Urgent please help with capturing XL2 footage at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders

Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders
Canon XL2 / XL1S / XL1 and GL2 / XM2 / GL1 / XM1.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 22nd, 2009, 12:54 AM   #1
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 16
Urgent please help with capturing XL2 footage

When I digitalize footage that I've shot with the XL2 the quality is HORRIBLE

What am I doing wrong?

XL2 shot at 24p 16.9 2.3.3.2 pulldown

capturing with DV NTSC Easy Setup in final cut pro 7

the footage looks very pixelated and not high quality at all, here is an example.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/21/picture1xnk.png

you can see the pixelation I'm talking about on his face.

Thanks!!
Alex Nazari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2009, 12:00 PM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 39
It's the lighting

I don't think the issue is with how you're capturing, but rather it's with the lighting in the shot. I don't know the technical reasons behind it (color sampling maybe?) but in short DV cameras simply look terrible if they're shooting oversaturated red lighting... In my experience it just is what it is, unfortunately.

I shoot a ton of wedding receptions and whenever I encounter strong red lighting I just grit my teeth and brace myself for the resulting cruddy footage. =(
Ryan Chaney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2009, 01:52 PM   #3
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 16
thanks for the quick response ryan I hope I'm doing something wrong cause everything I capture really just looks horrible!

heres another example if you look at the little tree in the middle or the tripod legs you can see the pixelation I'm talking about.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4526/picture3bm.png the lines just dont look clear and crispy looks disgusting when I look at the footage on the viewfinder it doesn't look anything like this

THANKS!
Alex Nazari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 22nd, 2009, 03:51 PM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines
Posts: 1,110
Hi Alex. Going by the appearance of the shots, I would bet that the pull-down is not being done properly. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with FCP so cannot advise you with that. Except maybe you could try shooting something in interlaced and see if there is any difference. That might help to confirm whether it is the pull-down that is causing it.

BTW, the outdoor shot also looks very soft. Are you using the ND filter on the camera? If not, that would explain it.

Richard
Richard Hunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2009, 12:14 PM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 39
Something Else

That second image of the tripod/tree shows that there's something else going on, other than the issue specifically with red lighting that I mentioned before. I agree that maybe it's something to do with the pulldown in FCP. If your Easy Setup was set to DV-NTSC 24p (23.98) then try setting it to DV-NTSC 24p (23.98) Advanced Pulldown Removal, or vice versa. Good luck!
Ryan Chaney is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 24th, 2009, 03:28 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 212
I don't believe any of the easy setups work with the 2:3:3:2 pull down. You have to manually set it to that in the capture window. At least on 5.1 you had to.
__________________
Talenos Productions at http://www.talenos.com
Matt Newcomb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 24th, 2009, 05:05 PM   #7
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 16
i was guessing it might be the pulldown i tried setting it up in the easy set up but that didn't work. lets see if it works in the capture window

thanks again!
Alex Nazari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 24th, 2009, 06:42 PM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 212
Red is a troublesome color for the XL2 though. I shot a lady in a red dress in broad daylight and the dress looks all pixely like that, and the only thing I could really do is desaturated the reds a little in post. So you might want to give that a try as well.
__________________
Talenos Productions at http://www.talenos.com
Matt Newcomb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 25th, 2009, 12:19 AM   #9
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 16
It's so weird though. How come it doesn't look like that in the viewfinder, or on a monitor?
Alex Nazari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 25th, 2009, 01:07 AM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 212
I think it's just the nature of the color on computer monitors. I've seen it before when people use red for their credits so I don't know if it's a specific problem to the XL2, maybe it just records the reds hotter than most cams.
__________________
Talenos Productions at http://www.talenos.com
Matt Newcomb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 26th, 2009, 05:07 AM   #11
Trustee
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines
Posts: 1,110
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Nazari View Post
It's so weird though. How come it doesn't look like that in the viewfinder, or on a monitor?
Have you solved it yet?

Richard
Richard Hunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 29th, 2009, 03:20 AM   #12
New Boot
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Israel
Posts: 10
how do you connect the camera to the PC?

are you using firewire?
Doron Hazan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 29th, 2009, 01:30 PM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Petaluma, CA
Posts: 456
Yes, I agree with everyone regarding the red light issue. Next time you can either crank down the red in your camera settings or just deal with it in post.

Regarding the pixelation and possible capture setting issue, you can quickly isolate the problem by connecting your camera directly to a monitor via your video cable. We should never put much reliance on the puny XL-2 viewfinder except for framing/focus; in fact, consider purchasing an external 7 inch monitor that mounts to your hot shoe - you'll find them sold used for around $350.

Good luck, Michael
Michael Nistler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 30th, 2009, 01:58 PM   #14
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Posts: 336
Hey Alex,

If you still have not resolved your problem, let me know. I have the remedy to what ails your footage:) Can't fix the reds for you, unfortunately that damage was done by the lighting like everyone else has said, but I can definitely fix your interlacing problem.

Ry
Ryan Mueller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 1st, 2009, 10:36 AM   #15
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Tickfaw, LA
Posts: 1,217
I would check my settings when I am recording. Gain and f-stop can have a large impact on noise in the video. Also you might try doing a manual white balance.
__________________
Nathan Gifford
Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions

For quick answers try our Search!
To see me and Rob Lohman click here
Nathan Gifford is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:26 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network