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My Flip Video only worked for 5 minutes
My "white" Flip Video only worked for 5 minutes before it shut down and refused to turn on again. I did all of the things that the support team suggested such as pushing the "reset" button, but to no avail. I therefore sent the machine back to Amazon but reordered a black one which has been fantastic! I don't know if there was a problem with the "color" or what....but I have been more than satisfied with my second one. Therefore, this review reflects on my white Flip Video, not my black one.
Karen Asfour

Great little camcorder!
I bought this after reading a review in a magazine. I love it. It is easy to use and I can easily upload the videos. I think of the short videos I take as "long pictures" They really capture what is going on better than a still photo. Great for pictures of waterfalls! You get the sound and a real feel for the area. (The sound is incredible, be careful what you are saying while you are shooting)

Video Qualtiy Sacrificed for Convenience
Everything you've heard about how easy it is to use the FLIP MINO is true. Within seconds of getting it out of the box, I was using its very intuitive and spartan controls to take video clips of my kids jumping around. I could review the clips I had just taken on the LCD screen. The FLIP was instantly recognized by my Windows XP PC, and the software was easy to use as well. It created a folder and saved the clips I selected with the date as the title, which you can change. The FLIP is VERY user friendly. Five Stars for that.

The video quality is not what I hoped for. A selling point is that you can easily upload your clips to youtube, and have you noticed how grainy those clips are? To be fair, the FLIP is not that grainy, but projected on my 32 inch Sony tube TV, the quality was definitely not as good as my MINI DV JVC Camcorder that I bought in 2003. The quality is better than my Canon A630 digital camera, and better than cell-phone video. But that's a pretty low standard. 3 Stars for this.

The zoom function is very weak. Forget about tight shots of somebody's face if they're across the room or on stage at a school play, for example.

Bottom line: This is quite a handy little camera. Although not as good video as a 0 camcorder from 5 years ago, at least you can take this on vacation without all the bulk and hassle. Worth it for that.

Inadequate audio volume on Flip Mino
I bought the Flip Mino so that students could borrow it to use in a course that I teach at a university. I was drawn to the Mino because of the price, ease of use, and recording duration (60 minutes). I was also impressed with the quality of the video image. However, when I tried to record a subject only 3 feet away talking in a normal tone of voice, the recorded volume was so low that I will not be able to use it for the purposes I intended. Even on maximum volume and with the speakers on my PC turned all the way up, I am barely able to hear what the subject is saying on the recording. I tried playing the recording on a different PC, but the volume was still inadequate. I then contacted Flip customer support and sent a sample recording and was told that "this video didn't seem extraordinary." I will try to get my money back.

Issues with Mac OS
Neither Flip Classic nor Flip Mino are compatible with mac OS 10.5.x (Leopard). The videos created have no sound when played on the mac. The manufacturer is aware of this and refuses to disclose it on their website.

There are various work arounds, one of which is to convert the videos using the shareware Visual Hub, which creates new video files with audio. A kludge but it works. Too bad the manufacturer won't be straight with its intended customers.

Having a blast learning
I was a bit nervous buying a camera at this level. But I have learned so much from it. I'm still learning. It's an impressive piece of equipment. Very versatile. You have to take it out and experiment, but that's the fun of it. I would recommend that you read, read, read all the reviews. Boy, it gets attention when you are out in public (what fun!)
People ask for my business card often because they assume I'm a pro just by using it. Or they ask, what TV station I work for. There are lots of add-ons to consider owning. Its not High Definition but who needs it? I take it everywhere. Just remember you will eventually need a good travel case,a wind screen, extra batteries, a heavy-duty professional tripod and additional lenses to complete your experience. The camera is a bit heavy(as I expected) and takes some getting used to.......but wow, its worth it ! The sound you get is great. I just bought some wireless microphones for my XL2. I'm glad I own it.

I really like this camera
I have used this for a year at my college. I do not know why some people dislike it. I love it! and on my opinion, It is the closest to HD your gonna get while not getting HD. You guys gotta realize that this camera has shot some big movies like Cold Mountian. I must say though the panasonic dvx100b is quite comparable, because I have used that too. But I like this camera I do not care what people say about it. It is so customizable that you will be surprised when you mess around with it's advance functions. nice camera, a little pricey, but all in all it's more professional than some other people say.

Best Purchase
Now, some individuals will try to convince you the XL2 is a poor Prosumer camcorder and will give seemingly good arguments. Don't buy into it.

For instance, a reviewer lower down this page complains the camera arrived broken and thus reviews it as a horrible machine. Unfortunately, this said reviewer doesn't talk about the actual functionality of an actual undamaged product, rather his own broken camera. Needless to say, his opinion is vastly slanted.

Another compares the XL2 to the DVX100 series from Panasonic and prefers the latter. He states the XL2 is too heavy and doesn't achieve the same calibre results as the cheaper Panasonic camcorder.

First of all, Canon has continued to revolutionize the photography industry for decades. They have proven themselves in both film and digital formats, for both still camera and camcorder. True, the XL2 lacks some features other more expensive cameras have (compare the JVC GU1000) but that's okay. And, yes, the camera has a very large body and is definately heavier than the Panasonic DVX100, but this is for specific reasons.

You have to first consider why you want a prosumer camcorder. If you just want to shoot hobby short films and want a professional look, I suggest you stick with either the higher-end Canon or JVC or Panasonic or even Sony (god forbid) consumer camcorders which run around 0. On the other hand, if you're considering becoming a serious hobbyist and don't intend to turn it into some sort of profession then Panasonic's DVX series is a good buy. The DVX 100's are cheaper, smaller, and somewhat easier to use. They are far more "point-and-shoot" than the other prosumer camcorders on the market. And they do a fairly good job.

Yet, the XL2 manages to not only hold its own, but also triumph over all other camcorders in the industry. First and foremost, the XL2 has the option to change lenses. This is a great boon for any serious shooter because attaching an actual lens to a camera gives far better results than slapping on some sort of adapter, which distort the image. Canon offers two lens types for the XL2: the included 20X zoom lens and a 3X wide angle lens; both are very expensive by themselves. But, with an optional Canon ring adapter running for 0, you could take your normal Canon SLR still camera lenses and attach them to the body and have them function perfectly. This allows the user a plethora of imaging options when shooting. Now, the normal user won't ever use anything other than the 20X zoom lens (a remarkable piece of machinery in itself), but that's just fine. You're buying the camera for its options and potentials as well as the physical benefits. Think of it like buying a BMW: you buy the car for its physical features you're likely to use (the radio, heated seats, leather, sunroof, etc.) but you also buy it for its safety and cumstomer service, things you'll hardly ever need. It just makes you feel good you have those options available.

Furthermore, the XL2 is a wonderful camera. It shoots beautifully without problems of any sort. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but that's because it has a lot of fuctions and options. The physical body design is simple enough that all the necessary shooting options (i.e., 24P, 30i, 60i, mic adjustments, white balance controls, presents, etc.) are easily accessible. The end product of a regular shoot is stunning. The Canon lens captures colors almost perfectly and the image stabilization built into the camera is a great help. The large body design (though awkward for some) is actually a benefit. The camera can be placed on the shoulder, giving greater stability to the shoot. You can't do that with a Panasonic or Sony.

No, the camera doesn't have a LCD screen on the side, but do you really need one? An LCD screen is not only distracting but also a battery hog, and takes precious room for control options or accessories that could other wise be placed where the LCD is built in. An LCD is great for consumer cameras because they're small and nobody wants to look through those one-inch viewfinders. But the XL2 has a very nice, large color viewfinder, and can be comfortably used with the camera on your shoulder. For those running hand-held shots you can flip part of the viewfinder open and can see a 1.5" LCD display. It's not dazzling or great, but it gets the job done. You're out in the field to get footage, not admire the LCD screen.

Finally, the XL2 offers XLR microphone inputs, a big bonus for people who want good sound in their video. You won't find this feature in either Panasonic or Sony prosumer camcorders.

In the end, Canon's XL2 is a beautiful camcorder. It offers you a lot more than you know at first glance, and delivers near-perfect results. The closest competitor would be the far more expensive (by at least 00) Panasonic GU1000, which is very similar to the XL2. If you're still not sure about the camera, I suggest you take a ride down over to your nearest Fry's to experiment. Or, you can visit the local TV station and ask them to tell you a little bit about why they're all using XL2's over the other camcorders on the market. No...seriously...they are.

Go figure.

Standard Definition doesn't get much better
The Canon XL2 is as good as the Panasonic equivalent. Both of these cameras are better than eachother depending on who you ask. If you ask me, the Canon's picture is more pleasing, less noisy, and more capable in difficult shooting situations. I love Canon's controls, everything you need is available without searching through menus. The Panasonic is lighter, less awkward to use, and more compact; but Canon's lens and features more than make up for it in my opinion. Best camera you can get for the money.

Okay for the 60i
I'm a non-byist consumer; and ex-owner of the XL1 and XL1S.

We recently "upgraded" to the XL2 for an upcoming film shoot.

BAD NEWS. The camera's we ordered both came "defective", according to Canon tech support (they were drop shipped from their facility brand new - and NOT black market). Now, I find this hard to believe, and I think the issues are with the computer which controls output for the camera.

In 30P mode, any vertical lines flicker/pixelate, and images blur as they move past the camera - It's much choppier than the old "frame mode" on the XL1 and XL1s.

In 24P mode, the entire image flickers, vertical lines go insane, and using the standard 1/24 shutter speed, the images are CHOPPY as they walk by the camera. Any vertical lines jump about. There is not image clarity the minute anything moves.

In 60i - the camera looks fine, but that defeats the purpose of owning the camera entirely!!!! Unless you want to drop frames/filmlook upon completion, this is not an option.

In previous XL models, the frame mode had it's issues...soft focus, lowered resolution, choppy images if moving right in front of the camera...However, the 24P is a joke. No person in their right mind could use this, unless to produce nausea! And, believe me, the resolution output on this camera, if anything, is lower - and I'm using the optional 20X super-wide XL2 lens (00).

I've shot with the XL1, XL1s, DVX1000 - they ALL blow this thing away.

Now, I'm stuck with a Canon, as I purchased unreturnable accessories for this thing. So, as I read user comments, I'm praying that just certain cameras have these issues. It seems others on message boards have this issue, but folks tell them they're crazy (they're not - believe me). I'm forced to drive 100 miles to the closest store with the XL2 in stock, hoping that the 24P or 30P or their floor model is somewhat clear. If not, I'll have to buy back my old XL1!!!!!

BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY THIS CAMERA. It's not PRO at all!!!!!!!!!!