A few nagging Optura Xi Q.s

Kevin A. Sturges · February 4th, 2005, 02:36 PM

Hello Earon,

I do not have any kind of server space to put any video files. Do you have any ideas? I could do a WM9 file, that would be a little less resolution, but would be a lot smaller than a raw DV file. You could still see the dramatic processing difference that way.

Also, I do mean to update my Optura Xi web page, and put some before /after still frame grabs up there. I have just been totally swamped for time lately, and will be out of town again all weekend. ( I have to type these posts in on the quick while I’m at work….) I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m giving an excuse, to try to back out of validating my statements above, about all the filters. I will see what I can do about getting some frame grabs up in the next week or so, time willing.
Kevin

Michael Wisniewski · February 6th, 2005, 01:30 AM

Kevin,

I've been playing around with the auto-levels and smoother, very nice! I'll post some footage in another thread.

Davis Lee · April 5th, 2005, 06:24 PM

I bought the SC-A60 with the XI. I couldnt tell from the picture, but it is extremly small and can only carry the camera itself and only a few accessories. Is there a good case that can fit the XI very snuggly and hold much accesories?

Michael Wisniewski · April 6th, 2005, 07:46 PM

I like to have a case for every item, then I can pack them all into a larger bag.

I use a large lens case to hold the Xi. I have one from Lowe Pro and one from t.64. Both can hold the Xi with a BP-535 battery and WA lens snugly. Both can be slung my shoulder for quick draw action, or the case can be thrown into a larger bag/backpack.

Evan Strobel · May 28th, 2005, 03:37 PM

If so can you post links? Another thing I'd like to see is uncompressed. Anyone have either?

I can't find anything with the Xi...

Max Sitnikov · May 29th, 2005, 02:44 PM

not many people actually use this camera for films..dont get me wrong its a awesome camera, i've seen a few music videos around here shot with it...actually i've done a music video myself with it http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2659341 if you have AIM i could send you a few seconds of uncompressed footage.

Riley Stearns · May 30th, 2005, 11:16 PM

I've done one music video and one very simple short film. The music video is an mpeg4 file at

https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/

and the short is on a free short film site called www.triggerstreet.com (must join though) and is called Just Before Noon.

Nathan Petersen · May 31st, 2005, 02:12 AM

I'm not sure if this bag is much better, but you be the judge
http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/it...id=266&hid=349

John Snoddy · May 31st, 2005, 09:34 AM

Riley,

Would you be willing to share your output settings? The music video looked great, by the way. And only 8+MB! Seems like no matter what settings I choose in QT, I end up with huge files. I have a 4 minute film shot with an Optura 30 that was 20MB using QT7 H.264, but when I chose MP4, it became 100MB!

John

Riley Stearns · May 31st, 2005, 11:52 PM

I actually can make it even smaller now and look better with some settings a kind person gave me. I use Final Cut's built in compressor with these settings for the most part for internet compression (sometimes takes a little tweaking).

OUTPUT - .mov, flatten/cross-platform/fast-start, compress movie headers, create html

TRACKS - process video, audio, mpeg

IMAGE - manual crop, 320x240, deinterlaced, noise reduce

ADJUST - Gama 10, Black restore 15

ENCODE - Sorensen, Millions, 10 fps, Keyframe every 100, 146.1 kbits/s

SORENSEN - Highest Qualitly, Smoothing

This is by no means the only way to do it, but it works for me. Compressing is an art and takes a lot of fiddling. Hope that helps out a little.

Riley Stearns · June 2nd, 2005, 08:52 PM

Does anyone here use a Beachtek XLR adapter with their Optura XI? I'm trying to figure out which would fit it better, the DXA-2s or the DXA-4p. I'm going to be purchasing the Audio-Technica AT897 shotgun mic soon and I know this would be the best way to use it with my camera. Thanks for the help.

Michael Wisniewski · June 3rd, 2005, 12:49 AM

I don't recommend the Xi / DXA-4P combo for handheld use. It creates more problems than it solves. An XLR belt adapter is a much better accessory for the Xi when it comes to handheld shooting. I'm very happy with Studio 1's XLR-BP belt adapter.

The problems when handholding the Xi / DXA-4P combo are:
1. When the XLR cables are plugged in, there aren't solid places or ways to grip the camcorder.
2. The weight of the XLR cables unbalances the Xi and makes it very difficult to get steady shots.

And finally, you need to take apart the whole setup to switch tapes.

Riley Stearns · June 3rd, 2005, 01:13 AM

Awesome, thanks for the recommendation. I figured the tape changing would be an issue, and it looks like this would save me a pretty penny.

Nathan Petersen · June 5th, 2005, 12:47 PM

I know the optura xi has a 16:9 mode that is used so you can play back your video on a widescreen Tv. However I have a video that I shot with a trv58 and I shot that in 16:9 widescreen mode which was more like cinema, I could view it on my normal TV though without it looking stretched and out of place. I have footage from the XI and trv58 that I need to match up but im afraid the cinema mode I shot in won't match the XI's widescreen mode. Does the XI have a mode that is just cinema so I can play it on my normal TV(not widescreen tv) show it matches my other footage. Thanks guys

Boyd Ostroff · June 5th, 2005, 12:52 PM

I don't know the answer to your exact question, however I do know that you can shoot like normal 4:3 and then letterbox (add a black bar above and below) in post. The technique varies depending on your editing software, but it should be very easy. It sounds like your old camera just added black bars to 4:3 footage.

BTW, this yields inferior results when played on a widescreen TV because you have thrown away all those pixels in the black bars. The XI has a high quality 16:9 mode which uses all those pixels. Another strategy would be to shoot in the XI 16:9 mode, capture the footage, then letterbox it for 4:3. Again, I don't know what software you use, but in FCP this would be as simple as dropping the clips in a 4:3 sequence. This way you would still have the original high quality 16:9 footage available if you ever wanted it.

April 5th, 2005, 06:24 PM	#18
Davis Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 33	Best Carrying case for the XI I bought the SC-A60 with the XI. I couldnt tell from the picture, but it is extremly small and can only carry the camera itself and only a few accessories. Is there a good case that can fit the XI very snuggly and hold much accesories?

May 28th, 2005, 03:37 PM	#20
Evan Strobel Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 26	Any films shot on the Xi? If so can you post links? Another thing I'd like to see is uncompressed. Anyone have either? I can't find anything with the Xi...

May 30th, 2005, 11:16 PM	#22
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I've done one music video and one very simple short film. The music video is an mpeg4 file at https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/www/ and the short is on a free short film site called www.triggerstreet.com (must join though) and is called Just Before Noon. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

May 31st, 2005, 02:12 AM	#23
Nathan Petersen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 95	XI bag I'm not sure if this bag is much better, but you be the judge http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/it...id=266&hid=349

May 31st, 2005, 11:52 PM	#25
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I actually can make it even smaller now and look better with some settings a kind person gave me. I use Final Cut's built in compressor with these settings for the most part for internet compression (sometimes takes a little tweaking). OUTPUT - .mov, flatten/cross-platform/fast-start, compress movie headers, create html TRACKS - process video, audio, mpeg IMAGE - manual crop, 320x240, deinterlaced, noise reduce ADJUST - Gama 10, Black restore 15 ENCODE - Sorensen, Millions, 10 fps, Keyframe every 100, 146.1 kbits/s SORENSEN - Highest Qualitly, Smoothing This is by no means the only way to do it, but it works for me. Compressing is an art and takes a lot of fiddling. Hope that helps out a little. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

February 4th, 2005, 02:36 PM	#16
Kevin A. Sturges Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 167	Hello Earon, I do not have any kind of server space to put any video files. Do you have any ideas? I could do a WM9 file, that would be a little less resolution, but would be a lot smaller than a raw DV file. You could still see the dramatic processing difference that way. Also, I do mean to update my Optura Xi web page, and put some before /after still frame grabs up there. I have just been totally swamped for time lately, and will be out of town again all weekend. ( I have to type these posts in on the quick while I’m at work….) I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m giving an excuse, to try to back out of validating my statements above, about all the filters. I will see what I can do about getting some frame grabs up in the next week or so, time willing. Kevin

February 6th, 2005, 01:30 AM	#17
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Kevin, I've been playing around with the auto-levels and smoother, very nice! I'll post some footage in another thread.

April 6th, 2005, 07:46 PM	#19
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	I like to have a case for every item, then I can pack them all into a larger bag. I use a large lens case to hold the Xi. I have one from Lowe Pro and one from t.64. Both can hold the Xi with a BP-535 battery and WA lens snugly. Both can be slung my shoulder for quick draw action, or the case can be thrown into a larger bag/backpack.

May 29th, 2005, 02:44 PM	#21
Max Sitnikov Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 25	not many people actually use this camera for films..dont get me wrong its a awesome camera, i've seen a few music videos around here shot with it...actually i've done a music video myself with it http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2659341 if you have AIM i could send you a few seconds of uncompressed footage.

May 31st, 2005, 09:34 AM	#24
John Snoddy Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Camp Hill, PA Posts: 41	Riley, Would you be willing to share your output settings? The music video looked great, by the way. And only 8+MB! Seems like no matter what settings I choose in QT, I end up with huge files. I have a 4 minute film shot with an Optura 30 that was 20MB using QT7 H.264, but when I chose MP4, it became 100MB! John

June 2nd, 2005, 08:52 PM	#26
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	Beachtek and Optura XI Does anyone here use a Beachtek XLR adapter with their Optura XI? I'm trying to figure out which would fit it better, the DXA-2s or the DXA-4p. I'm going to be purchasing the Audio-Technica AT897 shotgun mic soon and I know this would be the best way to use it with my camera. Thanks for the help. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

June 3rd, 2005, 12:49 AM	#27
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	I don't recommend the Xi / DXA-4P combo for handheld use. It creates more problems than it solves. An XLR belt adapter is a much better accessory for the Xi when it comes to handheld shooting. I'm very happy with Studio 1's XLR-BP belt adapter. The problems when handholding the Xi / DXA-4P combo are: 1. When the XLR cables are plugged in, there aren't solid places or ways to grip the camcorder. 2. The weight of the XLR cables unbalances the Xi and makes it very difficult to get steady shots. And finally, you need to take apart the whole setup to switch tapes. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

June 3rd, 2005, 01:13 AM	#28
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	Awesome, thanks for the recommendation. I figured the tape changing would be an issue, and it looks like this would save me a pretty penny. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

June 5th, 2005, 12:47 PM	#29
Nathan Petersen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 95	16:9 (optura xi) etc I know the optura xi has a 16:9 mode that is used so you can play back your video on a widescreen Tv. However I have a video that I shot with a trv58 and I shot that in 16:9 widescreen mode which was more like cinema, I could view it on my normal TV though without it looking stretched and out of place. I have footage from the XI and trv58 that I need to match up but im afraid the cinema mode I shot in won't match the XI's widescreen mode. Does the XI have a mode that is just cinema so I can play it on my normal TV(not widescreen tv) show it matches my other footage. Thanks guys

June 5th, 2005, 12:52 PM	#30
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	I don't know the answer to your exact question, however I do know that you can shoot like normal 4:3 and then letterbox (add a black bar above and below) in post. The technique varies depending on your editing software, but it should be very easy. It sounds like your old camera just added black bars to 4:3 footage. BTW, this yields inferior results when played on a widescreen TV because you have thrown away all those pixels in the black bars. The XI has a high quality 16:9 mode which uses all those pixels. Another strategy would be to shoot in the XI 16:9 mode, capture the footage, then letterbox it for 4:3. Again, I don't know what software you use, but in FCP this would be as simple as dropping the clips in a 4:3 sequence. This way you would still have the original high quality 16:9 footage available if you ever wanted it.