Eric Brown

Once, again, thanks to everyone!

Thanks, Michael. I'm in the states. I'll be sure to check out that website.

I've looked around but couldn't seem to find a supplier. Does anyone know where I could puchase some? Thanks.

Mitch: Cool. Just wanted to make sure I didn't ruffle any feathers.

Giles: Thanks for the list. I am curious about something, though.

Any idea as to where I can buy the Wittner Chrome 100D?

and if so who can process it here?.

Three users gave high ratings in a Super8 today magazine I

just read. (Although that article is over a year old)

Toby: Thanks for the compliment on the clip!

okay...point taken. No DV in the super8 forum. Just the same. Thanks for everyone's input. :P

Andrew

There's a fairly active community of A1 users over at DVXuser and DVinfo.net. Might want to try there as well.

Hi all

 

I'm thinking of shooting a 5 min short and renting a canon xh a1.

 

The reason I chose this one was because I've seen a few youtube vids (i know they're not the best quality) and it seems like a pretty good camera. I know you have to customize the settings to get the effects you want, but that is also one of the reason i would like to rent this one. I'm looking for a prosumer camera to grow as a cinematographer, one where i have to set the right settings for the picture to come out as i want it to.

 

The short is a thriller/sci fi short and will be shot at night.

 

ok, down to the questions:

 

1. How good is the depth of field on this camera?

2. Is it easy to control the colours on the camera or would this be better to do in post?

3. What are the main problems you have come across using this camera? (even in post)

4. Would like to have 1.85:1 aspect ratio, is this a bad idea? Are there any "guide letterboxes" on the camera? (hope everyone understood that question :P )

 

All comments appreciated.

 

Peace

 

Andrew

Eric, to get tight grain you will need to shoot the slower more fine grained stocks. The Fuji Velvia and the Kodad 100D are the most saturated finest grain stocks available right now. The problem for some folks is that they have less lattitude and are more contrasty. Kodak 7217 is rated at 200 / 125. Its a lower contrast stock with more lattitude. It's colors tend to be more natural but the appearance of color on film has as much to do with art design and lighting as it does with film stock. If grain is a big deal to you, don't shoot anything faster than 200, and learn how to light. Grain is always going to be there in super 8 so shoot slow and control your mid tones.

Thanks, Doug. More great info. I'm assuming that I can transport my lighting knowledge from all my DV shoots to film

in some respects. In other respects, maybe not.

I've read and re-read Blain Brown's "Cinematography: Theory and Practice" many times now.

A great book that has served me well so far.

But lighting is an art form that takes years if not forever to truly master. I'll be learning until I'm dead and that's fine by me.

Hope this isn't blasphemy posting this in a Super8 forum, but here's a DV clip from a recent short of mine.

http://www.vimeo.com/233301

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Wow. Great resources for the online stuff you guys. Very much appreciated! :D I'm pretty excited about this as it's fairly new territory for me.

The Northwestern Film Forum here in Seattle has a homemade Tele-cine type machine that I hear is pretty decent.

Looks like it's time to become a member.

I shoot all the time with my Canon XL-2, usually shutter speed at 1/24, frame rate at 24p advanced, and 16:9 aspect ratio.

 

Even when i'm closed down pretty far, blacks seem to always come in fairly grainy. Is there a way to shoot source footage from the XL2 that doesn't have the grain that blacks almost always show? Thanks in advance.

 

-JD

This may be too late but set your gain to -3. The XL2 can do nearly noise free (to the eye) deep blacks.

It's all in how you set it up and how you set up your lighting.

Mitch

Thanks for the great advice. I'll be messing around with Super8 for a while then

move to 16mm at some point.

I'm just trying to get more familiar with film stock instead of having knowledge

of just miniDV and HD.

My goal is to be more well rounded in both formats.

Thanks, again.

Hey gang,

 

Any tips or alterations in terms of spicing up the reel? Does it play out ok or does it seem boring? I was thinking maybe cutting the clips down to 45 secs rather than letting them play out for 1m30secs. I selected three here, but I was also wondering if you thnk the opening is suitible, does it seem silly or pointless. I've never put a showreel together so im lookig for some guidence with this one.

 

Thanks again as always

Ash

Ashley

Yes, it's a bit long. Here are my opinions but keep in mind they are just that, opinions.

The opening with you and the Gl2 should be eliminated completely.

Start the reel with the multi-window thing you got going right after that.

The war clip has some interesting stuff but cut out the talking section and put in the best footage

in terms of dramatic angles and captured action from the battle sequence.

If it flows that way in the actual film, that's for the film. Re-cut for your reel.

The music video had some really cool things going on it but I'd find a way to use

the strongest section of that as well.

Typically, for a first reel you want to keep it as short and powerful as possible.

If you even have a slight feeling that something is off or it doesn't grab you then cut it out.

Be ruthless.

Sometimes it's easy to get married to the images we create.

Overall nice work.

Being new to Super 8 I have some questions for anyone who can answer.

I've been going through the forum a bit trying to get a handle on what stocks are good and what Super 8 cameras are decent.

I've shot exclusively digital for a couple of years and even as a kid never shot super 8 except on one occasion.

I'm basically looking to see what film stocks look most vibrant with tight (minimal?) grain and what stocks are good for indoor/outdoor.

Can I just use one stock and correct with gels?

What's a good, solid super8 camera (preferably used)?

All answers are appreciated.

Hey,

 

Does anyone have any links to some music videos, commercials, movies etc. shot on the XL2? I am looking for a wide range of XL2 examples (lighting, lenses, filters etc.). I've seen 28 Days Later and have read the articles, but I want more. I've been impressed with what can be done with some adapaters such as the Mini35, but I want to see it in action with the XL2.

 

Thanks,

 

Yeomans

The best thing to do is go to IMDB and input Canon XL2, this should give you a list of at least features that have been shot with the XL2.

Has anyone used the Optex Arri PL lens adapter for the XL1 or XL2 cameras? These adapters are far cheaper than the Mini35 adapter and I want to know if they work well and have high quality.

 

Thanks

 

Yeomans

I don't believe Optex is with us anymore. I'm also not sure which houses rent the adapters out for use with the PL lenses if at all.

As far as the quality goes you only need look at 28 days later to determine that. Considering it was shot on a first generation Canon XL, I was fairly impressed.

There was another company making PL mount adapters but I forget the name. Sorry.

Time to Google it!

Wow. Just wow. That looks far better than I would have expected. I thought the camera was just going to be a HD DVX100 but these seems to have a much more film-like gamma curve and wider lattitude. It easily tops anything I've seen from the CanonXL2.

David, don't you mean the XL-H1? Not sure how fair it is to compare an HD camera to a MiniDV camera like the XL2.

I have shot two shorts and a doc on the 100-A over the last 9 months, it was a rental. We just bought the XL2 3 days ago I have yet to get over to my directors house to pick it up for my first time of using it.What will I find the pros and cons to be over the 100-A (example) picture /balance/eye piece/ noise/ zoom/ ect.ect!!!!? :unsure: :unsure:

Well, Shaw. The first thing I can say off the bat is that these are both great cameras. The second thing I will say is stay away from the 3-way camera shootout at DVXuser as it is indeed biased. It's a great sight with a great bunch of guys but they are without question DVX-centric (hence the site name I guess)

:)

Anyway. Pros and cons for me are:

DVX100A Pros: Lightweight. excellent film-look to the 24p. Panasonic rep who frequents the boards at DVX user.com

DVX100A Cons: Some parts on camera kind of flimsy and fragile. (addresssed with the 100b model) Annoying echo in headphone sound out. (this is not in the actual sound in the footage. The DVX produces wonderful audio). Chips are native 4:3 not 16:9 (the DVX uses an electronic "squeeze" mode to achieve 16:9).

XL2 Pros: Shoulder mounted. Very good film look (slightly less film-like than the DVX but still good)

Interchangeable lenses. (And I don't just mean the Canon video lenses. With the right adapter(s) you have an insane amount of lenses at your disposal to utilize) Very high res picture (better for post work like cc, grading, etc). Chips are native 16:9 widescreen.

XL2 Cons: Heavy. Front heavy (but balances nicely with the CH-910 dual battery pack). Learning curve a bit steeper than the DVX. (but once you master it it is absolutely wonderful). Infinity rings for focus and zoom. (problem for some, not for all).

I own and XL2 and will keep it until it dies I like it so much. On the other hand I will be buying the HVX200 sometime this next summer because I believe Panasonic puts out a great product for the money.

If you want an in-depth look at the XL2 go to:

http://dvcreators.net/media/demos/xl2featu...eaturetour.html

I don't believe Pansonic has a video on-line like this for the DVX, otherwise I would send you there as well.

Ultimately, renting both cameras and trying them out is the best way to go.

Hope this helps.

:D

If you're saying that the camera has died and will no longer power up you've probably disconnected the firewire cable with the camera turned on. That is a definite NO-NO with the XL-2 as it can kill the main fuse. You also CANNOT remove the lens or the MA-300 while the camera is powered up. If that's the case, you will need to send it in and have it replaced.

Read all about the saga of the blown master fuse here:

 

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=38...anon+blown+fuse

This actually brings up another topic as well (sorry to tangent). Do not use your XL2 as a deck. It's worth it to drop a couple hundred on a Canon z200 and let the little bugger take all the wear and tear to firewire connection, heads, etc.

I have heard this was a problem with the XL2 but have avoided it completely via this method of transfering DV to the computer.

Once you get your camera back you may want to consider this.

The look of the DVX and PD 170 will obviously be wildly different if you plan to use the DVX 's 24p mode.

That type of an aesthetic shift can be jarring. Even more so if it is not somehow imbedded into the narrative.

The camera being stolen (sorry to hear that by the way) doesn't seem to have anything to do with your doc's subject matter. It was merely an unfortunate incident that occured while shooting the doc. Trying to stitch that into your project for effect might fail.

It's probably best to borrow or rent another PD 170 and finish it with the camera you started with.

After that, if you want to move to a DVX or other 24p camera, sell the PD 170 and put that toward the purchase of your new camera.

This is just what I'd do, though. Get many other opinions as well.

I am using Premiere pro and aftereffects and cannot seem to achieve the look of the old silent films. I am copying this style and need the aged look. Has anyone done this before or know how?

Jack, it may be as simple as googling "after effects plug-ins" There are many companies out there with many plug-ins available for this sort of thing.

Strangely enough, though. I found some of the best plug-ins for this and other effects are for iMovie.

i have an office downtown miami, if interested. 27th floor over the bay.

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Thanks to both of you guys.

Jason, the offer sounds awesome (as does the office) but I am unfortunately in L.A. and forgot to include this in the details of the post.

David, I sent you a personal e-mail. Hopefully you will get it.

Thanks. :)

Hi there, i managed to get a mint XL1 with all accesories and a Aluminum canon Case off a good friend.

Now i'm picking it up today, and i of course will test it.

What should i look for when testing it? (I'm a bit of a newb, albeit with experience with this camera)

I just want to be 100% sure that there isn't a problem with it.

Any help very welcome.

Thanks in advance

Alex

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Hello. You might want to try DVinfo.net's XL1/XL1s forum. I think there might be a little more activity there. I'd answer your question but own an XL2 not 1. Good luck and great shooting. :)

Wow..Eric thanks :D

 

No problemo...thanks a lot

 

I'd love to wait your mail. :D  :lol:

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Fahmy. I attempted it but it just keep bouncing back. I do not know what to tell you aside from going to Canon's website and getting their contact phone number and requestiung a manual outright.

I'm not sure about the price but they should be able to help.

Thank's Eric, I've already try to access the http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controlle...6&modelid=10350

but I found several trouble like :

 

1. I cant' download the user manual ( perhaps, it's because my internet speed "The Slowest on Planet Earth" :angry: )

2. The link on the canon site is confusing, so many redirecting..huff.. :)

 

Eric, do you have the XL series manuals that you've already downloaded.??

 

If you have.. :D send me a copy please  :D cinemasterpiece@yahoo.com is always 24-7 opened for your info... Thank's Bro !!!

 

Hi Jay...Can I download the video ??? thak's before ???

 

Ferdian D.

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Fahmy, sorry it took so long to get back to you.  I visit this site about once a week.

I will attempt to send this to you but it is a large file and, because it is PDF, I have no programs to minimize its file size or break it up. 

I will attempt however.  Thanks for your patience.

 

Eric

Anybody hear any updates on the Panasonic 24P HD coming out (I think this winter)? Cost? Industry buzz?  Thanks!

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Its called the HVX. Go to DVXuser.com and you will find discussion for it there.

I use Canon XL-2 for shooting and not for footage digitizing  :) .

 

Have you any .pdf user manual file of XL-2 or XL- 1 ??

 

It will help me so.... :D

 

Thank's

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Hello. Click on Product software manuals. Good luck.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controlle...6&modelid=10350