especially when you add the optional accessories such as filters, additional lenses and microphones, etc.), you had better be very serious about videography before you invest in the XL1s. If you are, you will be thrilled with this camera.

Pros and Cons (Rating: 4.00)
Review : Unfortunatly when shopping for a prosumer camera in this price range weighing the pros and cons is definitatly tough. The canon XL1s is and Excellent camera that captures the ENG style most pro cameras at this range misses. However before getting all hot and bothered over that the camera has trouble focusing in low light and a very pixilated picture when it does. The Mic on some of the the XL1s's pick up body noise which is extremely distracting since zooming is a loud function. They sell an adaptor for about $$$ but I have no idea how good it is. To boot there are no XLR plugs on the camera. So guess what. You got it another adaptor.
Ok its not all bad In fact there is some good. The 16:9 crop bars are excellent for professional shooting. The ENG camera build is of the professional style so you look like the real deal. For the Director in us all the focus ring allows for a makeshift short depth of field... excellent for a film look. At this price you have to bite the bullet and weigh the pros and cons and hope when your return peroid ends you made the right decision.

There is no Canon XL-2 (Rating: 5.00)
Review : There is no Canon xl-2, nor is there one in the works according to the Customer Service Department at Canon. I do wish there was an xl-2, though.

No Xl2 yet, maybe never... (Rating: 3.00)
Review : What's with bonehead "and now, only as Canon can do it better they are coming out with Canon XL2 in Feb 2004"...? people are just making stuff up about the fictional XL2. The XL1 and XL1s are both competent cameras, and will serve the purposes of most videographers wanting to shoot using the Mini DV format. One thing I do appreciate with the XL1 is that features like iris adjustment and white balance are utilized with dedicated buttons on the camera body. Some of the newer, supposedly "superior" Mini DV cameras are now putting these adjustments in the menu section, making it a pain to adjust quickly when shooting.

As for the XL2, everyone thought that Canon would announce it at the NAB show in April 2004, but nothing was forthcoming. Meanwhile cameras that came out in response to the XL1s from companies like Sony and Panasonic have already been updated and released in their second version.

Bottom line, there just may not be a XL2 in the works. It certainly seems that Canon is content to continue to sell the XL1s as its top of the line camcorder. Rather than an "upgrade" to the XL1s, Canon may be working on a completely different camera, and who knows when it may be released for sale to the public. I am sure if there was a really cool "XL2" within 6 months of release, someone would have heard something about it by now. Interesting is that the "XL" designation comes from the old Super 8mm cameras, with Canon 1014 "XLs" being the last Super 8mm they made before abandoning the format.

The truth is... (Rating: 5.00)
Review : What's reviewer: "a customer" & "Tyrone Brumwell"...thinking! There is a Canon XL2 comming out next month in August. I contacted Canon USA and verified it. You can do the same at 1-800-OkCanon. SAVE your money for this new beauty ($4,000) it will be worth it! Read the specs at canon's website. The Xl1 and XL1s, don't come close!!!

High quality DV for those who know (Rating: 5.00)
Review : Just short of a top-of-the-line broadcast DV camera, the XL1S is an extremely high quality DV camcorder. It's affordable and relatively easy to operate. Granted, my parents wouldn't have the slightest clue on where to start, and for most people this is WAY too much camera for general applications. But for semi-pros and amateurs alike you cannot go wrong with this piece of equipment. All the features you could want or expect are included, and transferrance to analog or to a DV editor isn't more than a button push away. I'm a freelance videographer, and I'm starting a production house and this is the base piece of equipment I use. Too much camera for weddings and picnics, but for any type of video project this is all you need.