Anybody know where the half stop goes?
 

Anybody know where the half stop goes when you switch from movies to stills on the XM2? In the movie mode the lens is an f1.6 to f2.9 but when you switch to stills you loose a good half stop - the maximum (at wide-angle) being only f2. Maybe it's to do with the non-interlaced mode used for stills?

What the specification doesn't tell me is how much wide-angle coverage you have in the stills mode. The Sony TRV950 has a lot more wideangle to memory stick using the whole mega-pixel chip area - is the XM2 the same?

tom.

I use the Sony 1.7x teleconverter on my GL1 for bird photography and like it. It makes the camera front heavy and it can be tricky to get the tripod set right (I may add some weight to the handle to compensate).

If I had to do it again I might try the Century Optics teleconverter instead. It MIGHT be a little sharper. Until I can get an XL1s and an EOS 100-400 lens it seems to be about the best you can do for bird photography.

To keep the lens clean in the field I use something called a Quick Cover made by Saran Wrap to cover bowls of food. It looks like a small shower cap.

Thanks Jeff.

I think I'll go to thre Century. Also their Matte box fixes right for the filters.

Ignacio

What do you suggest?
 

I will be filming a project early next year, and at the moment it's just in it's planning stage. Should I buy a GL2 now, and use the time from now until then to get used to it's features and practice using it. Or should I wait until nearer the time when probably a newer super duper GL3 will be out?

Thanks

Ha! you should wait 'til about 3 months before you're ready to shoot. 3 months is plenty of time to get familar with a new cam. Also, if you wait, well, you just never know.

Frank's advice is very good. You still have another option too. Buy now, and if a new better cam becomes available sell the GL2 then and buy the new cam.

Why?

There are lots of things you will need to know unless you have lots of experience with video in general. Also you may find a number of accessories you may want before you start your shoot. Most of those accessories (except maybe lens accessories) will be usable on the new cam.

So this means you might have to eat $500 to maybe $1,000 to upgrade. The experience you gain may well be worth it. Besides, if you discover you need 2 GL2s, you'll be halfway there.

my thoughts
 

my thought would be to pick up a used GL1 to play with. you'd miss working with the audio but that's no big deal and then when it's time to sell it you won't lose much since you bought it used in the first place. Sell the GL1 when it's time to upgrade and do that a few months before the actual shooting... or just get a new GL2 now. The only big thing I'd be waiting for was a cheaper 24 frame camera if you really wanted that. Short of that, the GL2 pretty much rocks from my perspective. :)

need a mic...
 

hello all...
little problem, i got the gl2 with the mic adapter (ma-300) but have not bought a mic as of yet... i plan to shoot short films mostly on closed interior sets... which mic would best work for me?
people have mentioned a shotgun boom mic... is that the way to go... also i'm not looking to spend more than $400.00.

is there hope for me?

-joe

Hello Joe,
Definitely do a Search on this topic. There's an enormous body of existing, and recent, information on the topic of mics around here.

Yeah, like Ken says do a search on this site. There are piles of info on this subject, and recent stuff too, as it is a frequently discussed topic.

BTW, you will be able to shotgun in the price range you want.

tape loader wiggles a bit?
 

Hey

This is a real minor thing, but it bugs me. Has anyone else noticed then when the cover of the tape loader is closed it has a little bit of play in it? Or maybe I need to get out more.....

Hey Joe,

this is by design and can be found on every XM2/Gl2.



Chris

Microphone for nature sounds?
 

I'm looking to add a microphone to my new GL2 (on its way from Zotz) or maybe my old GL1 (whenever it gets back from Canon). I've looked through many of the archives, read the article from the LA FCP group, talked with birdsong recordists, etc.

I know that the Sennheiser ME66 gets very high marks for this use but is too expensive (don't have time to go the eBay route). I've ruled out the Azden's based on reviews and comments (especially about the high end).

Tom, over at Zotz, recommended a Schriber. Price is ok, range in the high end looks a little clipped (14k). Do any of you have any experience with this microphone. Any other suggestions of a shotgun (preferably a shorter shotgun) at less than $200 for a GL1 or 2?

Thanks.

Lapel Mic Feedback
 

Taped a Wedding at the weekend with my GL2 and put an Azden pro series wireless lapel mic on the groom. Everything went well with vows etc, but all of a sudden I got some major interference (almost like the sound of trying to find a radio station on a dial radio?). I noticed that i did not have the antenna on the receiver attached to the camcorder all the way up, but still got half the ceremony no probelm. I am very new to this game and was wondereing if someone new what may have caused this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone else experienced this probelm before? I had my headphones on for initial soundcheck, but took them off during ceremony and just kept an eye on the volume bar in LCD screen.

This is the nature of wireless technology. There was probably some interference from another source near you that was on or near the same frequency your wireless unit was using. Many people buy a multi frequency wireless system like a samson micro 32 or any # of other brands that alow you to choose a freqency that seems clear and free of interference but you always run the risk of something like this. Has rarely or never happened to me so far but there is a risk and if you have a single frequency wireless unit the risk is much greater.

One other option is to buy a minidisc recorder with a mic input and get rid of the wireless for your situation.

Mini Disk is a good idea as a safe guard. Is your wireless system VHF or UHF? VHF is prone to interference. Anything from CB radio's to microwave ovens to cordless phones can cause problems. I doubt you would of had that problem with UHF unless there was an electric component that failed.

I have the Azden wr22 setup, and have never had problems with it. I guess the antennas are extremely fussy with these units, and need to be set the way the instructions say.

SA568 or SA600? Low end looks like a fast falloff below 200 Hz as well. Also, the 1600 ohm impedance at hypercardoid setting is a bit on the high side for use with the GL1, which has 600 ohm input. That said, it may work OK, but as a minimum the effective output will be less than expected due to the mismatch.

http://www.nrgresearch.com/sa568.htm
http://www.nrgresearch.com/sa600.htm

GL2 - Automatic shutoff Override ?
 

Is it possible to keep the camera from shutting down when i'm in camera mode?

Somehow to over ride the film head protection setting from automaticaly shuting off after 5 minutes of being on?

Manual, page 36.

You can't stop the recorder from shutting off but you can change the setting so the camera stays on and only the recorder shuts down, as opposed to everything shutting down. When shutting down only the recorder, camera settings are retained.

In setup under VCR setup, change the PWR SAVE mode from "shut off" to "VCR Stop". This will leave the camera powered up but still protects the head.

thank-you
 

I appreciate that as i have been trying to get to know the camera and it keeps me turning it on and off -lol-

Thanks again.

GL2 & Shure XLR
 

I have an older Shure with XLR connector (round ball type), but do not know which model. Don't know much about mics. Will this mic work with the mic input of the GL2, and is there a special cable adapter to do this? Thanks. JH

ND filter On/Off ++ Reveresed, View Screen not Showing Menu?
 

Hello All,

#1. Im realy curious as to what exactly this ND filter is for. It seems to go very dark when I press this button and the manual says to use it when it is very bright outside. Does this compisate for the light with regards to the iris? Im not sure what this is. Can someone give me a good lamens terms of the use for this and when?

# 2. Also, why is it that when i flip the view screen around that I can't work with menu settings? Is there a way to show it when the view screen is reversed?

Thank-you for your comments.

nd filter
 

The ND filter is an internal neutral density filter. It cuts down the amount of light the camera receives so you can shoot in bright light. The camera will tell you when you need to use it by putting up a message and it will also tell you when you need to add more filtration beyond the ND filter if it is too bright for the first ND filter. The manual explains it. Can't help with the other issuee...

Jason,
To my knowledge, no, the full menu displays cannot be activated on the LCD when it's rotated. Note, though, that the viewfinder -is- active when the LCD screen is rotated, so you can work with the camera's menus through the eyepiece.

How I hold my GL2 w/MINI ROVER
 

Sorry it took me so long everyone. I have been a busy guy. Here is the Pictures I promised you Grazie, And everyone else out there who is interested in the MINI ROVER. This is a great accessory for the GL2, I don't do handhelds without it anymore!

You can check out the pictures here:
http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/2231890.jpg

Have a great Day. If you have any questions.... please don't hesitate to ask.

Tustin Larson
tlarson@cathedralcity.gov

ATTENTION ALL NEW GL2 OWNERS
Have you seen the Title Mix Function Video??? It is very informitive. You can find it on the Son of Watchdog Page, or look for the thread in this forum.

Ah! Soooo That's How!
 

Tustin - Thank You! - I'm assuming you put the ext mic in a gizzmo on top of the Rover handle - within a separate shoe? This must taqke it outside of the "reach" of the WD Angle lens - Or does the lamp go in here?


Grazie

Yes, I usually use the EXT. Mic in the ROVER shoe. And the light on the Camera shoe. I have found that this setup works best for me personally. If you have any suggestions or comments, please let me know. I am always open for criticism.

Have a good weekend.

Tustin Larson

NP type battery for the XM-2
 

I'm just repeating what someone asked on another forum, hopefully I can convey the message back to him. Though I am curious to know as well:

"I wonder if anybody ever saw a gadget to be attached to a Canon GL/XM machine that functions as a sort of click-on between camera and battery that makes it possible to use NP instead of BP batteries?"

EW112P and MA 200 not working
 

I got my EW112p over the weekend and couldn't make it work with MA 200. It works fine with the mini jack.

I read both manuals and believed I got all the cables the right way: Audio 1, MIC input, etc.

The only thing I can think of is that when I ordered the XLR cable CL100, they told me it was out of stock and recommended me a KORDEX cable instead. Maybe only the CL100 cable works with EW112p?

Please help me solve this problem. Thanks.

GL2 or XL1?
Please be more precise about your cable routing and switch and menu settings?

Can you be more specific concerning "NP" batteries? The Canon BP series batteries (and compatibles) produce 7.2v.

Don. thanks for your reply. I called Sennheiser yesterday and they told me that their XLR cable is wired differently than other companies'. I am going to return the KORDEX cable to MVP Audio and Video from whom I got the not very helpful recommendation. I hope the system will work after I get Sennheiser's CL100 cable. I'll let you know.

Motor Sport
 

Hi

I'm a bit of a XM2 newbie and need some advice on camera settings when videoing motor sport events and similar.

I've done some work with JetSki racing with a Sony PC100 which I also own, but only in auto mode and have been more than happy with the results when burnt to DVD via Prem 6.5, Matrox RT.X100 & Sonic DVDit SE.

I recorded some gokart racing at the weekend with my new XM2, mounted on a tripod and in grown-up (Manual) mode. Manual focus & Zebra stripes were turned on. I only adjusted the aperture settings leaving the shutter & gain settings alone.

Back home and into Premiere. The results didn't look too good. All panned and action shots looked a bit blurred. Anyway, burn DVD @ 8mbs CBR and check out on big screen - argh - awful, looks like every driver is wearing 2 crash helmets or worse.

I guess maybe I should have gone for the 'Tv' mode and changed the shutter speed - but I'm not too sure - the're too many buttons to press on this cam and the viewfinder doesn't make these problems easy to spot.

So help - any suggestions as a good starting point for cam settings for this type of vid?

Also searching thru this forum I see that OIS should be turned off when using a tripod - would this have made any difference?

Thanks for any help

Adrian

You shoot in Frame mode?

I prefer the normal mode (interlaced), Shutter 1/50. Then I de-interlace in software.

Stay in Manual, leave Gain to 0dB. You can use an additionnal Neutral Filter (small aperture tends to blur a little the image), I have a B&W 102 (2 stops). Set the Zebra to 100% and don't over expose (You can over expose the sky, but never the subject).

You can leave the OIS on all the time. It is optical, not electronic.

Wireless Mic Receiver Attached to GL-1?
 

I had such good luck with the recent question about my shotgun mike that I thought I'd try one about my wireless. I have a Samson UM1 UHF Series One receiver that I'd like to mount someplace on my GL-1, particularly during interview situations, both on and off the tripod. This is the same wireless receiver that the manufacturer pictures mounted on the tape access door of the XL-1 in all of its magazine ads. Is anybody doing this with the same or a comparable wireless, or is the camera just too small. Any ideas on how or where to mount it? The unit and its Sony ECM-44 lav works great for interviews and I'd like to use it with the GL.

Jim,

I have a mount that does just what you are describing that I use with my GL2. Had to have it fabricated because I couldn't find anything that would work well. Let me know offline if you would like photos/info.

XM2 Still Picture Quality
 

Hi Guys

I have recently bought an XM2 (I live in Australia) and found that the still pictures look like there's a slight solarization effect applied to them. I am using fine mode, high quality. Has anyone else come across this?

Thanks heaps
Tim

GL2 in auto mode
 

In the auto mode the GL2 could be better for daytime video. I have seen this more often than not. Check the last 2 pics here:

http://homepage.mac.com/bhardy3/PhotoAlbum34.html

I have not included a frame in sunlight mode yet but intend to, as I am very impressed with the video in sunlight setting. Too bad it's raining today...