need help answering a few questions
 

I am doing a 2 camera shoot this Saturday and the primary camera is an XHA1 and the 2nd camera will be a XH-G1. The camera operator is asking some questions I can't answer, and I thought you all could help.

His questions are:
I assume we're shooting in non-drop frame timecode, HD, 24F. (but which 24F mode?) (2:3:3:2 Mode?)

I assume we're using record run timecode?

Should I do anything with the Skin Detail function?


Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

The XH A1 and XH G1 are identicle cameras except for the extra signal output capabilities and Genlock on the XH G1. So just choose a preset and then copy it to both cameras. When I was shooting with an XH A1 I used the default skin detail setting. Whether you shot 24F, 30F or 60i is up to you and should be determined by the needs of the shoot and what you want the end product to look like.

The Canon doesn't insert pull down in it 24F mode so there is no choice between 3:2 or 2:3:3:2 pull down.

For multicam shoots I use non-drop continuous run timecodes. Try to synch them up before the start of the shoot as close as you can. I can usually get up to three cameras synch'd to within a few frames. Then I have all cameras continuously rolling. that way I only have to try to resynch at tape changes. That's where continuous run timecodes come in. Once you determine how many frames off each camera is, resynching is easy.

Thanks for the info Garret.

What do you mean when you say "just choose a preset and then copy it to both cameras."

I don't think I have ever used presets. I normally set the camera to manual mode, white balance, set my aperture, do a 1/60 shutter and go. If I do this same thing to the XH G1, do you think that will be fine? I don't need the camera synced for any reason, I just want the footage to look (colors, resolution, fps, shutter etc) the same so I wont have any issues when I work with the it in FCP later down the road.

Hi Oliver,

One of the great appeals of the Canon XH and XL series of cameras is that you can customize the way the camera's picture looks. Look at this post:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xh...rary-copy.html

You can copy the settings from one camera to the other via the SDHC card. That will make the cameras match as closely as possible. It really depends on how you want the picture to look. In order to make the cameras match you need to make sure that all of the customizable settings are the same on both cameras, or turn off the presets.

If you're going to be using 24F you should probably shoot at 1/48th.

-Garrett

1/48th?? Really???Why?

I've shot the entire movie (over 30 hours of footage) at 1/60 so far....

Typically you'd try to set your Shutter to be 180 degrees out of your frame rate. i.e. 30fps (which is what 60i ends up really being) you'd shoot 1/60th, 1/120, etc. For 24 fps you usually would use 1/48th. This matches the shutter behavior that is usually used in film cameras so it will yield a familiar look.

Some cameras actually allow you to set the shutter speed by selecting the shutter angle.

-Garrett

So what kind of issues am I going to run into now that I shot all my footage at the wrong shutter speed?

Answering a few questions
 

You said "So what kind of issues am I going to run into now that I shot all my footage at the wrong shutter speed? "

I don't believe you will have any issues. Do what you need to in post and don't worry about it!

Hi Oliver,

I didn't mean to alarm you. You didn't use the wrong shutter speed, just one that is not as commonly used. Review your footage and as long as it looks the way you want it is fine. Sometimes the motion blur can look a little unnatural or you could get judder. You're most likely fine. I'd continue using the same setting as you started out with.

-Garrett

Garret is correct with the shutter speeds for the different frame rates....He is stating the "rule of thumb" ....try to use multiples of the frame rate, if you know what I mean. I don't shoot any other way so I could not tell you how it effects your footage. There is a thread buried in here somewhere discussing it, if you are interested. Recommend using the "search feature" Good Luck.

Sorry for the late reply. I went and did the shoot and everything went well.

Thanks for the info guys.