What does Video 2 SDI jack do on XH-A1? at DVinfo.net

Blake Avant · May 11th, 2010, 08:14 PM

Page 99 in the manual shows this as jack as BNC Video. Has anyone used the Video 2 SDI jack on the back, right side of the Canon XH-A1?

Is there anyway to Hi-Jack that output for HD video only feed? I need a way to output native files using SDI. Will that output be SD Widescreen?

Thanks,
Blake

Chris Soucy · May 12th, 2010, 12:12 AM

Well, on a Canon XH A1, it does nothing, as the A1 doesn't have it (SDI, that is).

On the XH G1 it O/P's whatever you tell it to, within limits, which are defined in the "Connecting to a Monitor/ TV" section somewhere, as you're manual is probably NTSC and mine is PAL and they are thus not in the same place.

However, a quick scrute of my manual appears to say that if you've shot HD @ 1920 X 1080, in order for that port to O/P SD it must be shot with Letterbox set to "ON".

Just to confuse things, later info appears to contradict that and "seems" to say you can lock the SDI to SD in whatever mode.

Nope, I ain't got it (have an A1) so can't test it.

Sorry if that ain't much help.

CS

Jay West · May 12th, 2010, 02:51 PM

On my XH-A1, that side-mounted BNC port is limited to composite video output just like the RCA connector on the back Video 1. The one time I used that port was in doing a live video feed at a church where the monitor in the overflow room had BNC connections rather than RCA. The result was basically like a non-digital "HD" signal that the local cable-tv company feeds. Definitely not the HD picture you seem to want.

Chris is right. A basic distinction between the XH models is that G1 can output SDI but the A1 does not. (It was basically designed with the idea that you'd feed your HDV tape to the computer and, if and when you needed an SDI feed, you get if from the computer.)

Chris Hurd · May 12th, 2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Avant

Page 99 in the manual shows this as jack as BNC Video. Has anyone used the Video 2 SDI jack on the back, right side of the Canon XH-A1?

That's not an SDI jack. As the manual states, it is in fact a BNC jack (same connector as SDI but totally different type of output). The Video 2 BNC jack provides a convenient way to connect the camera to a professional standard definition video monitor, most of which are equipped with BNC inputs).

Jay West · May 13th, 2010, 04:14 PM

I just remembered that the manual covers both the XH-A1 and XH-G1, and the sections that apply only to the XH-G1 are marked with a little bolded "XH-G1" bug next to the header. The manual page that refers to the port as SDI is actually on page 97 and it is marked with the little "XH-G1" bug. The info on page 99 only refers to the component and composite outs to non-HDTV screens.

May 11th, 2010, 08:14 PM	#1
Blake Avant New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 13	What does Video 2 SDI jack do on XH-A1? Page 99 in the manual shows this as jack as BNC Video. Has anyone used the Video 2 SDI jack on the back, right side of the Canon XH-A1? Is there anyway to Hi-Jack that output for HD video only feed? I need a way to output native files using SDI. Will that output be SD Widescreen? Thanks, Blake

May 12th, 2010, 12:12 AM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Hi Blake................... Well, on a Canon XH A1, it does nothing, as the A1 doesn't have it (SDI, that is). On the XH G1 it O/P's whatever you tell it to, within limits, which are defined in the "Connecting to a Monitor/ TV" section somewhere, as you're manual is probably NTSC and mine is PAL and they are thus not in the same place. However, a quick scrute of my manual appears to say that if you've shot HD @ 1920 X 1080, in order for that port to O/P SD it must be shot with Letterbox set to "ON". Just to confuse things, later info appears to contradict that and "seems" to say you can lock the SDI to SD in whatever mode. Nope, I ain't got it (have an A1) so can't test it. Sorry if that ain't much help. CS

May 12th, 2010, 02:51 PM	#3
Jay West Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lodge, Montana Posts: 889	On my XH-A1, that side-mounted BNC port is limited to composite video output just like the RCA connector on the back Video 1. The one time I used that port was in doing a live video feed at a church where the monitor in the overflow room had BNC connections rather than RCA. The result was basically like a non-digital "HD" signal that the local cable-tv company feeds. Definitely not the HD picture you seem to want. Chris is right. A basic distinction between the XH models is that G1 can output SDI but the A1 does not. (It was basically designed with the idea that you'd feed your HDV tape to the computer and, if and when you needed an SDI feed, you get if from the computer.)

May 13th, 2010, 04:14 PM	#5
Jay West Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Red Lodge, Montana Posts: 889	I just remembered that the manual covers both the XH-A1 and XH-G1, and the sections that apply only to the XH-G1 are marked with a little bolded "XH-G1" bug next to the header. The manual page that refers to the port as SDI is actually on page 97 and it is marked with the little "XH-G1" bug. The info on page 99 only refers to the component and composite outs to non-HDTV screens.