The Weird Retro Camcorder That Changed Everything - Canon L1

Overlooked and forgotten, the Canon L1 was the world's FIRST interchangeable lens camcorder, and that changed everything! This video chronicles my unexpectedly interesting journey to piece together a working Canon L1 (and it turns out that the real L1 was the lessons I learned along the way).
📼 Cathode Ray Dude’s Canon L1 Video:
• The Messy, Bizarre Can...
📼 My video on how to stream with "retro" cameras:
• How to Use Old Camcord...
Finally, I had a lot of fun making this video. It's actually one of my favorite videos I've ever made. So thanks for taking the time to check it out!
⏱ Chapter Markers:
0:00 - The Fresh Prince of L Air
1:58 - Interchangeable Lenses Changed Everything
2:34 - You Might Remember It From Such Films As…
4:06 - Where The L Did This Camera Come From?
6:10 - Putting The “Fun” In FUNctional
7:25 - Making Sense Of Sensors
8:31 - A Canonical Quest
10:02 - A Powerful Power Up
10:51 - Let’s Focus On The Lens
12:33 - Learning To Adapt
15:21 - Digging The Digital Age
16:53 - The Effect of Effects
17:38 - Taking Control
21:06 - Tape Tales
23:01 - The Power Of The Power Supply
23:30 - The Rode To Better Sound
24:09 - Analog Vlog (Test Talking Head Footage)
25:51 - Montage Madness (Outdoor Clips)
26:36 - A Legacy You Can See
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#Canon #cameras #8mm #camcorders #lenses
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Episode 272: What the L Is This? Canon’s 30 Year Old L1 Camcorder Is Out of This World

[@tombuck]

📼 This ended up being one of my favorite videos I've made, so I hope you enjoy it! if you want to put an old camera to use yourself, here's my video on how to stream with "retro" camcorders: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKCsnZZoeK55mJI

[@aaronhess]

I have to agree! This was one of your best ones yet!

[@TripleFork]

You made me sooooooo stoked to go and look for a similar looking camcorder. I all of a suden have a idea for a new road trip movie combining old and new looking footage. Thanks for that.

[@markforeman7082]

Ive already used your knowledge to awaken a Sony camcorder. Thanks

[@vladcampos]

L-oved it!

[@tombuck]

@@TripleFork yes! That would be super fun.

[@TheSpiralLab]

I love this video so much on so many levels! Especially because it is really a little history of how design thinking and the design process works-that camera is a prototype, and as such it DID change the world! It makes me think of how when you go back and watch an old movie like Star Wars and it seems so cheesy and cliche, until you realize that no, it’s the original that all the cliches are copying! I just love design, and also watching someone patiently and lovingly solve problems related to their passions. So so good!

[@tombuck]

Exactly! Thanks Marta! I remember teaching Shakespeare to some of my English students and they thought a lot of the plots were predicable, andI tried to explain that it was because these had influenced so much of what came after 😁

[@williamdlc3]

Came here from the XL1 window and I'm so amazed how the C100/300s are ultra refined versions of a 30 year old concept, like how Apple had the Newton Pad in the 90s and the iPad in 2010. Awesome video!

[@tombuck]

Right?! Isn't it cool to see elements of these concepts live on?

[@janfriberg_]

Wow, just to find all the old stuff is cool. And it works, and the picture quality for that old camera is so impressing.

[@tombuck]

It’s not bad! Obviously not close to even a phone today, but with a decent lens, especially 3D years ago, it’s super impressive.

[@marcalexanderblais3016]

Just watch all of the almost 30 minutes of this vid. It made me remember that when I was a kid I soooo wanted one of these. The video quality is retro-Awesome. Thank you Tom!

[@tombuck]

Thanks for watching Marc! I loved making this video so much.

[@GalaxyCDSRocks]

I sold electronics back in that era and remember how amazing we thought all of this stuff was. Talking about cleaning the heads was definitely a trip down memory lane. Great video!

[@tombuck]

Head cleaning is a head trip!

[@ac1320]

Everything about this is so much yes! Special emphasis on the encabulator throwback. We've come full circle now!

[@tombuck]

Haha, I loved that part. It really looks and sounds like something from ages ago 😁

[@jalabi99]

I was cheesing so hard from the start to the finish of this epic camera revival journey! Well done, Tom!

[@tombuck]

I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for coming along!

[@securityg]

First, kudos to you Mr. Tom Buck for mentioning the JACKAL which is a criminally underrated movie. Second - I'm currently reading a book about the SONY CORPORATION and it's fascinating the logistical ingenuity that these engineers and designers put into their designs. - James D Watkins artistic director of PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS.

[@tombuck]

That sounds fascinating!

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*The Montage Madness' soft images and muted colors is what the 1990s was all about.* Chill vibes. Even the dogs were getting it.

[@tombuck]

They're usually quite hyper, so the camcorder must've chilled them out 😁

[@DemonicAnimatronic]

I love this! I thought I was the only one with a bulletin board picture of the XL1/XL2 sure would have made my skate demo videos better. I’m just amazed at how good the image of the L1 is beats out my direct to VHS magnavox camcorder and even my old mini DV. Truly at testament to how good this thing was in its day

[@tombuck]

Go bulletin board nerds! 🙌 I also used to browse eBay just to see pictures of cameras in the "real world."

[@brianspillane2212]

Fun fact: NASA was evidently a big fan of the L1. I’m an auctioneer, and I handled a large estate from an ex NASA employee that had LOADS of L1 bodies, lenses, accessories, and tapes. They used them to film training materials in and around Kennedy Center, and at least one body was in good enough shape to review some of the tapes, and it was a fascinating glimpse into the background of 90’s NASA.

[@pablokbs]

Hey Tom, I loved this video, it was super interesting and I loved hearing about your process of fixing all the problems you found, also the scientific test was great.

[@tombuck]

Thank you sir! A lab coat = solid science.

[@TheDave413]

The "Retro-encabulator" monologue was a nice touch, it's a classic.

[@tombuck]

Haha, thanks! I'm wondering how it feels for people who didn't see the other video 😁

[@theoldholmes]

I just loooove how you finally were able to film yourself talk about the foto encabulator the way it was truly meant to! Thanks for the laughs!

[@tombuck]

Perfect accuracy 😁

[@ChooseAdventureCaliforniaStyle]

It's alive! It's alive! My buddy just bought the Nikon F100 camera with Takumar 105 f2.4; a 35mm film camera. The pictures are unreal! I'm starting to want an older camera. I have an old Canon film camera I should try out. These old cameras are making a come back. Awesome Tom!

[@tombuck]

Film photography is super fun! The anticipation of waiting to see how the pictures came out is always fun.

[@FUTURESPACECOLLECTIVE]

Great work Tom, enjoyed learning about the L1! Looking forward to the XL1 video, loved using that myself!

[@tombuck]

Thank you! The XL1 is such an awesome camera. I was also able to get a mint-condition Sony ENG camera recently that I'm really excited about.

[@kwameryan]

Wow Tom…Fantastic video! I was sure I wasn’t going to be interested, but you’re such a good storyteller, I watched the whole thing! And yes, I was thinking about the C70 when I saw the body shape. The image quality in the clip you shot threw me all the way back to my childhood in a really warm fuzzy way 😊. Thanks for all the effort you put into bringing that story to us. Unique, dope content.

[@tombuck]

Thanks for sticking around through the video even though it didn’t seem like your thing at first- I really appreciate it 🙏

[@MSladekPhoto]

Flux capacitors! Art Freeze! Scientific tests! And, the return on the photo entabulator. This video has it ALLLLLL! What a fun journey with the L1. The footage has such a vibe to it. Thanks for sharing your journey down the rabbit hole, and... HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and Heather!

[@tombuck]

It’s quite the journey! 😁 Hope you guys are having a great day! We’re definitely thankful to know you.

[@MSladekPhoto]

@@tombuck Awwww! So glad to be on this KZbin and life journey knowing you.

[@mattstone8878]

I must poop​@@MSladekPhoto

[@twolinesslotcars]

Happy Thanksgiving Tom! I hope you and Heather have a great day. I used a Canon XL1s and GL2’s for a local access cable channel TV show. I had no clue what I was doing, but taught myself about shooting video, lighting, video editing, etc. It may have been the most fun I have ever had at a job in my entire life. It was the Wild West for us. I really enjoy your collection of old camcorders. Great video!

[@tombuck]

Happy Thanksgiving Marty! The Wild West of public access is something I definitely miss. 😬

[@KasukePlays]

I love it here. I’m happy I stumbled across this channel. In just the week or so I’ve been watching I’ve already bought the pod mic (Awesome btw) & I’ve also purchased a PSA boom arm. So thanks for all the advice.

[@tombuck]

Woah! Thank you! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for checking out this video, even though it’s a bit different from the usual.

[@KasukePlays]

@@tombuck No problem I’m always happy to support!!

[@RogerAVHansen]

Aah, the nostalgia when looking at the 90’s quality image ❤️ love it, just love it! ❤️

[@tombuck]

You should see the video quality from the old TV news camera I just got- it's awesome 😁

[@RogerAVHansen]

@@tombuck guess there’s going to be a video about that camera sometime in the future ☺️

[@Callmedstone]

Oh my. That design and form factor is ridic. Thanks for sharing!

[@tombuck]

Isn't it crazy?! Haha, I love it.

[@wastelandtv]

Wonderful to see the joy you had with these older cameras! :) The scientific part in the end recorded on hi8 was making me feel like watching an episode made by some aliens far away as I consider myself pretty technical but had no idea what you were talking about with that device! :D great video!

[@tombuck]

Hey thanks! Means a lot to hear that from you! The "science" part was a throwback to this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6DVY4JtmK2ria8

[@CoreAndBlue]

Yeah..! We are here for the fantastic vintage camera goodness. Got the XL1s shortly after it came out and loved working with it. While it is definitely not in the same condition as yours (that rubber coating… ugh…) it now sits proudly on a shelve.

[@tombuck]

I can only imagine how awesome it was when it was brand new. Mine had the sticky coating too, but I was able to remove it with isopropyl alcohol and now it’s just the black metal underneath.

[@CoreAndBlue]

@@tombuck The pride and love that I felt when I got it back then along the XL 5.5-88mm and the beautifully wide XL 3.4-10.2mm lenses. Also had the Matrox RT.X100 Xtreme Pro PCI real-time editing card to work with it. Had to do the same isopropyl treatment to get rid of that horrible coating but the camera still works perfectly and we do have plan for it in the future. Really enjoying the video your are producing. The level of detail and your delivery are truly captivating.

[@johnhaynes9910]

Great fun and very well done.

[@tombuck]

Thanks John!

[@djgonz123]

Great video. Very insightful and epic intro. Fresh Prince look out for Tom spitting bars

[@tombuck]

Haha, thank you! I tried so hard not to speak in the rhythm of the song (I wanted it to sound like a dry voiceover and then people might catch the reference), but it's impossible. 😁

[@likelycrew]

Great story! Super interesting camera. And wow, that XL1 was a blast from the past. We were obsessed with that one as kids too. ✨

[@tombuck]

Yes! Such an awesome camera. I recently found an old ENG tv news camera on eBay and it’s absolutely awesome too. I need to stay away from the bay.

[@mattwruff]

Thanks for making me fill OLD, my home school Production Company started with 2 XL1 we added an XL2 and then to other Canon Camcorder with MINI-DV tape…you were a kid and I was starting a 2nd career after 20 years in the Printing field…

[@tombuck]

Haha, thank you for making me feel young! I saw someone talk about a "vintage HD" camcorder yesterday and I felt old.

[@arunthomas189]

This was such a great informative video. One of my friends gave me his xl1 from 1998 and I was pretty intrigued by the camera. After watching this video on the L1, I can definitely see that Canon was getting ready to knock it out of the park when it comes to the design of the xl1. That being said, will you be making a separate video to talk about the xl1?

[@tombuck]

I’ve been planning to make an XL1 video for over a year now 😬 It is a VERY fun camera. I hope you get to enjoy yours!

[@DanCBearded]

Sooo fricken cool! Very well done Tom!

[@tombuck]

Thanks Dan! You could get several of these for your studio 😬

[@mmgh7298]

Thank you for the video, it was so interesting 👌👌

[@tombuck]

Thanks! I’m so glad to hear that! 👍

[@SammySuperStar]

Tom is a camcorder collector now!

[@tombuck]

Oh I haven’t even gotten to the tv news camera I just bought 😬

[@matthiasmartin1975]

09:09 Whoa, there was a Video-8 sony camera called the "F35"? This must totally have been the spiritual predecessor to the CineAlta F35 then...

[@malonecustomdesigns]

This was brilliant! I have no idea why....but I watched it all the way through! lol

[@tombuck]

I'm glad to hear that! There's no practical takeaway from this one, but it was fun to make and I'm glad you found it interesting!

[@malonecustomdesigns]

@@tombuck your delivery, and video quality makes nearly every video 100% watchable for me. Even the Deluxe Photo Encabulator video! lol

[@acedia4453]

The camcorder that changed everything for videographers back in the day was the JVC 110. It led directly to the creation of the 5D mark ii.

[@ScottEdwards]

The size of that sensor is insane haha I love it! :) I found my old flip mino hd video camera the other day that I am trying to get working again for a video !

[@tombuck]

Nice! That would be awesome to see 😁

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED that episone !! I also bought a old vhs camera and converted it to capture data directly to an sd card and it is sooo fun

[@tombuck]

I'm so glad to hear it! It's so much fun to experiment with these old cameras. I never get tired of it 👍

[@no15minutecities]

Canon need to bring this form factor back with new tech inside! I guess the C300 is the nearest to this?

[@janbjorn]

Great work as usual Tom! It's interesting that the commodity-items of yesteryear turns out to be the hard ones to get nowadays. Let's meet in 10-20 years and try to get a MD-player working :-)

[@tombuck]

Yes! I always wanted one but was never cool enough to have one.

[@ConsistentAsh]

It's pretty cool to see such a old school camera still being talked about. The camera is older than I am haha. The scientist outfit lol

[@tombuck]

Thanks Ash! And now you make me feel old. We bought a bottle of wine today and I didn’t get carded, but then a person who I thought looked like a “real” adult was in line behind us and they carded him. It was a really moment of reflection. 😉

[@PaulJoy]

Really enjoyed that, thanks for sharing. The scary thing is my oldest videos look exactly like that!

[@tombuck]

My favorite part was editing old videos from tape to tape and losing quality each time so that by then end it was almost impossible to see what was on screen 😁

[@danielmiddleman8613]

Stumbled onto to this video but ended up watching the whole thing. Good point about cleaning the heads. You definitely want to use a solid piece of material that doesn't have lose fibers for that job. I remember that from back in the 90's at a TV station cleaning the heads on these old junk 1/4 inch Sony decks. I don't know if you could use a dryer softener sheet to do the job but I remember that the sheets we used seemed to be made of a very similar material.

[@tombuck]

Interesting- I wonder if that would work 🤔 At least it’d make the camera smell fresh!

[@PawFromTheBroons]

That was truly fascinating.

[@tombuck]

Thank you! It’s such a strange beast.

[@luke_1234]

Good editing with the music beats 👍👍

[@tombuck]

Thanks Luke! It was fun to get the timing down.

[@mmatin08]

this is so cool! It’s funny how old gears feels refreshing

[@tombuck]

It’s really fun! I love taking these things and giving them some sort of new life. There’s no way this camera expected to be upscale to a 4K KZbin video 😁

[@ROBOTRIX_eu]

Very nice video! thxs!

[@tombuck]

I appreciate that, as always! 🙏

[@VisualCody]

Not going to lie I love camcorders as much as I love Microphones so your channel is like the perfect channel for me lol but I also watch CRD his videos are awesome too. Love obscure tech. As for your issues could be a few things. could be bad capacitors given its age. Or maybe even bad/dirty contacts like they might not be as springy as they should be after 30 years of having a lens pushing them down

[@tombuck]

I’ve tried cleaning the contacts as best I can and they SEEM springy, but I’m also just guessing. Maybe I need to spend more time cleaning them 🤔

[@sergeantcrow]

Excellent !

[@arnoldsnodgrass2953]

That was great. I always wanted an XL1 too.

[@tombuck]

It’s really fun. Every once in a while a grande new still unopened one will pop up on eBay and I get tempted 👀

[@impatrickt]

you need to do an entire video like this 24:30

[@tombuck]

That’s the dream!

[@khanscombe619]

awesome fun video. I'd say the biggest issues w/ older camera gear is how & where you sore it. Heat is the worst up in a lost of 40c + for even 3 yrs is enough to cause issues. it's still mechanical. Even in temp control room over yrs rubber bits just break down & all those moving bits need oil. All serviceable though. Also, those viewfinder components can go out seperately as 1 of mine did but can still be used to record. Offloading to PC USB via FireWire 400 is easy as well & it can even be controlled via Editor apps. It was only 600 TV lines but at $4k, still less then a $7-10k Panasonic DV 1080P, still only a prosumer enthusiast camcorder. (: That footage brought back fun family holiday memories of when this was new. It turned heads, it had the pro look .

[@JaredSpink]

Oh man this was such a great video. You look very official in the lab coat.

[@tombuck]

I forgot I had it and now I need to incorporate it as often as possible. To show my tests are truly scientific.

[@KENNETHCARNIE]

So my first endeavor into photography/video, I got on eBay and found an xl lens for 70 bucks, thinking it was a steal, and a rebel t1i... Then realized that they were not compatible. Then found out their is no adapter from one to the other... Then found out that the camera doesn't do video for more than 30 minutes. So now I have the lens sitting in the corner of my room, waiting to be used as a backdrop piece one day.

[@tombuck]

I would’ve made that same mistake. The XL lenses look like regular Leslie’s ones and they are super legit (built in ND and everything!)

[@djrightonbeat]

Lol , I see what you did there, flowing a bit like the Prince Of Bel Air, another great video from mister Tom Buck, when I seen that old camera I said “WTF”

[@tombuck]

It’s such a weird design, but I actually don’t hate it. The more I use the camera, the more I find things I really like about it. I cut out a whole part about the control layout because the video would’ve been twice as long, but I can imagine being psyched about it in 1993.

[@Nordbiene]

Great video. Best regards from Kiel. Kai the bee filmer ;)

[@AbhiJithpyd]

this video deserves more views.

[@tombuck]

Thank you! 🙏 I really appreciate that. This is really one of my favorites.

[@no15minutecities]

why?

[@robertm3951]

The quality was a lot better than I expected

[@tombuck]

I think it really goes to show how important lenses are. A high quality lens can do so much to boost a camera's quality. 👍

[@CycloneCordVHS]

This video makes me want to pick my Canon L2 back up but I don't want to until my stereo mic works again (it now only works on the zoom switch) Great video nonetheless

[@tombuck]

It seems like the stereo mics are semi easy to find on eBay, so it might be worth giving it a shot!

[@Jim_Mundy]

Ah-mazing video Tom!! You should try to find the original designer of the L1 in Japan and share this video with him or her… Heck I got a little emotional going back through the history… I can only imagine. I wish you and Heather an awesome Thanksgiving!

[@tombuck]

I would LOVE to have transcripts of their design meetings from back then. I think it's awesome overall. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@no15minutecities]

Gan Eden Australia did a review of the L2 about 10 years ago so this isn't the only video about these cameras.

[@travelexplorer]

It was a great camera, futuristic, had mine for years!

[@tombuck]

How awesome! I'm very envious if yours has a working lens 😁

[@travelexplorer]

@@tombuck i sold it like 15 years ago but I shot a lot with it, it was the L1 - fantastic camera

[@matthiasmartin1975]

You can remove the 3 little screws on the aluminium rear cover of the VL lens and remove it, then you can force the iris actuator open using a length of wire and some adhesive tape.

[@EDcase1]

I didn't know about this camera but I love quirky designs

[@CED.Dweller]

I forgot that there was a camera on that gun in THE JACKAL! NICE!

[@tombuck]

Super weird right? Haha 😅

[@dmiyo21]

S P R A W L ! !

[@briandipierro8865]

I wish those lenses were usable on modern cameras. An f1.4 zoom? Yes pls

[@tombuck]

Right? It’s built like a tank too and the XL1 lens has built in ND!

[@orestes1984]

It wasn't just the interchangable lenses, it was the fact that it used consumer SLR/DSLR lenses. James Cameron was signaling Epic Red dreams with that futuristic camera in Titanic... This camera was way ahead of its time. You could swap lenses... If you had the EF adapter. Also, it seems like the sensor is working, so it should work, even with a manual focus lens, which will bring an image up on the sensor.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

There wasn't really much point swapping lenses at this time though, high end cameras came with excellent zoom lenses, and supplementary lenses such as wide angle/fisheye lenses could be easily attached on the end. Standard definition doesn't require SLR lenses, never mind that the camera couldn't use normal SLR lenses, at least without an adaptor. It's no surprise it was sold by *Canon*, who had and sold a wide range of SLR cameras and lenses. From memory, the usability of these cameras were awful though, largely due to the form factor.

[@orestes1984]

@@DoubleMonoLR oh there was.... I mean comparably these things come up against cinema camera like the Beaulieu S2008 (which is the entry pathway to cinema on Super 8). I wouldn't laugh about that because when scanned properly even Super 8 today will put out far more resolution and better quality than this crappy (by today's standards) Hi8 camera. There was a lot of reasons to change lenses, and when you have C mount lenses such as that Beaulieu today you have a lot more options, especially on the wide end, to get down to even 4mm with a rectilinear lens. It's just apples and oranges. One is a professional cinema camera. That Canon was one of the first attempts to make a prosumer Hi8 camera. I mean professional Hi8 cameras did exist eventually Panavision came up with a camera that George Lucas used for his Star Wars Attack of the Clones footage by 2005. But that's a long way from this camera and a completely different era.

[@TopSecretVid]

Always wanted an XL2…then XL H1

[@gtamediaproductions1]

I've seen quite a few movies and TV shows with the xl1 in it too.

[@tombuck]

Yes! It made a fun cameo in the final season of Better Call Saul recently 😁

[@gtamediaproductions1]

@@tombuck really? What episode? I just finished season 5 about a month ago. Still waiting for Season 6 to show up on Netflix. I don't see season 6 available yet.

[@nugsovile4333]

I first saw this camcorder in the 1998 movie Godzilla, Hank Azaria uses an L2 near the end of the movie. I remember being like 12 years old and being fascinated by the camera. I now own 1 in perfect working condition and it is my favorite camcorder to use.

[@tombuck]

You're right! Godzilla had some good camcorder action in it. I remember another scene with Hank trying to close a tape door on an ENG camera and I loved it. Very happy to know you have one that's working perfectly! I'd love to be able to use the zoom lens on mine.

[@nugsovile4333]

@@tombuck it's an awesome camera. I hope you have future luck with it on getting it to work. And yes I remember that scene with that Sony betacam. That movie launched my obsession with old camcorders

[@CorbanLaFon]

Man I always wanted the XL1 too. Thought I would never be able to afford it so I set my sights on the GL2, then ended up with a Panasonic. Wild times those were.

[@tombuck]

It was definitely crazy. I did pick up a like-new GL2 on eBay recently so I could film the XL1 with it for that video 😁

[@CorbanLaFon]

@@tombuck awesome! I’m excited to see that XL1 video!

[@HomesickMac]

This was so cute-nerdy my brain is cookin' Tom!

[@tombuck]

I love it.

[@ImagemakerAi]

I used the original L1 for all my kids sports activities and church eventsfor years. Had the standard lens, wide angle lens and the adapter for my Canon 35mm glass. Hadn’t used it in a while and when I turned it on, nothing. Canon wanted too much to fix it and my other DSLR’s had video capability so it sits in a big carry case because I just hate to throw things away.

[@tombuck]

That’s a bummer to hear! It seems like some of the components just “go bad” over time, even when we’ll cared for. I’m jealous that you got to use the native lenses though, those things are built like tanks!

[@noth606]

I did this in similar steps some years ago, when the XL1 was relatively new still but I was still using some analog gear by Sony and Panasonic if I recall correctly, definitely Sony but unsure about the Panasonic/something as it was an art school loaner. The L1 has surprisingly good picture with it's own optic if you can get it working, but the drive mechanism on the L1 is a pain and will wrinkle tapes if you look at it funny. Picture with own optic etc is quite good, on par with say a GL1/XL1 stock lens, the only thing is it's fussy about tapes, being analogue.

[@samforsyth]

loved this video -- I'm about to pick up an Xl1 myself (cause i've always wanted one...used to shoot a lot with the GL1) -- are we going to see this Xl1 video??

[@tombuck]

One day, one day... 😁

[@samforsyth]

@@tombuck fingers crossed! :D

[@JanPreco]

The problem with lenses that have been stored for a long time is often that in a warm environment, the oil from the mechanical part gets on the diaphragm blades and causes them to stick and no longer move. Maybe it would be worth trying to have them cleaned at the service and try to get that lens into use...

[@tombuck]

That's interesting- could definitely be the cause of the issue!

[@RustyX2010]

You were a kid in 1998 while I was 28! How old are you? That makes me almost 100! lol

[@tombuck]

Haha, I'm 36 so just a few years older than this camera 😁

[@IamFreefromtheWokeLeft]

@@tombuck pretty cashed up for a 36 year old, mummy and daddy give you lots of $$$$$???

[@TheAssclown213]

They also make the same body with a completely different name usually in Black. I have one somewhere in storage I think it might be like an hx1 or something like that.

[@tombuck]

That's awesome! Sounds stealthy.

[@MikeMena]

I’m sensing a fresh prince reference 😂🤣🤣

[@tombuck]

You have no idea how hard it is to say lines like that without slipping into the rhythm of the song. It took two days and I still didn’t get it 😬

[@MikeMena]

@@tombuck lol this was def in your top 3 vids you’ve ever made! 🥰

[@MikeMena]

@@tombuck oh... btw... I bought the Sennheiser MKH416 yesterday. I'm ashamed and excited lol. (i did review that other mic you told me about that seems better for dialogue, but, I'm also planning on recording some acoustic instruments with my band, so it was a kill two birds purchase)

[@RobertoRaymon]

This looks like footage from the Wonder Years, or from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood! Lol!!

[@tombuck]

Oh man, that Wonder Years into was 🔥

[@markforeman7082]

While i “digest” this, glad I watched all the way thru. How many of the button controls found their way into Canon menu items in the R series?

[@tombuck]

The adapter is the most interesting thing to me in that regard. This one tried to add some fun features while making EF lenses usable and Canon is doing the exact same thing with the RF adapters now (ND filters, control rings, etc).

[@voceyc]

Erasure also used one of these in a live performance where vince filmed Andy live on stage. Can’t remember which video it was, but it was deffo a a canon ex1 as you can see it working

[@eagereyes]

Does the button that's located where the shutter button on a DSLR would be take still images? From your description, I was kind of expecting that to be the case (what with the (D)SLR-style body bolted onto the back), and it does seem a bit odd to have two video record buttons so close together on top of the back part. Great video btw, I had no idea I needed to know so much information about an obscure early-90s camcorder :D

[@tombuck]

It doesn't! Super weird, I know, but this is really 100% a video camera (aside from the freeze frame effect).

[@latora100]

omg so nice to see. i'm 28 . but i really like to see how the filme history is

[@tombuck]

It’s crazy how much things have changed!

[@CompuKonstantin]

Maybe you could practice soldering and repair the camera yourself? I own two full sets of these (Metal hard case, wall charger, 12v car charger, remote, microphone etc.) and spent some time last year to recap one of them. About a hundred caps or so, total madness. But now that I have a working EX-1 (The European version of the L1) I‘ll have to say: Worth it.

[@tombuck]

I've thought about this! I have a 1989 Sony Handycam that was new in box a few years ago, but never worked likely because of bad caps. I was thinking of trying that as practice since it currently doesn't work at all. Thanks for the motivation!

[@blisteringbooks2428]

I had an XL1 with EF adapter which I used for work and wildlife. As a professional motorsport photographer I used it on off road events but the tape was often distorted, noisy, presumably from old or modified electrical systems on the cars. Unfortunately it was stolen, but they are available on E-bay, is it possible to record to an external source, say an Atmos Ninja to avoid using tape, as I loved the magnification factor using my EF 400mm f2.8?

[@tombuck]

There are definitely ways to run the signal into a small digital recorder. Tons of people in the skateboarding world do it with camcorders pretty often: www.jenkemmag.com/home/2021/05/19/tutorial-film-vx1000-without-tapes/ It seems like most people use small/simple recorders, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use a Ninja.

[@blisteringbooks2428]

@@tombuck Thanks, I imagine I would get better quality using an R5, it all boils down to reach. Also is the Nikon P1000 any good!

[@ChristmasClatter]

One question “does it’s tapes play in my VCR?”

[@tombuck]

Lots of RCA cables and RF adapters 😁

[@roodick85]

There's an adapter for it and it's digital as well

[@scottpaquette2721]

OK, that was an awesome video. It reminded me of watching The Martian movie ... "solve one problem, move onto the next". You really scienced (or engineered) the ^%^&# out of it to get it to work :)

[@tombuck]

Thanks Scott! The Martian is one of my favorite books, so that compliment means a whole lot! I’d love to be the Mark Watney of A/V gear.

[@oooooo3839]

we have an L1, we never found anyone who could fix it, Seattle area.

[@tombuck]

The L1 is really an interesting beast. It'd be awesome to somehow get yours working because it's a lot of fun to tinker with!

[@stephanieperry1119]

What is good price for an Canon Hi8 L1 right now? Nice video of your dog. What kind of dog is it? How much did the L1 cost in 1991 and also the L2?

[@tombuck]

Our little guy is a corgi and our big guy is a golden. As for price, it really depends. These cameras were $3000 new I think. Used prices definitely depend on condition. Personally, I would pay up to about $400-$500 for a PERFECT condition one, but those are near impossible to find. Lots of damaged or broken ones (like mine was listed for) are under $50.

[@stephanieperry1119]

@@tombuck ok There is one at my Saver thrift store with no lens. Marked at $49.99.

[@AnthonyPtak]

I used to own a Canon L1 hi8 camcorder

[@user-vx9000]

I bought an ef adapter after watching this video. thank you, However, I want wide angle but if I use a full-frame ef lens like you, it becomes like telephoto lens, so I;m considering ef-s lens like ef-s 10-18 ,24 What do you think tom?

[@dibizaorchestra]

Tom, thanks for the video. I have one of those camcorders, the L1 Hi8. I think the lens is not working. I get no images from it. Playback is fine. Do you know who can service/repair this camera near Los Angeles, California?

[@totorialmembuatmakanan163]

Is there an adapter from the Canon XL lens that you want to install on the Canon 60D DSLR body?

[@tombuck]

Unfortunately not that I know of. I think the XL lenses were too niche for them to create anything like that.

[@BikeCruisnUSA]

I own 2 of these and neither of them record audio for some reason or pick up the mic at all. Dumb question but is there an option to make the audio or mic activate? I have it plugged into the 2 pots and have the camera mic volume and headphones volume at max.

[@IamFreefromtheWokeLeft]

Ask DrCassette

[@Pb_salt]

“I digest” lol .. I digress

[@matthiasmartin1975]

A friend gave me his L1 (aka EX1Hi) for hacking as it is not working anymore like yours. And it just struck me how with all this massive effort with the VL lens system and a thousand buttons and the highest price of any prosumer camcorder at the time - image wise it still could not touch Super8 film that came 20 years before it. Super8 had perfect colors and great latitude and quasi 720p resolution - it was only with DSLRs that Super8 was finally surpassed. Video was a massive hit because it was cheap and you could get sync sound without any effort, but the image was always bad.

[@TopSecretVid]

do an XL1 vs L1 output comparison

[@tombuck]

That would be SUPER fun!

[@benjhaisch]

My first “real” video camera that I owned myself was an XL1. Good times.

[@benjhaisch]

I filmed a wedding on it in 2007 and the couple was mad that the footage of the reception in a dimly lit church was grainy 😂 I stopped filming weddings after that and stuck with photos

[@benjhaisch]

I oddly miss that camera. I had no idea what I was actually doing, but it made me feel much more legit

[@tombuck]

I’m jealous! I love having the XL1 now but it would’ve been so awesome to use in its heyday.

[@AnthonyPtak]

And I had the lens adapter for my L1

[@TRAUMATIZE]

will the XL2 Lens work with the Canon L2 camcorder?

[@tombuck]

Sadly no, they're two different (and super obscure) mounts with no adapters.