Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

I didnt realize that was going to be the price point on it. Any word on a release date?

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

I have the XF100, and found Doug Jensen's Vortex DVD series (on the XF300/5) to be a fantastic help with it. One of the best things about it (and completely unexpected) was that in the training he shows how he set up the adjustments on the lcd screen. I did those exact settings and find it to be VERY close for my (admittedly non-pro) use. I have found that I can rely on the viewfinder for color, exposure, etc. and it really is very close to WYSIWYG once imported into FCP.

It wouldn't be appropriate for me to post those settings, but just wanted to make the point that it was definitely possible to tweak the lcd to a usable state.

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

David - thanks for the suggestion! I watched Doug Jensen's Vortex Media training videos on the XF 300/305 a month or so when I got the XF300, and looked at my settings, but didn't do much other than to try to calibrate them to what I saw -live- probably not a good idea. I compared my settings to what I saw on the training video today (btw, disk 1 at about 51:25) and I was WAY off... especially on brightness, which is probably the most critical element... at least from the issues that I was having.

I'll give his settings a try as a starting point and see how it goes. I have an interview to shoot this weekend. I MAY even shoot on manual (GASP! I KNOW!). This is funny and embarassing. I shoot manual FLASH on my Canon 1DIII and 5DII all the time... Some of you experienced camera operators must just be cringing when you read these posts. Thanks for a place to learn, though!

Larry

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

Glad to be of help. For what it's worth, I'm pretty much just a hobbyist myself, but with the XF I'm loving the Gain button for controlling exposure - sort of semi-manual exposure I guess. I've set the 4 Gain button options to 0db, 4.5db, 9db and of course the fourth is Auto, but I have it limited to 15db max. I just look at the scene and bump the Gain to the lowest setting that looks like a decent compromise between highlights and shadows, letting the iris self-adjust (indoors it usually is between 1.8 and 4.0, and in bright sun I change those Gain button settings to lower ones). I find the XF has so much shadow lattitude that I can usually just make sure the important highlights aren't blown and things turn out well. I do need to add zebras to this approach probably to make it more objective and less seat-of-the-pants.

One thing from Doug's DVD set that I'm NOT using is his custom picture file. I don't know if it just doesn't work as well on the XF100, or if I just have amateur tastes, but it's just not, well, punchy enough for me. I use CPs with more vivid color, higher sharpness, and deeper shadows.

I just retired and got the XF100 as a present to myself, and am really loving it, especially once I trashed all the factory settings :-)

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

Hi David and Larry,

I'm pleased to hear that my DVD has been a help to you both, but just to make everything perfectly clear, I hope that I didn't give you the impression that you should set up the LCD so that you can then use it to judge exposure, white balance, picture quality, contrast, color, or anything else except focus. I would never recommend that anyone ever use the LCD to judge any of those things (except focus). Setting up the LCD so it looks better just gives me a nicer picture to look at during the shoot, but I would NEVER judge what I see on it to make any critical decision about exposure. That is what the zebras are for. I recommend that you go back to the DVD and review what I say about zebras in the exposure chapter. You'll find the information you need there to better understand zebras, and now that you've been using your camera for awhile longer, it might make more sense now. There is a lot to learn about these cameras and it sometimes takes awhile for it all to sink in.

David, I don't know if my recommended profile settings for the XF305/300 translate very well to the XF100 or not because I have never tried them on that camera. But the important thing is that you gave them a try and then came to your own conclusions about whether or not they worked for you. GREAT! That is exactly the right thing to do -- even if you had a XF305/300. Never take anyone elses' profile settings as gospel. Profile settings are mostly just personal preferences and there are no right or wrong settings. If you have created settings that you like better, by all means, use them!

Exposure is different, though. There are definite right and wrong exposure settings, and the easiest way you can get it consistently right is by mastering the use of zebras.

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

Doug, thanks for the personal reply. I've already re-watched the DVD section on zebras and been experimenting. I think I have the gist of it, but...

1. What if there isn't a pure bright white in the scene to set zebras from? If there's time, use a white card?

2. If the scene is dark enough that zebras don't appear even at max iris, just gain up until you CAN see them and adjust from there?

Thanks!

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

Doug,

Thanks also for the personally directed reply! And, I'm afraid, in my case, you're absolutely right - I was using the LCD monitor to try to judge exposure, rather than run with Zebras. I went over your video on Exposure and Zebras again today - I like your suggestion about Zebra 2 and have set it up that way and will try it this weekend.

I think this, along with shooting on full auto, is at the core of my problem. And with the brightness set to "normal," I was misjudging the exposure - thinking it was ok when it was really "bright." Using zebra 2 set as you suggest will help judge what's actually at 100%..

And this doesn't even get to the issue of white balance - which I also have been running on auto. I'm having to do A LOT of grading to get the skin tones to look right. I bought your Warm Cards a month or so ago and will do a custom balance. This shoot is going to be in a single setting with a camera mounted on a tripod so a custom white balance is possible and helpful.

Thanks again!

Larry

Re: XF300 vs. 7d
 

I own a 5D2, a 60D and XH-A1. Having employed the 5D2 and A1 for a few years now, I am firmly of the belief that it hugely depends what type of work you are doing. Since my work ranges wildly from professional music promos to corporate events, I find myself taking the 5D2 and 60D off the shelf for some jobs, and A1 for others.

For work that demands artistic merit, I would never use a camcorder and much prefer the footage from the HDDSLRs. For interviews, ENG, corporate events, I don't have time to be faffing around with interchangeable lenses, filters, variable NDs and the like, it's the A1 every time and pretty much exclusively.

When I first started using the 5D2, I loved the footage so much, I considered selling the A1. But it's only after a few years working solidly that I've come to realise that each has its place. I'm glad I didn't sell.

Although I have come to this thread to see if it's worth upgrading my A1 to an XF 300.
I'm particularly attracted to the fact that the 300 is a BBC approved camera. I always get raised eyebrows when handing over work done on an HDDSLR!