Gain Test -- XF 305 native .MXF files from Nick Wilcox-Brown at DVinfo.net

Chris Hurd · May 11th, 2010, 09:47 AM

From Nick:

"I have just completed a set of tests of gain settings for XF305, XHG1s and EOS5D Mark II - all of a GretagMacbeth / XRite SG Color chart. The XF305 gain settings were tested from -6 to +33db. +21dB looked very clean while I was shooting it. All files from this camera are pre-production and subject to change."

The download links:

Gain -6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...6/AA008501.MXF

Gain +0dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...o/AA008601.MXF

Gain +3dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...3/AA009101.MXF

Gain +6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...6/AA009201.MXF

Gain +12dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...2/AA008701.MXF

Gain +18dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...8/AA008801.MXF

Gain +21dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...1/AA008901.MXF

Gain +33dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...3/AA009001.MXF

Chris Hurd · May 11th, 2010, 09:47 AM

HDV samples from Canon XH series camcorder (XH G1S) -- the same GretagMacbeth / XRite SG Color chart as above:

Gain -6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_minus3.mov

Gain +0dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...xh/XH_zero.mov

Gain +6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...h/XH_plus6.mov

Gain +12dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus12.mov

Gain +18dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus18.mov

Gain +36dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus36.mov

Chris Hurd · May 11th, 2010, 09:51 AM

See this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...mxf-files.html for viewing tips -- the VLC
player is inferior to the free Sony XDCAM Player and other free options.

When commenting about a specific clip, please refer to its file name (8601.MXF, etc.). Thanks,

Don Miller · May 11th, 2010, 10:59 AM

Very interesting. Chroma noise is filtered out but Luma noise is left in.

Can we match "gain" to an EV (exposure value)?

Nick Wilcox-Brown · May 11th, 2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Miller

Very interesting. Chroma noise is filtered out but Luma noise is left in.

Can we match "gain" to an EV (exposure value)?

+21dB is 1000 ISO or very close to it according to my meter. +33 is around 1600, but very noisy. The camera can be customised in 1dB steps.

Floris van Eck · May 11th, 2010, 02:05 PM

Very interesting. The only setting I would never use is +33 (blue noise), the other settings look really good. I would like to see them compared to the Canon HDV models.

Nick Wilcox-Brown · May 11th, 2010, 02:49 PM

Glad this was helpful Floris. I have the matching XH (G-1s) files here (also EOS 5D MkII) and will upload them shortly.

For the XH, I have used the default Canon settings as opposed to my favourite preset.

I am sure that Chris will kindly put them on a similar link when he has a moment.

Don Miller · May 11th, 2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Wilcox-Brown

+21dB is 1000 ISO or very close to it according to my meter. +33 is around 1600, but very noisy. The camera can be customised in 1dB steps.

That seems to put gain 0 at about iso 100. It also suggests the highest acceptable iso is close to the 5DII in video mode. The 5DII having the potential advantage of faster glass.

Is there a higher noise reduction setting?

Chris Hurd · May 11th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Wilcox-Brown

I have the matching XH (G-1s) files here and will upload them shortly.

Added to the second post, above. Direct link:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...ml#post1525917

Nick Wilcox-Brown · May 12th, 2010, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Miller

Is there a higher noise reduction setting?

Don, there are a lot of options, but the lack of a manual is not ideal + really busy shooting stills and video, so not enough time to experiment.

Nick.

Tans Mark · May 12th, 2010, 04:17 AM

Nick, Chris:

Thank you for sharing these samples.

Martin Steimann · May 12th, 2010, 05:33 AM

Nick and Chris, thanks for your effort!

Compared to the XH-Series noise is very fine grain (higher bitrate and 4:2:2 sampling might help the XF) and the registered trademark sign on the Macbeth chart is still readable even at high gain settings. Blue noise seems to start kicking in at around +18dB. I ran your previous clips through some CC tests in FCP and what can I say? I like what I saw!

May 11th, 2010, 09:47 AM	#1
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Gain Test -- XF 305 native .MXF files from Nick Wilcox-Brown From Nick: "I have just completed a set of tests of gain settings for XF305, XHG1s and EOS5D Mark II - all of a GretagMacbeth / XRite SG Color chart. The XF305 gain settings were tested from -6 to +33db. +21dB looked very clean while I was shooting it. All files from this camera are pre-production and subject to change." The download links: Gain -6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...6/AA008501.MXF Gain +0dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...o/AA008601.MXF Gain +3dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...3/AA009101.MXF Gain +6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...6/AA009201.MXF Gain +12dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...2/AA008701.MXF Gain +18dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...8/AA008801.MXF Gain +21dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...1/AA008901.MXF Gain +33dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...3/AA009001.MXF __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 11th, 2010, 09:47 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Gain Test -- XH G1S HDV files from Nick Wilcox-Brown HDV samples from Canon XH series camcorder (XH G1S) -- the same GretagMacbeth / XRite SG Color chart as above: Gain -6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_minus3.mov Gain +0dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...xh/XH_zero.mov Gain +6dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO...h/XH_plus6.mov Gain +12dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus12.mov Gain +18dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus18.mov Gain +36dB: http://files.dvinfo.net/samples/CANO.../XH_plus36.mov __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 11th, 2010, 09:51 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	See this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...mxf-files.html for viewing tips -- the VLC player is inferior to the free Sony XDCAM Player and other free options. When commenting about a specific clip, please refer to its file name (8601.MXF, etc.). Thanks, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 11th, 2010, 02:49 PM	#7
Nick Wilcox-Brown Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 231	Glad this was helpful Floris. I have the matching XH (G-1s) files here (also EOS 5D MkII) and will upload them shortly. For the XH, I have used the default Canon settings as opposed to my favourite preset. I am sure that Chris will kindly put them on a similar link when he has a moment. __________________ Nick Wilcox-Brown, Film-maker and Photographer https://nickwb.com https://wildphotographer.co.uk

May 11th, 2010, 10:59 AM	#4
Don Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	Very interesting. Chroma noise is filtered out but Luma noise is left in. Can we match "gain" to an EV (exposure value)?

May 11th, 2010, 02:05 PM	#6
Floris van Eck Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 993	Very interesting. The only setting I would never use is +33 (blue noise), the other settings look really good. I would like to see them compared to the Canon HDV models.

May 12th, 2010, 04:17 AM	#11
Tans Mark Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: EU Posts: 60	Nick, Chris: Thank you for sharing these samples.

May 12th, 2010, 05:33 AM	#12
Martin Steimann Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 32	Nick and Chris, thanks for your effort! Compared to the XH-Series noise is very fine grain (higher bitrate and 4:2:2 sampling might help the XF) and the registered trademark sign on the Macbeth chart is still readable even at high gain settings. Blue noise seems to start kicking in at around +18dB. I ran your previous clips through some CC tests in FCP and what can I say? I like what I saw!