The real test - contrast ratios 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 H Series HDV Camcorders

Canon XL H Series HDV Camcorders
Canon XL H1S (with SDI), Canon XL H1A (without SDI). Also XL H1.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 8th, 2006, 09:26 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 109
The real test - contrast ratios

I am thrilling with the evolution of camcorder in recent year.
i was among the first to own JVC's HD10 and shot a feature documentary in Kenya with it in November of '03 (http://sgww.org/kenya)

Early last year I purchased the Sony and there was a realizable difference.

The real limitation of these cameras versus film or a broadcast HD camera (such as the Sony 900) is contract ratios due mostly to small chip size and lens limitations.

Any time I used the JVC outdoors if I wanted any kind of color in the sky outdoors, everything else would be underexposed. If I wanted to properly expose a exterior day shot, the sky and everything else whiter then my subject was blown out.

The Sony handles ratios much better than the JVC. Is the canon a large step forward? In some initial still tests, although the resolution is noticably better, the sky looks blown out to me.

Thanks

Steven Galvano
Colors Studios
Steven Galvano is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 8th, 2006, 10:57 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: McLean, VA United States
Posts: 749
In testing with the Putora chart I find the gray scale easily fits within the dynamic range of the XL-H1. The gray chips span .03 to 1.72 density on that chart and thus the camera demonstrably has dynamic range of at least 5.7 stops. Film, conversely, has about 7 (thinking of Ansel Adams' 9 zones with zone I being detail-less black and zone IX being detail-less white) but film will allways have the advantage that detail can often be teased out of over exposed areas whereas a blown highlight from an electronic sensor is blown - period. My philosophy, thus, is to set the zebra stripes for 100 and use the maximum exposure that they will allow i.e. you look in the EVF and if more of the picture than you wish to be blown is in zebra stripes you back off until the striping just disappears or is only in places where you can tolerate a specular highlight. If I want a nice deep blue sky I may intentionally underexpose (according to the meter) and then tweak gamma in post. The situation with electronic images in dark areas is just the converse - you can often tease some detail out of them.
A. J. deLange is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 8th, 2006, 11:52 AM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 109
Thanks for your insight.

How does this compare with previous HDV cameras such as the HD10 or FX1?
Steven Galvano is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 8th, 2006, 12:49 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: McLean, VA United States
Posts: 749
I've never had my hands on any HDV camera other than the XL-H1. I'd expect the results to be about the same as CCDs in general behave in this way both in still and video cameras. I did see similar results with the Canon XL2.
A. J. deLange is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 8th, 2006, 05:04 PM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Augusta Georgia
Posts: 5,421
Dear Steven,

Using a graduated neutral density filter to compensate for the overly bright skies, while maintainikng proper exposure on your subject, can be very helpful.
__________________
Dan Keaton
Augusta Georgia
Dan Keaton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 8th, 2006, 09:51 PM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Las Vegas, NV / Branson, MO
Posts: 63
Well, a 1/3" sensor isn't going to offer the dynamic range of a larger sensor or film, it's just physics. You just have to expose and light correctly because you can't get overexposed information back with video as well as you might be able to with film, which has a little room.

A.J., you mentioned that film has about 7 stops of lattitude, maybe when telecined but I usually have no problem getting 8 to 9 stops of lattitude with Vision 2 stocks. Of course, all this lattitude doesn't make it to the screen but it allows more room to compensate for over/under exposure in post.
Matthew Greene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 9th, 2006, 12:15 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Posts: 112
ND Filter

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Keaton
Dear Steven,

Using a graduated neutral density filter to compensate for the overly bright skies, while maintainikng proper exposure on your subject, can be very helpful.
I just came back from 2 weeks in Asia where I used my old JVC HD1, the sky is not even the biggest problem, the biggest problem is when the sunlight hits directly objects, they are all white. The camera is amazing all things considered if it wasn't for this issue. To underexpose is probably the only solution but then we have another problem since one stop wouldn't be even enough. This is indeed my biggest concern on buying a new camera. I like the HD100 but at the end of the day each CCD is still 1280X720 @ 1/3" how can it be much better? Pixel saturation is pixel saturation and in the HD1-HD10 is VERY bad.

I'd like to know from people that tested the HD100

Regards
Gabriele
Gabriele Sartori 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 H Series HDV Camcorders

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:10 AM.


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