Canon XL1s Quality settings

[robert_ismert]

Hi.

I recently purchased a Canon xl1s camera. I want to produce quality

DVD's and television quality video.

 

Does any know the highest quality, optimal settings to produce great

images using the canon xl1s?

 

I am also using Adobe Premiere to edit and export the movies. What

are the best settings when saving and exporting movies? How large

(Megabytes) should 1 minute of video be?

 

Also, does anyone know how the widescreen setting works? Is the

image simply stretched? Does it look compressed on television?

 

Thanks for anyone's help.

 

Sincerely

robert

www.isafoto.com

[glen_johnson]

Robert, it sounds like you've bitten off more than you can chew here. There are no universally optimal settings. If there were, the manufacturer would have just picked them and let it go at that.

 

I do not have an XL1s, but I do have a fairly complete EOS 35mm system, and a GL-1 mini-DV Canon camcorder. I know that the GL-1 has pretty much a full range of settings too, but one setting it has for folks who aren't sure what to pick, is the green box setting. This is like the "full auto" mode on the lower end EOS bodies. Maybe the XL1s has this green box mode too.

 

If you don't have a full auto mode, then you are going to have to do some learning. The manual for the GL-1 is excellent, and my guess is the manual for the XL1s is similar. You should read it from cover to cover a couple of times.

 

You need to experiment to learn what's happening. Fortunately, there's no processing, so you should be able to learn quickly and inexpensively.

 

A couple of the neater things about the high end Canon mini-DV cameras are the zebra mode, and the frame mode. I also really like the built in ND filters which allow you to ward off diffraction problems even under very bright light. Also the adjustable gain is a nice feature. All in all, you can get broadcast quality video out of the XL1s and the GL series, and all the rules of film photography will help you get good results from the video - except that video is instant, and more forgiving.

 

You will have a lot of fun as you learn. You can play back right on the little built in monitor and get an idea of what you need to change on the fly. Good luck!

[beerbrain_ronny_perry]

The biggest tip I can give you is to shoot within the cameras contrast range.Use SOFT light, soft light is videos friend.I Have a XL1 and also shoot Betacam SP, the Betacam SP has more contrast range, so when I use the XL1 I have to compensate in lighting to light the scene to fit the contrast range of the camera, Keep the camera off gain, it adds noise, use SOFT light ,, like a Chimera soft light for video, it is the best investment you will make, hard light makes video look like crap. Shoot in the shade instead of hard sunlight.And be aware of the contrast in a shot, video cant handle going from shade to sun, either make it all sun or all shade. Take the camera off auto white balance and manually white balance each scene(make sure you got the right color temp chosen)And again use soft lighting, get some rosco gel, like tough spun or light diffusion,and Chimera Video light banks fitted with Tota 500w lamps, a cloudy day is a gift..and the other half of video is audio, get a good shotgun mic,and a lav for interviews, a SONY ECM 44 is a good lav..good luck

[glen_johnson]

I have to agree 100% with Ronny's comments. But what he has said about light is true for all forms of photography. The secret is in the light once you have reasonably capable gear.

 

Looking back at your original quedstion, my experience in 16:9 mode is that geometrical relationships are maintained correctly, but the image doesn't fully cover a 4:3 screen because there are black areas at the top and bottom. There are sometimes separate digital effects modes that will make the image look thinner or squatter, but regular 16:9 won't distort things on its own. With my camcorder I don't think I can use the other digital effects if I've set it for 16:9. I usually shoot stuff straight anyway, and in mini-DV I just stick with 4:3 for just about everything. If I ever bump up to a format that can handle 700+ lines, I'll probably move to 16:9 mode for more stuff.

[rick_davis]

I have owned an XL1 since it first was released. In fact my serial number is 497. I just found this forum, and feel obligated to convey some misgivings, for those who do not already know. Prior to the XL1, working at Community Cable and doing the odd Corporate video, it was stricktly SVHS. Big horses heads of cameras. Power pigs. Also little Panasonic Reporters. I own a Pan. F70 as well.(horses head) It's mint and for sale with all the fixin's. I'm running DPS w/ VideoAction.(you'd have to beat me to get that. I've turned my Premier discs into ashtrays)

 

I ran into a little money just about the time I first saw the XL1 in a magazine ad. Bad combo. I just had to have one. "Just think of the work I could do with that"! Instantaneous boner.

 

To the chase:

 

The lens on the XL1 is a touchy animal. I have played with cameras all my life, and after the years of playing with the XL1, I still can't get it down. It is unpredictable, & takes off on you or leaves you behind in auto focus without warning and for no reason. In manual mode, I would describe it as trying to stand on a beach ball with one foot in a hurricane. If you must have the camera, go for the manual lens, but there are sacrifice's to be made with that choice as well.(no servo Zoom being one of them, so I hear)

 

The Stabilization is nice. Best I,ve seen especially on telephoto shots. Gives you a real nice sense of false security.

 

The controls are generally clumsily placed. They look really cool, which is one of the reasons I bought the camera, but they are a pain in the ass. Unless you plan on sleeping with this thing for a few years, you'll never be able to push the right buttons the first time without looking at it. Kind of hard to do when it's on your shoulder, and your in the middle of a shot.

 

That's another thing ... it will not be sitting on your sholder. At least not comfortably. I would hold a horses head on my shoulder for two hours before I tried to do that with an XL1 for ten minutes. It truly is a very uncomfortable shoulder camera.

 

The XL1 has exceptional audio quality, except, if you don't mind listening to the sound of the zoom lens in the audio track of your lovely wildlife shot(which you had to do eight times to zoom smoothly)

I have my mic off the camera, and use at least a light stand and a clamp ... as far away as possible. This is a common problem with the XL1 and I have lost some very good and irreplacable footage due to this.

 

I could go on, and I'm sure I could fill the database with XL1 horror stories, but not to discredit the machine too badly, the XL1 is a good piece of equipment. It seems to be rugged enough, but it doesn't care much for moisture. Mine has shut down numerous times in fog. It takes a beautiful picture, but it lacks those warm tones that Betacam SP or even VHS give you. Pixel resolution is not the best. The features are exceptional, but for regular everyday videotaping, ENG etc, it can be a bit overwhelming. I like to describe the XL1 as a "film camera which records to tape." I have worked on numerous movie sets in various capacities, and used the XL1 there as well doing press kit work. It is not a point and shoot, carry around on your sholder, move from one light source to another type of camera, unless it is on AUTO mode. And I don't think that's what I paid the big bucks for. The digital zoom retains the color and chrominance well enough, but the focus falls apart. Mine has been in the shop twice now to fix this trouble, and they say it's normal. Well .. not to me.

 

The XL1 belongs on a tripod. It cannot deal with an onboard mic. You need the little gizmo for the back so you can hook up XLR's which will run you another 250.00 clams. Get the manual lens, a camera operator, a lighting director, and a best boy. You'll do fine.

 

I'm selling mine now. I'm actually going back to a Hi-8 Sony on a trade. It is 12 volt, and personally, the picture quality is better. For one, the gadgets don't make the shot, the operator does. If you aren't in control, the fun dissapears in a hurry.

 

If anyone has any specific questions about the XL1 feel free to contact me at alore@ns.sympatico.ca. I won't be too mean. For all you XL1 lovers, I'll take your heat as well.

 

Does anyone know the value of a Sony Hi-8 - 16X7BRM-18B?

 

My Best

R