I have been asked on several occasions to make various factual DVD.s and until now resisted. However, I am about to take the plunge and just wondered if any of you guys have any knowledge of the Canon DMXL-2 and in particular, if the 20x optical zoom is powerful enough for wildlife recording.
Best wishes
Phil
As you've already a range of Canon-fit lenses, the XL2 and the EF-Adpater would be a good bet. You'll still need some of the smaller lenses as the adpator has a 7.8x multiplier factor - makes a 500 into a 3900mm .
Had a brief play with one with a 600mm on it at the BBWF last year..takes a lot to figure out exactly where you're pointing the thing!
I have been recording some video with the XL-2. My reason for buying this rather than the more popular (among film-makers) Sony pro-sumer models was the possibility of using my Canon lenses with it. I ordered the adapter from WE in February and I'm still waiting!
The zoom range on the "standard" lens has a big range. It too great for any hand-held shots. And that's the other thing I'm waiting from WE, a tripod adapter!
To try and answer your question about whether the zoom range is suitable for wildlife work, I would say, probably, depending upon what it is you are trying to shoot. Wth a moving subject, you do not need the subject to be anything like as large in the frame as you do for stills photography. If you look at some wildlife documentary footage two things jump out at you - one is the size of the subject in the frame, usually either relatively small with lots of space for subject movement, or very close-up. The other thing is the individual sequences are mostly of short duration (editing function) and that they rarely include a pan or a zoom.
The XL-2 doesn't come with any editing or other software. I bought a harddrive for the camera in order to avoid the need for compiling the images from tape.
I used the XL1 - predecessor to the XL2 with the canon converter quite successfully a while back. The only thing that you need to worry about with the ef lenses is camera shake. you will need a good heavy fluid head. The lens with it is good with one niggle - the manual focus is 'fly by wire' and can occasionally take some time to get right.
Thanks very much for all the useful input, camera, head and EF adaptor now all ordered.
Phil, WE have 3 EF adaptors in stock (now 2!).
Best wishes
Phil
Discussion
6 repliesBest wishes
Phil
I'm a bit bored here at work so have been doing a little looking around on the net. Take a look at this PDF:
http://www.digital-cameras.com/editor/image/eshop_products/soubor_1391.pdf
On page 6 it says that the XL2 has a 5.4-108mm lens, which equates to a 41.4-828mm in 16:9 mode.
You can also get an adapter which will let you put your Canon EF lenses on the camera.
Regards,
Nick
As you've already a range of Canon-fit lenses, the XL2 and the EF-Adpater would be a good bet. You'll still need some of the smaller lenses as the adpator has a 7.8x multiplier factor - makes a 500 into a 3900mm
Had a brief play with one with a 600mm on it at the BBWF last year..takes a lot to figure out exactly where you're pointing the thing!
The zoom range on the "standard" lens has a big range. It too great for any hand-held shots. And that's the other thing I'm waiting from WE, a tripod adapter!
To try and answer your question about whether the zoom range is suitable for wildlife work, I would say, probably, depending upon what it is you are trying to shoot. Wth a moving subject, you do not need the subject to be anything like as large in the frame as you do for stills photography. If you look at some wildlife documentary footage two things jump out at you - one is the size of the subject in the frame, usually either relatively small with lots of space for subject movement, or very close-up. The other thing is the individual sequences are mostly of short duration (editing function) and that they rarely include a pan or a zoom.
The XL-2 doesn't come with any editing or other software. I bought a harddrive for the camera in order to avoid the need for compiling the images from tape.
Hope this helps.
I used the XL1 - predecessor to the XL2 with the canon converter quite successfully a while back. The only thing that you need to worry about with the ef lenses is camera shake. you will need a good heavy fluid head. The lens with it is good with one niggle - the manual focus is 'fly by wire' and can occasionally take some time to get right.
Andrew
Phil, WE have 3 EF adaptors in stock (now 2!).
Best wishes
Phil