Low Light Performance??? at DVinfo.net

Danny Winn · February 16th, 2013, 07:34 PM

I have one question, is the Canon XF100 HD Camcorder better than the Canon XH A1s in low light? I HATE MY XH A1s! Its the grainyest noisiest camera I've ever owned. I occationally shoot gym footage for the UFC here in Albuquerque at Jacksons MMA and it's embarrasing the crappy noisy footage I get in this dark gym. I'm no amature, I've done all the tricks with the A1 to reduce noise but its still crap.

So, How is th XF100 in low light situation compared to the XH-A1s, or just in general?

Thanks much!

Aaron J. McFerran · February 17th, 2013, 07:15 AM

this might help: https://vimeo.com/groups/canonxf/forum/topic:249536

I've been looking to get better low light performance out of my xf300, CP's seem to make a pretty big difference, and using 720 instead of 1080 can also give the equivalent of 5-6 extra stops, apparently.

Danny Winn · February 17th, 2013, 11:58 AM

Thanks Aaron, I'll check it out.

David Dixon · February 17th, 2013, 03:02 PM

The XF100 is pretty decent in low light, but not fantastic. I've read that it is an improvement over the XH A1s. The suggestions usually seen for best results in low light/high gain situations are to keep shutter at 1/30 or even 1/24, use gain but limit it to between +9 and +12 or so, then make a custom picture file that sets Noise Reduction to manual in the +2 to +4 range rather than the Automatic setting, dials down sharpness to -2 to -4, and that dials up Detail Coring to levels from +8 to +25.

In essence, once you're wide open and have slowed the shutter, then the above settings will soften the image somewhat to mask the noise. I recommend testing though to see how much softening is acceptable to you.

And while I've read before about using 720p instead of 1080p can really help on the XF300, I've not found that to be true on the XF100.

February 16th, 2013, 07:34 PM	#1
Danny Winn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 291	Low Light Performance??? I have one question, is the Canon XF100 HD Camcorder better than the Canon XH A1s in low light? I HATE MY XH A1s! Its the grainyest noisiest camera I've ever owned. I occationally shoot gym footage for the UFC here in Albuquerque at Jacksons MMA and it's embarrasing the crappy noisy footage I get in this dark gym. I'm no amature, I've done all the tricks with the A1 to reduce noise but its still crap. So, How is th XF100 in low light situation compared to the XH-A1s, or just in general? Thanks much!

February 17th, 2013, 07:15 AM	#2
Aaron J. McFerran New Boot Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kitchener Posts: 9	Re: Low Light Performance??? this might help: https://vimeo.com/groups/canonxf/forum/topic:249536 I've been looking to get better low light performance out of my xf300, CP's seem to make a pretty big difference, and using 720 instead of 1080 can also give the equivalent of 5-6 extra stops, apparently.

February 17th, 2013, 11:58 AM	#3
Danny Winn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 291	Re: Low Light Performance??? Thanks Aaron, I'll check it out.

February 17th, 2013, 03:02 PM	#4
David Dixon Major Player Join Date: May 2011 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 495	Re: Low Light Performance??? The XF100 is pretty decent in low light, but not fantastic. I've read that it is an improvement over the XH A1s. The suggestions usually seen for best results in low light/high gain situations are to keep shutter at 1/30 or even 1/24, use gain but limit it to between +9 and +12 or so, then make a custom picture file that sets Noise Reduction to manual in the +2 to +4 range rather than the Automatic setting, dials down sharpness to -2 to -4, and that dials up Detail Coring to levels from +8 to +25. In essence, once you're wide open and have slowed the shutter, then the above settings will soften the image somewhat to mask the noise. I recommend testing though to see how much softening is acceptable to you. And while I've read before about using 720p instead of 1080p can really help on the XF300, I've not found that to be true on the XF100.