XL1S sharpness control -- any good?

[Bill Edmunds]

For users of the XL1S, how would you rate the sharpness control on the camera? Does it make it "too" sharp, or is it still pleasing? Does it bring the sharpness to a Sony PD150 level? Are there any images posted by Don Berube (or someone else) that may illustrate the XL1S sharpness versus other cams?

[Rob Lohman]

Also see this thread.

Anyone else?

[Bill Edmunds]

Does anyone want to answer the original question? Perhaps no one uses the sharpness feature on the XL1S?

[Mark A. Foley]

Bill,
Are trying to match footage with the pd-150? Or just want a comparison?

Like Rob has mentioned here or the other thread, I never use the sharpness increase (kept at default setting).

I originally choose the XL1S for the slightly softness of the shot. However, for everyone that likes the softness, another person doesn't.

When I made the decision to go with the XL1s is was for a variety of reasons...not just focusing on a low-light (like you get with the Sonys)...the freedom to experiment with different lenses...to even the somewhat more "professional" look of the cam for my corporate work....

Mark

[Bill Edmunds]

<<<-- Originally posted by Mark A. Foley : Bill,
Are trying to match footage with the pd-150? Or just want a comparison?

>>>
For comparison only. A softer picture is fine for wedding work, but for work I do for PBS and corporate stuff I need a sharper picture. Just wondering if the sharpness control on the XL1S can bring it in the same league as the PD150/DSR250?

[Rob Lohman]

Okay, this is what I'll try to do for you tonight (no promises). I'll
point the camera at something and only change the sharpness
setting to lowest, normal (medium) and high and I'll get pictures
from this to you in full resolution uncompressed BMP. How's that?

Any kind of image in particular you want me to test this on for
you?

[Steve Nunez]

The stock XL lens is generally considered to be on the soft side- but depending on aperature (IRIS) setting- you'll notice the sharpness can get quite good at default settings.....try F8-F11 for good sharpness.

[Bill Edmunds]

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : Okay, this is what I'll try to do for you tonight (no promises). I'll
point the camera at something and only change the sharpness
setting to lowest, normal (medium) and high and I'll get pictures
from this to you in full resolution uncompressed BMP. How's that?

Any kind of image in particular you want me to test this on for
you? -->>>
Anything, really. Perhaps a wide shot and a closeup of something (scenery and a resolution chart maybe?). I'd love to see the XL1S compared with a PD150 or some other camera, with the XL1S at different sharpness settings. Many thanks!

[Rob Lohman]

I waited for your response before shooting. I'll see what I can
do. I don't have a resolution chart so that won't work. I doubt
I'll have the time to go shoot outside but it should be possible
to point my camera out the window. I'll let you know!

[Rob Lohman]

Okay. I shot some footage for you! I only got indoor shooting
since it was already evening thus too dark to shoot outside.
All the footage was also shot in frame mode at 1/25th shutter
due to low light levels. Since you are interested in the sharpening
function I don't suspect this will be a problem for you. Otherwise
let me know if you really need interlaced footage at 1/50th
shutter etc.

Keep in mind that my camera is PAL model, thus the resolution
will be a bit "strange" to you probably. The pictures were all
handled in uncompressed as soon as they got of the firewire
bus (which uses a 5:1 DV compression as you know). The
Vegas capture utility resampled the pictures to 768x576 from
720x576 so they can be viewed in the correct aspect ratio.

All futher details are on the page I put up, including fullsize
JPEG pictures for the pages and downloadable ZIP archives
with the uncompressed bitmap (BMP) files. Please read the
text on the pages because they explain what I did and how
I got to the end result etc. Thanks.

Check out the pictures by clicking here

[Bill Edmunds]

Rob, that was a big help; thank you. Do you by chance have another camera with which you could compare sharpness levels?

[Don Berube]

I usually set the Sharpness control as high as possible without inducing any edge enhancement artifacts. This equates to no more than around +1 or +2 above Middle Default.


Bill, which lens are you using?

- don

[Bill Edmunds]

<<<-- Originally posted by Don Berube : I usually set the Sharpness control as high as possible without inducing any edge enhancement artifacts. This equates to no more than around +1 or +2 above Middle Default.


Bill, which lens are you using?

- don -->>>
Don,
I'm actually not an XL1S owner (yet). I am investigating it as a possible new camera for myself but want to make sure it can generate the sharpness adequate for the commercial stuff I do. That's why I wanted to know how it compared to the DSR250/PD150 (which is what I have now). What are your thoughts? I know you've put up comparisons between the Panasonc VX100 and Canon XL1s...how about doing that again with the sharpness of the XL1s set at +2?

[Rob Lohman]

The camera should get a tad sharper if you switch it to interlaced.
But if you must de-interlace it in post (if it is not going to go to
TV) you are better off with frame mode in the first place.

Glad the pictures helped you. I don't own any other camera so
can't shoot any comparison pictures. Perhaps somebody else
can do something for you under similar conditions as mine
(evening, lights, same gain / shutter etc.).

If possible I'll try to get a view pictures in interlaced mode and
frame mode at 1/50th out the window this afternoon, but that
highly depends on my workload for the day, so no promises.