cinematography Canon XL1

[ZelloBros]

I just got my first Canon XL at an AMAZING deal, the camera only costs me $250 cash with a lot of accessories and 3 batteries. I know it's behind some, but it's still a great camera and I'm loving the color and audio quality. Plus, it does look really cool on set.
Have any of you used this camera and have advice on how to get the best video I can out of it?
The short I'm filming now with my XL is being entered into film festivals and I want my video to be the best it can be. Any advice?

 

[directorik]

I've used that camera. I hate it.

But so what? What I like and don't like
doesn't matter at all. You like it and that's
all that matters. To get the most out of
the XL learn to light well. Don't just point
and shoot. This is the time when you need
to learn about lighting. You can get amazing
video with that camera and excellent lighting
goes a long way.

Congrats on the great deal. Now get to learnin'!

 

[Cracker Funk]

$250!!! Wow, that is a really good deal!

In order to buy my T2i, I sold my Sony VX2100 for $1200, and I think it's fair to say that the XL1 is considerably better than the VX2100. Also, the very first camera I ever used, for learning filmmaking skills, was the Canon GL1, and again, the XL1 is a considerable step above. I got a lot of mileage out of both of those cameras, so I think you'll enjoy working with this one.

directorik, I'm curious to know why you hate it. I assume you have very good reasons, but I'd like to hear them, if you care to expand on that.

Personally, I think this is a wonderful camera for a beginner to start with. Nice aqcuisition.

 

[knightly]

I love my XL1s... and I'll reiterate that Lighting is key... I also pull down the saturation a smidge, color it away from red slightly (canon pushes the red really hard on these cameras), and turn the sharpening off.

 

[directorik]

The stock lens is the most worthless lens I have ever seen on an
expensive camera. That focus ring? I could never hold focus on
that thing because it just spins. Good thing it had such a deep
DOF or nothing would ever be in focus.

It has RCA inputs for audio. For a camera in that price range I
thought that was unacceptable. Canon changed that with later
models. It was awkward to hold. I know many people think it looks
cool, but I come from the old school and I don’t need a camera
that looks cool, I need one that handles well.

I really hated the color viewfinder. As a pro shooter I do not
need color in my viewfinder. I use it for focus and composition,
not for color correction. I could never really see the true focus
because of that viewfinder.

Getting to the color bars took too many steps. I want to flip one
switch, see the bars, adjust my monitor and record it. Then flip
one switch and be ready to go.

Pro cameras pull the heads from the tape after a few minutes of
non use. The XL shut down. I hated being in the middle of a
rehearsal and having the camera just shut off.

I could go on. At the time when it was the top choice (and I ended
up on several gigs shooting with it) I wrote an article with a
full list of reasons. But it’s moot now. No one is using it
anymore. And my opinion is only that; my opinion. Many
people (including my business partner) shot with the XL
series and loved it.

I think it’s a fine camera to get started with. Even today.
ZelloBros got a great deal and great images can be achieved
using it.