Canon XH series -- various sample clips

Brian Brown · March 25th, 2007, 02:58 PM

Thanks!

I shot in 30f mode for the footage, default preset, and 0db gain. Progressive frames are really the only way to go for roto work. Fast-moving subjects will blur, of course, which is why I used a healthy dose of feathering on my masks. Plus, I could be a little sloppier with my masks with more feathering. I might try to dial the feathering down a bit on the next render and see how it looks with cleaner edges.

Hope this helps,
Brian Brown

Deke Ryland · March 26th, 2007, 09:11 AM

Boy that's great. Thanks for the info and tips. Do you happen to remember what shutter speed you were set on? I am just really impressed with how the HDV handled the action. When I see sports shots like this it really eases my fears that I will see artifacting. Thanks for the help!

Brian Brown · March 26th, 2007, 03:57 PM

You're quite welcome for the info. The shutter was 1/60th. Anything less would strobe badly with the action. I would have loved to shoot higher, but kept bumping up against low apertures. The zoom on the A1 loses light as it goes into telephoto and can start under-exposing pretty quick.

Indoor sports like b-ball and volleyball are perhaps the worst to try to shoot smooth action with, because gyms are usually lit horribly. I also found that 6db of gain to be too noisy for my taste, but some users don't mind it.

I learned a LOT by shooting several hours of tape this way. I'm sure that the A1 is not the ideal camera for this type of action (steeping zoom mentioned above, tough to focus with EVF and LCD, and you can't zoom and focus at the same time). But, all in all, I'm very pleased with the various footage I shot.

HTH,
Brian

Marlon Torres · March 28th, 2007, 04:25 PM

720P clip from my short film. Compression really degraded the quality but oh well, you get the idea.

http://www.citizencine.com/films/cel...member_web.mov

Douglas Villalba · March 28th, 2007, 04:44 PM

Marlon, once again you guys are great. I love it just the way it looks. Your editing skills are super. I love the way you take a simple shot an turn it into a fascinating image. WOW.

Byron Huskey · March 28th, 2007, 05:51 PM

Very nice! Great to see what this camera can do with the right person behind it.

Steven Dempsey · April 6th, 2007, 09:43 AM

Two today...shot at dawn in Kirkland, WA

Taeho Lee · April 6th, 2007, 10:01 AM

Early in the morning, no body is moving. the nature is simply out there.
So carm.... Very nice.

Gabriel Yeager · April 6th, 2007, 10:21 AM

Those are cool shots Steve! Very nice! I did not realize that Kirkland looked like that...

Thanks for posting them!
~Gabriel

Adam La Prade · April 15th, 2007, 10:13 AM

Hello everyone! I'm looking to share my clips with everyone on these boards but I don't have the hosting available to me. I remember reading sometime back about hosting clips on DVinfo's server (media.dvinfo.net) but my email was never responded to.

Thanks!

Oleg Kalyan · April 16th, 2007, 08:52 PM

I do not think it's available at the momene, write an email to Chris. Here is link,
http://www.guitarsmagazine.ru/read.php?girls-list

Richard Hunter · April 16th, 2007, 10:58 PM

Oleg you are very naughty.

Adam La Prade · April 19th, 2007, 08:59 AM

Hello everyone! This is my first (and so far, only) project I've done with my A1. It came on a Tuesday, and we had to shoot the next day so I didn't really have time to get used to the camera just yet.

Everything was shot on the A1 except for the on-ride footage. This was a class assignment for my Documentary Filmmaking class. There are still some things that need to be cleaned up (like fix some music cues, and re-record the voiceovers)

I'm interested in what you guys think!

http://www.adster.net/videos/coastingforkids.html (60mb, 7:19)

Steven Dempsey · April 19th, 2007, 09:16 AM

I have to admit to only scanning it because I don't have the time right now to watch it through. I will later, though. Initial impressions are that it looks like a nice piece. Colors were very saturated, what preset did you use?

The sound is distorting a little, is that in the original?

I'll add some more thoughts later. Thanks for sharing.

Adam La Prade · April 19th, 2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Dempsey

I have to admit to only scanning it because I don't have the time right now to watch it through. I will later, though. Initial impressions are that it looks like a nice piece. Colors were very saturated, what preset did you use?

The sound is distorting a little, is that in the original?

I'll add some more thoughts later. Thanks for sharing.

The preset I used was the original VIVIDRGB that weas posted in the preset thread. I do believe there have been several updates to the preset since, but I used the original one.

The audio was recorded using a combo of a Rode NTG-2 shotgun mic and a Sennheiser EW100 Wireless lav system. This camera is a little louder then my old Sony A1, so the mic levels were set a little higher then I wanted and a bit of clipping occurred. But hey - it's all a learning experience!

PS, I'm starting to want the Letus more and more each time I see your footage...

March 28th, 2007, 04:25 PM	#64
Marlon Torres Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 230	"Remember" clip 720P clip from my short film. Compression really degraded the quality but oh well, you get the idea. http://www.citizencine.com/films/cel...member_web.mov

March 28th, 2007, 04:44 PM	#65
Douglas Villalba Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida, USA Posts: 479	Marlon, once again you guys are great. I love it just the way it looks. Your editing skills are super. I love the way you take a simple shot an turn it into a fascinating image. WOW. __________________ Douglas Villalba - director/cinematographer/editor Miami, Florida, USA - www.DVtvPRODUCTIONS.com

March 28th, 2007, 05:51 PM	#66
Byron Huskey Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 64	Very nice! Great to see what this camera can do with the right person behind it. __________________ Byron Huskey Rhapsodist Productions "Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls." - Ingmar Bergman

April 6th, 2007, 09:43 AM	#67
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Stills of the day - April 6 Two today...shot at dawn in Kirkland, WA Attached Thumbnails __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/

April 6th, 2007, 10:01 AM	#68
Taeho Lee Tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Paris, France Posts: 4	It looks so calm out there. Early in the morning, no body is moving. the nature is simply out there. So carm.... Very nice.

March 25th, 2007, 02:58 PM	#61
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	Thanks! I shot in 30f mode for the footage, default preset, and 0db gain. Progressive frames are really the only way to go for roto work. Fast-moving subjects will blur, of course, which is why I used a healthy dose of feathering on my masks. Plus, I could be a little sloppier with my masks with more feathering. I might try to dial the feathering down a bit on the next render and see how it looks with cleaner edges. Hope this helps, Brian Brown

March 26th, 2007, 09:11 AM	#62
Deke Ryland Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 213	Boy that's great. Thanks for the info and tips. Do you happen to remember what shutter speed you were set on? I am just really impressed with how the HDV handled the action. When I see sports shots like this it really eases my fears that I will see artifacting. Thanks for the help!

March 26th, 2007, 03:57 PM	#63
Brian Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Estes Park, CO USA Posts: 426	You're quite welcome for the info. The shutter was 1/60th. Anything less would strobe badly with the action. I would have loved to shoot higher, but kept bumping up against low apertures. The zoom on the A1 loses light as it goes into telephoto and can start under-exposing pretty quick. Indoor sports like b-ball and volleyball are perhaps the worst to try to shoot smooth action with, because gyms are usually lit horribly. I also found that 6db of gain to be too noisy for my taste, but some users don't mind it. I learned a LOT by shooting several hours of tape this way. I'm sure that the A1 is not the ideal camera for this type of action (steeping zoom mentioned above, tough to focus with EVF and LCD, and you can't zoom and focus at the same time). But, all in all, I'm very pleased with the various footage I shot. HTH, Brian

April 6th, 2007, 10:21 AM	#69
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Those are cool shots Steve! Very nice! I did not realize that Kirkland looked like that... Thanks for posting them! ~Gabriel __________________ Gabriel Photography

April 15th, 2007, 10:13 AM	#70
Adam La Prade Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 77	Clip Hosting? Hello everyone! I'm looking to share my clips with everyone on these boards but I don't have the hosting available to me. I remember reading sometime back about hosting clips on DVinfo's server (media.dvinfo.net) but my email was never responded to. Thanks!

April 16th, 2007, 08:52 PM	#71
Oleg Kalyan Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MOSCOW Posts: 860	I do not think it's available at the momene, write an email to Chris. Here is link, http://www.guitarsmagazine.ru/read.php?girls-list

April 16th, 2007, 10:58 PM	#72
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Oleg you are very naughty.

April 19th, 2007, 08:59 AM	#73
Adam La Prade Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 77	Coasting for Kids Documentary Hello everyone! This is my first (and so far, only) project I've done with my A1. It came on a Tuesday, and we had to shoot the next day so I didn't really have time to get used to the camera just yet. Everything was shot on the A1 except for the on-ride footage. This was a class assignment for my Documentary Filmmaking class. There are still some things that need to be cleaned up (like fix some music cues, and re-record the voiceovers) I'm interested in what you guys think! http://www.adster.net/videos/coastingforkids.html (60mb, 7:19)

April 19th, 2007, 09:16 AM	#74
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	I have to admit to only scanning it because I don't have the time right now to watch it through. I will later, though. Initial impressions are that it looks like a nice piece. Colors were very saturated, what preset did you use? The sound is distorting a little, is that in the original? I'll add some more thoughts later. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Try my Digital Therapy: http://www.pinelakefilms.com/digital_therapy.html Films on ExposureRoom: http://exposureroom.com/members/disjecta.aspx/videos/