XL H1 in a multi camera system at DVinfo.net

Robert Camitta · May 11th, 2006, 02:15 PM

Hi,
Has anyone found a way to control the camera iris and paint functions in a remote fashion? I want to use this camera in a three camera system, but don't know of a way to get remote control of those functions. Without that I don't see how you could use this camera any way but as a stand alone.

Chris Hurd · May 11th, 2006, 05:28 PM

Welcome to DV Info Net Robert,

The CCU for the Canon XL H1 is their "Console" software which runs on a PC platform and connects to the camera via FireWire. It gives you access to every control found on the camera body and internal menu adjustments as well, including custom preset functions. There's also a built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope. Try it out for free during a two-week period by downloading it directly from Canon USA.

Nick Hiltgen · May 11th, 2006, 05:56 PM

Robert, we incorporated a couple of XL-H1's into our HD multicam set-up. I suppose it's different for live broadcasts, but we found that putting the camera's into the same setup (via switching the memory card) and then either leaving the camera in (gasp) auto iris or (double gasp) trusting the camera guys with the iris, kept us legal 90% of the time. There are a couple of other folks around who are doing the same thing. short of that chris' console method is more or less your only choice.

Robert Camitta · May 12th, 2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hiltgen

Robert, we incorporated a couple of XL-H1's into our HD multicam set-up. I suppose it's different for live broadcasts, but we found that putting the camera's into the same setup (via switching the memory card) and then either leaving the camera in (gasp) auto iris or (double gasp) trusting the camera guys with the iris, kept us legal 90% of the time. There are a couple of other folks around who are doing the same thing. short of that chris' console method is more or less your only choice.

Yeah, i thought of that, but live shows make setting the iris by the cameraman a little too tricky if they are also trying to get a quick shot.

Robert Camitta · May 12th, 2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Welcome to DV Info Net Robert,

The CCU for the Canon XL H1 is their "Console" software which runs on a PC platform and connects to the camera via FireWire. It gives you access to every control found on the camera body and internal menu adjustments as well, including custom preset functions. There's also a built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope. Try it out for free during a two-week period by downloading it directly from Canon USA.

The problem I see with the software is trying to get three cameras up on the pc at the same time. Aslo, the cameras could be as far away as 150'. I don't know if firewire can run that far.

Chris Hurd · May 12th, 2006, 12:42 PM

One PC per camera. FireWire can go for very long runs with the appropriate repeaters.

Nick Hiltgen · May 12th, 2006, 01:37 PM

I haven't tried this, but hopefully will soon, another option may be to incorporate it into an evertz ECAS multicam system. Those backs have HD-SDI input's as well as time code and genlock, in addition, they have a firewire port, all of that info get's transmitted through a fiber cable back to a base station, with the matching ports (including firewire) you would then hook up each base station to a computer, giving you indivifual control of each camera. Of course the setup would cost you somewhere in the neighbor hood of 20k per base-station/back combo plus 10k per 500' of cable. ON the other hand you could also attach it to varicam's and f900's.

Ron Pfister · May 14th, 2006, 03:31 AM

If you are looking for a cheaper route, Gefen makes FW over Fiber products. See here: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2808

I don't know how well these products work. Just passing the info along...

BTW: the duplex multi-mode fiber cables with LC-connectors can be had cheaper, particularly if you can get them directly from a ICT-outfit that makes their own. So you might just want to get the shortest cables from Gefen and hunt for longer ones elsewhere. I get 100' of equivalent fiber cable (spec'ed for 2.5 Gbps) for roughly USD 60 here in Switzerland. Keep an eye on the mechanical specs of the cabling, though. You'd want a product that can withstand some abuse, I imagine. Speaking of that, much more care is in order when handling fiber optics cables than with traditional copper material, just in case you needed to know...

HTH,

Ron

Nick Hiltgen · May 14th, 2006, 12:31 PM

Ron, I think what makes the cable I've been using so much more expensive is that it has power built in as well, (it also makes it much heavier). But I appreciate the input, I think that when it comes down to just me (not me and the company I typically work for) a non powered cable will be the perfect choice.

May 11th, 2006, 02:15 PM	#1
Robert Camitta New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Millburn, NJ Posts: 14	XL H1 in a multi camera system Hi, Has anyone found a way to control the camera iris and paint functions in a remote fashion? I want to use this camera in a three camera system, but don't know of a way to get remote control of those functions. Without that I don't see how you could use this camera any way but as a stand alone.

May 11th, 2006, 05:28 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Welcome to DV Info Net Robert, The CCU for the Canon XL H1 is their "Console" software which runs on a PC platform and connects to the camera via FireWire. It gives you access to every control found on the camera body and internal menu adjustments as well, including custom preset functions. There's also a built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope. Try it out for free during a two-week period by downloading it directly from Canon USA. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 11th, 2006, 05:56 PM	#3
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	Robert, we incorporated a couple of XL-H1's into our HD multicam set-up. I suppose it's different for live broadcasts, but we found that putting the camera's into the same setup (via switching the memory card) and then either leaving the camera in (gasp) auto iris or (double gasp) trusting the camera guys with the iris, kept us legal 90% of the time. There are a couple of other folks around who are doing the same thing. short of that chris' console method is more or less your only choice. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

May 12th, 2006, 12:42 PM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	One PC per camera. FireWire can go for very long runs with the appropriate repeaters. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 12th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#7
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	I haven't tried this, but hopefully will soon, another option may be to incorporate it into an evertz ECAS multicam system. Those backs have HD-SDI input's as well as time code and genlock, in addition, they have a firewire port, all of that info get's transmitted through a fiber cable back to a base station, with the matching ports (including firewire) you would then hook up each base station to a computer, giving you indivifual control of each camera. Of course the setup would cost you somewhere in the neighbor hood of 20k per base-station/back combo plus 10k per 500' of cable. ON the other hand you could also attach it to varicam's and f900's. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

May 14th, 2006, 03:31 AM	#8
Ron Pfister Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Basel area, Switzerland Posts: 285	If you are looking for a cheaper route, Gefen makes FW over Fiber products. See here: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2808 I don't know how well these products work. Just passing the info along... BTW: the duplex multi-mode fiber cables with LC-connectors can be had cheaper, particularly if you can get them directly from a ICT-outfit that makes their own. So you might just want to get the shortest cables from Gefen and hunt for longer ones elsewhere. I get 100' of equivalent fiber cable (spec'ed for 2.5 Gbps) for roughly USD 60 here in Switzerland. Keep an eye on the mechanical specs of the cabling, though. You'd want a product that can withstand some abuse, I imagine. Speaking of that, much more care is in order when handling fiber optics cables than with traditional copper material, just in case you needed to know... HTH, Ron __________________ Ronald P. Pfister halimedia - digital solutions and services www.halimedia.com

May 14th, 2006, 12:31 PM	#9
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	Ron, I think what makes the cable I've been using so much more expensive is that it has power built in as well, (it also makes it much heavier). But I appreciate the input, I think that when it comes down to just me (not me and the company I typically work for) a non powered cable will be the perfect choice. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...