Canon unveils widescreen XL2

by David Fox

The first low-cost, prosumer DV camcorder to feature true 16:9 recording has been launched by Canon. The XL2 is targeted at low-budget digital filmmakers and broadcasters with such features as 25p progressive recording, extensive control over a wide variety of settings (including cine-style gamma), and two built-in XLR audio connectors.

Whereas most low-cost camcorders that offer "widescreen" capture either reduce the pixel count or stretch the pixels electronically, the XL2 has a more novel approach. Its three CCDs use a 960x576 block of pixels for 16:9 (these 560,000 pixels are almost double the resolution of most small camcorders) and 720x576 pixels at 4:3 (these are Pal figures, NTSC models have lower resolution). However, the one third-inch CCDs are not 16:9, but larger 800,000-pixel 4:3 chips - the simple solution is that top and bottom slices aren't used (which gives the 16:9 picture); and in 4:3 further slices are taken off the sides. The 16:9 image is recorded as an anamorphic (squeezed) picture that can be read as widescreen by any prosumer editing software.

The standard lens has also been improved, compared to the 1997-launched XL1 and its 2001 update, the XL1s. It is now a 20x flourite-coated model with a built-in optical image stabiliser and two independent neutral density filters. The camera can also be fitted with a wide range of other lenses, including more than 60 Canon EF lenses (via an adaptor), as well as cine-style primes and image intensifiers from companies like OpTex (which will be showing the XL2 at IBC in September, when the first units should start to ship for about £4,000, about a third more than the outgoing model).

Canon has also addressed previous weaknesses, such as audio, with the 48v phantom-powered built-in XLRs and four independently controllable audio channels (an add-on can provide the extra XLRs). Although there is no flip-out LCD screen, the new two-inch LCD viewfinder can be used at a distance by flipping up the magnifier eye cup. There is also now a permanent shoulder rest, although the camera is still front heavy. A new signal processor gives an improved signal/noise ratio, greater sensitivity (down to 4 lux) and lower smear than the XL1s.

Many existing users had expected Canon to support HDV with this model, but it believes the market isn't ready yet - and probably won't enter it until 2006. "We believe this product is better than any HDV camcorder on the market to date," said Daniel Benjamin, product marketing manager, Canon UK (pictured right). As the only HDV camcorders so far are single-chip models from JVC, this statement is undoubtedly true.

The XL2 has full SMPTE time code with Rec Run and Free Run timer options, and can be synched to other cameras or audio recorders. It also has FireWire camera control for recording direct to a hard disk recorder. There is also colour bar and tone generation.

As well as cine gamma and film grain, users have considerable control over various settings, including knee adjustment, sharpness, noise reduction, colour gain and hue settings, and even separate control of each of the R, G and B gain settings. Even if very few people will ever alter the more esoteric controls (it being usually better to do these things in post), the fact that the XL2 has such an extensive range of features (some of which are more commonly found on more expensive broadcast cameras) shows that Canon is really determined to match, and even overtake, such rivals as the Panasonic DVX100 and Sony's PD170.

July 2004

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