DV Info Net - Poor Low Light SO FAR

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- Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xh-series-hdv-camcorders/)

- - Poor Low Light SO FAR (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xh-series-hdv-camcorders/78936-poor-low-light-so-far.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Nunez

As far as my limited use of both cameras- I'll have to agree the FX-1 is better in low light video retaining a smooth video albeit darker as where the A1 video becomes noisy and grainy......I've tried 24F and 30F (on the Canon) and the Sony is definitely better at 0-3-6db of gain- at higher gain the FX shows it's advantge even more.

As much as I like this new A1- the FX-1 seems better at equal settings to that of the A1. At room light and higher levels- they produce good video but the FX1 is noticeably smoother and noise-free as the light drops off. There's a switch on the Canon to turn off the AGC circuit and this easily reveals the FX-1's superior low-light shooting abilities (when comparing db levels)

If anyone shoots allot of low-light video- look at the FX-1/Z1-U (bars, clubs, concerts etc) the XH-A1 gives the better lens range and possibilities but only in decent light and up.
I prefer the A1 as it suits my needs and is a general better fit for me- the Sony is large and long and can't trigger a Firestore FS-4HD remotely whereas the Canon does.....the Canon is a keeper!

Steve, if you try to match the picture on the cameras, in room light, for instance, to make brightness of both equal (even if the gain value isn't the same), does the A1 still reveal more noise/grain? Have you followed the advice from some people round here, concerning black stretch and noise reduction?
Thanks for your time... Looking forward to more footage from this camera!

I'll try the settings people are recommending and perhaps post a vid cap.....my observations so far indicate the Sony FX-1 produces smoother video at lower light levels than the Canon- but I'll try to even this out by tweaking the A1 to compete.

~~The Sony can also be tweaked to further improve noise (detail coring etc) so this can go on forever ~~

I believe the sensors on the Canon are 1/4" and the Sony 1/3" meaning all things being equal (which they're not) normally light sensativity is better with larger sensors meaning the Sony "should" produce better video. You really can't measure these 2 cams directly as they're made by 2 seperate companies so a direct comparo isn't technically valid.

I'm happier with the Canon for reasons stated earlier......I'll be happiest when these HD cams record directly to internal HD's with NLE friendly file format choices and when they approach the "best" size for me which is the size of the JVC's HD10U/1: which I found to be perfect!

Let the games begin~

HD=PAL and NTSC!!!????

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan Scherperel

In HD, there is no difference of resolution in PAL or NTSC cameras, and I do believe that he is using an NTSC camera.

Wow...never knew that. i guess thats better being that i can screen a HD film here in Atlanta...as well in Japan without format change.
This stuff is getting so easy now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Nunez

I believe the sensors on the Canon are 1/4" and the Sony 1/3"

Maybe you'd better check the specs. again, Steve. IIRC, Sony FX1/Z1 and Canon XL-H1/XH-A1/XH-G1 all use 3 x 1/3" CCDs. (I've seen comments elsewhere that Canon buy their CCDs from Sony, so maybe the chips in these cameras are actually the same??) Are you perhaps thinking of the old XM2/GL2 which uses 3 x 1/4" CCDs? This is an oft-mentioned difference between the XM2 and Sony's VX2100/PD170...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Nunez

I believe the sensors on the Canon are 1/4" and the Sony 1/3" meaning all things being equal (which they're not) normally light sensativity is better with larger sensors meaning the Sony "should" produce better video. You really can't measure these 2 cams directly as they're made by 2 seperate companies so a direct comparo isn't technically valid.
~

I think you have these switched around the canon has the bigger sensors

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holly Rognan

I think you have these switched around the canon has the bigger sensors

Holly-- you are probably thinking about the new V1U from Sony, which has the 1/4" CMOS sensors.... The Z1 and FX1 have 1/3"

So I just went out and picked up an XHA1. I also own a HVX-200 and a PD-170. I'm going to do a low light comparison tonight and will posted it by tomorrow morning. I'm hopping to use this camera to start shooting HD weddings! I'm crossing my fingers.

I did a little research and they both have 1/3" CCD sensors- in fact all 3 Canon HDV cams have this same sensor! (The HV10 uses a different CMOS sensor)

Joe- I am extremly interested in hearing what you find- the HVX200 is an awesome camera and I'd like to see what you find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrison Hayes

Wow...never knew that. i guess thats better being that i can screen a HD film here in Atlanta...as well in Japan without format change.
This stuff is getting so easy now...

Well, yes and no. You can screen SD or HD in Atlanta and Japan no problem, because Japan is NTSC and so is the US system.

But if you try to shoot something in HD and screen it in Atlanta and also in London, you'll run into a problem. European/Oceanic/Asian HD and US/Japan/etc HD are the same resolution and color space, but they're still incompatible because they run at different frame rates.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Green

I'm just learnin' all kinds of worthless facts these days...Thanks Anyway Barry. Never knew that Japan was NTSC (lol)

Is France still Seacam, which is the same as PAL but different?