Two problems with the XF305
 

Does anyone else have a problem with the continuity of video clips, I have recorded three stage productions using the XF305 as my B camera (Sony EX3 as the A camera). The XF camera splits the clips up into roughly 7 min chunks. The problem I have is that the joins are all over the place, a few blank frames, jump in sound, pixelation etc. The clips steady out again after approx 15 seconds, this does mean I lose 15 seconds between each clip . Fortunately I have been able to cover the lost “footage” with the EX3 material. My worry is that I may not be so lucky on the next shoot. I am using 16gb Lexar Professional 300X CF UDMA cards.

The other unrelated problem is that when switching to the No 1 ND filter, there is a heavy pink cast – any ideas? Has anyone else experienced a shift in colour (color)?

Otherwise the XF305 is a nice camera, great clean shots, but still love my EX3 more :-)

Oliver, I have record several events that are several hours long and have not found any problems when I put the files together. It all looks good to me. No lost frames. Nothing.

I am using either ScanDis 64 gb Extreme Pro or Adata 533x 32 gb for memory.

Good luck in locating your problem. James

I suspect it is a memory card problem, or perhaps my memory card reader. I will continue with my search for the answer.

Thanks


Regards Vincent

I have never seen the 'continuity' problem with the many XFs I have shot with.

Not sure what you are using, but USB readers can be a problem, as can unsupported cards.

Good luck!

The Lexar USB reader together with Lexar Professional 300X 16gb cards. The end of each clip (aka chunk) when viewed in camera doesn't display the same garbage that is visible in my NLE. However, there is a pause in the continuity when pre-viewed in camera.

USB is not great for moving large chunks of data. I have seen errors in the past with still images (corruption of files). Try a Firewire 800 reader, it will cut copy time to around 1/4 or less

Thanks for the suggestion will give it a go, although I have never had any problems with transferring large amounts of data from my EX3 using the same USB reader.

Vincent
editor of photo-i – digital photography

I didn't read this carefully enough. It must be card related, especially if the USB Reader is 'known good'

Yes, I am also suspecting it is a card related problem, I will get on to Lexar and ask them to send another card.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

btw. do you have a XF305 or when you used it did you notice a shift in colour when switching in the ND filter. I had (have) a similar problem with a XL1s although I rarely use it now-day's.

As I point out in my XF305/XF300 training DVD, Canon says that you should re-white balance when you change ND filters. Apparently they did not build the filters to very close tolerances.
Personally, I have not noticed any problems when changing ND filters, but Canon does warn you about it.

Thanks for your input Doug, changing white balance for every change of ND is not always practical, and in an ideal world shouldn't be necessary.

Here are two shots taken approx 20 minutes appart. The pink cast is with X64 ND and the other is with X16 ND, both were shot with a white balance of 6200k.

These images are reduced in size for display here, but should give the idea.

Hi Vincent,

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I'm sure the problem exists. I'm just saying I've never noticed it first hand. Also, I think is is inexcusable for Canon to build a professional camera with this flaw. I'm on your side, just merely pointing out that Canon does warn about it in the manual. I think that's better than just ignoring the issue altogether.

No misunderstanding Doug, I hear what you say. Like most issues on any camera there is always a workaround. My Sony EX3 has the IR problem, which can be resolved with a filter. The pink cast on this XF305 can be resolved with a new W/B etc. It just seems that we are the ones who have to solve the problem, wouldn't it be nice if manufactures got it right

Hope your XF300/305 DVDs do well, I certainly found your EX3 DVDs to be invaluable and a great reference.

How did you transfer your files? Using the included Canon software? I haven't shot any long files with my XF300, but in the past when using an AVCHD camera and long files, the software was required to transfer the split files correctly without glitches at the cut points between sections.

Hi

I saw the different images from the XF300 in the post above. It seems unbeliveable that there can be such huge difference in colour just by switching ND filters. I have a XH-A1 myself and have never noticed any color shift by switching ND filter. I've also checked tha manuals for both the XH-A1 and the XF300 and both manuals state that there can be a colour shift when switching ND filter and that a new WB might be made. Can anyone confirm that the colour shift between the different ND filters is so dramatic as the above pictures indicate? For me it seems as if the camcorder is using two completely different picture profiles, not just different ND filters.

Regards,

/Bo

Ignore my posts above, I have a fault on my camera. The quality of XF305 cameras will be much better than I have shown. :-(

Phew! I'm glad to hear that - well, not that you've got a fault Vincent of course - let's hope it gets fixed soon for you - but that there was a fault and not all these camera are the same, since I'm about to push the "buy" button on an XF300...

Regards

Putting aside the two problems, the XF 305 is an excellent camera, perhaps a bit too heavy for long handheld shots. Like any other camera it does have a few annoying points, the Power ON/OFF switch, etc I still love my EX3. and will continue to use it as my A camera. That also has some annoying points but I have found ways to get around these, just as I will with the XF305

Yes, I've noticed that the ON/OFF switch is a bit awkward - a bother to get it into the central position I've found.
I'll forgive Canon that though...

When I was researching the EX1r and XF300 I read an equal number of posts about both models having some minor annoying points but nothing that would make you not buy them.

I'm not saying any of you are wrong but for me personally the on/off switch is not a problem at all. They could have made it a better switch but I wouldn't for one minute say it put me off buying this camera when I tested it or since buying it.

The most annoying thing about the XF300 is trying to find a bag to get it in along with my DSLR gear!

Andy S

Kata OMB large fits my 300, 7D all my lenses, audio, toolkit, cables and more. Thankfully it has a baggage dolly cause it's freekin heavy!

BTW, mine has no color shift with ND filters and last night recorded my 3rd 2.5 hour show on this camera and have not missed a frame on the card switch over. My only annoyances so far are the lanc controller sensitivity (my panny hmc150 controller was much smoother) and then there's that on/off switch!
Otherwise, couldn't be happier with the 300.

Sorry to hear that Vincent! Just curious what troubles you're having? And if you'll be sending it in to Canon what their response would be?

Best,

I'm still looking around for quality backpack for the XF300 :(

Best,

The Kata OMB looks big enough but I am really after a backpack style bag as I do a lot of shoots while hiking and generally walking around places.

I have found this one that might work for both DSLR and XF300. PCBP-2N | petrolbags.com
It wouldn't fit in carry-on on a plane but there are some options to get around that.

Vincent, that pink haze has nothing to do with the camera. It's down to air pollution eminating from the building in the centre of the picture. :)

Maybe you have a point Ray, the only trouble with that is that we now have Tory Blue, not Labour Pink.

Vincent,

Was this your own camera or a pre-production test camera?

This was a problem with some of the pre-poduction cameras, but I have never seen this effect on any of the production cameras that I have used.

Yeah, I remember at certain white balance settings the ND would "automatically" change the color cast.

I have just completed a couple of test shoots using a 300X and 600X Lexar professional card. Filming the sane scene for 24 minutes on each card (sorry very boring footage) The 300X card does not keep up with the camera data and I still get dropped garbage footage when it reaches 7 or 8 minute mark, The 600x card has no problem and plays continuously through each block of 7-8 minutes.

This could be a faulty 300x card, although I have my doubts on this, or maybe this camera needs a faster card such as the 600x. Has anyone else had a problem, please let us know which cards work for you. The problem is with long takes (7 - 8+ minutes), on shorter takes the 300x card works fine.

Will do some further testing and upload the crossover point.

Vincent, I've not tested it with really long clips yet but my Transcend 400x 32GB UDMA cards seem to work fine.

Vincent,

Steev Dinkins on this forum says he had problems with the Lexar 32GB 300X. Is this the same card you used? He also said the Lexar 16GB 300X works, but not in overcrank mode.

Glen, the tests I have just completed this morning were all a normal recording, both Lexar cards are 16gb (300x & 600x)

I use SanDisk Extreme 60mbps cards. Don't know spec-wise how they compare to the transcend and lexar but theyve never missed a beat.

It would be wise to stick to only these brands of card that have been tested & approved by Canon paying attention to the small print e.g. Lexar, Transcend & Delkin cards are not suitable for over-cranking & 32GB Lexar cards should not be used at all.

The SanDisk should work OK at 60mbps, the 600x Lexar is approx 80mbps and the 300x will be approx 40mbps. Maybe 40mbps is too slow hence the garbage frames.

300x is 45MB/s that's megabyte, guaranteed sustained write speed. The FX300 stream is 50 Mbps, that's megabit, so the Lexar can write at about 8 times the speed of the input stream.

BR, Erik

Thanks Eric, I guess that throws my theory out of the window that the 300x Lexar card is too slow. The bottom line is that the 300x card corups my test clips and the 600x card doesn't

Whatever the claimed performance of the Transcend cards the fact is that Canon have tested them & do not recommend them for over-cranking.

Unfortuanetly there doesn't seem to be one single up to date list of Canon approved cards but here are some of them
Canon Professional Network - CF card compatibility for XF305 and XF300 pro camcorders
The CF cards whose compatibility with XF305/XF300 has been confirmed
Page 12 of the XF white paper
http://www.usa.canon.com/uploadedima...5_Adobe_v2.pdf

I note that the16gb Lexar 300X card is listed as being compatible. This is the card that has caused me problems.

I will do some more testing later today. I have used Lexar cards for many years and they are excellent, the 16gb card works well in my DSLR camera. I just wonder if it is not fast enough for the XF305. The 600x is a perfect match.