XF300/305

Martin Campbell · December 22nd, 2011, 07:27 AM

Had the camera for a few months now, and really not been happy with the colour settings I've been using.

I did get a colour setting from this forum before - but it was absolutely hellish - The purples/magentas/reds were well over the top - indoors, people looked like Oompah Loompahs!!! I wanted a setting similar to what I had on my previous camera - that kicked all the colours up slightly and crushed the blacks - giving more of that SLR look. I just haven't found that, and I don't know if anyone here has found settings that they would be happy to share?

Also, going through footage now that I shot 2 months ago - I've found the footage to be quite overexposed at times, even when I've been sure that I have viewed & filmed it using the eyepiece and not the LCD screen.
(I never used to use Zebras, but will have to)

I'd be extremely grateful if anyone can help advise me on this, as I've yet to fall in love with this camera!

Alan McCormick · December 22nd, 2011, 04:10 PM

Martin, I have had the XF300 for a month now (used to have the XLH1A) and have used it on one paying job so far.

I found it a challenge, especially low light issues on the day (a wedding mind you so gun and run sort of stuff) but the results once I got back to editing were mixed initially.

1. I found I had noise on my inside shots although I did not see anything in the LCD.
2. The colours were very nice and no CP was used as far as I remember.
3. I use the zebras and exposure was pretty damn good straight out of the can.

In editing I learned the following:

A - Neato was my best friend to get rid of the noise and one of my colleagues was happy to remove the noise with pure colour grading (Neato saved me the hassle) although render times were lengthy but well worth it.

B - I did some Colour grading but I always do - saying that once I have a play around with the CP settings that will be reduced in the future I am sure.

C - Compared to previous shoots I found the exposure to be a lot closer to the highs and lows and even better I could adjust the white and black levels a lot more than I used to with HDV without being too obvious. I filmed 35mbps btw and I am sure 50mbps would be even more forgiving.

Initially I was a bit disappointed when I downloaded but now I am very, very happy indeed after watching the wedding edit 1st pass.

So, stick at it and I am sure you will achieve some very nice results - will have to get out myself to get some more practice in.

Alan

Martin Campbell · December 23rd, 2011, 04:54 AM

thanks for the reply Alan,

yes - you picked up on one thing there - the grain not showing on the viewfinder, and some of the results I've had have been very poor, one just recently which needs edited - so will probably have to apply some sort of filter to it.

The exposure issue for me just keeps popping up. I'm going to have to do some experiments for next season's filming and double check whether it's the LCD or the eyepiece viewfinder that I'm using when I tend to overexpose. I'm also going to start using the Zebras more often - always found them a distraction before!

I had great colour preset with my previous Canon, so I'm determined to find something similar.

Cheers

Alan McCormick · December 23rd, 2011, 05:11 AM

"I'm also going to start using the Zebras more often - always found them a distraction before!"

If you set just one of them to say 100% and turn the other off then you will always see when you are going over exposed and it will alert you "only" when that happens.

A tip given on this forum may help with seeing noise - use the magnify button when setting up a shot as that will give you and me a better chance of seeing it. Pretty obvious really but a classic answer.

I am sure you will find a colour preset to meet your needs :)

Graham Bernard · December 23rd, 2011, 04:35 PM

I've moved more onto the Waveforms now, away from Zebras. I can "feel" more that which is correct for my look, using them.

I'm very happy with my colour settings. WB and dialling-in the Kelvin's.

Go see this tutorial, been great to learn from these chaps.

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resou...f_scopes.shtml

Grazie

Alan McCormick · December 24th, 2011, 01:32 AM

Good point Grazie but I find when I film weddings that the zebras are the best when on the "quick" - I would imagine they would be great on corporates or when time is not an issue (thinking about too much without a cluttered LCD). I did try it on my last but the LCD was too cluttered, maybe when I have done a few shoots!

One thing I have found is to trust the waveforms more in post so I will check out the XF300 waveforms.

Alan

Graham Bernard · December 24th, 2011, 05:48 AM

When I did my last corporate event, with a range of ages, from the very young to the old with a mixed and changing lighting scenarios, it was the waves that got me to a level of opportunity that the Zebras could never.

G

Alan McCormick · December 24th, 2011, 06:07 AM

Good to hear Grazie, I will endeavour to try it out more

Alan

Al Bergstein · January 13th, 2012, 10:54 PM

Doug Jensen (who posts a lot over on the Sony EX forum) has some excellent ideas on these issues in his three part DVD on "Mastering the Canon XF305 & XF300 Cameras". I feel a bit bad about sharing any of his CF file recommendations as he has spent the time to put them into his video. But I highly recommend that video for the small price you pay compared to the camera price. He's done an excellent job. It's helped my shooting on this quite a bit.

Doug Bailey · January 14th, 2012, 11:20 AM

I've been trying various settings for a few months shooting nature & have not been thrilled with any CP in camera or purchased settings. It's really important to get the correct realistic greens and blues especially with some of our water fowl.

Yesterday I did a several hour action packed shoot in overcast weather with the CP setting to "OFF". This is a huge improvement with the footage showing improved clarity and colors very close to what I was looking at, and more closely matching my 7D. I can still see a very small need to tweak the footage in Curves just like a photograph to make it pop, but I'm really happy with the improvement. The footage now has a more HD look without being overdone.

This is all very subjective of course and depends on the eye of the beholder, but I bring this forward as a suggestion not to discount the very basic camera performance.

Regards,
Doug.

December 22nd, 2011, 07:27 AM	#1
Martin Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London Posts: 104	XF300/305 - Colour Settings Had the camera for a few months now, and really not been happy with the colour settings I've been using. I did get a colour setting from this forum before - but it was absolutely hellish - The purples/magentas/reds were well over the top - indoors, people looked like Oompah Loompahs!!! I wanted a setting similar to what I had on my previous camera - that kicked all the colours up slightly and crushed the blacks - giving more of that SLR look. I just haven't found that, and I don't know if anyone here has found settings that they would be happy to share? Also, going through footage now that I shot 2 months ago - I've found the footage to be quite overexposed at times, even when I've been sure that I have viewed & filmed it using the eyepiece and not the LCD screen. (I never used to use Zebras, but will have to) I'd be extremely grateful if anyone can help advise me on this, as I've yet to fall in love with this camera!

December 22nd, 2011, 04:10 PM	#2
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings Martin, I have had the XF300 for a month now (used to have the XLH1A) and have used it on one paying job so far. I found it a challenge, especially low light issues on the day (a wedding mind you so gun and run sort of stuff) but the results once I got back to editing were mixed initially. 1. I found I had noise on my inside shots although I did not see anything in the LCD. 2. The colours were very nice and no CP was used as far as I remember. 3. I use the zebras and exposure was pretty damn good straight out of the can. In editing I learned the following: A - Neato was my best friend to get rid of the noise and one of my colleagues was happy to remove the noise with pure colour grading (Neato saved me the hassle) although render times were lengthy but well worth it. B - I did some Colour grading but I always do - saying that once I have a play around with the CP settings that will be reduced in the future I am sure. C - Compared to previous shoots I found the exposure to be a lot closer to the highs and lows and even better I could adjust the white and black levels a lot more than I used to with HDV without being too obvious. I filmed 35mbps btw and I am sure 50mbps would be even more forgiving. Initially I was a bit disappointed when I downloaded but now I am very, very happy indeed after watching the wedding edit 1st pass. So, stick at it and I am sure you will achieve some very nice results - will have to get out myself to get some more practice in. Alan __________________ Alan McC

December 23rd, 2011, 04:54 AM	#3
Martin Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London Posts: 104	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings thanks for the reply Alan, yes - you picked up on one thing there - the grain not showing on the viewfinder, and some of the results I've had have been very poor, one just recently which needs edited - so will probably have to apply some sort of filter to it. The exposure issue for me just keeps popping up. I'm going to have to do some experiments for next season's filming and double check whether it's the LCD or the eyepiece viewfinder that I'm using when I tend to overexpose. I'm also going to start using the Zebras more often - always found them a distraction before! I had great colour preset with my previous Canon, so I'm determined to find something similar. Cheers

December 23rd, 2011, 05:11 AM	#4
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings "I'm also going to start using the Zebras more often - always found them a distraction before!" If you set just one of them to say 100% and turn the other off then you will always see when you are going over exposed and it will alert you "only" when that happens. A tip given on this forum may help with seeing noise - use the magnify button when setting up a shot as that will give you and me a better chance of seeing it. Pretty obvious really but a classic answer. I am sure you will find a colour preset to meet your needs :) __________________ Alan McC

December 23rd, 2011, 04:35 PM	#5
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings I've moved more onto the Waveforms now, away from Zebras. I can "feel" more that which is correct for my look, using them. I'm very happy with my colour settings. WB and dialling-in the Kelvin's. Go see this tutorial, been great to learn from these chaps. http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resou...f_scopes.shtml Grazie

December 24th, 2011, 01:32 AM	#6
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings Good point Grazie but I find when I film weddings that the zebras are the best when on the "quick" - I would imagine they would be great on corporates or when time is not an issue (thinking about too much without a cluttered LCD). I did try it on my last but the LCD was too cluttered, maybe when I have done a few shoots! One thing I have found is to trust the waveforms more in post so I will check out the XF300 waveforms. Alan __________________ Alan McC

December 24th, 2011, 05:48 AM	#7
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings When I did my last corporate event, with a range of ages, from the very young to the old with a mixed and changing lighting scenarios, it was the waves that got me to a level of opportunity that the Zebras could never. G

December 24th, 2011, 06:07 AM	#8
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings Good to hear Grazie, I will endeavour to try it out more Alan __________________ Alan McC

January 13th, 2012, 10:54 PM	#9
Al Bergstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Port Townsend, WA Posts: 456	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings Doug Jensen (who posts a lot over on the Sony EX forum) has some excellent ideas on these issues in his three part DVD on "Mastering the Canon XF305 & XF300 Cameras". I feel a bit bad about sharing any of his CF file recommendations as he has spent the time to put them into his video. But I highly recommend that video for the small price you pay compared to the camera price. He's done an excellent job. It's helped my shooting on this quite a bit. __________________ Al Upper left hand corner of the map

January 14th, 2012, 11:20 AM	#10
Doug Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 164	Re: XF300/305 - Colour Settings I've been trying various settings for a few months shooting nature & have not been thrilled with any CP in camera or purchased settings. It's really important to get the correct realistic greens and blues especially with some of our water fowl. Yesterday I did a several hour action packed shoot in overcast weather with the CP setting to "OFF". This is a huge improvement with the footage showing improved clarity and colors very close to what I was looking at, and more closely matching my 7D. I can still see a very small need to tweak the footage in Curves just like a photograph to make it pop, but I'm really happy with the improvement. The footage now has a more HD look without being overdone. This is all very subjective of course and depends on the eye of the beholder, but I bring this forward as a suggestion not to discount the very basic camera performance. Regards, Doug.