20x lens - what's the story?

L

lacuna

Well-known member
Barry Green commented in a previous thread that the standard 20x lens on the XL2 can be irritating to use.  Elsewhere, others have said they love the lens' focal range and sharpness.

I hope you don't mind me referencing you Barry - I know you're a DV ace and you make fair, balanced assessments.  That's why I want to make sure I understand what you mean before I throw my money away.  Is the irritation due to the imbalance of a front heavy camera or is there something I'm missing?  I wonder if Barry or another member could elaborate.

I have a DVX and I'm considering an XL2 primarilly because I want to shoot 16:9 and don't want to struggle with the anamorphic adaptor, but if the 20x lens is also a struggle...

Thanks in advance guys  :)
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I'll let Barry answer the technical differences but you can always use another LENS on the XL2 other than that piece of crap 20X.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

>:( Crap? 20x crap? I'm watching you John!


hehe you know i'm just messing man, even though we're not on the same boat anymore (camera wise) you still crack me up (but hasn't lately, wut up wit that?)
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

damn sometimes after i post something then look at the post and realize that my gramars sucks :'(. Just dont laugh at me!
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

about the 20x lens -

I find the servo controll annoying, and no focus/zoom marking on the lens, but other than that i find it a fine lens to use.

The front heavyness of the camera doesn bother me, infact i quite like the weight of the camera for handheld.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

John,

from what i've seen from the XL2, it sure delivers very sharp image with the 20X.
I would certainly not call it crap...
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

Alright alright

Relax everyone. I should not have said it like I did (I was just trying to crack up strancali). I was trying to illustrate the servo, lens marking issues but more importantly let lacuna know that the option did not stop there at 20X.

No offense intended everyone!

Hey strancali:

A man walks into a bar...
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

The only problem I had with the 20x is the controllability of it. As far as optical performance it does fine.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I recently got to use an XL2 the other day, and I would have to agree with pretty much everything that has been stated about it. It is sharp, has a great range, but I don't like having to use the XL2 iris, I don't like the servo zoom either. I also did some rack focusing with it and found that the 20x zoom lens breathes like a mo-fo. But other than that, it is a great lens and camera.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

Really? That's very interesting! More the the 16x manual?

It seems Canon went for sharpness and fudged on the chromatic abberations and breathing issues with the XL series.

It's interesting to note that the DVX has not had any such problems reported. Must be one hell of a lens they designed.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

Also, it has a very limited close focusing ability when wide open. Nothing even close to the DVX in terms of minimum focusing distance.

Also, the forward weight makes it great on a shoulder, but terrible on a tripod...completely terrible.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I'm still hearing complaints about BackFocus similar to the problems reported with the Lens on the XL1s.

If you are experiencing BF issues, Canon Gurus advise to consider purchasing the manual 16x Lens. The Manual 16x does not provide OIS and is fairly expensive.

Furthermore, there *may* be additional issues with the .7 Century Optics WA. Which means you need to consider purchasing the Canon WA 3x if you wish to have a wider field than is provided with the standard 20x. Once again, this adds to the price of the camera.

I agree with Barry that this is really kind of sad because Canon could have really scored with this camera had they spent a little more time thinking about the Lens(es) for this Camera.

Such is the life of those of us who live in "ProSumer" Land. :(

Bottom Line: XL2 images look great!! Really Sharp, *but* the stock 20X Lens overall operational performance *may* be problematic. You might encounter some *hidden* costs due to the necessity to purchase additional "costly" Lenses.
( Personally, I am not willing to spend $7,000 for Unit/lenses/etc for a 1/3" CCD Camera ).

Don't get me wrong. The video I am seeing from the 20x is awfully tempting, *but* ....
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

Regarding the .7x Wide Angle adapter from Century. It works fine. I got verification from Century Support that is does indeed work and that if mine is acting the way it is there is a problem with my particular adapter. I can send it back to them and they will check and fix at no charge.

So there should be no problem with that adpter at all.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I plan on skipping the 20X and just using the 3X for dramatic work. Don't think I ever use anything over 80mm anyway. How has the experience been with this lens. Weight, breathing, sharpness, backfocus?
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

the 3x goes to 80mm? that's way more than 3x. I thought it was wider than the DVX lens, so it would be like a 4mm-12mm wouldn't it? Unless you are talking about the 35mm degree equivalent. Just don't expect to get very shallow depth of field with a 12mm lens.
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

Yeah, 35mm equivalent. Yeah, depth of field will be lacking a bit, but I don't have the luxury of working on the long end of the 20X for my style of work, so it's a mute point for me, Thanks guys
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

[quote author=icicle22 link=board=XL2;num=1104372779;start=0#12 date=12/30/04 at 10:06:20]Regarding the .7x Wide Angle adapter from Century. It works fine. I got verification from Century Support that is does indeed work and that if mine is acting the way it is there is a problem with my particular adapter. I can send it back to them and they will check and fix at no charge.

So there should be no problem with that adpter at all.

[/quote]

Hi Marty. Can you please let us know how it performs when you get it back? Thanks.

Richard Hunter
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I just posted a response regarding this problem in this section in the "problem with Century .7X ...." thread, so I won't re-post here. Based on everything I know, I believe it is very unlikely that the focus drift is caused by the converter and my explaination is in the post.

Bill Turner
Century Division
Schneider Optics
 
Re: 20x lens - what's the story?

I just finished a documentary and I'm in the middle of a second DVD project both of these shot with nothing but the 20x. Because of the nature of the film (it's a piece on the Olympics, so a ton of run and gun sports acquisition as well as set work) I shelved the Mini35 setup and went with just the stock XL2.

Anyway, the length and speed of the 20x along with the OIS and NDs were pricless on dozens of locations where the environments were pretty hairy and incredibly demanding.

Simply put, optically the 20x lens was beautiful on set and on location and the VF w/ the ability to pull focus with the long end of the glass and maintain critical focus on so many "one time" shots was priceless.

There were a few times when I really wanted a wider lens and decided on the 3x Canon for that. I've had/have the 14x manual, 16x, 3x and a case of primes with the Mini35...the 20x is the best all around piece of glass I've used.
 
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