Optura Xi various questions

Kevin A. Sturges · June 28th, 2004, 12:37 PM

Has anyone tried an audio plugin like Antares Microphone Modeler, while editing their footage? I used the Antares program inside of Vegas Video, and got some pretty impressive results from it.

I wonder if modeling a $4'000 microphone after the fact on the internal mics is as good as adding a better $150. microphone externally? (irony intended ;) )

Nate Cannon · July 15th, 2004, 12:43 PM

I have a question about the Xi's image sensor spec:

Quote:

Image Sensor

1/3.4" CCD (charge coupled device); ox 2,200,000 pixels (approx. 1,230,000 effective pixels-tape), (approx. 2,000,000 effective pixels-card)

Does the 1,230,000 effective pixels-tape apply to the video that is being recorded or still images?

Thanks inadvance.

Chris Hurd · July 22nd, 2004, 10:32 AM

Applies to video. The DSP then downconverts this to 720x480 to create "legal" DV. So in other words the video is sampled from the CCD at 1.3mp but is written to tape as plain vanilla 720x480 DV. Hope this helps,

Ed Szarleta · August 18th, 2004, 12:03 PM

anyone?

Michael Wisniewski · August 18th, 2004, 02:54 PM

Yes it's the only one. All the other Canon models use electronic image stabilization.

Ed Szarleta · August 18th, 2004, 03:28 PM

Thanks...i assume it's the same technology of the GL2 and XL1S/XL2

Ed Szarleta · August 18th, 2004, 03:33 PM

squeezed in both?

Kevin A. Sturges · August 18th, 2004, 03:53 PM

Yes.

Jonathan Lutz · November 9th, 2004, 02:32 PM

This problem may apply to more than Optura, and may have nothing to do with the Optura at all, but I'm getting timecode breaks about every second. I'm capturing footage shot on an Optura, some of the tapes run fine and capture fine (in a SONY DSR20 DVCAM deck to G4 dual 867MHz, 1.5GB RAM, FCP HD, OSX 10.3.6), while some of them jerk and retain pixels from second to second (looks like something compressed with keyframes set every 500 frames), and the audio gets choppy.

To me, it looks like dirty heads on the camera the tapes were shot on (I don't have the camera though, it is a client's), because the problem is NOT occurring with the tapes shot on Day 1, but IS occurring on the tapes shot on Day 2.

Obviously I can't log or capture the footage using in and out points, so if I did want the useless video footage or the possibly salvagable (sp?) audio I'd Capture Now with Abort Capture During Time Code Breaks turned off.

Guess I just want to see if there are other possible explanations.

Thank you.

Rob Lohman · November 10th, 2004, 03:43 AM

It's hard to say where the problem lies, but it indeed sounds like
an issue with this camera. Time for some headcleaning and such.

In theory it could also be the tape, the deck or some other thing.
Only testing the tape in different equipment will help you nail down
where the problem is (try it another brand deck or in the original
camera etc.). But before you do so I would capture as much of the
tape as I can to make sure I have at least some footage before it
stops reading it alltogether.

Jonathan Lutz · November 11th, 2004, 09:16 AM

An update.

As so often seems to happen, when I played the tape in the camera it was shot on, it played fine. I was able to capture, no timecode breaks, no pixelization, no nothing.

Why is this?

The only explanation I've ever heard is that it is a proprietary thing between SONY and Canon.

Rob Lohman · November 11th, 2004, 11:56 AM

That happens a lot between Sony and Canon camera's indeed.
Not much you can do about that I guess. This probably happens
due to different head alignments etc.

Jeff Toogood · December 14th, 2004, 09:32 AM

I have a Canon GL2 right now and I am looking for a cheaper camera to use with it as a 'B' Roll Camera at weddings.

Right now my Sony TRV38 just isn't close at all to the GL2.

Is the Optura XI reasonably close to the GL2?

What size chip does it use?

Thanks

Xander Christ · December 14th, 2004, 08:51 PM

Yes, the Optura XI's image quality is quite comparable to the GL2's. If you're really picky about image quality (like me) the only real difference you'll see is that the GL2's colors are 'slighty' (ever so 'slightly') more saturated. To a casual viewer, it's not noticable.

The XI's chip size is 1/3.4" which is right between 1/4" (GL2) and 1/3" (XL1s). Coupled with the most awesome lens in the universe and an RGB primary filter, the XI has the best image quality of any one-chip camera out there (IMHO)... ;^)

Dave Perry · December 14th, 2004, 08:57 PM

Jeff,

I think the Xi is probably better than the GL2 in some respects. First of all it shoots native 16:9. That was the main reason I bought mine. I've never used a GL2 but have used a Sony TRV 950 and the Xi iamges are comparable to the 950.

I'm very pleased with my Xi and agree with Xander about it being the best single chipper on the market.

July 22nd, 2004, 10:32 AM	#18
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Applies to video. The DSP then downconverts this to 720x480 to create "legal" DV. So in other words the video is sampled from the CCD at 1.3mp but is written to tape as plain vanilla 720x480 DV. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 18th, 2004, 12:03 PM	#19
Ed Szarleta Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 156	Is the XI the only sub GL2 model with Optical Image Stabilization? anyone?

August 18th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#21
Ed Szarleta Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 156	OIS Thanks...i assume it's the same technology of the GL2 and XL1S/XL2

August 18th, 2004, 03:33 PM	#22
Ed Szarleta Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 156	How does XI display 16x9 in LCD and Viewfinder squeezed in both?

November 9th, 2004, 02:32 PM	#24
Jonathan Lutz Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 29	Capturing Tapes Shot On Optura (xi I think) This problem may apply to more than Optura, and may have nothing to do with the Optura at all, but I'm getting timecode breaks about every second. I'm capturing footage shot on an Optura, some of the tapes run fine and capture fine (in a SONY DSR20 DVCAM deck to G4 dual 867MHz, 1.5GB RAM, FCP HD, OSX 10.3.6), while some of them jerk and retain pixels from second to second (looks like something compressed with keyframes set every 500 frames), and the audio gets choppy. To me, it looks like dirty heads on the camera the tapes were shot on (I don't have the camera though, it is a client's), because the problem is NOT occurring with the tapes shot on Day 1, but IS occurring on the tapes shot on Day 2. Obviously I can't log or capture the footage using in and out points, so if I did want the useless video footage or the possibly salvagable (sp?) audio I'd Capture Now with Abort Capture During Time Code Breaks turned off. Guess I just want to see if there are other possible explanations. Thank you.

June 28th, 2004, 12:37 PM	#16
Kevin A. Sturges Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 167	Has anyone tried an audio plugin like Antares Microphone Modeler, while editing their footage? I used the Antares program inside of Vegas Video, and got some pretty impressive results from it. I wonder if modeling a $4'000 microphone after the fact on the internal mics is as good as adding a better $150. microphone externally? (irony intended ;) )

August 18th, 2004, 02:54 PM	#20
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Yes it's the only one. All the other Canon models use electronic image stabilization.

August 18th, 2004, 03:53 PM	#23
Kevin A. Sturges Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 167	Yes.

November 10th, 2004, 03:43 AM	#25
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	It's hard to say where the problem lies, but it indeed sounds like an issue with this camera. Time for some headcleaning and such. In theory it could also be the tape, the deck or some other thing. Only testing the tape in different equipment will help you nail down where the problem is (try it another brand deck or in the original camera etc.). But before you do so I would capture as much of the tape as I can to make sure I have at least some footage before it stops reading it alltogether. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 11th, 2004, 09:16 AM	#26
Jonathan Lutz Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 29	SONY v. Canon, consumer is only casualty An update. As so often seems to happen, when I played the tape in the camera it was shot on, it played fine. I was able to capture, no timecode breaks, no pixelization, no nothing. Why is this? The only explanation I've ever heard is that it is a proprietary thing between SONY and Canon.

November 11th, 2004, 11:56 AM	#27
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	That happens a lot between Sony and Canon camera's indeed. Not much you can do about that I guess. This probably happens due to different head alignments etc. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 14th, 2004, 09:32 AM	#28
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	Optura XI good compliment to GL2?? I have a Canon GL2 right now and I am looking for a cheaper camera to use with it as a 'B' Roll Camera at weddings. Right now my Sony TRV38 just isn't close at all to the GL2. Is the Optura XI reasonably close to the GL2? What size chip does it use? Thanks __________________ Toogood Studios

December 14th, 2004, 08:51 PM	#29
Xander Christ Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 115	Yes, the Optura XI's image quality is quite comparable to the GL2's. If you're really picky about image quality (like me) the only real difference you'll see is that the GL2's colors are 'slighty' (ever so 'slightly') more saturated. To a casual viewer, it's not noticable. The XI's chip size is 1/3.4" which is right between 1/4" (GL2) and 1/3" (XL1s). Coupled with the most awesome lens in the universe and an RGB primary filter, the XI has the best image quality of any one-chip camera out there (IMHO)... ;^)

December 14th, 2004, 08:57 PM	#30
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	Jeff, I think the Xi is probably better than the GL2 in some respects. First of all it shoots native 16:9. That was the main reason I bought mine. I've never used a GL2 but have used a Sony TRV 950 and the Xi iamges are comparable to the 950. I'm very pleased with my Xi and agree with Xander about it being the best single chipper on the market. __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net