manual lacks explanation at DVinfo.net

Joe Batt · July 3rd, 2007, 01:52 AM

Hi,
I am getting to know my XL-H1 and there are a few adjustment I don't quite understand, are there available resources that explain them? The problem is in adjusting the presets.

Example: In the manual under Master Pedestal it explains; "Adjusts master pedestal from -9 to +9."

Where can I find explanations of these adjustments and what they actually do?

Thanks!

Will Griffith · July 3rd, 2007, 05:36 AM

If I remember correctly master pedestal effects the shadow
detail or shadow brightness, can't remember. Either way it
is just another preference and something you will just need to
play with to see what you like. It is all about what look you
are going for.

Marty Hudzik · July 3rd, 2007, 06:34 AM

Unfortunately Canon assumes that if you are plopping down the big bucks on a camera like this you will know all of these terms. You'd be better to google each one and find articles about them as most are general terms, not specific to the H1 only.

I always get a kick when manuals do this. Here is an example. Your are using an audio editing applicaiton and see a button that says. "wave modulation reverse inhibitor". YOu get out the manual only to find this.

Wave Modulation Reverse Inhibitor: Selecting this option toggle the Wave Modulation Reverese Inhibitor On/Off.

Duh! I see this all the time ( not this exact one as I made it up) and it can get frustrating.

Good Luck.

Carlos Quinones · July 3rd, 2007, 10:01 AM

This is not directed to any one or to discriminate any one, is just a reality thats happening in this busisness...

That's right...Canon assumes that any body that gets one of this cameras is already a pro.

All pro camera manufactore wont specify whats every switch for...you are suppost to know already.

I seen these alot when any body wants to get to the field without knowlage.
Thats why we go to school and learn the field, and make money out of it too.

Don't get mad! but you should it get an smaller canon version or maybe an older Xl series.

Take care...

God Bless You,

Carlos Quinones
It's Written Productions, LLC.

Joe Batt · July 3rd, 2007, 09:06 PM

Thanks Will and Marty,
I guess I was trying to be lazy about getting the info. I appreciate the empathy on the manual matter.

Daniel Epstein · July 4th, 2007, 07:26 AM

Just to ease your path a little. Master Pedestal is supposed to be the overall black level adjustment. You can use it to lift or crush your black level without changing the balance between the individual channel adjustments. If you set it too low you will lose detail in dark parts of the picture, too high and everything will go gray. Other settings can interact with each other so be careful that you are not adding to one setting to compensate for another setting you have adjusted

Dan Keaton · July 4th, 2007, 07:40 AM

Dear Joe,

Please read the following webpage from the Canon XL H1 mini-stie.

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/XL..._control.shtml

Then read all of the other pages one the above site. You will find the information very helpful. Specifically, read all of the downloads and whitepapers.

After reading the above, which explains the information missing from the manual, please feel free to come back and ask more questions.

Andris Krastins · July 4th, 2007, 11:21 AM

Well, I'm very new to filmmaking (hence my sig), and I (naturally) found out that buying some books really helps. ;) I can't imagine learning filming just from a camera manual.

I don't want to advertise any particular ones, have a look at Amazon.com

Joe Batt · July 4th, 2007, 01:26 PM

I don't know how I missed that page at the canon website but that's exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't agree more about the book suggestion. It can be tough finding the answer to a very specific question sometimes. Isn't that what makes sites like this one so great?

A. J. deLange · July 5th, 2007, 03:30 PM

The real problem here is that Master Pedestal is an archaic thing from the days of SD broadcast television. If one turned it on the mimimum black level was limited to 7.5 (out of 100) IRE units which limited the amount of video power the transmitter could put out. This was done in order to insure that the power at the tip of the sync pulse, the maximum the transmitter could produce, was far enough above the video power level that the receiver's sync circuits could accurately determine the timing of the pulse. -9 to +9 doesn't mean much (to me anyway) in those terms and so we must assume that what is being offered here is the opportunity to set the blackest black to between 0 IRE (-9?) and 7.5 IRE (+9?) in 19 steps. I guess it's cool to be able to do that but why not use IRE units i.e. something pro's would understand rather than this confusing -9 to + 9 thing. Same comment goes for matrix settings. It great that they can be controlled but the numbering scheme is pretty confusing.

July 3rd, 2007, 01:52 AM	#1
Joe Batt Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Ranch, CA Posts: 106	manual lacks explanation Hi, I am getting to know my XL-H1 and there are a few adjustment I don't quite understand, are there available resources that explain them? The problem is in adjusting the presets. Example: In the manual under Master Pedestal it explains; "Adjusts master pedestal from -9 to +9." Where can I find explanations of these adjustments and what they actually do? Thanks!

July 3rd, 2007, 05:36 AM	#2
Will Griffith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tennessee Posts: 164	If I remember correctly master pedestal effects the shadow detail or shadow brightness, can't remember. Either way it is just another preference and something you will just need to play with to see what you like. It is all about what look you are going for. __________________ will griffith producer/editor

July 3rd, 2007, 09:06 PM	#5
Joe Batt Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Ranch, CA Posts: 106	Thanks Thanks Will and Marty, I guess I was trying to be lazy about getting the info. I appreciate the empathy on the manual matter.

July 4th, 2007, 07:40 AM	#7
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Joe, Please read the following webpage from the Canon XL H1 mini-stie. http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/XL..._control.shtml Then read all of the other pages one the above site. You will find the information very helpful. Specifically, read all of the downloads and whitepapers. After reading the above, which explains the information missing from the manual, please feel free to come back and ask more questions. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

July 4th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#8
Andris Krastins Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lielvārde, Latvia Posts: 326	Well, I'm very new to filmmaking (hence my sig), and I (naturally) found out that buying some books really helps. ;) I can't imagine learning filming just from a camera manual. I don't want to advertise any particular ones, have a look at Amazon.com __________________ Our Fire Films - a free film project.

July 3rd, 2007, 06:34 AM	#3
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	Unfortunately Canon assumes that if you are plopping down the big bucks on a camera like this you will know all of these terms. You'd be better to google each one and find articles about them as most are general terms, not specific to the H1 only. I always get a kick when manuals do this. Here is an example. Your are using an audio editing applicaiton and see a button that says. "wave modulation reverse inhibitor". YOu get out the manual only to find this. Wave Modulation Reverse Inhibitor: Selecting this option toggle the Wave Modulation Reverese Inhibitor On/Off. Duh! I see this all the time ( not this exact one as I made it up) and it can get frustrating. Good Luck.

July 3rd, 2007, 10:01 AM	#4
Carlos Quinones Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Miami Florida Posts: 70	This is not directed to any one or to discriminate any one, is just a reality thats happening in this busisness... That's right...Canon assumes that any body that gets one of this cameras is already a pro. All pro camera manufactore wont specify whats every switch for...you are suppost to know already. I seen these alot when any body wants to get to the field without knowlage. Thats why we go to school and learn the field, and make money out of it too. Don't get mad! but you should it get an smaller canon version or maybe an older Xl series. Take care... God Bless You, Carlos Quinones It's Written Productions, LLC.

July 4th, 2007, 07:26 AM	#6
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Just to ease your path a little. Master Pedestal is supposed to be the overall black level adjustment. You can use it to lift or crush your black level without changing the balance between the individual channel adjustments. If you set it too low you will lose detail in dark parts of the picture, too high and everything will go gray. Other settings can interact with each other so be careful that you are not adding to one setting to compensate for another setting you have adjusted

July 4th, 2007, 01:26 PM	#9
Joe Batt Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Ranch, CA Posts: 106	thanks I don't know how I missed that page at the canon website but that's exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't agree more about the book suggestion. It can be tough finding the answer to a very specific question sometimes. Isn't that what makes sites like this one so great?

July 5th, 2007, 03:30 PM	#10
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	The real problem here is that Master Pedestal is an archaic thing from the days of SD broadcast television. If one turned it on the mimimum black level was limited to 7.5 (out of 100) IRE units which limited the amount of video power the transmitter could put out. This was done in order to insure that the power at the tip of the sync pulse, the maximum the transmitter could produce, was far enough above the video power level that the receiver's sync circuits could accurately determine the timing of the pulse. -9 to +9 doesn't mean much (to me anyway) in those terms and so we must assume that what is being offered here is the opportunity to set the blackest black to between 0 IRE (-9?) and 7.5 IRE (+9?) in 19 steps. I guess it's cool to be able to do that but why not use IRE units i.e. something pro's would understand rather than this confusing -9 to + 9 thing. Same comment goes for matrix settings. It great that they can be controlled but the numbering scheme is pretty confusing.