XL2 compared to DVX, part one... Custom Keys comparison at DVinfo.net
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Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders
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Old July 13th, 2004, 08:23 AM   #1
Obstreperous Rex
 
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XL2 compared to DVX, part one... Custom Keys comparison

There will be a lot of discussions comparing the similarities and differences between the XL2 and Panasonic DVX100A, but here's one little interesting side-corner aspect concerning feature set comparisons: the user-definable Custom Key assignments.

On the XL2, two Custom Key buttons can toggle your choice of these functions:
  • Time Code
  • Index Write
  • Zebra
  • VCR Stop
  • TV Screen
  • Zoom Handle
  • Audio Level

On the DVX100A, there are three User Buttons which can toggle these options:
  • COLOR BARS Display/hide the SMPTE color bar
  • SPOTLIGHT Auto iris spotlight correction ON/OFF
  • BACKLIGHT Auto iris backlight correction ON/OFF
  • BLACKFADE Fade out to a black screen (linked with audio)
  • WHITEFADE Fade out to a white screen (linked with audio)
  • MODECHECK Display camera settings in viewfinder/monitor
  • ATW Auto tracking white balance function ON/OFF
  • ATWLOCK Lock/unlock white balance in ATW operation
  • GAIN 18dB Switch the gain to +18 dB
  • INDEX Write the index signal
  • SLOW SHUT Slow shutter mode ON/OFF

I don't know about you, but I would like to have seen a little more diversity in the Canon options.
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Old July 13th, 2004, 08:40 AM   #2
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Yeah... seems a bit like a let down. But then again, like the its
predecessors, the XL2 has a lot of external nobs. So the gain
thing from DVX is actually not needed as a preset on the XL2?
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Old July 13th, 2004, 08:47 AM   #3
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You're right, Rob, the gain setting would be a superfluous custom key on the XL2. But I wish they had added Skin Detail and a few other things to the custom key options. I like the options better for DVX.
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Old July 13th, 2004, 08:50 AM   #4
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black fade and white fade are kinda useless as well, (I mean even I can do that in post so I'm sure most can) and the spotlight function is still available (it looks like it at least) as user control setting, so in some sense it is a user defined knob.
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Old July 13th, 2004, 01:09 PM   #5
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I think the options on the Ag-DVC30 are even better.

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Old July 14th, 2004, 01:50 AM   #6
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OH and that $100,000 camera the f900, with about four billion different menu settings, also only has two assignable switches (actually one that goes up and down for two different settings) so I'd say that the custom key's are kind of a non issue, but I guess if you're used to three on the dvx then...
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Old July 14th, 2004, 02:57 AM   #7
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custom keys are a godsend IMO..
for live event work, backlight, White tracking/balance lock, spotlight.. etc makes things easier
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