After researching and trying the XL1, I've decided it is probably the best solution at this time - I can live with its various shortcomings - with the exception of one concern - I keep reading about focus slippage. Is this a real problem with the lens? Will it hold focus? Also, are there any work arounds for the (dolly related) follow focus issue? Any comments/experiences with these issues is appreciated. (Or should I play the waiting game and hope Canon comes out with solutions with the XL2 - and it comes out soon at comparable cost???) Jim

-- Jim Cooper (jlcooper@s-way.com), April 10, 2001

Answers

Jim, there does tend to be a manual focus slippage on some of the lenses. At our workshops, we find that one or two of the standard zooms will not hold focus on pullback. It varies from lens to lens, some more pronounced than others. I recommend that you check any lens that you are planning to buy.

If you really want to make sure that you have total focus control, you may want to take a look at the professional manual zoom.

-- Dirck Halstead (dirck.halstead@pressroom.com), April 10, 2001.

I purchased my XL-1 approximately 1 1/2 years after it came out so as to avoid the focusing problems people had complained about using the standard 16x lens. (The manual 14x was not out at that time.) My patience seemed to pay off. My 16x seems to hold focus if it is in manual mode. I can hit the AF focus button to quickly focus, and then "fine tune" manually using the focus ring on the lens. It's a bit difficult using the standard color viewfinder. But once I've adjusted the focus it doesn't seem to slip. I've taped 30 and 40 minute close ups of talking head presentations with no slippage. So, from experience, I know some of the 16x lenses are okay.

-- Don Williamson (donwilliamson@erols.com), June 15, 2001.

My XL1 is the Bigest pice of shit I ever paid for. Don't buy one ! Allk the bad things you here about are true. You will not be able to use it for anything. NOTHING you get it through your head. Im so sorry I ever got it. It's been in the shop 4 times and it still has many many isues . Cannon knows this that is why they came out with a XL1s to cover there mistakes up...Dont let anyone tell you differant !!!

-- Pieare (ultravideo@star.com), November 15, 2001.