Canon VFL-1 Video Flash & Light with XL2? at DVinfo.net

Tyson Persall · September 10th, 2006, 09:16 PM

Anyone using the advanced acessory shoe on the XL2 with a Canon light? Does it work?

Can you use this lights photography flash light feature? Does that function? Why would I want to do this you ask? Becasue I want a light i can use during a 2 camera shoot and use the flash of light as a sync point for both cams. (Wedding videography)

As a photo flash blulb light I am wondering if it would not work with the XL2 b/c the XL2 has no photo feature.

Brendon Whateley · September 17th, 2006, 03:23 PM

I use a Canon light on my XL2 and it works great. I don't have the combined light and flash, since my understanding was that the flash wouldn't work, and I didn't see the need, etc. If the flash feature has a "test" button, like the Canon EX series, then you could still get the flash, however, if the flash is too quick, you may not see it on the video. If you want to use a flash, that would still work with any external flash, since you don't have to have it mounted to make a flash.

BTW, the clapper is used to sync the sound, which a flash wouldn't do.

Tyson Persall · September 17th, 2006, 04:27 PM

See, the deal is that during a live event like a wedding you dont have time to do slate nor do you have anyone to hold it up to do it. The alternative is a camera flash which will pick up on a single frame. You sinc the two cameras together on that frame with the flash in it. -And you can do this very fast. If I could just get a flash mounted on the camera id be set.

Brendon Whateley · September 17th, 2006, 05:34 PM

Why does the flash need to be mounted? My EX550 can be "test fired" without being on the camera. I assume that most or all external still camera flash units can be similarly fired.

BTW, I thought the flash idea was quite clever. I'd just do a bunch of tests to make sure the flash isn't too quick so that it could be missed by the camera.

Tyson Persall · September 18th, 2006, 06:07 PM

no, i guess it could be in my pocket and i could hold it up. Ive tested it on 60i and it works. depends on the flash used. Sometimes it picks up on a single field but you can see this on the frame at 30fps. sometimes on 2 frames.

Chris Hurd · September 18th, 2006, 06:43 PM

The Canon VFL-1 is a combination photo flash and video light. The photo flash part will not work with the XL2. The video light part will.

Anthony Leong · December 29th, 2006, 01:27 PM

Is the Canon VFL-1 a good choice for the Canon XH-A1?

Kevin Randolph · December 29th, 2006, 01:53 PM

Using a flash to sync the two cams is quite easy. I use it all the time. Just make sure that you fire the flash twice. I have had the flash fire between frames a couple of times (most flashes fire at 1/10,000th of a second - easily fast enough to get between frames), but when I fire twice, I always get at least one good flash it seems. I use a cheap manual flash designed for a 1970's 35mm still cam that I got for free. It runs off of a couple of double A's and I just keep it in my pocket. The other nice thing about using a flash for syncing is that people are use to camera flashes, so they don't even register that anything happened - no reaction at all. I've found this aspect alone to be quite a bonus... JMHO...

Kevin

Kevin Randolph · January 4th, 2007, 08:56 AM

Tyson,
I was at a wedding just before new years and the videographer was using the Canon light at the reception that you mentioned. I think that it did well for him (haven't seen any footage) but I noticed that the light was a bit hard. He didn't have any type of diffusion in-front of the light, but I think he may have been afraid of loosing any light power at all in the first place. Just some food for thought...

September 10th, 2006, 09:16 PM	#1
Tyson Persall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Hollywood, Atlanta Posts: 437	Canon VFL-1 Video Flash & Light with XL2? Anyone using the advanced acessory shoe on the XL2 with a Canon light? Does it work? Can you use this lights photography flash light feature? Does that function? Why would I want to do this you ask? Becasue I want a light i can use during a 2 camera shoot and use the flash of light as a sync point for both cams. (Wedding videography) As a photo flash blulb light I am wondering if it would not work with the XL2 b/c the XL2 has no photo feature. __________________ Tyson X

September 17th, 2006, 04:27 PM	#3
Tyson Persall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Hollywood, Atlanta Posts: 437	See, the deal is that during a live event like a wedding you dont have time to do slate nor do you have anyone to hold it up to do it. The alternative is a camera flash which will pick up on a single frame. You sinc the two cameras together on that frame with the flash in it. -And you can do this very fast. If I could just get a flash mounted on the camera id be set. __________________ Tyson X

September 18th, 2006, 06:07 PM	#5
Tyson Persall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Hollywood, Atlanta Posts: 437	no, i guess it could be in my pocket and i could hold it up. Ive tested it on 60i and it works. depends on the flash used. Sometimes it picks up on a single field but you can see this on the frame at 30fps. sometimes on 2 frames. __________________ Tyson X

September 18th, 2006, 06:43 PM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The Canon VFL-1 is a combination photo flash and video light. The photo flash part will not work with the XL2. The video light part will. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 29th, 2006, 01:53 PM	#8
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	Using a flash to sync the two cams is quite easy. I use it all the time. Just make sure that you fire the flash twice. I have had the flash fire between frames a couple of times (most flashes fire at 1/10,000th of a second - easily fast enough to get between frames), but when I fire twice, I always get at least one good flash it seems. I use a cheap manual flash designed for a 1970's 35mm still cam that I got for free. It runs off of a couple of double A's and I just keep it in my pocket. The other nice thing about using a flash for syncing is that people are use to camera flashes, so they don't even register that anything happened - no reaction at all. I've found this aspect alone to be quite a bonus... JMHO... Kevin __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

September 17th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#2
Brendon Whateley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 59	I use a Canon light on my XL2 and it works great. I don't have the combined light and flash, since my understanding was that the flash wouldn't work, and I didn't see the need, etc. If the flash feature has a "test" button, like the Canon EX series, then you could still get the flash, however, if the flash is too quick, you may not see it on the video. If you want to use a flash, that would still work with any external flash, since you don't have to have it mounted to make a flash. BTW, the clapper is used to sync the sound, which a flash wouldn't do.

September 17th, 2006, 05:34 PM	#4
Brendon Whateley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 59	Why does the flash need to be mounted? My EX550 can be "test fired" without being on the camera. I assume that most or all external still camera flash units can be similarly fired. BTW, I thought the flash idea was quite clever. I'd just do a bunch of tests to make sure the flash isn't too quick so that it could be missed by the camera.

December 29th, 2006, 01:27 PM	#7
Anthony Leong Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United States Posts: 93	Is the Canon VFL-1 a good choice for the Canon XH-A1?

January 4th, 2007, 08:56 AM	#9
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	Tyson, I was at a wedding just before new years and the videographer was using the Canon light at the reception that you mentioned. I think that it did well for him (haven't seen any footage) but I noticed that the light was a bit hard. He didn't have any type of diffusion in-front of the light, but I think he may have been afraid of loosing any light power at all in the first place. Just some food for thought... __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net