XL1 / XL1S various posts

Ed Smith · April 26th, 2002, 01:09 PM

Hi,

Try using the ND Filter with the 16x lens, plus try using a number of ND filters (x2, x4, x8), Your best bet is to probably try Cokin filters since you can slip 3 filters in front of one another, therefore creating numerous effects.

This is an aged old trick which you are trying, and was first fully utilised during the makings of Film Noir productions (Pre war) and is sometimes used to some extend in TV and Films now.

Hope this helps,

Ed Smith

Justin Chin · April 26th, 2002, 09:12 PM

Tiffen also makes some day for night filters. I don't have any experience with them. If someone here has used them please speak up, I'd like to know how they work.

Andrew Leigh · April 28th, 2002, 01:38 AM

Hi all,

"To avoid damage to the XL-1's colour viewfinder, OpTex has developed a Concertina Shuttered Eyepiece. The OTXLEYE replaces the XL-1's standard rubber eyecup and opens as you apply pressure to the viewfinder. As soon as you take your eye away from the finder, the eyepiece closes up again, providing total protection for the viewfinder's LCD screen."

This sounds like a neat solution to a problem. Have a look....

http://www.optexint.com/digivid/xleye.htm

Cheers
Andrew

PS: If I convert GBP to SAR to USD it should cost in the order of US$45.

Don Palomaki · April 28th, 2002, 07:09 AM

FWIW: Canon did a patch to the XL1 EVF about 6 months after the XL1 was released. Have not read reports of any problem with EVF sunburn since the fix was implemented. The Optex fix may be appropriate if an XL1 is planned to be used under unusually severe sun-in-the-EVF conditions; however, for average users is is probably not necessary.

Josh Bass · April 29th, 2002, 01:10 AM

Hi. I'm saving up for a wide angle lens for my XL1s,and saw an article about one made by Optex, for 1000 dollars, which is 200 lower than the lowest price I could find on Canon's wide angle. I was wondering if anyone has used this and knows whether it's a good deal, or what. I like the idea of the back focus-- does Canon's offer this?

April 30th, 2002, 07:45 AM

My new XL1s has a rewind function problem that causes it to eat tapes. Has anyone else experienced this? I also notice breaks in the timecode counter as it rewinds. I'm open to any suggestions. I have a production this weekend and I'll be forced to rent a small Dv camera for rewinding. Annoying!

Edward Troxel · April 30th, 2002, 01:15 PM

There have been many reports of the first XL-1s cameras eating tapes during rewind because of a faulty braking mechinism. Send it to Canon for a free repair.

April 30th, 2002, 01:27 PM

I figured as much. Glad to hear it's not just me. Thanks.

John Klein · April 30th, 2002, 05:58 PM

Use manual gain. Auto gain will influence an otherwise full manual shot.

Zebras are my best friends. I set at 90 and have figured out the quantity of zebra stripes that will produce the image I like. It's great as long as your subject is wearing a white shirt, or the like. I generally use a large white light reflector to set my color balance to. Once done, I crank the exposure to where I see my familiar zebra friends and I'm nearly dead-on.

Testing and finding your own look is what it's all about. Good Luck.

May 1st, 2002, 11:14 AM

Hi all,

I've found these pages, along with the Watchdog, incredibly helpful for orientating myself with my XL1s (thanks Mr. Hurd and crew).

I'm shooting my first short film - with the XL1s - over the next few weekends, pretty much just to put it (and myself) to the test, before I use it for a larger project.

I have the MA-100 on backorder, but I doubt it will be delivered by the weekend - so this leaves me with the stock, onboard mic.

Although this is a pretty broad, and perhaps naive, question: I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to get the most out of the onboard mic. The short I'll be filming is a mockumentary, so there is plenty of (staged) run-and-gunning, but also a couple of interviews, dramatic re-enactments etc.

Cheers,

Dean

Adrian Douglas · May 1st, 2002, 11:23 AM

Dean,

Good to see more Australian crew hooking up to the board.

The main thing to avoid with the onboard mic is excessive zooming during quiet shots. When all is quiet sometimes zoom servo noise is picked up by the mic.

One other thing to remember is that the mic is stereo so make sure it is correctly aligned in the clamp(cable pointing up) otherwise your stereo image will be all screwed up.

For a standard mic it does an OK job. If care is taken there is no reason why you can't get some great audio.

May 1st, 2002, 11:41 AM

Thanks Adrian,

(Great to get such a quick reply!)

I'll certainly heed your advice,

Cheers,

Dean

Ford Minton · May 2nd, 2002, 04:46 AM

I picked up a Light Wave Systems mini-mount and system isolator. After I installed the isolator and mount I found that the on-board mic connecting cable is apt to pull out of the jack. The isolator forces the connector to stretch and sometimes pop out. I called Light Wave about this and they indicated that is just how it is. I had to abandon using the isolator finally after it kept popping out.
Hope this is not a stupid question as I am new to all of this, but does anyone know of a way to extend the cable somehow either with an aftermarket item or some kind of upgrade from Canon? Also, did Canon make the mic connecting cable longer on the XL-1S? I don't want to start modifying the isolator to address this if there is already some fix available out there.

thx much-

Ford Minton · May 2nd, 2002, 04:48 AM

Maybe call rental house and ask if they have had any problems with the 66 and the Sony.

Chris Hurd · May 2nd, 2002, 07:30 AM

Howdy from Texas,

This has been discussed before... do a search on Lightwave, limit the search to this forum and go through those responses. The cable is indeed longer on the XL1S.

I think you'll have a hard time modifying the Isolator without ruining it. A better solution would be to send the camera back to Canon, explain the problem and ask for the longer EVF cable from the XL1S.

For what it's worth, I use the Isolator with an old XL1. It is stretched a bit but it doesn't pop out. Hope this helps,

April 26th, 2002, 09:12 PM	#257
Justin Chin Major Player Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 227	Tiffen also makes some day for night filters. I don't have any experience with them. If someone here has used them please speak up, I'd like to know how they work. __________________ justin www.monsterrocket.com Filmmaker \| Cinematographer

April 28th, 2002, 01:38 AM	#258
Andrew Leigh Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 220	A soultion to EVF burn ? Hi all, "To avoid damage to the XL-1's colour viewfinder, OpTex has developed a Concertina Shuttered Eyepiece. The OTXLEYE replaces the XL-1's standard rubber eyecup and opens as you apply pressure to the viewfinder. As soon as you take your eye away from the finder, the eyepiece closes up again, providing total protection for the viewfinder's LCD screen." This sounds like a neat solution to a problem. Have a look.... http://www.optexint.com/digivid/xleye.htm Cheers Andrew PS: If I convert GBP to SAR to USD it should cost in the order of US$45. __________________ PAL XL-1, DV Raptor, Premiere TOTAL AMATEUR - DOING IT FOR THE FUN

April 29th, 2002, 01:10 AM	#260
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	wide angle lenses for xl1s Hi. I'm saving up for a wide angle lens for my XL1s,and saw an article about one made by Optex, for 1000 dollars, which is 200 lower than the lowest price I could find on Canon's wide angle. I was wondering if anyone has used this and knows whether it's a good deal, or what. I like the idea of the back focus-- does Canon's offer this? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 30th, 2002, 07:45 AM	#261
flixbizz Posts: n/a	My new XL1s eats tapes My new XL1s has a rewind function problem that causes it to eat tapes. Has anyone else experienced this? I also notice breaks in the timecode counter as it rewinds. I'm open to any suggestions. I have a production this weekend and I'll be forced to rent a small Dv camera for rewinding. Annoying!

April 30th, 2002, 01:27 PM	#263
flixbizz Posts: n/a	XL1s tape eater I figured as much. Glad to hear it's not just me. Thanks.

April 26th, 2002, 01:09 PM	#256
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Hi, Try using the ND Filter with the 16x lens, plus try using a number of ND filters (x2, x4, x8), Your best bet is to probably try Cokin filters since you can slip 3 filters in front of one another, therefore creating numerous effects. This is an aged old trick which you are trying, and was first fully utilised during the makings of Film Noir productions (Pre war) and is sometimes used to some extend in TV and Films now. Hope this helps, Ed Smith

April 28th, 2002, 07:09 AM	#259
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	FWIW: Canon did a patch to the XL1 EVF about 6 months after the XL1 was released. Have not read reports of any problem with EVF sunburn since the fix was implemented. The Optex fix may be appropriate if an XL1 is planned to be used under unusually severe sun-in-the-EVF conditions; however, for average users is is probably not necessary.

April 30th, 2002, 01:15 PM	#262
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	There have been many reports of the first XL-1s cameras eating tapes during rewind because of a faulty braking mechinism. Send it to Canon for a free repair.

April 30th, 2002, 05:58 PM	#264
John Klein Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 182	Use manual gain. Auto gain will influence an otherwise full manual shot. Zebras are my best friends. I set at 90 and have figured out the quantity of zebra stripes that will produce the image I like. It's great as long as your subject is wearing a white shirt, or the like. I generally use a large white light reflector to set my color balance to. Once done, I crank the exposure to where I see my familiar zebra friends and I'm nearly dead-on. Testing and finding your own look is what it's all about. Good Luck. __________________ < >< . . . . . < >< . . . . . < ><

May 1st, 2002, 11:14 AM	#265
Dean Lyons Posts: n/a	Getting the most from the onboard mic? Hi all, I've found these pages, along with the Watchdog, incredibly helpful for orientating myself with my XL1s (thanks Mr. Hurd and crew). I'm shooting my first short film - with the XL1s - over the next few weekends, pretty much just to put it (and myself) to the test, before I use it for a larger project. I have the MA-100 on backorder, but I doubt it will be delivered by the weekend - so this leaves me with the stock, onboard mic. Although this is a pretty broad, and perhaps naive, question: I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to get the most out of the onboard mic. The short I'll be filming is a mockumentary, so there is plenty of (staged) run-and-gunning, but also a couple of interviews, dramatic re-enactments etc. Cheers, Dean

May 1st, 2002, 11:23 AM	#266
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Dean, Good to see more Australian crew hooking up to the board. The main thing to avoid with the onboard mic is excessive zooming during quiet shots. When all is quiet sometimes zoom servo noise is picked up by the mic. One other thing to remember is that the mic is stereo so make sure it is correctly aligned in the clamp(cable pointing up) otherwise your stereo image will be all screwed up. For a standard mic it does an OK job. If care is taken there is no reason why you can't get some great audio. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

May 1st, 2002, 11:41 AM	#267
Dean Lyons Posts: n/a	Thanks Adrian, (Great to get such a quick reply!) I'll certainly heed your advice, Cheers, Dean

May 2nd, 2002, 04:46 AM	#268
Ford Minton Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San francisco Posts: 54	Issue w/ Light Wave Systems Mini-mount I picked up a Light Wave Systems mini-mount and system isolator. After I installed the isolator and mount I found that the on-board mic connecting cable is apt to pull out of the jack. The isolator forces the connector to stretch and sometimes pop out. I called Light Wave about this and they indicated that is just how it is. I had to abandon using the isolator finally after it kept popping out. Hope this is not a stupid question as I am new to all of this, but does anyone know of a way to extend the cable somehow either with an aftermarket item or some kind of upgrade from Canon? Also, did Canon make the mic connecting cable longer on the XL-1S? I don't want to start modifying the isolator to address this if there is already some fix available out there. thx much-

May 2nd, 2002, 04:48 AM	#269
Ford Minton Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San francisco Posts: 54	Maybe call rental house and ask if they have had any problems with the 66 and the Sony.

May 2nd, 2002, 07:30 AM	#270
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Howdy from Texas, This has been discussed before... do a search on Lightwave, limit the search to this forum and go through those responses. The cable is indeed longer on the XL1S. I think you'll have a hard time modifying the Isolator without ruining it. A better solution would be to send the camera back to Canon, explain the problem and ask for the longer EVF cable from the XL1S. For what it's worth, I use the Isolator with an old XL1. It is stretched a bit but it doesn't pop out. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!