XL-1s Audio playback Hiss ????
 

Unfortunatly I placed this question in the wrong area and got no resplies. So please excuse me.

I looked on the net for any problems with the XL-1s and noticed some people said they had encountered an audio hiss on playback. I realize input is important to put it mildly, but who knows if output is a problem. I have an XL-1 and wouldlike to get the XL-1s and would like to know of any problems and of course the best price. NTSC only

XL1s vs. IS II lens new purchase
 

I can't get the $3700 together to purchase a new XL1s with lens. If I can buy only either the XL1s body or the IS II lens, which will give me the most noticable image quality improvement: A new XL1s body with my old lens? Or a new IS II lens with my old XL1 body?

Thanks for your input,

Sam Eneman

The new XL1S body, since it has the newer, cleaner CCD block and the greatly expanded internal menu system with a variety of image controls.

I Heartily 2nd Chris' Suggestion
 

I have both an XL-1 and XL-1s and can absolutely say that the new CCD block (300,000 pixel chips -vs- 270,000 on the XL-1) make a notable difference in image quality all by themselves. The new image controls and power management options are also really nice to have.

In comparing the -1 with the -1s using the 14x manual lens on both I was surprised by the difference in scenes.

Solar charger, need power info?
 

Hi
I'm looking at using a flexible solar panel to trickle charge my XL1 batteries. I've been told it's easy enough but I need to find out the spec on the Canon car battery chargers cb 900 or cb 910, such as the input voltage range and current requirement. Can anyone help, this is rather urgent as i only have 2 weeks before leaving for Cambodia so I'm hoping I can work this out rather than take a mountain of batteries.
Cheers all
Allan

I use one. I have a Nikon FE2 and I have invested alot lenses.

So I bought the adapter for my XL1 and it works great.
The only thing you deal with is the manual operation of the focus and the " no lens " flashes on the view finder, but it works fine.

I get some good images from 300 mm ED f4 telephoto.

Making timecode dubs
 

Is it easy to use the RCA analog OUTs to run to a VCR and make a "window" dub while shooting?

(This is for video depositions for legal cases.)

Does the video out carry the timecode or counter numbers to the external deck without burning them to the DV tape inside the camera?

Many thanks!!!

Re: Making timecode dubs
 

<<<-- Originally posted by William Thomas : Is it easy to use the RCA analog OUTs to run to a VCR and make a &quot;window&quot; dub while shooting? -->>>

Yes it is, at least with respect to the XL1/XL1s. It's a bit easier with the XL1s since you don't have to confound the power saver timer by leaving a tape unloaded.

<<<-- Does the video out carry the timecode or counter numbers to the external deck without burning them to the DV tape inside the camera? -->>>

No, your VHS deck will burn it's own time onto the tape as it records.

Mic opinion
 

I've been given a Sony C76 mic to use as a second mic. It sounds OK but not what I would expext for a mic that costs 1110.00 new. And it's big and bulky....

However, the guy who owns it asked if I'd give him 75.00 for it, not bad for a back up. It has a funky looking windscreen that clip mounts on a shotgun type pistol grip and a case.

Any thoughts?

Mic repair?
 

My mic clamp has a broken hinge... the top portion or Canon's description: "microphone clamp" which is not part of the viewfinder but houses the tightening screw is what I need for the repair. Super duper glue was not the answer. Can anyone put me on track to obtain this part?

Thanks from a new member!

Robert

You need to send the camera to Canon Service. Contact info on the XL1 Watchdog at www.dvinfo.net -- "The XL1 Skinny"

solar panels
 

You can always charge a car battery during the peak hours of sunlight. Then connect the car battery to your charger this way even if there is a flactuation of the sun intensity the car battery will still be steady in giving energy to your charger.
Opps sorry if its Cambodia it might be harder to carry a car battery to the jungle.

someone who uses solar panels for energy

Most consumer VHS decks to not do a timecode.

You can create a window dub from the XL1 analog output. In VCR mode you would use the remode to turn on the time code display.

Making my own adapter for a Fuji lens????
 

Ok this is what is in my head I have an expensive Fuji lens16x-6.7on my JVC -X2B which is a great camera . Im trying to sell the camera. But am seriously wanting the new XL1s. I used the XL before and I hate the focus . So why cant I buy a cheap canon lens and switch mounts with the Fuji. Shouldnt that work? As long as the screw mounts line up that would work ...right? I still have to buy the adapter right? Even if I could do this?

Tony B

You can do it but it will be expensive, besides that lens is for a 1/2 inch camera and the XL1 is 1/3 inch (focal lengths wil be longer, not wide enough). You'll have to take off the motor and grip handle too.

It looks as if they did use a new, longer EVF cable as I requested during my servicing! It's all working well now and I'm happy! :)

Peak VST
 

Does anyone have any experience with the "mono to stereo" DSP function in Peak VST? If so, any and all info (how well does it work, why did you use it, quality of output, limitations, etc...) would be appreciated. Could (should) I use it to convert mono from Sennheiser ME66 into stereo? Not interested in doing any hardwiring with splitters and the like.

I use Peak VST almost daily and have found it to be one of the best 2-track audio editors on the market. You should have no problem making the conversion from mono to stereo.

Making a film Print and Shutter Speed
 

Will the alteration of the shutter speed affect in anyway any future transfer of the DV to film.

The only folks that can answer this are the folks at your transfer house. I suggest selecting one before you shoot frame one and consulting with them on what their requirements are.

Letterboxing with the XL-1
 

First I would like to explain my setup, I have a standard XL-1 (2000) vintage with a 16 X lens. I have purchased an after market Matte box called an Image 2000 that attaches to the front of the Lens.
I was wondering how I could apply a Hard matte plate to this type of setup for doing a Letterboxing effect. I know I could apply a Letterbox in my editing program (Final Cut Pro) but this takes too long to render out. Any ideas?

Thanks
Dennis Morgan
St Louis

Hello Dennis,

I don't have a suggestion for you per se, having never done this myself. But I'm curious about why you just want to mask-out the top and bottom of your lens' (4:3) image. Are you trying for a faux anamorphic look? It seems to me that if you mask-out parts of your image you may have some formidable focus and exposure issues that you'll have to compensate for.

Calibrating video monitors.
 

I am using a XL1 with a Fujinon lens. Does anyone have any good methods for calibrating and color correcting monitors used for video taps?

Hello Eduardo,
Video University's site has a pretty good instructional page on this subject at:

http://www.videouniversity.com/tvbars2.htm

Note, however, that the instructions require that you display true SMPTE color bars for the calibration, something that the XL1 cannot do. (The XL1's bars are not SMPTE-compliant, but the XL1s bars are.) Your editing software might be able to generate true color bars which you could then record to tape to display for calibration. If not, you might be able to just wing-it with the XL1's bars and then use flesh tones to fine-tune to taste.

Optex Digilite 15, or Canon VL-10i?
 

I am looking for a small/light weight video light < $150 for fill-in for less than 5 feet closeup.

Does anyone have experience with Optex Digilite 15?

I found some feedback on Canon VL-10i, but not on Digilite 15.

The Canon light is good for an on camera fill light. I use it for that purpose and the only thing is it needs a bit of diffusion. I use some oven proof baking paper taped to the body of the light.

XL1 & DVSTORM -sync prob - HELP!
 

XL1 and Storm Sync Probs!?!

Somebody tell me I'm not alone ! I have shot 25 hours on XL1 for mega-documentary and bought a storm to cut it. If I capture an hour tape from XL1 via DV in - the audio lags by 6 or so frames. Tried Canopus UK and ini.file suggestions didin't work. If I go S-video or composite out of XL1 to Storm then it's fine.
Heard on a Canopus forum that Storm was designed for use with SONY cameras?! I used a DVCAM PD150 recorded tape as an experiment into Storm and it was fine!

yours pulling hair out and looking for a fix !

Craig Pancrack, Middlesbrough, England.

Turn key System: Windows 2000 Pro, Pentium 4 1.7, 512 RAM,75gb hd,StormSE Plus with DSR11 DVCAM deck ( and that didn't help either!)

video display
 

I'm currently having a problem with the ntsc video display whenever I plug the firewire into my XL1. I can view the picture and connectivity is fine, but I get thick, horizontal lines crawling up the screen. This happens with or without the computer on and only when the firewire touches my camera's firewire port. Any clues or suggestions?

It sounds like you almost certainly have a grounding issue. You're probably seeing hum -- my guess is that there are conditions under which you could hear it, as well.

Make sure your computer and all peripherals are plugged into a grounded receptacle. You shouldn't need separate grounding wires; they just introduce ground loops. I'd also try a different firewire cable. If none of that works, then you could start isolating the computer and peripherals -- radio shack makes such a device.

These can be tricky to run down -- good luck!

The statement that the Storm was "designed for use with Sony cameras" is inaccurate. Actually all Sony cameras are compatible with Storm because Storm, while using Sharp chips, is based on the DVRex design which used Sony chips.

Canon's audio falls within the DV specification but is a bit off by a few decimal places. If you've made the .ini file change already, then the workaround is to capture shorter clips. Don't rely on the batch capture feature. You'll have to break each tape up into a series of shorter files. This method should maintain your audio synch.

Direct Sunlight into the lens
 

Im shooting a scene where a character walks with the sun behind him, in a silohuette. Can i damage the camera in any way if the sunlight hits directly into the lens.

silohuette
 

Im shooting a scene against a bright window. I want my character to be in silohoutte. Is there something i should know about grain or "noise" being in such extreme situations. Will lowering the gain to -3db, also help in this situation.

XL1 SYNC PROB SOLVED ! / What ini.files??
 

Solved it today by capturing in SEAMLESS CAPTURE as 6 x 10 min. clips. The whole tape captured in one go and seamless when assembled on the time line AND IN SYNC!!!

What ini.file codes do you know? I tried the following without any success...cap32to48=-1
canonaudio1=1
canonaudio=-1

?

Check list for buying second hand XL1S?
 

Hello,
I will soon buy a second hand XL1S (Pal), and I would like to know what I need to check on the camera to be sure it is on perfect condition.
If somebody can write a check list, it would be helpfull.
I think for exemple, about checking CCD (dead pixel?).

Also, where are the serial numbers ont the camera and lens.

Thanks

Ground Glass - Aspect Ratio
 

Does Canon or other manufacturer make an attachment for the eyepiece that will have different aspect ratios. ie 1.85:1, 2.35:1

None that I am aware of.

The serial number for the body is in the main battery compartment, along with the date of manufacture. The serial number for the lens is on the lens back plate, where it attaches to the body.

The most important thing to keep in mind when buying any used camcorder is to immediately send it in for service and cleaning... in your case, send it to Canon UK. This is the best way to insure that it's brought up to scratch.

"Dead pixels" visible in the viewfinder may be a result of the viewfinder (acceptable) or the CCD block (not acceptable). You would need to see a recorded DV cassette to determine which is which. Again, a trip to authorized service is the best approach to take, if you can't buy new.

If you simply want a silohoutte I would imagine that you would meter on the window, lock the exposure and shoot. Under reasonably bright daylight conditions this should give you the effect you want. You can shoot a 2nd take with the gain turned down and then decide which you like later in post. I'm not sure you'll need it but it's certainly a low-cost/no-cost experiment.

Windows XP Problems
 

Hi everyone, My company has purchased the XL1s Pal format and we are going to shoot music videos and Independent films with the camera. Now I've run into a snag, well more than one. First it took Microsoft a while to get me updates for all the video editing software I'm using and I still feel they don't work properly. But my MAJOR snag is that windows XP home edition that came with the computer does not find the patches need to let me import my video from the XL1s firewire. However when I take the camera home and hook it up to my other computer which is running windows 98 the camera works fine. So I'm thinking of changing Window XP to another Operating system, I don't want to use windows 98 so that leaves my with either windows 2000 or windows XP prof edition which I don't trust yet.. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.

Want to make "Rushmore"-type film - i.e. wide-angle AND 16:9.
 

I am buying a Canon XL-1 this month and would like to be able to make a movie with a wide-angle lens and 16:9 view (ala "Rushmore"). What would be the best way to do this with current accessories?

My current plans are below

-for wide-angle lens, I plan to use EITHER use the Canon 3x lens OR the Canon 16x manual lens with a wide-angle adaptor?
CONSIDERATIONS:
- some posts say the Canon 3x lens has a soft focus?
- I think I read that the new 16x manual lens cannot take a wide-angle adaptor? Is this true?
- WHICH is better option, or suggest 3rd option.

-for 16:9, I plan to use 16:9 squeezed setting in Canon XL1.
CONSIDERATIONS:
- I don't believe there are any anamorphic lens that fit the 72mm Canon lens?
- I believe that video-to-film transfer companies prefer the squeezed mode to cropping the 4:3 image in post.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Phillip Ellett