I Bought My Dream Camera…From 25 Years Ago | Canon XL1

[@tombuck]

Here's a follow-up video that compares footage imported via FireWire to the analog method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2LbmXiEbtaKrc0 Thank you to everyone in the comments here who helped me figure out which adapters I needed to make it happen! Overall I think the FireWire footage is definitely better, but it's not quite the drastic difference I expected. I still feel like the analog method gets you 90% of the way there with a much simpler workflow, so that's what I'd recommend for anyone who's not too familiar with cameras. But if you are a camera nerd (and I mean that in the best way possible), then FireWire will give you the best quality possible while also being a fun project to tinker with.

[@trevorcrowe7571]

I came to the comments just to say “hey you didn’t use digital out for better quality!” Glad to see you made an update video! I recently bought a non working XL-1 just to have on my shelf! I think it’s one of the best consumer designs ever.

[@macgamer1973]

I still use mine connect to Mac Pro an FCP. My 2nd cam having tape problems. I was in college couldn’t buy it. I brought the canon elura dv. A bonus is using tape vd a ssd or dv disc

[@edreactor]

Of of the most stunning examples of industrial design in the history of electronic devices...

[@timtaylorphotovideo6144]

This was the goto camera for wedding videographers and college A/V departments. I think it helped define the term, prosumer. I remember, I read every article in Videomaker magazine at the time time dreaming of this camera as well. Now you just need to buy a Video Toaster and your 90’s production studio will be complete.

[@melgross]

This was not a prosumer camera. Prosumer cameras cost half of what this cost.

[@Dr.W.Krueger]

Prosumer...good one.

[@TheCallejo980]

how did icarly look so hd with freddie using this 1900´s cameras

[@justjanne-de]

Because these cameras actually have much better quality than shown here. The composite video out was really limiting the quality, even through S-Video it'd have been much better. I've shot multiple short films on cameras like these when I was a teen, and if you use the firewire port the quality is almost 720p and much clearer.

[@verydeadduck]

They just used the professional studio cameras the canon xl1 was just a prop

[@skitownstreetcred]

That’s what I thought

[@realamericannegro977]

​@@verydeadduck 28 days later was shot with this and looks better than the iphone footage

[@pd1jdw630]

We had HD in the 90’s You can look up a video. Titled: New York City in 1993 in HD - DTheater DVHS Demo Tape

[@jwalter1337]

The XL1 and DVX100b were my two dream cameras when I got my start!

[@playdeebug4400]

For me, the biggest ground breaking feature of the XL-1 was the “Movie” mode feature which recorded 30 full frames vs 60 interlaced frames. I believe it was the first camera available to the common person that had that feature. When shooting in “Movie” mode, it created more of the look of film , instead of the “soap opera” look.

[@tombuck]

Definitely a big deal!

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

This camera was used to film 28 Days Later but they used the PAL version that recorded in 25 frames a second but was converted to 24 frames in post.

[@tsaipod]

That’s awesome

[@nomadben]

What a strange choice. I wonder how they converted from 25 to 24 without it looking all wonky

[@rizzo-films]

Also I think PAL was a slightly higher resolution than NTSC. Not sure if the increased resolution was noticeable, I’ve never shot in PAL or actually seen anything on a PAL monitor, but definitely wanted to before I got my hands on an HD camera!

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

@@rizzo-films I remember back in the day the Star Wars fans was doing re-edits and some said get the PAL for the resolution. One of the guys that did a Star Wars edit said its not enough to really make a differentence. Also with PAL DVDs they have to re-sync the audio or things sound weird with people talking because your now shifting 24 frames in a 25 timeline. Also PAL movies are shorter because they play faster. There is a old trick they would use on Laser DISC movies to speed up the film to get it to fit on one disc. I know they did this with the Panascan 4:3 versions not the letter box ones of Star Wars and Empite Strikes Back to get the film to be on one disc by playing the video a little fast. I've watched these version and never notice the speed up but I was not looking for it also.

[@mrdrgonzo]

Yeah Danny Boyle chose it because of its pretty very obvious digital look that was a good match for the genre of film, it wasn’t for its image quality (as in a clean image) 😅

[@iLEZ]

My gosh, what a trip down memory lane. We used these things in school and I thought they were really neat. They were kind of "reserved" for the big projects, so you knew when you got to use it that it was serious business.

[@TheIrishGuyVlogs]

I loved this camera, used in constantly in film school, when I found out 28 Days Later was filmed with the Canon XL1, I was obsessed. It was the pinnacle of gorilla filmmaking tools. The worst thing was logging footage in real time. I do not miss that at all. Cool to see how things have moved on but at the time the XL1 was the dream. Thanks for showing me what I missed out on!

[@Ivandotjpeg]

I used to work at a ritz camera… 1990-1996… I remember 1991, Canon A1 Digital and L1. Of the Hi8 variety but eventually Canon moved to MiniDV tape. We also had the Sony V5000, which everyone lusted after. Fast forward to 2000, I remember using an XL2 on a Powermac G4. They were really cool to use.

[@tombuck]

Oh man, Ritz! I remember browsing their catalogs for hours.

[@FLOWIMSTUDIO]

This reminds me my teen years too. You were not alone pinning an XL1 commercial on your wall.. Same here. My parents told me I had to chose for my 18th birthday : car or camera. The rest is history :D

[@tombuck]

I think I would've made the same choice too 😁

[@jiednazareth]

Yes. Design, ergonomics, ease of use and good looking. A camera everyone wanted to use to impress clients back then.

[@itsharryhagen]

The best standard definition camera that I ever used was the Panasonic DVX-100B. The video quality, although standard definition, in the right lighting was close to HD. Some movies were filmed on it

[@razfilmstv]

I had one but sold it for the Panasonic DVX100b.. The squeeze mode was nice.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Back when this was brand new I was helping two friends make indie films for their film classes they were taking. One was attending Emerson the other was taking a film course at Rhode Island college. My friend Jorge (the one going to RIC) was friends with the head of film studies there and since he was familiar with computers (he had one of the first Mac G3's that had come out) he volunteered to set up the school's very first digital editing suite. This was back when Avid had yet to really take over as the main means of editing films. I got to see this in use and it was crazy how much better the visuals looked and how easy and quick it was to put scenes together. We made our own steadicam and dolly's and because it was so light you didn't need huge pieces of equipment to move it around. Our dolly was a few pieces of fiberglass pole and our dolly was some 2x4's and rubber cart wheels with lengths of fiberglass poles for tracks. At the time they were some of the first students making indie films on digital. I really wish I had copies of the one we made for practice. It was a short comedy skit where I chased Jorge through the woods. It's nice to see someone who appreciates this piece of equipment as I have many fond memories of it.

[@tomdchi12]

Direct digital import of MiniDV footage was definitely better quality than capturing from the analog outputs. It would also be interesting to see what today’s grading tools could do to refine that footage.

[@jessepace5899]

when you say "better" do you mean high resolution? Because I'm thinkning about getting one of these for that sweet sweet tape saturation. I want a "worse" quality haha

[@lunarvue]

I've run mini DV video through Topaz AI, and it makes a HUGE difference.

[@Amddurin]

@@lunarvue Did you upscale to 1080p or ? - with Topaz AI

[@lunarvue]

@@Amddurinyes, upscale and it will denoise, sharpen, and utilizes AI to enhance details and can even remove camera shake. Takes a lot of processing power to do a lot of footage, but the results are worth it. There's old 16x9 SD content that I've upscaled that now looks good enough to put on a reel, at least some of it. Pretty impressive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oouriIN6hr6Eb8Usi=qbX6lU4SgJO8mKot

[@KenFlanagan]

Finally someone has rediscovered this beauty, my favourite camera ever. Thx

[@FreshSqueezedLightning]

The XL2 and DVX-100B reigned supreme... memories!!

[@BoJoFohPah]

I worked in marketing for a company that wanted to do their own promotional videos and I was so happy when they gave me budget approval to buy one of these (which often came home with me)

[@BenJonesVideographer]

I'd still suggest people try the firewire route if possible. Apple make plenty of dongles from firewire to thunderbolt which GREATLY improves the quality.

[@flyinbryanfpv]

There are also modern pcie firewire bridges that are decent.

[@monkeygod523]

WOW! What a walkthrough Tom!

[@nathanpeachs2704]

The XL1 is a gem! used it tons back in the day!! You can not put side by comparison to a phone video camera! 1/ 90 percent of what you're see has electronic correction white balance and ND filtering as well as more f stop range.

[@cameralabs]

Nice memories! I remember using this to film my first total solar eclipse in 1999, fitted with an EF lens! I've included that clip in a recent tutorial I made about eclipses.

[@robwasnj]

Oh my gosh, I remember poring over brochures for that camera! I was 20 years old in 1998 and I did wind up buying a Canon Hi-8 camera that was the prosumer equivalent of that, then later a Sony PC110 camera which was nice and compact Mini DV. Truly amazing how much things have changed but back then few people had ways to record events and the footage I have is worth every penny those cameras cost, I even started going through old tapes and finding stuff I thought was junk and taped over that is just interesting because it's so long ago. Often the everyday things made for the best memories. I remember editing VCR's, (Panasonic AG1980 SVHS) and titlers, so lossy! When NLE"s came out that was crazy exciting, I had a Canopus DV Storm with a computer just for that. Exciting journey and cool purchase.

[@benjhaisch]

was my first "real" video camera. photographed a friend's wedding really early on and he paid for it partially with that camera. some amazing memories with that thing.

[@bertstephani]

I still have the little brother the X-M1 (because I couldn't afford the X-L1). Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@be_original]

Enjoyed the in-depth nostalgia. It was my first video camera purchase in 1999 along with Final Cut Pro. You did show me some accessories I did not know were available. It paid for it's self many times over with corporate shoots. Good job on the video!

[@tombuck]

Final Cut in 1999! That's absolutely awesome. My first time editing video was on iMovie 1 in 2000 or so? I also worked at a TV station in 2001 that had an early version of AVID designed for tv reporters to use, but I found it super clunky.

[@be_original]

That's great, you started at a good time, just when digital was getting it's legs. I tried Premiere in 1996 and decided video editing was a no go then. My first attempt at digital editing (video-animation) was with MacroMedia in 1992 when it was only grayscale. Little FYI, Apple bought the video engine from MacroMedia and turned it into FinalCut Pro.@@tombuck

[@POVwithRC]

I'm starting to see these and other older camcorders in use at car shows and other events. People are into the unique way they make the world look I guess. A buddy just picked up a GL2 for that purpose.

[@tombuck]

They're definitely coming back around! The Sony VX1000 is virtually impossible to find in good working condition because it's still hugely popular for skate videos and stuff.

[@Welcome2It]

Had an XL1 in my storage forever now. Works but no lens. Just found a complete XL2 kit in a storage unit today! Excited to use both of these

[@tombuck]

Oh that's awesome!!

[@scottflyger432]

I still have one in my studio. Currently used as a paperweight nowadays. Loved it when I bought it.

[@tombuck]

It's a beautiful paperweight.

[@SIBIRIAKcom]

Wow. Thank you very much! I spent days and hours a year ago watching old reviews on that beast. I still want it.

[@tombuck]

It's so worth it- definitely take a gander at eBay form time to time and you might find a heck of a deal!

[@corykphotography]

Dude!!! This was my dream camera years ago as well! I'm 35 and back when I was 14-15 years old my friends and I started Ghost Hunting and traveling and filming everything. This was the camera I dreamed of having. The group was called Indiana Ghost Hunters and you can still find our poor quality videos on KZbin. If only we had this...

[@tombuck]

Yep. I'm 38, so we're right in that same generation of kids who drooled over it 😁

[@diJMedia]

I love this camera. I had one from 1999 to 2006 when it was stolen from me on vacation. At the time there was nothing better. And what a look she had. I had obviously replaced it with an XL H1 which I still have.

[@JasonNeil]

I had this camera. Used it professionally and still to this day regard it as the most pleasing to use camera I’ve ever owned. I also had the flight case, and EF lens adapter. Such a great looking camera too…

[@massimoditrapaniph189]

I do have one xl1s. Bought it in ny manhattan in 1999 at adorama. Never sold it because it really was a dream camera to use it back then. Had many cameras in the next years but that one stayed in my heart.

[@tombuck]

That's awesome. I can only imagine the excitement of walking out of the store with that thing back then!

[@redlogicsquare]

It's hard to overestimate how much I lusted after this camera when (and LONG after) it came out. Thank you for this walkthrough.

[@brunoshoes864]

That's mad how you speak of 1998.. I could afford this camera only in 2012 and did all my films and tv carrer with it... Beast of a cam!

[@newfoundmass]

I'll never forget the first time i used a Videonics editor, the first time I used a NLE and then the first camera I used that had HD. Those are memories burned into my brain

[@tombuck]

Oh wow, I remember Videonics! Haha, thanks for reminding me!

[@andrewsaraceni]

Thank you for making this! I've also had a strange fascination with this camera since it was released, and especially with some of its history (e.g. used in filming 28 Days Later). Even though the specs pale in comparison to any modern camera today, Canon really was ahead of their time with the form factor, design and ergonomics of the XL-1. Very much an early preview of features we now have and take for granted shooting video in modern DSLR/mirrorless and cinema cameras.

[@tombuck]

It really is an awesome camera. Just yesterday I got all the adapters to start importing footage via FireWire and wow, it looks so much better! Still nowhere near what modern cameras can do, but it's nice to see the XL1 living up to its full potential.

[@KaneTreble]

Tom this is amazing! Your clear passion for this camera shines through - I'm loving the change in aspect ratios with different shots, the mixed room setups for each section, and the sound of the DV cover opening took me waaay back! Definitely worth the wait, probably my favourite video of yours ever!

[@tombuck]

Thanks Kane! I was worried the many aspect ratios could be distracting, but I ended up liking it a lot- it's especially cool to see what camera setups at similar price points but 25 years apart are capable of. The anamorphic shots look so stunning compared to the analog footage.

[@ALonesomeStreet]

The L1 is going to be used as a sci-fi prop, and I’m here for it.

[@PatrickMurphy-g4d]

First off, The Aquabats are indeed the best band in the world. Secondly, the XL1 was a cinematic game-changer. Because of it, we no longer have to crawl to Panavision and beg, "Please, sir, may I have a camera?" because Pandora's digital box was opened. Thanks for a great video discussing the history of this essential camera.

[@tombuck]

Agreed on every point 100%

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Great video, Tom! I saved up and got an XL-1s back in the day and ended up filming weddings for a while to pay for it. When the XL-2 came out, I saved up again and sold the XL-1s to get it because I HAD to have the true widescreen and 24fps! I mean, I was basically making movies at that point, right?! I never ended up selling the XL-2 and still have it to this day, but my path did take me eventually to the 5DmkII for a web series I made. But i'm with you, I would love to see an XL-3 or XL-4K because the form factor was so amazing on those cameras!

[@tombuck]

The jump to DSLR-quality video was massive, but dang, something was definitely lost in the form factor.

[@dairenn]

Even though I ended up getting into music and (for work, computer networking), I had always had a passion for photo and video since the late 1990s. I used two VCRs to edit dubs of footage I shot off of Digital8 Canon and Sony cameras (the Canons were always better). The XL-1 was my Dream Camera for a screenplay I wrote but like you, $4k might have well been $4MM to me when I was 18 and this camera was first released. I had always wanted a "real" camera from the perspective of having that big body that offered stability and ergonomics like nothing else in the sub-$10k range. Like everybody else, I now shoot on 4k DSLRs & Mirrorless (and Canon is still better than Sony, but far more expensive), as today's sensors are insanely amazing and the lens lineup is undefeated. But I took something you said to heart when you said you believe there would be a market for an 8k prosumer/semi-pro XL1-like body mirrorless camera. I now own the relatively inexpensive (though still Very pricy) a7iii by Sony and the endless touch screens is not a workflow I would enjoy if I had to do video work for a living. Same with my Canon EOS 850D. At the end of the day, those bodies were made for photography, same with the lenses. This is why "real" productions use CINE lenses that are parfocal with T-stops (not F-stops) for aperture control, and camera bodies like the ones you see made by ARRI are in that form-factor (not to mention it really helps with cooling). You have to (like I did) buy all this extra hardware and gear to bulk up these tiny, lightweight cameras so you can hold them low with overhand handles or, even better, shoulder-mount them like in the old days and use a viewfinder for some of the most stable, handle-held footage possible without a multi-thousand dollar SteadiCam rig. Because you Can buy hardware to get "close" to the same ergonomics while still having relatively tiny cameras with super powerful image processors and chips filming 4,6 and even 8k video, I doubt even the legends at Canon will really go all the way in the non-pro market with a camera body like this ever again, but you never know. And I hope they do. Like you, I dreamed of such beautiful piece of technology and engineer that was the mighty XL-1.

[@tombuck]

Oh those VCR to VCR days definitely bring back memories! I think you're right on the money about why they wouldn't develop a modern version of these cameras. I suppose their answer would be to go for one of the cinema cameras, which makes sense, but they one person run and gun ergonomics still aren't at the same level as the XL1.

[@ChristianWheel]

Congrats on finally getting your dream camera! Mine was the XL2, I finally got one in 2009, it was my first "prosumer" camera and I cut my teeth on videography with it. In retrospect I would have been better off with a 5D Mark II, but it still was a great camera to learn on.

[@tombuck]

Super cool you got to use it closer to it's "heyday" 😎

[@donbullock-techihound]

What a great expose of the Canon legacy of video cameras. As an elementary school teacher I tried to get my school district to support a video program I was running in my classroom but to no avail. Instead I used my own camcorder and had to actually shoot sections of our video in order in camera and try my best to minimize the affects of the flying erase head. Even with all that for a brief time, with the support from the district’s superintendent, I was able to get the school news program my students made on the local Public Service channel. Unfortunately by camcorder quit working which abruptly ended my video productions. Having a camera like this and the ability to edit on a computer would have been wonderful. It was just way beyond my budget at school and my personal budget at the time. I marvel at what you were able to accomplish as a media teacher.

[@tombuck]

Cognrats to you for making the program work on your own! That's some amazing dedication. I was in high school myself when the video production class got the original iMac DV with iMovie 1.0, and being able to edit on a computer was absolutely life changing . I also remember the teacher spent a huge chunk of the budget on a 10gb hard drive that he said would be impossible to ever fill up 😁

[@BetoSporkens]

I loved XL1 for a long time...even with Sony VX1000 I have great memories of doing wonderfull documentaries at the time...MINI-DV WAS AWSOME! But I really would like to see Canon launch again THAT same design with today's technology...

[@JulianOShea]

Mate - such great storytelling on something you clearly are very passionate about. Cheers.

[@tombuck]

Thanks Julian! I really appreciate that as the video is definitely a labor of love 👍

[@JR_Taylor]

My dream camera when i was at uni. I think 28 days later was filmed on one of these

[@harrisonmartin291]

This and your piece on the L1 were really enlightening. I can tell they were a labor of love. Great stuff.

[@tombuck]

Thank you for saying that! Both of those videos are some of my all time favorites, so that means a lot to hear.

[@Turnah81]

The Canon XL1s was an art work in form factor. Thanks for making this video. My girlfriend (now wife) and I both saved from our part time retail and fast food in 2002 while at film school to buy one together. With the very few accessories we needed it was almost $9K AUD from memory. We then started a business doing corporate video and events. Many local competitors at the time were very locked into their larger ENG and even analogue cameras still and the XL1s, and a little creativity gave us a big advantage in adaptability in what and how we could film. I think my first KZbin video is filmed on it actually. When we finally sold it we actually kept the stock included fold up/down shoulder mount (as we sold the camera with the xlr shoulder mount) and I adapted it to a DSLR shoulder rig that I sometimes still use to this day. Great review though. Oh you missed the hidden buttons under the red circular door, Also very satisfying to access.

[@gregv2821]

I’ve owned over a dozen cameras through the years, always upgrading as the tech evolved. This is, by far, my favorite camera of al time. You covered it pretty well but I was surprised you didn’t mention the controls hiding behind the red sliding door adjacent to the circular dial. I had all of Canon’s lenses and they were all great but none of them were as amazing as the manual lens. What an absolute beauty that was. I also had the FU-1000 b&w viewfinder which was an absolute dream compared to the junky stock color viewfinder. Maybe someone mentioned it in another comment but Danny Boyle used this camera to shoot 28 Days Later.

[@dpc4548]

I used this as a news gathering cam on local tv. When i left, i bought it from them and it's still sitting next to me now. I love it. I use fd and ef lenses on it.

[@Justin_Allen]

What a great memory journey this camera review was! I remember starting a new job as an interactive CD developer and after being there for a few weeks I was asked to go spend almost a year in Australia filming for the company for a new interactive product. I knew almost nothing about video but decided to buy the brand new, just released that month, Canon XL-1. I also got the Sony DVCam deck well as a Lowell 3 light kit and a 7" ikegami monitor. And or course power converters. And cases, lots of flight-ready cases. And there I went with what seemed like 9000lbs of equipment, an assistant, and absolutely no idea how to shoot corporate video off to Australia for months at a time. What a great time! I still have the DVCam deck, the hard plastic case from the Lowell set, and the 7" monitor and the "must be the heaviest case ever made" the monitor sits in.

[@tombuck]

Despite the clunkiness, that sounds like an absolutely awesome setup. I think I'd really like to try and find a way to import XL1 footage via FireWire because I'm sure it would look a bit better yet.

[@Justin_Allen]

@@tombuck Yes, clunky today...back then it was state of the art! lol Also there are two ways that I did that however the issue today is the drivers on the computer side. 1) you can just pick up an older mac, this might be the easiest :) 2) For a long time I used an older Apple thunderbolt monitor and then used a firewire to thunderbolt adapter to make that connection. There is not current adapter that works for today's computers however.

[@illusionprovideo]

This is like the kid that had the Lamborghini Countach poster on his wall and grew up and bought one only to find out how miserable it was to drive even though he looks cool. I owned 2 of each... The XL and the L2 and I have never been so glad to get rid of them. Their autofocus was next to useless. They looked cool though... I was indoctrinated into Sony and so far, yes complaints but so glad to see improvements way beyond the old Canon pretty stuff. Good job on the fulfilling childhood dreams. I always wanted the Nakamichi 680 deck and as an adult I bought 4 of them and not a one works now. Funny what childhood memories cause us to do as adults. :)

[@Lhenndyn]

The design was incredible… i bough one ten years ago, just to get one behind my desk ;)

[@josephawatson]

I was in my 20s when the xl-1 came out I drooled over it.

[@TheLifeOfJavi]

I remember the XL2 being the first "pro" camera I drooled over.

[@bgcreations6995]

XL1 wow!!. Lot of memories.

[@SnepperStepTV]

These camcorders are a lot more fun than the modern stuff. I like the pace of analog editing and the way tape looks better than the 4k modern stuff.

[@tombuck]

Fun! Yes! That's exactly it.

[@slowgold20]

As a child I saw these in the B&H ad in the middle fold of the NYT science section. I thought it was the coolest thing too!

[@mittaw]

I fell in love with this camera when '28 days later came out. I miss that push button. Genius.

[@rockyninja5089]

First camera I ever used. Was shooting wedding videos with it. Just picked up a C100 a few years back for that same feel.

[@critflame10]

One of the main reasons for getting my xl1s back in 2002 was 'frame mode' which created a version of progressive and gave video a film look.

[@synergist-media]

Oh, I can just hear the parents of a super-enthusiastic 13-year-old telling him that, you know, Tom, expensive electronics don't grow on trees. And now that you've proved them wrong, you finally have your XL1. Yeah, I laughed out loud when you panned to the Casio keyboard in a tree. And yeah, I miss my Canon XL1S, for all the exact reasons you covered in this XLent video. And as someone who's been searching, fruitlessly, for a modern version of that form factor and those specific features, I'm totally with you on wanting an XL-4K. Please, Canon?

[@tombuck]

My parents never bought me an XL1, but they sure as heck bought be a Casio!

[@Y-DER]

I filmed weddings with 3 of these up until 2011. I wish I wouldn't have sold all of them. Would be a nice wall hanger today. I remember seeing "Trauma Life in the ER" show in the late 90's used these and had to have them. Great video!

[@Nodnarb518]

Man I remember QCing these cams at a rental house I worked at many moons ago. This was like in every college dept. this and the DVX100 were pretty revolutionary for the prosumer sector.

[@MEBoisv]

When I graduated college in 2003 I dreamed of owning this camera. I initially bought a GL1 and eventually owned an XH-A1. Today I own an Fx3.

[@DandoPorsaco-ho1zs]

When the XL1 was out there, I tried to decide between that camera and the Sony VX100, and although the latter had worse sound, the low light capabilities were better, so I bought the Sony. Despite the nostalgia, I would never go back after my modern mirrorless cameras.

[@MilesLangley]

I remember pitching Canon on an idea to let us borrow one of these… they never replied. We continued filming surf videos on our consumer-grade camcorders.

[@tombuck]

Their loss!

[@SeanofAllTrades]

I bought one of these used a decade ago and it was busted. I was so bummed out. 28 Days Later inspired me.

[@radekdrayco]

Oh man, I loved that camera when I was a teenager. I so much wanted it. I too had a poster of it. Years later, I wondered, whatever happened to the XL1, did they make an HD version or a 4K years after that. To my disappointment, there was no camera that looked like the XL1 in those resolutions. If they made one day. I would be it. Thanks for featuring this camera, brings back good memories.

[@vader1a]

I remember using this at university back in 2001

[@future_self]

Bravo!! Wonderful video bro!! I used to drool over this camera but couldn't afford it at the time. I moved out to Cali and was in my first year of filmmaking school. However, I ran out of money and had to move back home. I wish I had stuck with filming regardless of equipment. Now, 20 years later, I'm starting all over. Thanks for the trip down memory lane and a top-notch review of this awesome camera!!

[@juneinblack]

In 2007 or 2008 I found an old Canon XL1 in my high school's computer lab, and convinced them to let me use it to make a short film. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

[@boxiii]

The phone comparison was super interesting to see! It definitely took me back haha

[@tombuck]

I want to do a whole video about phone cameras now 😁

[@samburbank8708]

Great idea for a video. I bought the XL1 when I landed my first corporate gig in 2000. The next year I took it to the high Canadian arctic for a shoot for Nat Geo, and used that camera for countless shows for them over the next couple of years. The thing that sold it was the 'progressive scan' this non-interlaced look that people - including my bosses - were drawn to, even if they didn't understand exactly what they were seeing. The resolution was terrible, but the 'feel' was unique.

[@tombuck]

That sounds like a super fun project!

[@BrennFilm]

I shot my movie "Swingers" (2002) with it. Printed it in post to 35mm negative, to create theater copies (pre DCP era). The movie had a nation wide theatrical release in the Netherlands. Love the look of the image.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks for this video. I'm like you and wanted a XL-1 for a very long time. When I finally got one and all the accessories that could be found for it, when I firewired the footage into my MacBook I thought the sensors were messed up. the footage was real bad. But now after seeing the footage of yours I know that's just the way the look on fancy high resolution monitors we have now. I loved your A-B comparisons with the iPhone models.

[@digitalenzymes6349]

Mine just arrived today! All sticky-old-rubbery and gross. But nothing a little rubbing alcohol can’t fix! Small price to pay because everything functions great. Can’t wait to start shooting.

[@tombuck]

So glad you got one! I’m working on a follow up video about how to transfer footage via FireWire.

[@tsaipod]

Ha! I just pulled mine out of its pelican case then searched KZbin I haven’t used it in years. Mint. I’m going to start recording with it.

[@tombuck]

You definitely should!

[@tsaipod]

@@tombuck ❤️

[@MakePictures]

i used to co-own a video production studio and we started with an xl1 + gl1, later on xl2 gl2- and then the dslr era took over. easily one of the coolest designed lineup ever, the. gl1 was my personal favorite, i really loved the portability and the iq you could get at the time. canon should bring that style back to their cinema line! this is the perfect time to steal attention away from nikon red

[@savillecreations8046]

Serious flashback watching this. I had that camera. First camera that got my video world going. I thought I’d made it. Wish Canon did a new version in the white, black and red in their EOS cinema lineup.

[@FilmSpook]

Instant subscriber here! Infinite Thanks, Tom. I'm also a Huge Fan of Retro Cams. Best Wishes to you, my Friend.😅

[@robotjeans]

I wanted one of these so badly when I was in college.

[@SeoulMan2020]

Haha bought my XL1 in 1998 and sold it in 2021… used it with a Draco Casablanca editing system that cost a fortune for the upgraded 6GB storage edition. Congrats on your XL-1!!

[@GarretGrayCamera]

I worked in news back in the late 90s and someone came into the station with footage of some kind of mishap they filmed on their own. Back then there were quality standards so it either had to look good or the subject matter had to override the quality standards. The mishap was pretty mundane but it was shot on a GL2 and I was amazed at the quality. Soon after I shot an indy film on the XL1. It was a step up from the old camcorders for sure. It had a "film" look to it. To this day, the form of the XL1 is great. Back then, we looked liked pros carrying that thing.

[@randomk7897]

This was also my dream camera as a teen. When it released, I was shooting skate videos and this camera was mind blowing. Everything great about the GL-1 and so much more.

[@emulsionvhs69]

Used my XL1s to record some personal projects of mine, I really love it although it definitely needs that shoulder mount to be comfortable shooting like an ENG camera. Cameras like these are fantastic for sports videography, especially automotive.

[@waynekinney3358]

I'm only 3 years older than you and remember feeling the same excitement when I first saw the XL1 come out (OK, no pin up on my wall, but I was certainly envious)!

[@KrisPettie]

I wanted a Sony VX-1000. The XL1 was a beast of its day.

[@tombuck]

The VX1000 is STILL tough to find at a good price!

[@davepov]

What an interesting video. I never expected to see anything on the Canon L and XL-1 cameras again. I had the L-1 and LOVED it! I shot numerous weddings with it and edited the video in a linear system, tape-to-tape, then gave my brides a final VHS copy. When I went to work for a large insurance company in their in-house video unit, I talked them into buying the XL-1S for all of our work and it did the job well. We still edited tape-to-tape but our master tapes were BetacamSP. Sure, compared to today's phone video, the Hi8 looks bad but when we used the XL-1 in the 1990's we thought we were all that and a bag of chips!

[@Imavideo]

Me and many wish to Canon to do an updated XL1 into these days because this camera has something that no similar camera has even in these days.I had a Canon XL2S and I love it.

[@RHC_NYC]

The XL1 was a dream camera for me. Like a Ferrari. Never got my hands on one, though I did get to play with one. It wasn't until I got my Canon 7D that I really got to explore video the way I wanted. Before that, it was the P&S cameras that shot 30 second clips. At work we got to use the good ol' Sony PD-150. Remember those?

[@leeevans1874]

I made 2 commerial surf films with the xl1 the x16 had awefull backfocus problems. Fortunately I used it with stills glass for telephoto work . Also ground glass adapters . Let's not forget 28 days later was shot on one of these puppies with a ground glass adapter. ❤❤❤

[@SamPockerOfficial]

I was just thinking about this camera the other day. Thanks for making this video, I was curious what it was like now.

[@jmanchester]

I remember when I had one of XL1's. I ended up ditching it for the Canon T2i. At that time, it was definitely like stepping into a new world of photo and video with the way cameras were evolving. Now you look at how far cameras have come since the T2i and it's insane

[@justarandomjman]

I was in the same exact scenario, had the XL1 then jumped ship to a T2i 😆 it sounds insane doesn't it?

[@jmanchester]

@@justarandomjman at the time the T2i was pretty amazing when it came to image quality, comparing the 2. I kept the T2i for about a year and made a major leap to the Markii

[@tombuck]

Oh I had the T2i too and really loved it! But the XL1's ergonomics are so much nicer.

[@jmanchester]

@@tombuck 100%

[@daramccluskey]

Beast of a camera - I had an XL1s - I got it for the frame mode, I learned on it while I shot a documentary that got on TV, then shot another one and another one, stabiliser on the lens was fantastic, the included mic was really great as well, and the built in attenuator was fantastic for gigs.... Still have mine. Only problem is tapes sometimes jammed in it and if the heads drift out of alignment playing back the tapes shot in frame mode can be a problem. But it did the job for me over at least 5 years. Shot gigs, riots, weddings, family events, everything...

[@HankDevos]

This video is hitting me right in the nostalgia... I remember wanting this camera so badly when I was in University... I shot my first short film on a friends XL1 and fell in love with it. great camera! When I was going to buy one I was convinced to get a DVX100a instead... and I'm very glad I did... the DVX100a was definitely better in a lot of ways... but man.. I miss the XL1 form.

[@DaivG]

Yes! While I was rocking my canon 8mm cameras in the late 90's, I also wanted the XL1 when it came out and still (impractically) want one today! So much nostalgia, thank you!! Oh @18:08 , you could go the other, other, other way. Firewire -> Firewire 800 adapter -> Thunderbolt adapter. Still works (at least with the right combination of hardware, OS, and software), and will give you marginally better video than any RCA output capture/conversion.

[@tombuck]

I'm going to try a FireWire method to see if I can get it to work and how the video looks. 👍

[@DJShoji]

I was going to mention that. Connectivity between DV camcorder and Mac via FireWire really revolutionized video production. I think Final Cut still supports DV format (i.e. you can control rewind / forward, play from iMovie or Final Cut)

[@NickFromHardReset]

Great video! I had this camera back in the day and *loved* it. I still miss the ergonomics of this design.

[@tombuck]

Couldn't agree more!