Canon’s new XL2 miniDV camcorder builds on the manufacturer’s success with the XL1 and XL1S models, and, according to the company, is a far more filmmaker-friendly production tool.

The XL1’s professional applications were geared more toward small commercial prodcos and event videographers, but it was also used for some independent filmmaking, says Neil Stephenson, Canon Canada’s manager of technical marketing in its consumer-imaging group. He adds that Canon took feedback from XL1 users to build the XL2 with more features for serious filmmakers.

‘It has the ability to replicate a very high-end look,’ says Stephenson. ‘It can hold its own against anything filmed with a Betacam.’

The XL2 is currently being employed to shoot various commercials and cooking shows, but these kinds of productions only scrape the surface of what the XL2 can be used for, says Stephenson.

‘With the orientation of the camera and its [light] weight, it’s very versatile outside for doing remote shoots – run-and-gun stuff – which lends itself very well to documentaries,’ he explains. ‘People can use [several] of them if they are producing something on a set budget. You can have three or four XL2s for the price of one Betacam with a good lens.’

The XL2 provides filmmakers with features including a customizable cine-look, total image control and interchangeable lenses, including one that incorporates fluorite elements for better resolution, contrast and color. It shoots in the 4:3 as well as the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios and offers 60I, 30p or 24p frame rates as well as Canon’s OIS (optical image stabilization) system and numerous audio features and accessories.

If the XL2 hasn’t yet caught fire with the production community, it may be due to the focus on high definition. But Stephenson feels his camera is one of the most useful standard-def filmmaking tools currently on the market.

‘When [HD] is a reality, Canon will be there, but what the XL2 gives people right now is the best 16:9, standard-definition capture device that’s available for the money [with a list price of $7,425],’ he says. ‘We can’t see any HD product coming on the market that is going to be competition for the XL2 in the short term.’

-www.canon.ca