Last minute Question about the XF100
 

hey there...

I have managed to find an XF100 instock and I am ready to buy it but I have this last question for this item that is very important to me...

I had the canon xha1 and this camera will be the replacement. With the Canon XHA1 i had the safety recording same time tape and in datavideo dn60. what about XF100? can this camera record video on both slots same time, it is very important for me to know before I click pay now..........

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Yes, it does both relay record (fill up one card & seamlessly continue recording on the 2nd card) & what Canon call Double Slot Recording that records footage to two separate CF cards simultaneously. Canon Professional Network - Canon launches palm-sized XF105 and XF100 pro camcorders

Incidentally this was something that the XF300/305 could not do at launch but has been implemented with a firmware update they just announced.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

thank u for your quick reply NIgel! I appreciate it! Hopefull the XF100 will be a good replacement for the A1

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

As well as the peace of mind with dual-slot recording, something I hadn't thought of but has been wonderful is being able to simultaneously copy one card to my editing box and the other to my archive. Nice.

Despite being very small and light (too light for a Vinten Vision Blue tripod, actually), this is a terrific camera with a pretty deep feature set. I'm still learning it -- the "buttonology" is a bit different than the XL and XH cameras -- but I'm really liking it so far.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

/ envious /
they're impossible to find here in the US

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Yeah, someone actually suggested to me at NAB that I could "flip" my new XF105 for a profit since supply is nil as yet.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

I have pre-ordered the camera from a canon dealer in Greece and told me that I will have it early next week. :)

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

I don't understand how the ND filters work ... how do I select the three settings for the filter? Or does it work in tandem with the iris?

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

I don't have my XF105 in front of me at the moment but as I recall the ND filter is automatic. There is no manual adjustment like there is on the XF305. In fact I think that there may not really be any ND fliters at all but instead the gain of the sensor is changed in software.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Nice one. Let us know how you get on with it when it arrives. I still have no idea when my XF100 will turn up.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

I sure will, since I sold my last canon xha1 I just cant w8 to see how this camera work in the real world compared to the xha1 and compared to my Sony Nx5e as well

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

The ND control is gain control, and you can manually adjust it via the presets in the control knob at the front of the camera.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

That's not quite right. It is a combination of ND and iris, not gain. When you set the preset for Iris(ND) and you push the center button it switches to manual, and then the knob adjusts the exposure varying both the iris and the ND filter. Seems a little strange but it works pretty well. The front control ring can be switched to do the same thing. The gain is controlled separately.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

AFAIK there is no physical ND filter that flips in front of the sensor like on the XF300/305 & other camcorders so it is effectively gain adjusted in software. However it actually works it does seem to function OK.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

That could be; maybe we'll need to tear one apart to find out. Here is what the Canon sales literature says:

I don't know why they would say ND filter if it actually just reduces the gain. Maybe Canon marketing couldn't bring themselves to say "gain reducer". Or maybe it really is an ND filter, but a hint that it is not a physical filter is that it operates smoothly throughout its range instead of in steps.

If it is just gain reduction then it would be nice to be able to reduce the gain manually and then adjust exposure with the aperture. However the most you can reduce the gain manually is -6 dB, which is not enough on a bright day, so you need to use an external ND filter if you want to work with only iris exposure control.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

The ND or gain control kicks in at f4.0. The good news is that the camera is plenty sharp at f4.0.

Pat

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Have you tried using an external filter yet? Curious what you would recommend with this camcorder in bright sunny conditions.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

just got my XF100 yesterday! :)

I arleady adore this new camera!

everything is super about it,

Exept the low light factor in auto = terrible , manual a bit better compared to the xha1 that I have sold


PS: what is the best way to transfer the video to the pc?

when i connect the camera to the pc I can see one folder named CONTENTS and inside this folder I can find my clips seperate in other folders (1 clip - 1 folder )

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Anthony,
You could try using the Canon XF Utility to transfer your clips. It should be on a disc that came with the camera...

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Thank u Robin , i have already tried that utility, i dont know what am doing wrong , it does transfer the clips but separated in many folders ( 1 clip- 1 folder etc)....

thanks!

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

That's strange. I use it for my XF300.
I take out the CF card from the camera and plug it into an USB card reader. I ignore the Microsoft pop up window asking what I'd like to do with the files, and open up the Canon XF Utility. It finds all the video files on the CF card automatically and displays them as thumbnails. I can click on any of them to view them. I then select which shots I want and then choose to save them to a designated location.
After transferring them, I can also choose to delete them from the CF card.
As easy as that.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

I did it:) the first time I tried to use the software i clicked to the backup button so that is why the files was transfered to pc like 1 clip 1 folder.. Finally I did the right way and did transfered the videos in my pc :)

few more tips.


TRANSCEND 32GB 400X COMPACT FLASH CARD and transend 64GB 400X COMPACT FLASH CARD doesnt work with this camera on 50mbs or 35mbps and not even 25mbps! (ps. this cards works perfect with a 5D MARK II for video)



ADATA compact flash 32gb 533x can record perfectly at 1920x1080 50i 50mbps!

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Glad to hear that you've got it working!

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Why oh why oh why do people use anything other than the Compact Flash cards that Canon have tested & certified for use with this camera? Even if some no-name CF card does work when you test it today it doesn't mean that it is going to work in all circumstances. There is a very good reason why Canon provide a list of blessed cards.

Re: Last minute Question about the XF100
 

Cause Nigel I allready had the cards before buying camera. that is why? why to buy the Canon blessed card before trying the camera with the cards that I allready got in my collection. They work great with mark II videos... anyway I am looking forward to buy the recomended cards ....