Convert list of tuples to structured numpy array

A list of tuples is the correct way of providing data to a structured array:

In [273]: xlist = [(1, 1.1), (2, 1.2), (3, 1.3)]

In [274]: dt=np.dtype('int,float')

In [275]: np.array(xlist,dtype=dt)
Out[275]: 
array([(1, 1.1), (2, 1.2), (3, 1.3)], 
      dtype=[('f0', '<i4'), ('f1', '<f8')])

In [276]: xarr = np.array(xlist,dtype=dt)

In [277]: xarr['f0']
Out[277]: array([1, 2, 3])

In [278]: xarr['f1']
Out[278]: array([ 1.1,  1.2,  1.3])

or if the names are important:

In [280]: xarr.dtype.names=['name1','name2']

In [281]: xarr
Out[281]: 
array([(1, 1.1), (2, 1.2), (3, 1.3)], 
      dtype=[('name1', '<i4'), ('name2', '<f8')])

http://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy/user/basics.rec.html#filling-structured-arrays