Canon VL And XL Camcorders With Canon EF Adapters - Canon EOS Technoclopedia

Cameras
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 Sensor Processor Video Record.
System
 Viewfinder LCD Shutter Speeds
(s)
 Max. Resolution Recording4 Audio Physical Size & Weight Storage Medium Power Sources Connections Produced Comments Tests/Reviews
Format MPixel PAL1 MPixel NTSC1 Crop (H)2 Type Pixel Pitch (µm) Dyn. Range (dB) Min. Illum. (lux) Gain (dB) Size (") Pixel Cov. (%) Size (") Type3 Pixel Cov. (%) Resolution (px) Format (PAL) Format (NTSC) Stills Body only Full Setup4 Video/Stills Speeds (mm/s) Batteries DC Remote Control Input/Output
Canon EX1Hi       1/2" 440000     CCD     25 (max: 100000)     2 heads 0.7 (monochrome)                     170 x 165 x 237mm
1400g		   8 video tape SP: 20.05 | LP: 10.03   6V 8.3W DC yes Video: RCA, S-Video
Audio: RCA out, 3.5mm mic-in		 1991    
Canon L1/LX-1     380000 14.35
Canon EX2Hi     1/2" 440000     CCD     Standard.: 5
Slow Shutter: 0.5		     2 heads 0.7 SF-200 (monochrome) -/- -/- -/- -/- - 1/8   DV: SC-CCIR 625/50 -/-     170 x 165 x 237mm
1400g		 170 x 165 x 342mm
2500g		 8 video tape (P5/E5) SP: 20.05 | LP: 10.03 BP-E718 or E722*
(+ 1x Li knob cell)
 DC-100 w/ CA-100
(6V 8.8W DC min.)
 Canon WL-1000;
LANC; ZR-100 (Zoom)		 Video: RCA, S-Video | Sync: RC Time Code
Audio: RCA out, 3.5mm mic-in
Power: 2.5mm F5V DC out		 1994 by default ships with CL 8-120mm F1.4-2.1
*or BP-E722D, which comes with an additional LED charge indicator		  
Canon L2/LX-1T     380000 Standard: 3
Slow Shutter: 0.5		 -/- DV: EIA 525/60 8 video tape (P6/E6) SP: 14.3 | LP: 7.2
  • The camcorder models above made up the VL series of cameras. Like the entry level camera bodies of the EOS line they were sold with different model names depending on the market (L for the US, LX for Japan and EX for Europe. The cameras were equipped with the VL (Video Lens) mount, which was developed in cooperation with Hitachi, Matsushita and Sony. It seems like neither Hitachi nor Sony ever produced equipment for VL afterwards, which probably might have led to the development of the non-VL Canon XL camcorder family later on.
Canon XL 1   1/3"   4:3: 250000
16:9:		 6.7 3CCD     2 (100 recomm.) -3 to 12   2 heads 0.7 180000   -/- -/- -/-   1/15000 - 1/8   DV: SC-CCIR 625/50 DV: EIA 525/60 yes 12bit 32kHz 4Ch - 16bit 48kHz 2Ch PCM 1700g 2860g MiniDV video tape SP: 18.81 | LP: 12.56 BP-927 (185g)
BP-941		 DC-900 w/ AC-900 Canon WL-D2000 Video: Firewire, RCA, S-Video
Audio: RCA in/out, 3.5mm earphone jacks		 1997 - 2001 a size of 415 x 223 x 214mm is given in the manual without notice whether including a lens or not; HC-3000 and HC-3500 System Cases available  
Canon XL 1s 1/3"   4:3: 250000
16:9:		 6.7 3CCD     2 (100 recomm.) -3 to 30   2 heads 0.7 180000   -/- -/- -/-   1/15000 - 1/8   DV: SC-CCIR 625/50 DV: EIA 525/60 yes 12bit 32kHz 4Ch - 16bit 48kHz 2Ch PCM 1700g 2860g MiniDV video tape SP: 18.81 | LP: 12.56 BP-930 (185g)
BP-945		 DC-900 w/ AC-910 Canon WL-D3000;
ZR-1000 (Zoom)		 Video: Firewire, RCA, S-Video
Audio: RCA in/out, 3.5mm earphone & mic-in		   a size of 415 x 223 x 214mm is given in the manual without notice whether including a lens or not; HC-3100 System Cases available  
Canon XL 2 1/3" 4:3: 410000
16:9: 550000*		 4:3: 350000
16:9: 460000*		 6.7 3CCD     0.7 (100 recomm.) -3 to 18 DIGIC DV 2 heads       2 LV VA 200000   1/15000 - 1/8   DV: SC-CCIR 625/50
2:3 or 2:3:3:2 (at 24p)		 DV: EIA 525/60
2:3 or 2:3:3:2 (at 24p)		   12bit 32kHz 4Ch - 16bit 48kHz 2Ch PCM 2410 3545 MiniDV video tape SP: 18.81 | LP: 12.56 BP-930 (185g)
BP-945		 DC-920 w/ AC-910 Canon WL-D4000;
LANC; ZR-1000 (Zoom)		 Video: Firewire, RCA, S-Video
Audio: RCA in/out, XLR, 3.5mm earphone & mic-in		 2004 *according to the manuals, not sure about reality;
a size of 496 x 225 x 220mm is given in the manual without notice whether including a lens or not; HC-3200 System Cases available		  
Canon XL H1   1/3"
4:3: 1170000
16:9: 1560000
 6.7 3CCD     0.5 (100 recomm.) -3 to 18 DIGIC DV II 1 head       2.4 (16:9) LV VA 215000   1/15000 - 1/4 1920 x 1080 DV: SC-CCIR 625/50
HDV: 1080/50i		 DV: 525/60
HDV: 1080/60i		 DCF JPEG DV: 12bit 32kHz 4Ch - 16bit 48kHz 2Ch PCM
HDV: 16bit 384kbps 2Ch MPEG-1 or -2		 2435 3750 MiniDV video tape /
SD/MMC		 SP: 18.81 | LP: 12.56 BP-950G (210g)
BP-970G		 DC-920 w/ AC-910 Canon WL-D5000;
LANC; ZR-2000 (Zoom)		 Video: Firewire, RCA, BNC, HD SDI, S-Video | Sync: Genlock
Audio: RCA in/out, XLR, 3.5mm earphone & mic-in		   XL H1 could be modified by Canon Service to support both PAL and NTSC formats in the same camera;
a size of 496 x 226 x 220mm is given in the manual without notice whether including a lens or not; HC-3200 System Cases available		  
Canon XL H1A/H1S
1/3"
4:3: 1170000
16:9: 1560000
6.7 3CCD     0.5 (100 recomm.) -3 to 36 DIGIC DV II 1 head       2.4 (16:9) LV VA 215000   1/15000 - 1/4 1920 x 1080 DV: SC-CCIR 625/50
HDV: 1080/50i		 DV: 525/60
HDV: 1080/60i		 DCF JPEG DV: 12bit 32kHz 4Ch - 16bit 48kHz 2Ch PCM
HDV: 16bit 384kbps 2Ch MPEG-1 or -2		   A: 2500
S: 2560		 MiniDV video tape /
SDHC/MMC		 SP: 18.81 | LP: 12.56 BP-950G (210g)
BP-970G		 DC-920 w/ AC-910 Canon WL-D5000;
LANC; ZR-2000 (Zoom)		 Video: Firewire, RCA, BNC, HD SDI*, S-Video | Sync: Genlock*
Audio: RCA in/out, XLR, 3.5mm earphone & mic jacks		 2008 *H1s only (also features Timecode);
a size of 496 x 226 x 220mm is given in the manual without notice whether including a lens or not; HC-3200 System Cases available		  

Canon EF Lens Adapters
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 Powered by Size (mm) Weight (g) Produced
Canon EOS Adapter VL              
Canon EF Adapter XL 2CR5 113 x 89 x 39 220  
  • With the use of these adapters it is possible to mount Canon EF lenses to the VL/XL camcorders listed above. They do not support EF-S bayonet lenses nor AF, so choice is limited to EF lenses furthermore providing a decent focus ring and focus mechanism. VL and XL mounts are not cross-compatible.

General Notes On The XL:
1.) Due to the high crop factor of the 1/3" sensors this system, if really used with EF lenses, is of very limited use. The standard lens, that comes boxed with the camera, is a 5.5-88mm F1.6-2.6 IS with a 6 bladed iris. On a full frame that'd be an equivalent of 40-634mm. So by attaching EF lenses to the XL you can't just use a fisheye lens to get some more wide angle (an 8mm fisheye will look like a 58mm lens on full frame with a heavy barrel type of distortion). Still there are some good reasons to use EF lenses with the XL: be it for picture quality reasons, to add to the long end, use that F1.2 lens for real low light situations or others for some more special effects like macro, depth of field etc.. As stated above there is only manual focus available with the adapter and due to the nature of the EF lenses also only manual zoom. But have a look at youtube, there are some demo videos available using the adapter. If you want to buy a XL camcorder, make sure that Canon (or probably some other company in your area) still offers service. You will need it, especially for maintaining the magnetic tape heads - and make sure you get an external tape player for playback and transfer to a computer to prevent the heads from getting worn out too soon.
2.)


An alternative to the EF Adapter XL (although being of completely different primary functionality and way more expensive) might be the Redrock M2 Encore and M3 depth-of-field adapters in conjunction with their LiveLens Active Lens Mount (the Redrock M2 (succeeded by the M2 Encore) is not compatible with LiveLens, so you'd be limited to PL or Nikon mount lenses). The DOF adapters offer a much shallower depth of field than normally possible with such small sensor sizes like 1/3". The LiveLens Mount is an additional adapter to mount EF lenses to the DOF adapters. It controls the diaphragm electronically. Documentation is rare, but by judging from the package contents (come with achromatic close-up lenses to mount between camera mounted lens an DOS adapter) and footage seen it seems like the Crop factor is reduced - if not eliminated - when using the Redrock DOF adapters. Thus the M2s and M3 are not really compatible with EF-S/DX lenses (results in vignetting at wide angles), EF-S compatibility with LiveView is not officially documented, although reported by some users.
Note: None of the XL series camcorders are listed in the camera charts of either M2e or M3. The original M2 required the microX attachment to mount on XL camcorders (a kind of angle viewing device to eliminate optical axis leveling differences between XL and M2).
3.)

In case you just want to mess around for the fun of it, as usual Fotodiox has the answer. With the Fotodiox Pro Canon EOS-XL they offer a dumb adapter without any electronic coupling for a fraction of the price. Well, at least there are no additional optical elements neccessary here. Will work perfectly with Samyang & Co., since they have aperture control rings.