Ok, you've arrived on location, whether indoor or out, you've set up your lighting (or maybe you wait?), what do you do to set-up your xl2.

What I mean by this is do you first white balance the camera (or do you simply select indoor or outdoor, or leave it on auto)? When do you use your zebra bars, before or after you white balance? After you set up your lights? Have you calibrated your camera at the studio (using the tools in say FCP)? Do you do this again on location?

You get the idea, how do you prepare to start shooting video?

Thanks,

Matt

This isn't really an "XL2" question because it could relate pretty much to *any* camera. Therefore, I've moved it to Open DV Discussion.

Thanks Chris, eventually I'll get the hang of things.

1. "investigate" location (light sources, reflections...)
2. choose position(s)
3. light setup
4. audio setup
5. tripod setup
6. white balancing
7. aperture setting (zebra)
8. focusing
9. framing
10 shooting & have fun

That's my way...

Camera setup doesn't have anything to do with your editing system. Typically you would white balance to the shot. However, with the XL2 now having setup files similar to many professional cameras, you can tweak the camera in advance to provide a look you want for the project you're shooting. I have a DSR500, and have 3 different file setups I use most all the time. The most interesting one is much warmer and softer and a bit more contrasty than normal, with richer blacks. When I use the setup files, I do not white balance but instead use 3200 or 5500, depending on the lighting. To do those setups, you need a good professional monitor that's properly adjusted; otherwise you might end up with something that you think looks good but is way off. Generally, I think it's best to do those setups in the studio under good controlled conditions for accuracy. I'm assuming the XL2 allows you to save setup files, otherwise that would be a problem.
As far as zebras, zebras are how you read the camera's light meter, and you use that all the time.

I like Darko's list, though I usually put tripod setup before light setup, mostly to make it easier to know what positions I've chosen.