After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new user

Doug Jensen · October 7th, 2011, 09:25 PM

I am not surprised the same zebra settings don't work from camera to camera. The best settings for zebra will vary by four factors:

1) The camera model
2) The picture profile or custom scene settings being used on the camera at the time
3) Where the operator expects the zebras to appear within the scene
4) Which of the two types of zebras is being used (range or limit)

I always setup a new camera when I first get it and run some tests in the studio to determine what zebra setting is going to work best for the paint settings I have chosen. Of course it helps that I have professional DSC charts and a Leader waveform monitor, but it can be done without those tools. One thing I have learned is that the best zebra setting has never been the same on any two cameras I've owned.

The best thing is that, once that zebra number is determined, I never need anything else to nail the exposure perfectly in almost any shooting situation. Zebras = the cameraman's best friend.

Vincent Oliver · October 8th, 2011, 12:24 AM

Thanks for that info Doug, It confirms what I have found, i.e. the camera has to be set up correctly depending on which settings are in use. Perhaps I was being too naive in thinking that Zebras were a set standard in the same way that exposure meters are (in theory anyway).

Alan McCormick · November 6th, 2011, 10:51 AM

Regarding the Rocker/Zoom Ring is there any way that we could "voice" our concerns and our vote to have both options available all the time to Canon so they could give us a firmware update in the future?

On the XLH1a both were always available at the same time and I know I will come a "cropper" sometime in the future.

Graham Bernard · November 6th, 2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan McCormick

Regarding the Rocker/Zoom Ring ..... I know I will come a "cropper" sometime in the future.

Done it already. Quite unnerving, and I even knew it!

G

Alan McCormick · November 7th, 2011, 01:07 PM

So, regarding the zoom switch is there anywhere we can "voice" our concerns? I do not know why they would leave this out when previous Canon series have had this feature. I think Doug J mentions on his DVD that he is used to that but seems weird - I can imagine a dual option available and maybe turn one off as an option switch. .......

Chuck Fadely · November 15th, 2011, 09:50 PM

One other newbie tip: don't use the shoulder strap to carry your camera without covering the viewfinder because the balance makes the viewfinder point toward the sun - which burns the vf.

Oh and there are a number of ways you can accidentally bump it into auto mode, which drives me nuts. Tape down all 4,327 of the auto buttons so they don't get turned on by accident.

October 7th, 2011, 09:25 PM	#16
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,417	Re: After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new I am not surprised the same zebra settings don't work from camera to camera. The best settings for zebra will vary by four factors: 1) The camera model 2) The picture profile or custom scene settings being used on the camera at the time 3) Where the operator expects the zebras to appear within the scene 4) Which of the two types of zebras is being used (range or limit) I always setup a new camera when I first get it and run some tests in the studio to determine what zebra setting is going to work best for the paint settings I have chosen. Of course it helps that I have professional DSC charts and a Leader waveform monitor, but it can be done without those tools. One thing I have learned is that the best zebra setting has never been the same on any two cameras I've owned. The best thing is that, once that zebra number is determined, I never need anything else to nail the exposure perfectly in almost any shooting situation. Zebras = the cameraman's best friend. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

October 8th, 2011, 12:24 AM	#17
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new Thanks for that info Doug, It confirms what I have found, i.e. the camera has to be set up correctly depending on which settings are in use. Perhaps I was being too naive in thinking that Zebras were a set standard in the same way that exposure meters are (in theory anyway). __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

November 6th, 2011, 10:51 AM	#18
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new Regarding the Rocker/Zoom Ring is there any way that we could "voice" our concerns and our vote to have both options available all the time to Canon so they could give us a firmware update in the future? On the XLH1a both were always available at the same time and I know I will come a "cropper" sometime in the future. __________________ Alan McC

November 7th, 2011, 01:07 PM	#20
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new So, regarding the zoom switch is there anywhere we can "voice" our concerns? I do not know why they would leave this out when previous Canon series have had this feature. I think Doug J mentions on his DVD that he is used to that but seems weird - I can imagine a dual option available and maybe turn one off as an option switch. ....... __________________ Alan McC

November 15th, 2011, 09:50 PM	#21
Chuck Fadely Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: United States Posts: 306	Re: After Two Weeks of Shooting with the XF 300 ... Warnings and Cautions to the new One other newbie tip: don't use the shoulder strap to carry your camera without covering the viewfinder because the balance makes the viewfinder point toward the sun - which burns the vf. Oh and there are a number of ways you can accidentally bump it into auto mode, which drives me nuts. Tape down all 4,327 of the auto buttons so they don't get turned on by accident.