Canon put the XL1 on sale in February 1998, and it was something new in DV: a camcorder with interchangeable lenses. It wasn't the first camcorder to swap lenses, since Canon's own Hi8 L1 had done that in 1991, but it was the first DV camera with the idea. The XL mount takes Canon's XL zooms, and an EF Adapter XL lets it use EOS still-camera lenses. Three 1/3-inch CCDs sit behind the lens, and Canon's Pixel Shift squeezes more detail out of them. NASA adopted the XL1 as its official DV camcorder and flew it on the space shuttle. 28 Days Later (2002) was shot mostly on Canon XL1-series DV cameras. It's big, long and built to rest on your shoulder with the MA-100 pad. The XL1S replaced it in 2001.
Tape check
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
Canon's manuals say to clean the heads only with a dry cleaning cassette, since wet ones can damage them. Most XL1s for sale are twenty-plus years old, so the tape transport, batteries and lens all need checking.
New to old camcorders? How to check a used camcorder covers the tape transport, heads, screens and power, and getting footage off a camcorder explains FireWire and analog capture.
Buying guide
Only one XL1 here is titled tested, a $1,180 rolling-case kit, so the $290 to $675 band mostly prices cases and accessories on cameras nobody has proved. We'd look first at the NTSC XL1 with its lens fitted and an aluminum hard case at $359 delivered, the median, and ask for a short clip of a MiniDV tape recording and playing back in the viewfinder, its only screen. There are at least 9 for sale, and nearly every listing here shows a lens on the body, which matters since a bare body can't record. Check for a BP-900 series battery and the CA-900 or CA-910 adapter with the DC-900 coupler, and plan on a PC or an older Mac with FireWire for the 4-pin DV jack, since Apple dropped FireWire in macOS Tahoe. Skip the $751 rolling-case kit unless you want the case, and the tested kit at over three times the median.
$196.76est. delivered
The lowest-priced XL1 at $197 delivered from a 100% seller, shown with a zoom lens fitted. The title makes no test claim and names no battery or charger, so ask for a clip of a tape playing back and budget for a BP-900 pack and the adapter.
Canon XL1 DM-XL1A Professional 3CCD Mini DV Digital Video Camcorder Y2K
$230.54est. delivered
Untested, but shown with a lens and a shotgun mic for $231 delivered, about $130 under the median. Pay parts money, since nothing says the tape transport or viewfinder works.
Canon XL1 DM-XL1A Professional 3CCD Mini DV Digital Video Camcorder Untested
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$196.76est. delivered
$150.00 + $46.76 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Shown with a zoom lens fitted. No test claim.
Seller: cacopunky
100% positive
For parts$230.54est. delivered
$199.99 + $30.55 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Untested. Shown with a lens and a shotgun mic.
Seller: mykecav
100% positive
For parts$353.75est. delivered
$295.73 + $58.02 shipping
Buy It Now$295.73
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Untested. Shown in a hard case with the lens, a stereo mic and the manual.
Seller: sullivanandsons
100% positive
Used$358.50est. delivered
$349.00 + $9.50 shipping
Buy It Now$349.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
NTSC, with an aluminum hard case and the lens fitted. No test claim.
Seller: nihe56
100% positive
Used$580.00est. delivered
$550.00 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$550.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Bundle with a case and accessories. Lens and mic in the photo, no test claim.
Seller: resellhere
99.6% positive
Used$679.58est. delivered
$600.00 + $79.58 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 6d 21h
Our take
Titled 16x zoom with a fitted case, no test claim. Auction, no bids yet, so it will climb.
Seller: jesvas4858
100% positive
Used$750.70est. delivered
$725.00 + $25.70 shipping
Buy It Now$725.00
Priced high
Titled 16x zoom with a rolling case, no test claim. About 2.1 times the median.
Seller: nevermore
99.9% positive
Used$1,180.30est. delivered
$1,050.00 + $130.30 shipping
Buy It Now$1,050.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled tested and working, with a rolling hard case and extras. About 3.3 times the median.
Seller: halojdawg1
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchCanon
MiniDV$310–$525 typical ask
Canon
MiniDV$220–$290 typical ask
Sony
MiniDV$700–$1,075 typical ask
Panasonic
MiniDV$430–$650 typical ask