XL2 compared to DVX, part one... Custom Keys comparison at DVinfo.net

Chris Hurd · July 13th, 2004, 08:23 AM

There will be a lot of discussions comparing the similarities and differences between the XL2 and Panasonic DVX100A, but here's one little interesting side-corner aspect concerning feature set comparisons: the user-definable Custom Key assignments.

On the XL2, two Custom Key buttons can toggle your choice of these functions:

Time Code
Index Write
Zebra
VCR Stop
TV Screen
Zoom Handle
Audio Level

On the DVX100A, there are three User Buttons which can toggle these options:

COLOR BARS Display/hide the SMPTE color bar
SPOTLIGHT Auto iris spotlight correction ON/OFF
BACKLIGHT Auto iris backlight correction ON/OFF
BLACKFADE Fade out to a black screen (linked with audio)
WHITEFADE Fade out to a white screen (linked with audio)
MODECHECK Display camera settings in viewfinder/monitor
ATW Auto tracking white balance function ON/OFF
ATWLOCK Lock/unlock white balance in ATW operation
GAIN 18dB Switch the gain to +18 dB
INDEX Write the index signal
SLOW SHUT Slow shutter mode ON/OFF

I don't know about you, but I would like to have seen a little more diversity in the Canon options.

Rob Lohman · July 13th, 2004, 08:40 AM

Yeah... seems a bit like a let down. But then again, like the its
predecessors, the XL2 has a lot of external nobs. So the gain
thing from DVX is actually not needed as a preset on the XL2?

Chris Hurd · July 13th, 2004, 08:47 AM

You're right, Rob, the gain setting would be a superfluous custom key on the XL2. But I wish they had added Skin Detail and a few other things to the custom key options. I like the options better for DVX.

Nick Hiltgen · July 13th, 2004, 08:50 AM

black fade and white fade are kinda useless as well, (I mean even I can do that in post so I'm sure most can) and the spotlight function is still available (it looks like it at least) as user control setting, so in some sense it is a user defined knob.

Ron Evans · July 13th, 2004, 01:09 PM

I think the options on the Ag-DVC30 are even better.

Ron Evans

Nick Hiltgen · July 14th, 2004, 01:50 AM

OH and that $100,000 camera the f900, with about four billion different menu settings, also only has two assignable switches (actually one that goes up and down for two different settings) so I'd say that the custom key's are kind of a non issue, but I guess if you're used to three on the dvx then...

Peter Jefferson · July 14th, 2004, 02:57 AM

custom keys are a godsend IMO..
for live event work, backlight, White tracking/balance lock, spotlight.. etc makes things easier

July 13th, 2004, 08:23 AM	#1
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	XL2 compared to DVX, part one... Custom Keys comparison There will be a lot of discussions comparing the similarities and differences between the XL2 and Panasonic DVX100A, but here's one little interesting side-corner aspect concerning feature set comparisons: the user-definable Custom Key assignments. On the XL2, two Custom Key buttons can toggle your choice of these functions: Time Code Index Write Zebra VCR Stop TV Screen Zoom Handle Audio Level On the DVX100A, there are three User Buttons which can toggle these options: COLOR BARS Display/hide the SMPTE color bar SPOTLIGHT Auto iris spotlight correction ON/OFF BACKLIGHT Auto iris backlight correction ON/OFF BLACKFADE Fade out to a black screen (linked with audio) WHITEFADE Fade out to a white screen (linked with audio) MODECHECK Display camera settings in viewfinder/monitor ATW Auto tracking white balance function ON/OFF ATWLOCK Lock/unlock white balance in ATW operation GAIN 18dB Switch the gain to +18 dB INDEX Write the index signal SLOW SHUT Slow shutter mode ON/OFF I don't know about you, but I would like to have seen a little more diversity in the Canon options. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 13th, 2004, 08:40 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Yeah... seems a bit like a let down. But then again, like the its predecessors, the XL2 has a lot of external nobs. So the gain thing from DVX is actually not needed as a preset on the XL2? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 13th, 2004, 08:47 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	You're right, Rob, the gain setting would be a superfluous custom key on the XL2. But I wish they had added Skin Detail and a few other things to the custom key options. I like the options better for DVX. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 13th, 2004, 08:50 AM	#4
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	black fade and white fade are kinda useless as well, (I mean even I can do that in post so I'm sure most can) and the spotlight function is still available (it looks like it at least) as user control setting, so in some sense it is a user defined knob.

July 13th, 2004, 01:09 PM	#5
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	I think the options on the Ag-DVC30 are even better. Ron Evans

July 14th, 2004, 01:50 AM	#6
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	OH and that $100,000 camera the f900, with about four billion different menu settings, also only has two assignable switches (actually one that goes up and down for two different settings) so I'd say that the custom key's are kind of a non issue, but I guess if you're used to three on the dvx then...

July 14th, 2004, 02:57 AM	#7
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	custom keys are a godsend IMO.. for live event work, backlight, White tracking/balance lock, spotlight.. etc makes things easier