Canon XH series -- various sample clips

Colin Reid · February 26th, 2009, 02:17 AM

Good work Curt,

Some simple constructive suggestions (I am not keen on the word criticism) would be, and in no particular order:

Background colour and shirt colour are very similar (both are shades of grey), so in order for you to stand out more from the background you could start by changing one of these.

Use the Rule of Thirds for your own positioning, making sure your body is turned slightly into the shot, although obviously you keep looking into the camera. You could balance this by placing your equipment (spray, swab, etc) a little bit off to the other side of the shot to give balance instead of starting with it all in front of you.

Make sure you can comfortably reach them all (and stack them like a shop display if there is a need such as pushing a particular product). That way, you can do cutaways to each item as you describe what is needed, and can get each item as you need it.

Keep the camera you are going to clean in front of you (you can pick it up and point at the sensor, etc (making sure you look at whatever you are pointing at), as you describe what you intend to do. This will reduce your "stiffness".

A simple 3 point Lighting setup on you (especially when combined with the issue of shirt and background colour) will make a significant difference to the look of professionalism (search this forum or do a google and there is a large amount of info and samples you can learn from). Throw a light on your equipment as well, but make sure it does not dominate the shot. Think still camera portrait lighting if that helps.

If you don't have the budget for some simple cheap lights, (and again there are lots of threads on this forum suggesting cheap ways of lighting) then do a very basic test shoot of yourself as a talking head with a reading lamp (borrow them from friends if necessary) behind you on the floor aimed at the back of your head and shoulders and another one throwing light on the side of your face which is more in shot and then fiddle about and see what happens as you reduce or increase the distance between you and the light. You can always place a white bed sheet so that it reflects a bit of light from your two light sources onto the side of your face which is more away from the video camera, so it does not have shadow which is very dark.

Remember to do a white balance though and make sure the lights are all the same type (tungsten, fluorescent).

Simple stuff really but makes a huge difference and since you have done a great job already I look forward to seeing some quite dramatic improvement in future episodes with just these changes.

Bill Thesken · February 26th, 2009, 11:43 AM

Bill-
The concept is really good. WAY too good to discard. Splice in some scenes of him with his girlfriend laughing loving, then at the airport or bus station close up of their hands slowly parting, the vehicle departing, then him alone walking lonely streets, the world passing by, then at the end of the song as he strums the last note, an over the shoulder shot of him and the open guitar case, feet fade into view, a dress, a hand tosses coins into the case, fade back and it's her back in his life, cut print, off to MTV.

This is like deja vu like maybe I've already seen it on MTV.

Is that an original song?
What type of wireless?

Thank you.

Bill Grant · February 26th, 2009, 12:27 PM

Hey Bill,
Thanks for the encouragement. That is actually a Sennhesier G2. I did one shoot from across the road and it was just too far. This worked alot better. The concept of this is one shot from begining to end. We had talked about making it into a narrative but i like the natural audio and the setting... Thanks again...
Bill

Janson Williams · February 27th, 2009, 07:48 PM

yes, purple.

thank you

Steve Lewis · February 28th, 2009, 11:10 PM

Heavily graded with MBL and shot on XH-A1. I used a custom preset also, but I think my post-work kind of obliterated it!

From the Tower on Vimeo

-Steve

Dennis Murphy · March 1st, 2009, 01:33 PM

I thought the tilt shift pieces really captured that calssic 'minature look' beautifully.
I'm interested in what this 'filter' is?

Steve Lewis · March 1st, 2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Murphy

I thought the tilt shift pieces really captured that calssic 'minature look' beautifully.
I'm interested in what this 'filter' is?

On the left hand side of MBL, you have all those preset "looks". One of them does tilt-shift wannabe effect (it creates a horizontal band in-focus and blurs the rest, it also bumps up the brightness and blooming too, i think). Try it out, it comes very close considering that to get the real effect you would have to drop at least a grand on a proper TS lens.

Dennis Murphy · March 2nd, 2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Lewis

MBL

Ahhh. That's quite effective for a post thingie.
Cheers.

Paul Hatcher · March 3rd, 2009, 05:00 PM

INTRODUCTION - The Dirty Disco(Live Projection Film) on Vimeo
Filmed this for a friends band, for use in their live show. First try of the A1 in low light with auto gain turned off. The camera worked great in these conditions. Slowly getting to grips with using more manual control, this board has been a great help for information.

Olivier Depaep · March 4th, 2009, 07:12 AM

some 'old' footage of crocuses.

crocus on Vimeo

Ollie

Steve Lewis · March 7th, 2009, 10:18 PM

Another short subject video shot on xh cam and magic bullet looks:

Alice Keck Park on Vimeo

-steve

Olivier Depaep · March 8th, 2009, 08:25 AM

Two of my favourite places along the Jurassic Coast in South West England.
If you are ever down this neck of the woods, these landmarks are definitely worth a visit.

solid Rocks on Vimeo

Ollie

J.P. Castel · March 10th, 2009, 07:36 AM

Great Video. Your final output looks wonderful.

What was your work flow?

Olivier Depaep · March 10th, 2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks J.P.!

I usually start by making a nice cup of coffee (black, no sugar). Then I edit in FCP and output via Compressor using the compression workflow suggested by Vimeo.

J.P. Castel · March 10th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Yeah i start with coffee as well :)
Man it is so great to see how far the camera can be pushed. I still can't stop watching the shots with the rock arch, especially the one around (1:50) Great composition. I have just recently switched over the the Final Cut Work Flow and i must admit that it is great. I will miss my Premier crashes however. I haven't yet had the chance to use the compressor yet, but now i will definitely give it a try. Your video reminded me of my great times in Dover Priory thanks.

February 26th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#828
Bill Grant Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia,SC Posts: 806	Hey Bill, Thanks for the encouragement. That is actually a Sennhesier G2. I did one shoot from across the road and it was just too far. This worked alot better. The concept of this is one shot from begining to end. We had talked about making it into a narrative but i like the natural audio and the setting... Thanks again... Bill __________________ Cinema Couture www.cinemacouture.com

February 28th, 2009, 11:10 PM	#830
Steve Lewis Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 233	From the Tower - Shot on XHA1 Heavily graded with MBL and shot on XH-A1. I used a custom preset also, but I think my post-work kind of obliterated it! From the Tower on Vimeo -Steve __________________ www.spreefilms.com - Give me a museum and I'll fill it!

March 1st, 2009, 01:33 PM	#831
Dennis Murphy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 396	I thought the tilt shift pieces really captured that calssic 'minature look' beautifully. I'm interested in what this 'filter' is? __________________ http://www.dmvideostuff.co.nz

March 3rd, 2009, 05:00 PM	#834
Paul Hatcher Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London UK Posts: 31	Band Projection filmed on Xh-A1 INTRODUCTION - The Dirty Disco(Live Projection Film) on Vimeo Filmed this for a friends band, for use in their live show. First try of the A1 in low light with auto gain turned off. The camera worked great in these conditions. Slowly getting to grips with using more manual control, this board has been a great help for information.

March 4th, 2009, 07:12 AM	#835
Olivier Depaep Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Poole, Dorset (UK) Posts: 56	crocus some 'old' footage of crocuses. crocus on Vimeo Ollie __________________ my website: http://www.7876.co.uk on vimeo: http:www.vimeo.com/ollie

February 26th, 2009, 02:17 AM	#826
Colin Reid Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 48	Good work Curt, Some simple constructive suggestions (I am not keen on the word criticism) would be, and in no particular order: Background colour and shirt colour are very similar (both are shades of grey), so in order for you to stand out more from the background you could start by changing one of these. Use the Rule of Thirds for your own positioning, making sure your body is turned slightly into the shot, although obviously you keep looking into the camera. You could balance this by placing your equipment (spray, swab, etc) a little bit off to the other side of the shot to give balance instead of starting with it all in front of you. Make sure you can comfortably reach them all (and stack them like a shop display if there is a need such as pushing a particular product). That way, you can do cutaways to each item as you describe what is needed, and can get each item as you need it. Keep the camera you are going to clean in front of you (you can pick it up and point at the sensor, etc (making sure you look at whatever you are pointing at), as you describe what you intend to do. This will reduce your "stiffness". A simple 3 point Lighting setup on you (especially when combined with the issue of shirt and background colour) will make a significant difference to the look of professionalism (search this forum or do a google and there is a large amount of info and samples you can learn from). Throw a light on your equipment as well, but make sure it does not dominate the shot. Think still camera portrait lighting if that helps. If you don't have the budget for some simple cheap lights, (and again there are lots of threads on this forum suggesting cheap ways of lighting) then do a very basic test shoot of yourself as a talking head with a reading lamp (borrow them from friends if necessary) behind you on the floor aimed at the back of your head and shoulders and another one throwing light on the side of your face which is more in shot and then fiddle about and see what happens as you reduce or increase the distance between you and the light. You can always place a white bed sheet so that it reflects a bit of light from your two light sources onto the side of your face which is more away from the video camera, so it does not have shadow which is very dark. Remember to do a white balance though and make sure the lights are all the same type (tungsten, fluorescent). Simple stuff really but makes a huge difference and since you have done a great job already I look forward to seeing some quite dramatic improvement in future episodes with just these changes.

February 26th, 2009, 11:43 AM	#827
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	Bill- The concept is really good. WAY too good to discard. Splice in some scenes of him with his girlfriend laughing loving, then at the airport or bus station close up of their hands slowly parting, the vehicle departing, then him alone walking lonely streets, the world passing by, then at the end of the song as he strums the last note, an over the shoulder shot of him and the open guitar case, feet fade into view, a dress, a hand tosses coins into the case, fade back and it's her back in his life, cut print, off to MTV. This is like deja vu like maybe I've already seen it on MTV. Is that an original song? What type of wireless? Thank you.

February 27th, 2009, 07:48 PM	#829
Janson Williams Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 101	yes, purple. thank you

March 7th, 2009, 10:18 PM	#836
Steve Lewis Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 233	Alice Keck Park - XHA1 Another short subject video shot on xh cam and magic bullet looks: Alice Keck Park on Vimeo -steve __________________ www.spreefilms.com - Give me a museum and I'll fill it!

March 8th, 2009, 08:25 AM	#837
Olivier Depaep Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Poole, Dorset (UK) Posts: 56	solid Rocks Two of my favourite places along the Jurassic Coast in South West England. If you are ever down this neck of the woods, these landmarks are definitely worth a visit. solid Rocks on Vimeo Ollie __________________ my website: http://www.7876.co.uk on vimeo: http:www.vimeo.com/ollie

March 10th, 2009, 07:36 AM	#838
J.P. Castel New Boot Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reno NV Posts: 8	Great Video. Your final output looks wonderful. What was your work flow?

March 10th, 2009, 11:04 AM	#839
Olivier Depaep Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Poole, Dorset (UK) Posts: 56	Thanks J.P.! I usually start by making a nice cup of coffee (black, no sugar). Then I edit in FCP and output via Compressor using the compression workflow suggested by Vimeo. __________________ my website: http://www.7876.co.uk on vimeo: http:www.vimeo.com/ollie

March 10th, 2009, 03:55 PM	#840
J.P. Castel New Boot Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Reno NV Posts: 8	Yeah i start with coffee as well :) Man it is so great to see how far the camera can be pushed. I still can't stop watching the shots with the rock arch, especially the one around (1:50) Great composition. I have just recently switched over the the Final Cut Work Flow and i must admit that it is great. I will miss my Premier crashes however. I haven't yet had the chance to use the compressor yet, but now i will definitely give it a try. Your video reminded me of my great times in Dover Priory thanks.