Two problems with the XF305

Vincent Oliver · February 4th, 2011, 09:41 AM

Ignore my posts above, I have a fault on my camera. The quality of XF305 cameras will be much better than I have shown. :-(

Robin Davies-Rollinson · February 4th, 2011, 09:57 AM

Phew! I'm glad to hear that - well, not that you've got a fault Vincent of course - let's hope it gets fixed soon for you - but that there was a fault and not all these camera are the same, since I'm about to push the "buy" button on an XF300...

Regards

Vincent Oliver · February 4th, 2011, 10:12 AM

Putting aside the two problems, the XF 305 is an excellent camera, perhaps a bit too heavy for long handheld shots. Like any other camera it does have a few annoying points, the Power ON/OFF switch, etc I still love my EX3. and will continue to use it as my A camera. That also has some annoying points but I have found ways to get around these, just as I will with the XF305

Robin Davies-Rollinson · February 4th, 2011, 10:21 AM

Yes, I've noticed that the ON/OFF switch is a bit awkward - a bother to get it into the central position I've found.
I'll forgive Canon that though...

Andy Solaini · February 4th, 2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

Putting aside the two problems, the XF 305 is an excellent camera, perhaps a bit too heavy for long handheld shots. Like any other camera it does have a few annoying points, the Power ON/OFF switch, etc I still love my EX3. and will continue to use it as my A camera. That also has some annoying points but I have found ways to get around these, just as I will with the XF305

When I was researching the EX1r and XF300 I read an equal number of posts about both models having some minor annoying points but nothing that would make you not buy them.

I'm not saying any of you are wrong but for me personally the on/off switch is not a problem at all. They could have made it a better switch but I wouldn't for one minute say it put me off buying this camera when I tested it or since buying it.

The most annoying thing about the XF300 is trying to find a bag to get it in along with my DSLR gear!

Andy S

Robert Turchick · February 4th, 2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Solaini

The most annoying thing about the XF300 is trying to find a bag to get it in along with my DSLR gear!

Andy S

Kata OMB large fits my 300, 7D all my lenses, audio, toolkit, cables and more. Thankfully it has a baggage dolly cause it's freekin heavy!

BTW, mine has no color shift with ND filters and last night recorded my 3rd 2.5 hour show on this camera and have not missed a frame on the card switch over. My only annoyances so far are the lanc controller sensitivity (my panny hmc150 controller was much smoother) and then there's that on/off switch!
Otherwise, couldn't be happier with the 300.

Jeff Anselmo · February 4th, 2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

Ignore my posts above, I have a fault on my camera. The quality of XF305 cameras will be much better than I have shown. :-(

Sorry to hear that Vincent! Just curious what troubles you're having? And if you'll be sending it in to Canon what their response would be?

Best,

Jeff Anselmo · February 4th, 2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Solaini

The most annoying thing about the XF300 is trying to find a bag to get it in along with my DSLR gear!Andy S

I'm still looking around for quality backpack for the XF300 :(

Best,

Andy Solaini · February 5th, 2011, 09:50 AM

The Kata OMB looks big enough but I am really after a backpack style bag as I do a lot of shoots while hiking and generally walking around places.

I have found this one that might work for both DSLR and XF300. PCBP-2N | petrolbags.com
It wouldn't fit in carry-on on a plane but there are some options to get around that.

Ray Barber · February 5th, 2011, 10:52 AM

Vincent, that pink haze has nothing to do with the camera. It's down to air pollution eminating from the building in the centre of the picture. :)

Vincent Oliver · February 5th, 2011, 05:25 PM

Maybe you have a point Ray, the only trouble with that is that we now have Tory Blue, not Labour Pink.

Nick Wilcox-Brown · February 8th, 2011, 02:38 PM

Vincent,

Was this your own camera or a pre-production test camera?

This was a problem with some of the pre-poduction cameras, but I have never seen this effect on any of the production cameras that I have used.

Peter Moretti · February 8th, 2011, 03:05 PM

Yeah, I remember at certain white balance settings the ND would "automatically" change the color cast.

Vincent Oliver · February 11th, 2011, 04:55 AM

I have just completed a couple of test shoots using a 300X and 600X Lexar professional card. Filming the sane scene for 24 minutes on each card (sorry very boring footage) The 300X card does not keep up with the camera data and I still get dropped garbage footage when it reaches 7 or 8 minute mark, The 600x card has no problem and plays continuously through each block of 7-8 minutes.

This could be a faulty 300x card, although I have my doubts on this, or maybe this camera needs a faster card such as the 600x. Has anyone else had a problem, please let us know which cards work for you. The problem is with long takes (7 - 8+ minutes), on shorter takes the 300x card works fine.

Will do some further testing and upload the crossover point.

Andy Solaini · February 11th, 2011, 06:07 AM

Vincent, I've not tested it with really long clips yet but my Transcend 400x 32GB UDMA cards seem to work fine.

February 4th, 2011, 09:41 AM	#16
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Ignore my posts above, I have a fault on my camera. The quality of XF305 cameras will be much better than I have shown. :-( __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 4th, 2011, 09:57 AM	#17
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Phew! I'm glad to hear that - well, not that you've got a fault Vincent of course - let's hope it gets fixed soon for you - but that there was a fault and not all these camera are the same, since I'm about to push the "buy" button on an XF300... Regards __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

February 4th, 2011, 10:12 AM	#18
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Putting aside the two problems, the XF 305 is an excellent camera, perhaps a bit too heavy for long handheld shots. Like any other camera it does have a few annoying points, the Power ON/OFF switch, etc I still love my EX3. and will continue to use it as my A camera. That also has some annoying points but I have found ways to get around these, just as I will with the XF305 __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 4th, 2011, 10:21 AM	#19
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Yes, I've noticed that the ON/OFF switch is a bit awkward - a bother to get it into the central position I've found. I'll forgive Canon that though... __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

February 5th, 2011, 10:52 AM	#25
Ray Barber Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 103	Vincent, that pink haze has nothing to do with the camera. It's down to air pollution eminating from the building in the centre of the picture. :) __________________ Six out of seven dwarves are not Happy

February 5th, 2011, 09:50 AM	#24
Andy Solaini Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 223	The Kata OMB looks big enough but I am really after a backpack style bag as I do a lot of shoots while hiking and generally walking around places. I have found this one that might work for both DSLR and XF300. PCBP-2N \| petrolbags.com It wouldn't fit in carry-on on a plane but there are some options to get around that.

February 5th, 2011, 05:25 PM	#26
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Maybe you have a point Ray, the only trouble with that is that we now have Tory Blue, not Labour Pink. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 8th, 2011, 02:38 PM	#27
Nick Wilcox-Brown Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 231	Vincent, Was this your own camera or a pre-production test camera? This was a problem with some of the pre-poduction cameras, but I have never seen this effect on any of the production cameras that I have used. __________________ Nick Wilcox-Brown, Film-maker and Photographer https://nickwb.com https://wildphotographer.co.uk

February 8th, 2011, 03:05 PM	#28
Peter Moretti Trustee Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 1,259	Yeah, I remember at certain white balance settings the ND would "automatically" change the color cast. __________________ Avid Media Composer 3.1.3. Boris Red and Continuum Complete. Vegas 8.0c. TMPGEnc Xpress Pro 4.0

February 11th, 2011, 04:55 AM	#29
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	I have just completed a couple of test shoots using a 300X and 600X Lexar professional card. Filming the sane scene for 24 minutes on each card (sorry very boring footage) The 300X card does not keep up with the camera data and I still get dropped garbage footage when it reaches 7 or 8 minute mark, The 600x card has no problem and plays continuously through each block of 7-8 minutes. This could be a faulty 300x card, although I have my doubts on this, or maybe this camera needs a faster card such as the 600x. Has anyone else had a problem, please let us know which cards work for you. The problem is with long takes (7 - 8+ minutes), on shorter takes the 300x card works fine. Will do some further testing and upload the crossover point. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

February 11th, 2011, 06:07 AM	#30
Andy Solaini Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 223	Vincent, I've not tested it with really long clips yet but my Transcend 400x 32GB UDMA cards seem to work fine.