Canon Announces Highly Anticipated XL2 with 24 Frames Progressive and True 16:9

At a press conference at the Westin Hotel in New York, Canon today announced the highly anticipated XL2 camcorder, which will replace their two-year-old XL1S camcorder. The new camcorder features the sought-after 24 frames progressive scan (24p) filming capability, as well as a true 16:9 aspect ratio mode.

Mike Zorich, Director of Marketing, for Canon's Consumer Video Group

"Our objective in designing the XL2 included an evolutionary approach toward the effective total image control," said Mike Zorich, Director of Marketing for Canon's Consumer Video Group.

Similar to the Panasonic AG-DVX100, the new XL2 features a 24 fames progressive scan (24p) recording mode that records at the same frame rate as conventional 35mm film. The camcorder has options for both a 2:3 and a 2:3:3:2 pulldown. The XL2 also features a 30 frame progressive mode. Over the past eighteen months, Canon XL1S sales have been hurt by Panasonic's AG-DVX100 because of its 24p mode. 24p has been one of the most desired features in prosumer camcorders, and many users were hoping that Canon would include it on this camcorder. Canon is also promoting the default shutter speed of 1/48th of a second.

The XL2 has a true 16:9 mode, which is achieved in a creative fashion. The camcorder effectively uses an oversized normal 4:3 CCD. The 16:9 mode uses the entire width of the chip, excluding a portion on the top and the bottom. The 4:3 mode takes the frame that the 16:9 mode uses and chops off some of the left and right information. The product acquires the 16:9 video at 962 x 480 pixels and squeezes it to tape at a resolution of 720 x 480. Initial reaction to the XL2 16:9 mode is positive. DV Magazine contributor and widely respected video engineer Adam Wilt stated, "Very nice upgrade on the XL1. What appears to be true 16 by 9. Finally has enough resolution in the chips to make it a sensible camera."

Canon has upgraded the CCDs to add more pixels and true progressive scan. Each of the XL2's three CCDs has 680K gross pixels, with 340K effective pixels for 4:3 aspect video and 460K effective pixels for 16:9 aspect video. The pixel count greatly improves upon that of the XL1S.

The new camcorder does not include any of the high-definition shooting capabilities that some were expecting. However, company officials stated their intention to release a high-definition camcorder soon. Mike Zorich emphasized Canon's dedication to HDV.

"While a great camera, [the XL2] will be the last SD camera from Canon, and while I don't have a timeline on when we'll be ready to announce something in a different format, like HDV, we have a lot of work ahead of us in terms of design and engineering." Zorich added, "We really felt it was important to bring a product to the market that is really going to deliver the best SD image quality today and, again, you know, as we said in our presentation, that is going to fit into the post production facility now. Canon doesn't have a history of making product announcements a year out; we usually like to announce product and then make it available for creative users about four to six weeks after we announce the product." In 2003, JVC, Sony, Canon, and Sharp agreed to a high-definition consumer and prosumer video standard known as HDV, which compresses a high definition video signal to a MiniDV tape.

The 24p option replicates the motion artifacts of film. It appears to do a pull-down identical to the performance of the Panasonic AG-DVX100. The AG-DVX100 was announced in October 2003 and has been a runaway success with the independent filmmaker community because of its options for outputting DV video to 35mm film.

Panasonic reacted to the story of the Canon XL2 with polite acceptance.

"We welcome the addition of Canon's new camera to the 24 frames progressive scan DV market pioneered by Panasonic with the AG-DVX100 and the AG-DVX100A. It's introduction is a validation of the direction we set for the industry and we welcome the opportunity to continue to demonstrate our superior value proposition to our customer base," said Jan Crittenden, Product Manager for the Panasonic AG-DVX100 and AG-DVX100A.

One of the reasons behind the popularity of the XL1S has been its interchangeable lenses. All prior XL1S and XL1 lenses are compatible with the new XL2. Canon is shipping a new 20x optical image stabilization zoom lens with the new camcorder. The lens features a fluorite coating to improve image quality. The lens offers a f/1.6 to f/3.5 aperture. At 4:3, the 35 mm equivalent for the lens is 51.8mm to 1036mm. At 16:9 it is 42.2mm to 844mm. The lens has a 72 mm thread, two Neutral Density filters, an electronic focus ring, and an electronic zoom ring, as well as optical image stabilization.

There are a few minor body adjustments to the XL2, but the camcorder generally maintains the same shape. Canon has permanently attached a shoulder mount to the XL2, solving one of the biggest user complaints.

Also, following Panasonic's lead, Canon has added a multitude of manual controls to the XL2. Canon has added eleven new image control areas, including: Gamma, Knee, Black, Color Matrix, Vertical Detail, Sharpness, Coring, Noise Reduction, Color Gain, Color Phase, and Film Grain. This adds to the existing manual control of white balance, shutter speed, AE shift, gain and aperture. Canon has removed the +30 dB gain option from the XL2, but added a +3 dB option between the 0 and +6 dB options. They have added three manual focus speeds. Canon has also added the ability to transfer the manual settings from one XL2 to another via its FireWire connection.

The camcorder adds two XLR inputs to the back. The camcorder supports 4 channel audio, and Canon is making a new accessory available that will allow users to plug sources into the additional two audio channels. Canon has also added a 2-inch 200K pixel LCD screen. The LCD screen is unique and built into the viewfinder. The new viewfinder is a 2 in. LCD screen with a magnifying eye cup attached. The magnifying eye cup can be flipped up to reveal the LCD screen.

Canon is also making a software developers' kit available for the XL2. Their press release explains that the kit "...will permit developers to expand the functionality and performance of the XL2 camcorder. With this kit, developers can create customized software controls for such features as zoom, focus and image controls; and such image controls as white balance and Master RGB gain. These customized software applications may then be sold independently for customized looks or shared amongst the community of users."

It is clear that Canon is trying to win back the independent filmmaking community that once embraced their XL1 and XL1S. The addition of the 24p mode, as well as the cinematic adjustments, are targeted directly at this user group.

The new XL2 will be available in August for $4,995. At the event, Canon announced that they would also make a version that comes without a lens available soon for $3,995, for users who wish to choose their lenses.

Nathaniel Hansen contributed to this article.