I just got a new XL1s a week or so ago and have been playing around with the settings. Various results. But I was thinking it would be nice to see what others are setting their XL1s' to for various looks/lighting. Anyone care to share?

Thanks!

Sharpness, gosh I like sharpness, but.... it adds some artifacts.

Trouble is this...I'm a super critical freak! I just don't know if anyone else watching my stuff is?

I see the flaws. Generally it's OK. No it really is OK, but to me, I don't like the crap that shows above the +3 setting. My presets are +2, +3, +4 on the sharpness and depending on my mood I shoot it. I've done +5 and was happy, but I could see some "flecks" which looked like sweat reflecting on the forehead. It bugs me, but will anyone else care? I doubt it.

Also, if it's going on VHS, I doubt it will really be noticed. So... sharpness UP!

I found that if I need to ever go to +30dB of gain, I like all the color saturation I can get, along with a bit of lowering of the black level. It'll look like day!

Maybe at +18dB I'd drop the black a notch.

Again, will it be on VHS? Then it's more or less a mute point.

Oh yeah, I see less artifacts, etc., if played through the composite video plug rather than the s-video. Less details will show through. Heck I was ecstatic watching stuff on my 19" until I got to see some of the (imperfect) details on my 27" - the 19" still looks good, but I now know that a better TV won't hide the crap as well as my older tube.

Sort of a darned if you do, darned if you don't......

Can someone explain to me black level: its function and affect on picture? Perhaps an example of how and when one might adjust this would also be helpful

Here's a great site that will answer a lot of your questions and put a little technology into your videos, instead of rumor and legend.

http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/location/5272/expose01.htm

Part 2, Using the Zone System in Digital Cinematography
is at:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Location/5272/expose02.htm

And the article they talk about in part1,
USING TEST SIGNALS DURING SHOOTS AND EDITS
is at a new url:

http://videoexpert.home.att.net/artic1/247test.htm

Enjoy