Question regarding Canon XL-1 lens

[Eeeper]

Hi all. This is my first ever post (I've been reading DVXUser for a few years but never joined until now) and the reason I'm writing this is that I'm facing a conundrum.

My parents are buying me an NEX-5 body for my birthday and I have placed an order for an NEX lens myself. But I've a problem.

I have an NTSC Canon Xl-1 complete with its original 16x lens. I've shot one or two things with it but the problem is that it records in 60i and so I've never been able to get decent footage out of it. The lens, however, is what I'm asking about.

Can I use the XL's lens on other cameras? I've torn my hair out trying to find out if the XL interchangeable lens system is similar to Canon's FD or EF mount system but I can't find anything out! Every search result sends me to the Canon EF to XL adapter and that's no good as it defeats the purpose of using the NEX as the body if I have to screw on an EF adapter onto a mount adapter onto the NEX! Is it possible to use the lens? Or should I give up?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[David G. Smith]

Hi all. This is my first ever post (I've been reading DVXUser for a few years but never joined until now) and the reason I'm writing this is that I'm facing a conundrum.

My parents are buying me an NEX-5 body for my birthday and I have placed an order for an NEX lens myself. But I've a problem.

I have an NTSC Canon Xl-1 complete with its original 16x lens. I've shot one or two things with it but the problem is that it records in 60i and so I've never been able to get decent footage out of it. The lens, however, is what I'm asking about.

Can I use the XL's lens on other cameras? I've torn my hair out trying to find out if the XL interchangeable lens system is similar to Canon's FD or EF mount system but I can't find anything out! Every search result sends me to the Canon EF to XL adapter and that's no good as it defeats the purpose of using the NEX as the body if I have to screw on an EF adapter onto a mount adapter onto the NEX! Is it possible to use the lens? Or should I give up?

Any help would be appreciated!

Yeah, the lens from the XL-1 is really not usable for what you want. i am pretty sure that it used an exclusive, proprietary lens mount. Even if you were to find an adaptor to a Sony E mount, the XL-1, designed for a very small 1/3" sensor, would not cover the whole frame on an APS-C senor camera. I would look around for some vintage DSLR lenses. I have a FS100 and I have a set of Vintage Nikon primes, and third party Nikon F mount zooms for it. They make great images.

 

[Eeeper]

Yeah, the lens from the XL-1 is really not usable for what you want. i am pretty sure that it used an exclusive, proprietary lens mount. Even if you were to find an adaptor to a Sony E mount, the XL-1, designed for a very small 1/3" sensor, would not cover the whole frame on an APS-C senor camera. I would look around for some vintage DSLR lenses. I have a FS100 and I have a set of Vintage Nikon primes, and third party Nikon F mount zooms for it. They make great images.

Thanks, David. Guess I'll have to find another use for the XL-1. In the meantime, I can at least look forward to messing around with my new NEX-5!

 

[David G. Smith]

Thanks, David. Guess I'll have to find another use for the XL-1. In the meantime, I can at least look forward to messing around with my new NEX-5!

You are getting the NEX 5n right? That is the new model and has the better video, from what I understand. The original NEX 5 is also still available I believe. So, if some on is buying it for you make sure they get the NEX 5n!

 

[Eeeper]

You are getting the NEX 5n right? That is the new model and has the better video, from what I understand. The original NEX 5 is also still available I believe. So, if some on is buying it for you make sure they get the NEX 5n!

No, I'm getting the original 5. I figured that getting the 5 would be better. If I bought the 5n, and things didn't work out, then that's 500+ down the drain. This way it's only 250 being spent. Also, if the 5 DOES work out, I can move the lenses over to the 5n whenever I buy it in the new year.