Canon Australia recently introduced the XL1S digital video camera.

Canon Australia has recently introduced the XL1S digital video camera, the long-awaited successor to the groundbreaking XL1 camcorder. Packed with new features requested by professional filmmakers, the Canon XL1S is designed, simply, to deliver the finest DV image quality available today. The original Canon XL1 camcorder revolutionized video and filmmaking with its digital format, interchangeable lens system and 3 CCD image sensors with pixel shift technology, providing superior image quality. Raising the technology to the next professional level, the Canon XL1S maintains all the features found in the Canon XL1 while adding 27 new specifications, including improved picture quality and many new manual functions.

The Canon XL1S, with its open architecture and modular design, allows users to build their ideal camcorder system by changing lenses, viewfinders and shoulder mounts. The Canon XL1S remains the only DV camcorder design that can be customised to the individual needs of the videographer and to specific shooting applications.

Canon Australia has also introduced two new lenses (16x electronic and 16x mechanical) and a shoulder mount microphone adapter that includes four audio inputs.

"The Canon XL1 set a benchmark for serious digital video cameras that resulted in a changed approach to film and video creation. By listening to professional users, Canon has managed to set a new benchmark with the XL1S - a new digital camcorder that answers the needs of professional and enthusiast film makers and one that will continue to change the technology of filmmaking," said Stuart Poignand, Canon Australia.

Key new Canon XL1S features include:

Increased picture quality through enhanced sensitivity and further improved noise level
Reset picture quality adjustment for hue, sharpness, colour gain and setup level (black reference level)
Manually controlled gain with increased levels up to 30 dB
Advanced white balance settings with Auto, 2 preset and 3 user settings
5 level Zebra pattern that clearly shows high luminance areas for correct exposure
EBU colour bar for colour balancing during editing
DV and analogue line input and output Other new features requested by users include:
Clear Scan Mode for recording monitors without screen flicker(61.9Hz - 201.5 Hz in 117 steps)
DV Control function allowing synchronous control of IEEE1394 devices through DV Cable - REC/REC PAUSE
Improved low light performance
4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio recording with Electronic Guides on viewfinder
Interval Recording Mode offering 16 combinations of wait and recording times: - Interval: 30sec/1min/5min/10min - Recording time: 0.5sec/1.0sec/1.5sec/2.0sec
Power Save option that protects the tape and offers quick start-up
4 Preset Speeds on Grip Zoom - Variable/Low/Medium/High
3 Preset Speeds on Handle Zoom - Low/Medium/Fast
Character REC provides option to record data (year, month, day, hour, minute and second) into video
Index REC allows a "Good Shot Mark" to be saved for convenient recall
EVF Display options for ON/Partly OFF/OFF
Gain setting with two additional gain settings: +18dB and +30dB
Audio Dub allowing audio to be added to pre-recorded footage
AV Insert allowing video and audio to be added to pre-recorded footage
Composite video / S-Video input
Custom Keys and Presets: - 2 Custom Keys (two settings for camera mode and two for VCR mode) - 3 Picture adjustment memories
Lower Power Consumption (up to 5 hrs 50 mins with 2 x BP945 batteries and CH-910 Dual Battery Charger/Holder)
Easy menu system utilising iris dial to scroll through menus
The Canon XL1S kit will include the camera body, 16x IS II Zoom Lens, Colour Viewfinder, CA-910 Compact Power Adapter, DC-900 Coupler, BP-930 Battery Pack, WL-D3000 Remote Controller, SP-100 Shoulder Brace, SS-1000 Shoulder Strap, S-150 S-Video Cable, STV-150 Stereo Video Cable, Lens Shade, Lens and Body Caps.