Larger card for still photos? at DVinfo.net

Bruce Pelley · March 5th, 2006, 09:34 PM

The GL-2 came with only a 16 meg SD card which in the finest mode/setting won't hold many stills/photos.Taking into consideration at best the yield here is only 1.7 megapixels in still mode,is it worthwhile to buy a large(r) card? What's the difference in quality (if any) between a photo stored to tape amd a photo stored to card?None I guess.If so,it seems to me that the tape is a whole lot cheaper if one is going to take lots of photos assuming reasonably good results can be obtained.

Do any of you have large cards onboard and what's your opinion of what the GL can do for stills?

Also,(stupid question),if the tape is rolling all I need to do when ready is to hit the photo button (guessing).Is that all there is to it?If not,how does one get photos direct to tape?

Thanks!

Trond Saetre · March 6th, 2006, 02:52 AM

I have a 128MB SD card in my XM2.
I'm able to store about 170-180 photos on that card with the best settings.
Outdoors I think the camera takes good pictures.
(concidering it is only 1.7MP)

I have never taken any still pictures when in "tape mode", so I can't comment on that one.

Alan Craven · March 6th, 2006, 05:10 AM

To record stills on tape you need the Tape/card switch set to tape and the on/off switch set to camera. To take a still press the photo button rather than the red record video button, with the selector in Standby. The tape runs for 6 or 7 seconds then stops automatically.

Graham Bernard · March 6th, 2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Craven

To record stills on tape you need the Tape/card switch set to tape and the on/off switch set to camera. To take a still press the photo button rather than the red record video button, with the selector in Standby. The tape runs for 6 or 7 seconds then stops automatically.

WOW! - I REALLY didn't know that!! Thanks Alan . ..

What is the format that comes out the other end? Interlace? Yes I or Prog. can you get interlace on a single snap? Must be .. confused . .. Reso?

Grazie

Alan Craven · March 6th, 2006, 09:01 AM

The resolution is that of the video format, PAL in our case. I suppose it is progressive, but I don't really know. I have never actually used it, apart from recording black between sections of shooting.

I have just switched from an XM1 to an XM2, but I don't know whether I shall make much use of the card mode. It could be useful to take the odd still in among video - I never try mix video with pukka still photography. One use would be to shoot frames for menu backgrounds, they would be better than frames taken from the Premiere timeline.

Andrew Todd · March 6th, 2006, 09:06 AM

i heard it was better to be shooting in frame mode when taking pics with the tape. might be true... anyone know?

Alan Craven · March 6th, 2006, 10:31 AM

I've always assumed that the camera automatically adopts frame mode when shooting stills on tape.

Val Rodriguez · March 6th, 2006, 10:26 PM

I have a 512mb SD card enough to record 400+ Fine (1488 x 1128) photos. With tape you are limited to the 720 x 480 DV resolution.

Steve Olds · March 8th, 2006, 04:16 PM

Not sure how photos turn out inside. But the outside photos are great for a 1.7mp. I have some really great photos. I need to try my other Canon flash unit EX420 I think as it will work on the hot shoe. I use a 128mb, bought 2 of them cheaper than a 512mb. So if one goes bad I still have a 128mb. Good Luck Steve

Dale Guthormsen · March 9th, 2006, 02:39 PM

Bruce, gentlemen,

I use the still mode on tape farely often. to me it has two purposes. 1. if I want a still in my video ( and in most videos i use a number of action stills)it will be the same resolution as the video. I do not like to see a perfectly clear snap of 6 mega pixels or such and then flip back to televison resolution. 2. I use it when I do not have time or desire to flip to card or do not have one in place and i will want to email a flick or two. they are small files and require no work to pull out and send.
My indoor pics are only good if I have geat light!! Of course the card flicks are preferred for some things.

gus

March 5th, 2006, 09:34 PM	#1
Bruce Pelley Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 339	Larger card for still photos? The GL-2 came with only a 16 meg SD card which in the finest mode/setting won't hold many stills/photos.Taking into consideration at best the yield here is only 1.7 megapixels in still mode,is it worthwhile to buy a large(r) card? What's the difference in quality (if any) between a photo stored to tape amd a photo stored to card?None I guess.If so,it seems to me that the tape is a whole lot cheaper if one is going to take lots of photos assuming reasonably good results can be obtained. Do any of you have large cards onboard and what's your opinion of what the GL can do for stills? Also,(stupid question),if the tape is rolling all I need to do when ready is to hit the photo button (guessing).Is that all there is to it?If not,how does one get photos direct to tape? Thanks!

March 6th, 2006, 09:06 AM	#6
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	i heard it was better to be shooting in frame mode when taking pics with the tape. might be true... anyone know? __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

March 6th, 2006, 10:26 PM	#8
Val Rodriguez Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 35	I have a 512mb SD card enough to record 400+ Fine (1488 x 1128) photos. With tape you are limited to the 720 x 480 DV resolution. __________________ Val Rod

March 9th, 2006, 02:39 PM	#10
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Stills Bruce, gentlemen, I use the still mode on tape farely often. to me it has two purposes. 1. if I want a still in my video ( and in most videos i use a number of action stills)it will be the same resolution as the video. I do not like to see a perfectly clear snap of 6 mega pixels or such and then flip back to televison resolution. 2. I use it when I do not have time or desire to flip to card or do not have one in place and i will want to email a flick or two. they are small files and require no work to pull out and send. My indoor pics are only good if I have geat light!! Of course the card flicks are preferred for some things. gus

March 6th, 2006, 02:52 AM	#2
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	I have a 128MB SD card in my XM2. I'm able to store about 170-180 photos on that card with the best settings. Outdoors I think the camera takes good pictures. (concidering it is only 1.7MP) I have never taken any still pictures when in "tape mode", so I can't comment on that one.

March 6th, 2006, 05:10 AM	#3
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	To record stills on tape you need the Tape/card switch set to tape and the on/off switch set to camera. To take a still press the photo button rather than the red record video button, with the selector in Standby. The tape runs for 6 or 7 seconds then stops automatically.

March 6th, 2006, 09:01 AM	#5
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	The resolution is that of the video format, PAL in our case. I suppose it is progressive, but I don't really know. I have never actually used it, apart from recording black between sections of shooting. I have just switched from an XM1 to an XM2, but I don't know whether I shall make much use of the card mode. It could be useful to take the odd still in among video - I never try mix video with pukka still photography. One use would be to shoot frames for menu backgrounds, they would be better than frames taken from the Premiere timeline.

March 6th, 2006, 10:31 AM	#7
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	I've always assumed that the camera automatically adopts frame mode when shooting stills on tape.

March 8th, 2006, 04:16 PM	#9
Steve Olds Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rolla, Mo Posts: 116	Not sure how photos turn out inside. But the outside photos are great for a 1.7mp. I have some really great photos. I need to try my other Canon flash unit EX420 I think as it will work on the hot shoe. I use a 128mb, bought 2 of them cheaper than a 512mb. So if one goes bad I still have a 128mb. Good Luck Steve