Independent Horizon Films

First, here are some basic features. The XL1 is a 3 chip camera that uses 1/3" chips with 250,000 effective pixels. The camera is equipped with a DV terminal that conforms to IEEE 1394 for digital transfer of video and sound. It comes standard with an Optical Image Stabilized 16X Zoom Lens which Canon says is the longest available lens for a DV camcorder. The camera records drop frame time code. The on-board microphone is a balanced-type with XLR connectors. Unlike many other mini-DV cameras, the XL1 features interchangeable lenses.

Just looking at this camera leaves you with a very professional impression, but this puppy has much more than just good looks. It backs up all the hype that was spilled about this camera when it was first released. The amount of features the XL1 is tricked out with can take a long time to master but its ease of use allow you to simply pull it out of the box, put it together and start shooting!

Video shot with the XL1 is bright, crisp and vivid. One of it's best features though is the astounding video quality when shooting under low light conditions. You get black blacks and crisp, high quality colors. So far, the video we have seen from this camera looks fantastic.

We would like to start by noting that the advent of Digital Video is the only reason we are writing this review right now (in more ways than one). If it were not for this new video technology, IHF would probably not exist because the cost of producing a independent film on...well...film, of any sort, is extremely expensive. The affordability and high quality of DV gives "dreamers" like us an opportunity to express our ideas through film..errr...ahhh...video. With out it, we would not be doing what we do. With that said, here is what we think of the Canon XL1.