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Jack Barker

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Everything posted by Jack Barker

  1. That was the longest, most complete, and best reply I have ever received on any question I have ever asked. Thank you!
  2. David, do you know how and why the convention of adding blue gels got started to represent moonlight? I am used to it like everyone else in the world, but sometimes it looks a bit cartoonish, since we have all seen real moonlight, and it is white (reflected sunlight), not blue.
  3. Here is one model, but I am sure there are others: http://www.transvideointl.com/pages/englis...ducts/titan.htm
  4. Do you have any idea how much 100 M of cable weighs? Or how much drag it will create as you walk around that room? I don't think that will allow you to "walk freely without any limitation." You haven't even mentioned what else is in the room - people, furniture, etc. - that you would have to drag cable around. Have you considered using a wireless monitor? I can't give you any specifics, but I know they are out there.
  5. This is a typical one of many answers from a Google search: "There is no published maximum lengths for composite or other analog video cables because there are so many factors to take into account. If the driving source is a properly balanced output and the receiver has a properly terminated input and good quality, low loss co-ax cable is used, then the maximum distance can comfortably exceed 100 metres (300ft). However, many domestic video components do not have the best drivers and receivers and therefore, the maximum length will be reduced significantly. With analog signals (composite, S-video, component, RGB) the picture will start to become softer as the cable length increases. Eventually, the image will become unacceptable but it is up to the user to decide what is good enough. In all cases where a long video run is needed, use good quality 75 ohm co-ax cable and within a domestic environment, you should see very few problems." http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Maxi...te_video_cables Others are more skeptical about 100 M without degradation of signal, but they all seem to agree on the 75 Ohm coax having no discernible limitations. I can't imagine you are truly in a situation where you need to be tethered to a monitor for 100 M or more, but you did not state your actual needs, other than to say, "..a very large room." I would think a composite would do the trick for you.
  6. No, it doesn't, but once we came close - sorta. A while back, there was this guy who was re-engineering folks Panasonic DVX100's to output RAW (4:4:4), and there was even a place on the site where he was going to turn his attention next to the XL2. But it never happened. It never happened, because he sold the company (Reel | Stream Andromeda), and nobody knows to whom (a condition of sale?). I don't think it's too much of a stretch to assume it was bought by Panasonic, or Sony, or Canon, or RED, not just for the technology, but to keep the prices nicely up in the stratosphere for their high-end offerings. Pity. The site is still up and running, but only the Forums are relatively current. This is the site: http://www.reel-stream.com/andromeda.php Here are some pretty good motion samples: http://www.reel-stream.com/gallery_thumbs....p;start_point=0
  7. I can't speak for the others, but November was shot on a DVX100, which I would argue is not "a much better camera than the XL2".
  8. Have you had a look at Instant HD from Red Giant? http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/a...let-instant-hd/
  9. Did the guy post in your location of Craigslist? And what is you geographical location? Or did you do a Google search, and got a hit on his ad?
  10. Go read at their website about the services they offer.https://www.paypal.com/ Also, for $500, are you sure he's selling the lens also, or just the body? He may want to keep the lens to use on a PAL replacement.
  11. Rick - For starters, you didn't tell us which camera it is. But I wouldn't do it unless I had someone - a friend - on the ground to look it over for me, or if the seller would be willing to use some escrow service, so you could look it over on arrival, then release the funds to him.
  12. You and your friend should know that the word is "lapse," not laps, or lapes. The info on interval recording starts on page 79 of the Manual, and on Menus and Settings, starts on page 26. I use the PDF version of the Manual mostly, since it is searchable on my computer - saves time. You can download it here: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controll...wnloadDetailAct Scroll down to XL2 Instruction Manual.
  13. Personally, I agree with you. In my case, the item was still under warranty, with another warranty to kick in later, and I did check both with Canon and with B&H, who sold the MAC warranty. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have done it. I only mentioned it my post above to underscore the value of patience. I waited 10 months for this deal to come along.
  14. Well, yes and no. What I mean is that there are people who want to steal your money and send you nothing in return, and there are those who want to sell you lots of extras you don't want or need, to make up for what they lost by selling you the camera cheap in the first place - Abe's of Maine comes to mind. But if you can just tolerate the sales pitches and stick with the goal of getting the XL2, there are some good deals to be had. That said, when you are Googling for the best price, you will get a lot of hits, so always remember to check the ratings of the seller at Reseller Ratings, and read the reviews: http://www.resellerratings.com/ Also, I have found over and over again, that Amazon is a great place to buy almost anything at a good price, even the second hand stuff that gets sold there is worth pursuing, because Amazon actually care about their reputation. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XL2-MiniDV-Cam...3991&sr=1-1 I bought my XL2 from a guy via CraisgsList a few years back and got an amazing deal - XL2 in original warranty & with an additional 3-year MAC warranty, Portabrace case, extra batteries, Bogen/Manfrotto 525MVB sticks w/503 head and a padded case, a JVC deck, and some other bits and pieces - all for $3,000. The key for me was that I was prepared to be patient, and only pursue offers within driving distance (the seller came to me!), where I could examine the stuff first. Good luck.
  15. Jack Barker

    Matte Box

    I meant to mention this in my previous post, but you might like to visit the rather large and knowledgeable XL2 Forum at DVInfo - the "XL2 Watchdog". I'm sure you can search for matte box threads there. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=73
  16. Jack Barker

    Matte Box

    The TLS Kestrel looks suspiciously like a re-branded version of the Formatt box, which I own. Formatt filters are outstanding, and though the box is good, it's not the best. While you are there, check out their filters. http://www.formatt.co.uk/matte-boxes/products.aspx The Chrosziel 4x4 and the Vocas DV are probably the best available, but as you already know, they ain't cheap. I have recently become very interested in the Dear Gear kit of parts. They look sturdy (lots of pictures), and the pricing is pretty good. http://www.geardear.com/
  17. How about a black Pro-Mist (Tiffen), or Supermist (Formatt)?
  18. Edgar - Very nice! My comments are all completely subjective, but; - I think I would have been tempted to have no dialogue at all - just the city sounds and the violin, of course. - How did you make London look so clean?! - I would take the encounter with the two girls out. It doesn't add anything, but some confusion - by the end of the little story, one is left wondering why it is in there. - Photography is beautiful - how did you drum up that fog? A solid piece of work. You should try posting on another website with better resolution than YouTube, which is almost any other website. Vimeo (they also support HD) http://www.vimeo.com/ BlipTV http://blip.tv/ YouAreTV http://www.youare.tv/
  19. If it truly is a backfocus issue, you need to call Canon, speak to them and probably send it in for recalibration, after they send you the boxes - yes, they do that. First though, go to the Canon XL2 page on the Canon website and make sure that you have registered your XL2 and join their Owner's Club. You get a few breaks for joining, but I don't remember quite what. Here's the page: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controll...upportDetailAct Look for a small rectangle on the right edge of the page that looks like this. Click on it, window pops open, register, done. Here are a couple of threads over at the DVInfo, XL2 Watchdog that are worth a read. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?...t=xl2+backfocus http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=42110
  20. Brian - I can answer question one, only. Yes, it is supposed to do that. The lens is full of electronics and mechanical parts just waking up and stretching. There's a better technical answer, but the main thing is, it's not broken. This question gets asked three times as much as the next most frequently asked question.
  21. "A second rode mic"? Does that mean that you are recording with two external mics? Plus the onboard mic? What combination? Makes all the difference, and yes, they can drive you nuts. Sounds like it might be a channel selection problem. Read pages 51 & 52 of the Canon Manual. Maybe the discussion below can shed some light. Let us know how it works out. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?...ight=xlr+inputs
  22. Check out the discussion on this, including "the guy," young Mike Krumlauf over at DVInfo. It's interesting, but I don't believe there's any benefit over masking. Jack Barker http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=95626
  23. Jack Barker

    xl2

    Hmmm. To tell you the truth Chris, I would be leery of any store selling at either of those prices. Looking around at a few of the legitimate stores, The street prices seem to be either side of $3,000. If you are not sure if a seller is legitimate, check them out at Reseller Ratings. http://www.resellerratings.com/
  24. Well, yes of course that would be a viable option. I know a full-time pro videographer (commercials, History Channel, etc), who shoots 25p PAL for the resolution, and he has no overseas clients, as far as I know. But say the question didn't involve PAL-country clients. You want higher resolution, and/or slightly smoother motion, but still want the "film look". The answer is to shoot in 30p. Give it a try on your next setup. Light for film, etc., then shoot once in 24p and again in 30p for comparison. The results are very nice.
  25. As far as I know, there is NTSC Xl1 model and a PAL XL1model, but none that shoot both.
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