Canon XL1S XL2 Comparison

Description

This is a list of comparison between two Canon Professional camcorders: XL1S and XL2

Some history background of XL1S and XL2:

XL1S

Canon XL-1s is a Three-CCD Standard Definition Digital Video camcorder made from 2001 to 2004 by Canon Inc. The camera was designed for the prosumer market, and was very popular with independent filmmakers. The XL-1s was the follow-up camera to the Canon XL-1.

XL2

Canon XL-2, released in 2004, is Canon prosumer 3CCD standard definition camcorder. The XL-2 is the big brother to the GL family and the successor of the similar looking Canon XL-1s with a 16x lens. It is succeeded by the Canon XL-H1, a 1.67 Mega pixel 1080i HD resolution (frame rates 60i, 30f and 24f), with a similar 20x lens and similar design in black.

Table of Canon XL1S XL2 Specification Comparison

As both XL1S and XL2 share a very similar design and outlook, many people are confusing with their specification. Unfortunately Canon has remove the link of XL1s in Canon Standard Definition Camcorders page where you can tick models to compare their specification.

However, with some googling I managed to find the specification page for Canon XL1s and I have compiled the table of Specification Comparison between XL1s and XL2:

	Canon XL-1s	Canon XL-2
Digital Video Power Supply (rated)	7.2 V DC	7.2V DC (battery pack)
Power Consumption (While recording AF=ON)	8.7 W (approx., recording with the AF turned on)	7.1W (recording with AF, 20x zoom XL 5.4-108 L IS mounted)
Television System	EIA standard (525 lines, 60 fields) NTSC color	EIA standard (525 lines, 60 fields) NTSC color signal
Video Recording system	2 rotary heads, helical scanning systemDV system (Consumer digital VCR SD system) Digital component recording	Two rotating heads, helical scan azimuth recording, DV System (Consumer digital VCR SD system) digital component recording
Audio Recording system	PCM digital sound; 16- bit (48 kHz/2ch); 12 bit (32 kHz/ 2 from 4 ch); 12-bit (32 kHz/4 ch simultaneous)	PCM digital recording: 16 bit (48 kHz/2 channels); 12 bit (32 kHz/4 channels) Synchronous 4-channel recording is possible
Image Sensor	3 CCD 1/3 Pixel Shift (charge coupled devices)	Size 1/3, approx. 680,000 pixels (total), Progressive Scan CCD x3 (charge-coupled device) with horizontal pixel shift
Tape Format	Videocasettes bearing the MiniDV mark	Video cassettes bearing the MiniDV mark
Tape Speed	SP: 3/4 ips (18.81 mm/sec); LP 1/2 ips (12.56 mm/sec).	SP: 0.74 ips (18.81mm/second), LP; 0.49 ips (12.56 mm/seco
Maximum Recording Time (with an 80-min. cassette)	SP: 80 minutes (with an 80-min cassette); LP: 120 minutes (with an 80 minute cassette)	SP; 80 min. LP: 120 min
Fast Forward/Rewind time	2 min. 20 sec (with a 60 min cassette)	Approx. 2 minutes and 20 seconds (using 60-minute tape)
Lens	XL interchangeable lens system; (supplied: f/1.6-2.6, 5.5-88mm)	XL interchangeable lens system
Focusing System	TTL autofocus, manual focusing possible	TTL autofocus. Manual focusing possible (20x zoom XL 5.4-108mm L IS installed)
Frame Rate	1/15,000 sec.	-
Minimum Illumination	2 lx (using XL 5.5-88mm lens and slow shutter at 1/8 of a second.)	60i, 1/60 shutter speed = 5.5 lux; 30P, 1/30 shutter speed = 6.5 lux; 24P, 1/48 shutter speed = 10 lux
Recommended Illumination	More than 100 lx	More than 100 lx
Filter Diameter	72mm (XL lens)	72mm (XL lens)
Viewfinder	0.7 color LCD (approx. 180,000 pixels)	2.0-inch TFT color LCD; Approx. 200,000 pixels, RGB delta configuration
Microphone	Stereo electret condenser microphone	Stereo electric condenser microphone
DV Terminal	Special 4-pin connector (based on IEEE 1394)	4-pin connector (complies with IEEE1394); input/output switching
Video Terminal	RCA jack1 Vp-p/75 ohms unbalanced synchronized load	RCA pin jack; input/output switching/BNC jack; input/output switching 1 Vp-p/75 ohms unbalanced
S-video Terminal	4-pin mini DIN 1Vp-p (Y signal); 0.286 Vp-p (C signal)	4-pin mini-DIN; input/output switching 1 Vp-p/75 ohms (Y signal), 0.286 Vp-p/75 ohms (C signal)
Audio Terminal	RCA jack (L,R); 2 sets -4dBM(47kohms load)/3kohms or less, unbalanced	RCA pin jack (L/R) 2 systems; input/output switching
Input Levels	RCA jack (L,R); 2 sets - 11 dBV/47k ohms (LINE), unbalanced; 35dBV/600 ohms (MIC ATT), unbalanced; 55 dBV/600 ohms (MIC), unbalanced
Microphone Terminal	3.5mm stereo mini-jack 59dBV (with 600 ohms mic)/ 600 ohms	3.5mm stereo mini-jack unbalanced -55 dBv (Auto), -67 dBv (Manual/Vol Max)/600 ohms
Operating Temperature range	32- 104° F (0-40° C)	32-104° F (0-40° C)
Dimensions	8 3/4 x 8 7/16 x 16 5/16 in (223mm x 214mm x 415mm)	8.9 x 8.7 x 19.5 in. (225 x 220 x 496mm)
Weight (not including lens and battery pack)	3 lbs/11 15/16 oz approx. (1.7 kg)	5.3 lbs. (2410g)
Weight (fully loaded)	6 lbs 4 7/8 oz approx. (2.86 kg)	7.8 lbs. (3545g)
Minimum Focusing Distance		20mm (Wide macro), 1m (entire zoom range): (20x zoom XL 5.4-108mm L IS installed)
Total Pixels		16:9 target area: approx. 460,000 pixels (962 x 480) x3 CCD, 0.289 diagonal, 4:3 target area: approx. 350,000 pixels (720 x 480) x3 CCD, 0.236 diagonal
Output Levels		Max. -10 dBv (for 47 kohm load)/3 kohm unbalanced
Audio		Auto Mode, Gain 18dB
Input Levels		During input; Min. -10 dBv/47 kohms unbalanced