That is odd. XP Pro never fails to recognize any camcorders I fire up on the firewire connection. In fact it's notoriously stable in that respect, I always have to keep closing the extra copies of Vegas that keep opening whenever I turn on the camcorder. 80% of the time I'm using the Optura Xi.

Vegas VidCap gives me some disturbing error messages when I'm futzing around with a camcorder, but it always recovers quite nicely.

I'm using XP Pro with whatever the latest and greatest updates are + Vegas 5 version 5.0b

I just found the guy who created the fantastic Auto-Level plugin for Vegas. I wrote to him and let him know what a stir it’s caused in this forum. I asked him if it would be possible to add a “freeze values” function to it to eliminate the occasional flickering effect. He wrote back and said, yes, he’s been meaning to do that, but is very limited for time right now and doesn’t know when he’ll be able to get to it.

I asked him to please let me know when it’s been updated, and that I will definitely be sending him a donation for his great freeware programming.


Kevin

XP always recognizes my Xi with action box pop-up. If I choose 'Capture using Vegas' from that box capture process fails on occasion. But if I close that box, open Vegas and start capture that always works.

Tripod and a dolly for Optura XI
 

Hi,

Im on a VERY limted budget and i was wondering if theres a good, solid, fluid head tripod for a cheap price that i could use with my Optura XI. Im also looking for a dolly to go with the tripod.

Davis,

What's your budget?

We've got the lightest, most portable dolly kit on the market, but at a "VERY limited budget", I'm not sure. Your best bet might be to make your own.

Ughhh..... Xi quit working while Vacationing :(
 

Wouldn't you know it.... 8 Day Mexican Riviera Cruise and half way into it, My Xi quit working.. I was on a beach in Zihuatanejo filmed a little bit of the kids playing in the sand... put the camcorder back in the bag and a short while later (15min) took it out, turned the power on and there was no red light.... My battery life was about at the half mark prior to my switching the power back on.... However I did try my other fully charged battery.... No luck.... I knew something was seriously wrong... Once I returned to the ship, I charged my 2 batteries again (with an external charger) and attached one to the camcorder... No luck.

I filmed about 70 minutes on the trip, prior to the camcorder breaking down.

I was wondering if anyone had had a similar problem with the Xi just not powering on?

BTW, I did plug the Xi into the AC adapter once I returned home... Still no workie... And for what's it's worth, I had the DM-50 connected to the shoe when it pooped out.

Off to the repair shop... Glad I bought the extended warranty, but I never feel the same way about things that have been repaired.

Sorry to hear about your Xi. At least you got to "vacation" instead of working behind the camera.

How old is the camcorder? Can it still be exchanged for a new one?

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Wisniewski : Sorry to hear about your Xi. At least you got to "vacation" instead of working behind the camera.

How old is the camcorder? Can it still be exchanged for a new one? -->>>
I've had it for little over a year now... You're right about enjoying the vacation, rather than watching it thru the LCD... Makes me wonder if my wife had something to do with it :)

Called the Service Center to get authorization to have it repaired. Not as easy as I thought... for some reason, they only showed me purchasing the camcorder for $.99... They won't authorize the repair until Ultimate Electronics confirms the correct purchased price.

I'm curious to find out what went wrong.

Yet another Optura XI question:
 

I don't expect ever have need for the software bundled w/ the XI. I use a card reader to d/load images, Adobe Premiere to import the video, and my own image management system.

Am I correct in assuming that there's no need to eve crack the seal on the Canon software that's included in the package?

Running WinXP Pro on a relatively new Dell box.

Thanks.

That's right. Leave it sealed. When it comes time to sell your camera, you'll be able to offer the unopened software with the package, possibly increasing its value.

>> That's right. Leave it sealed. When it comes time to sell your camera... <<

Chris--

SELL my camera?! <g>

But seriously, I tend to pass things on to friends/family. In fact I just gave my old faithful Olympus 2500L digi with it's whopping 2.5 Mg pixel images to my niece. She was excited as she didn't have a digital camera at all, and I haven't used it in a long time. Hard to believe I paid over a grand for it-- way back when.

But I digress... thanks much for confirming my expectations re. the bundled software.

Tim

Wide Angle Attatchment for XI
 

Hi,

I was wondering what the best wide angle lens would be for my Optura XI. I will be using my camera for school film club, and want my films to look as cinematic as possible. So, with that said, I would love to hear from knowledgable people from this forums.

thanks

Check out the Canon WD-H46 or the Raynox DCR-6600PRO. Both are good wide angle lenses.

The main difference is the Canon doesn't have an outside filter thread, so you'll have to sandwich the filters between the camcorder and lens. The Raynox has an external filter thread.

Another option for a wide angle with filters, is to use Cinetactics MatteBlox.

It says the Raynox has a 52mm mounting thread, so does that mean i would need a step up ring of some sort? The XI's threads are 46.

Yes, you'll need a step up ring for the Raynox lens.

Tripod for XI
 

What would be the cheapest and best tripod for XI?

3 way pan, quick release maybe fluid head.

I love the Raynox on my Optura. Cheaper than the canon lens and the front threads are great for mounting the UV filter.

https://webspace.utexas.edu/rjs539/w...0Raynox%20Lens

A pic of the lens on my camera.

"Cheapest" and "best" are mutually exclusive terms. If it's cheapest, it won't be best. If it's best, it won't be cheapest. Establish what you're willing to spend, and then please refer to our "Support Your Local Camera" forum for all questions relating to tripods. Thanks.

I meant to say best among the cheapest.

Where woluld you get the step up ring?

Local photo supply store or just look up 46mm to 52mm step ring on various internet vendors. (can't give specifics there, sorry) Mine was like $5.

Our sponsors will have them, but they're so inexpensive you might as well just get 'em from your local photo retailer.

Best Tripod for Optura XI
 

What would be the best tripod for the XI.

my budget is quite limited, so im looking for the best among the cheaper ones. Would like to have it under 80 dollars, including the head.

I'd always say though that if you can manage without a protection UV in front of your wide-angle converter so much the better. Of course if you're going into dusty, wet areas, then protecting the front element is a good idea, but if it's a 'normal' environment then I'd suggest you leave the w'angle converter unfiltered.

Why? Simply because of flare. You're already adding three extra elements to your zoom's lineup by adding the converter and to add another one 'for good measure' is not recommended. This is especially so with wide-angles as the focal lengths are so short and the depth of field so great that any imperfections of any kind on either surface of the filter glass will be seen on your footage.

There's also the possibility of vignetting if the filter's too thick, so much better to buy and use an aspect-ratio hood. It'll protect the lens as well as shadow the front element.

tom.

One of the smaller ones in the Sony VCT line will probably be within your budget. What you don't get for that money is ruggedness, so you would have to be carefull about bumping the tripod or grabbing the handle roughly. What you do get is very good panning and tilting motion without any "stiction" at the beginning of the movement. And... BONUS! You get a built-in controller handle that remotely contols zoom and other functions with the same hand that pans and zooms. This constitutes an unusual value in a consumer tripod. I've graduated from my VCT-870 to a Bogen for my number one cam, but I still use it for my second cam.

For the same money you can get the Vanguard VT-558. This is a large and reasonably rugged consumer tripod. The panning and zooming is smooth, but mine has some mechanical play (i.e., lack of friction resistance) in the the tilting motion. This causes some bounce in the video with vertical movements, no matter how hard I try to avoid it.

Thanks for the input

optura xi nightvision
 

Sorry if this question has been answered before but I haven't found the right information.

I have a optura xi (mvx3i in europe).
and I am looking for a nightvision / night shooting solution.

1) are there any nightvision / infrared lenses or filters available?
to create a sort of sony nightvision effect.
or is there a possibility to achieve this?

2) are there any portable on camera lights available which give enough light to light the surroundings of what you are shooting?

I've been looking for a long time for a good solution to this but haven't found any yet. Any suggestion is welcome.

thanks

Fre,

See this thread on the Camera Bright light (click here) It's a neat little light.

Xi with Tripod controls.
 

Can the XI hook up with a tripod that has zoom, rec. stop. etc. controls on the handle?

You'd have to go to the GL2 or XL2 for that. The current Opturas don't have a LANC port, so it won't work with those controllers. In comparison, almost all Sony camcorders have the LANC port.

It's not quite the same as having the controls designed onto a tripod handle, but the Opturas do come with a fairly powerful wireless remote that gives you access to almost all it's functions.

XI's remote
 

Can the zoom speed be modified on the XI remote?

I feel the zoom on the remote is a little too fast.

The WL-D81 wireless remote control only has one zoom speed, you cannot adjust it.

* The WL-D81 is the remote that comes with all the Optura models including the 50/60.

Optura XI service manual?
 

Anybody know where I can get the XI's service manual? Unlike Sony, Canon won't sell the manuals to "end-users". Seems like the repair shops here in the Cities have to send the camcorders directly for Canon for servicing. I don't have 6 weeks to wait for an "estimate" when I could just do the servicing myself. Anyone who can provide me with a service manual will be greatly appreciated and hold a special place in my heart :)

Hmm, all I can say is good luck to you, Xander... Canon service manuals tend to be *extremely* hard to come by. I would be surprised if the turnaround time at a Canon factory service center is as long as six weeks, unless something is seriously wrong. There are always exceptions, but they do tend to take care of repairs and servicing rather quickly.

Original Optura equivalent / replacement
 

I've lost my Optura due to a fire and now I am looking for a equivalent camera to replace it. Need information for insurance company.

Any ideas?

some of the more salient features were:

optical stabilization
progressive scan 30p
lanc port


Thanks!

the only camera that has all three is the xl2, the dvx does not have a lanc port, and the optura line only has OIS...

xl2
 

only problem with the xl2 is the cost associated with it. I'm pretty certain that my insurance company would not accept this claim (as much as I would like it).

I've been given some other models such as the GL2, Optura 50 and 60.

I'm not hogtied to just the Canon line either. I've looked at the Panasonic GS250 (sans progressive scan).

I guess the original Optura was pretty unique for it's time.

xi?
 

I think Canon will come up with a model to replace the Optura xi. Maybe you can afford to wait for it?

Well..... 2 months later, I now have my Xi back :)

The service center sent it to Canon for repair. Their resolution summary: Factory Replaced Main PCB, Cleaned, & Tested.

I'd imagine this was a costly repair. I purchased the extended warranty and was covered. I sometimes wonder if I had been better off not purchasing the warranty and sending the Xi off to Canon myself? I'm sure the price would've been more than what I paid for the warranty, but the 2 month downtime hurt.

I planned on purchasing the Optura 50/60, (as a loaner & returning it when the Xi was repaired) from the same company. A week after i submitted my Xi, I was notified that the company was closing down their stores here in Utah. So I didn't go that route.

Anyhow, I'm happy to have it back. Hopefully it works out. I'm going to disconnect the DM-50 whenever it's not in use. For some odd reason, I think it may have fried the board.

I will say that I was happy that Canon did the repair.

We'll see how it goes!