Shooting sports with XF305 at DVinfo.net

Bob Prichard · November 1st, 2010, 07:29 PM

I'm planning a documentary on marathon running and am wondering how the Canon XF305 with its long GOP will handle movement of the runner's legs and arms?

Anyone have any video they can share?

Would it be better to shoot in 60p?

Doug Jensen · November 3rd, 2010, 08:43 AM

Bob,

The XF305 is just as suited for shooting sports as any other HD camcorder. The same general principles that apply for shooting sports also apply to the XF305. You'll have no problems shooting motion with any of the camera's codecs, and anything bad you've heard about long-GOP is outdated.

Unless you're going to shoot with slow-mo, I'd recommend using the camera's 50MBps 1080/30P settings.

Here's some waterskiing footage I shot with my XF305. Not exactly the same thing as runners, but at least it's fast-moving action. Most of this footage was shot 720P/24 @ 60fps because I wanted it in slow-mo, and that was the only reason I shot with 720P. If the XF305 could do 1080 @ 60fps I would have used that instead.

Bob Prichard · November 3rd, 2010, 08:53 AM

David,

Thank you for your example. It's not the same as shooting a runner, as the skiers are moving all the parts of their bodies together. But the splashing water does not show any weird artifacts.

Was the water skiing footage shot at 1/120th shutter speed?

Tim Polster · November 3rd, 2010, 09:14 AM

Bob, I think your hesitation about shooting sports with the XF camera is sort of misplaced. The codec does not have a problem with motion, it is the CMOS chips that people do not like for sports. The main reason being skew.

Skew shows up more on the telephoto end and when you have to pan the camera at a decent pace (like shooting a hockey game).

So the best thing to do is to go shoot some runners and try to put yourself in the worst possible panning situation (runners at a 90 degree angle running past at a distance) and see if the camera performs up to your tolerances.

Let us know your results!

Richard Andrews · December 2nd, 2010, 04:09 PM

How about the 305 for motorbike racing? We plan to use this camera (x6) dotted around the circuit.

Laurence Janus · December 3rd, 2010, 01:09 AM

According to the description this slow motion montage was filmed "...mostly with a Canon 7D, 1D Mark IV and an XF300."

I am hoping to get an XF300 for motorsport use.

Bernard Racelis · December 4th, 2010, 11:24 PM

Rallycross and Autocross, both shot at 1080p30:

YouTube - New England Region SCCA - Ocean State RallyX 2010

YouTube - Autox - NNJ SCCA - September 2010

Bob Prichard · December 5th, 2010, 10:24 PM

Shooting water skiiers, motorcycles and autocross is not the same as shooting runners.

The reason is that all the parts move together as one unit.

Runners, on the other hand, have legs and arms that move independently of their body.

I'm concerned about blurring of the arms and feet.

Does anyone have any footage of runners they can share?

Tim Polster · December 9th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Bob, are you planning on purchasing a camera for the project?

Do you have any cameras now?

I think you might be making a mountain out of a mole-hill so to speak. Runner's arms and legs moving is no problem for any modern HD video camera. The only issue in some cameras (CMOS) is very fast camera movement which will make vertical edges go diagonal a bit.

Take a look at the water rushing by in Doug's waterski video. That motion is ten times as difficult to capture than runner's arms and legs. The camera will be fine for your uses.

Doug Jensen · December 9th, 2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Prichard

I'm concerned about blurring of the arms and feet.

No need to be concerned. You NEED blurry motion in the arms and feet because it would look completely unnatural if there wasn't any. The XF305 is going to produce the exact same results as every other video camera.

November 1st, 2010, 07:29 PM	#1
Bob Prichard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tiburon CA Posts: 123	Shooting sports with XF305 I'm planning a documentary on marathon running and am wondering how the Canon XF305 with its long GOP will handle movement of the runner's legs and arms? Anyone have any video they can share? Would it be better to shoot in 60p?

November 3rd, 2010, 08:43 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,442	Bob, The XF305 is just as suited for shooting sports as any other HD camcorder. The same general principles that apply for shooting sports also apply to the XF305. You'll have no problems shooting motion with any of the camera's codecs, and anything bad you've heard about long-GOP is outdated. Unless you're going to shoot with slow-mo, I'd recommend using the camera's 50MBps 1080/30P settings. Here's some waterskiing footage I shot with my XF305. Not exactly the same thing as runners, but at least it's fast-moving action. Most of this footage was shot 720P/24 @ 60fps because I wanted it in slow-mo, and that was the only reason I shot with 720P. If the XF305 could do 1080 @ 60fps I would have used that instead. Slo-Mo Water-skiing with the Canon XF305 on Vimeo __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

November 3rd, 2010, 08:53 AM	#3
Bob Prichard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tiburon CA Posts: 123	Shooting sports with XF305 David, Thank you for your example. It's not the same as shooting a runner, as the skiers are moving all the parts of their bodies together. But the splashing water does not show any weird artifacts. Was the water skiing footage shot at 1/120th shutter speed?

December 3rd, 2010, 01:09 AM	#6
Laurence Janus Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kyoto, Japan Posts: 139	According to the description this slow motion montage was filmed "...mostly with a Canon 7D, 1D Mark IV and an XF300." Macau Moto GP 2010 on Vimeo I am hoping to get an XF300 for motorsport use. __________________ SONY α77 :: Panasonic X900M :: Sony DSR-PD170P :: Miller DS5 :: Premiere Pro 2.0 :: Cineform NeoScene

December 5th, 2010, 10:24 PM	#8
Bob Prichard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tiburon CA Posts: 123	Shooting Sports with XF 305 Shooting water skiiers, motorcycles and autocross is not the same as shooting runners. The reason is that all the parts move together as one unit. Runners, on the other hand, have legs and arms that move independently of their body. I'm concerned about blurring of the arms and feet. Does anyone have any footage of runners they can share?

November 3rd, 2010, 09:14 AM	#4
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Bob, I think your hesitation about shooting sports with the XF camera is sort of misplaced. The codec does not have a problem with motion, it is the CMOS chips that people do not like for sports. The main reason being skew. Skew shows up more on the telephoto end and when you have to pan the camera at a decent pace (like shooting a hockey game). So the best thing to do is to go shoot some runners and try to put yourself in the worst possible panning situation (runners at a 90 degree angle running past at a distance) and see if the camera performs up to your tolerances. Let us know your results!

December 2nd, 2010, 04:09 PM	#5
Richard Andrews New Boot Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Silkstone, South Yorkshire, England Posts: 18	How about the 305 for motorbike racing? We plan to use this camera (x6) dotted around the circuit.

December 4th, 2010, 11:24 PM	#7
Bernard Racelis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 82	Rallycross and Autocross, both shot at 1080p30: YouTube - New England Region SCCA - Ocean State RallyX 2010 YouTube - Autox - NNJ SCCA - September 2010

December 9th, 2010, 04:14 PM	#9
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Bob, are you planning on purchasing a camera for the project? Do you have any cameras now? I think you might be making a mountain out of a mole-hill so to speak. Runner's arms and legs moving is no problem for any modern HD video camera. The only issue in some cameras (CMOS) is very fast camera movement which will make vertical edges go diagonal a bit. Take a look at the water rushing by in Doug's waterski video. That motion is ten times as difficult to capture than runner's arms and legs. The camera will be fine for your uses.