No film grain? OK BUT !! at DVinfo.net

Joan Daniel · February 7th, 2005, 03:35 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm quite pleased about the idea of taking out the Film Grain feature, but I got the camera before that intelligent decision and now I'm stuck with a good for nothing button.

Do I have any reason to be upset ?
And if Canon adds a really cool feature in new XL2's what about us, any compensation?

Anyone knows if using the Developers Software Kit that Canon offers for free, could add a feature to this now EXTRA button?

what do you think guys?

Pete Bauer · February 7th, 2005, 03:49 PM

Hi Joan,

Welcome to DVinfo.net!

The links below are pretty much what's known, or even speculated, about the Film Grain button so far.

http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article12.php

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ght=Film+grain

We're looking forward to the first post from someone who has a "post-film Grain era" camera, but be assured that either way, you're not missing out on anything.

Not sure, but I don't think the SDK is available yet?

Cheers,

Chris Hurd · February 7th, 2005, 04:43 PM

As far as I know, the entire SDK affair is dead in the water. Sorry,

Richard Alvarez · February 7th, 2005, 04:52 PM

Chris,

Is that a company position, and if so... why?

Chris Hurd · February 7th, 2005, 06:15 PM

Nope, Richard, it isn't, it's just my own position. They haven't said a peep about it since the announcement last July... which is coming up on... seven months ago now?

I should have clarified my remark as an opinion; sorry about that.

Dylan Couper · February 7th, 2005, 07:35 PM

I hear that the function of the button will now be either a self-destruct mode, or a magic film look mode, but you won't know which until you try it.

Chris Hurd · February 7th, 2005, 08:45 PM

Hah!

This is my own fault, for ever having speculated that they could do something with that button. Of course, they ain't doing anything with that button... it's just a two-step process to activate color bars, as always.

Joan Daniel · February 8th, 2005, 08:49 AM

Really fascinating is receive a reply in the next hour. Pretty awesome!.
Well, at least I’m not alone in this one and is good to perceive that our XL2(owners) community is growing. All of us are in the same boat in this technical issue...
Ufff! I feel better now.

Thanks

from Montreal,

Joan Daniel

Eugene Weaver · February 9th, 2005, 08:56 AM

yeah, my camera has the film grain feature which IMO is fairly worthless. I just hope that the new ones without the feature make this "older" one dated.

Richard Hunter · February 9th, 2005, 09:35 AM

My XL2 has the Film Grain button, which in its present form is not too useful for me. I'm hoping the SDK idea is not totally dead, and enterprising individuals will come out with new functions for this button. Top of my wishlist right now is the "Lord-Of-The-Rings" button which will make anything I shoot look marvelous, have an epic storyline and give the feel of an enormous budget. Shouldn't be too hard.

Richard

Vence Vida · February 13th, 2005, 12:08 AM

Hi guys,

I have been reading this site for a long time. Found a lot of useful info for my GL2s. Thanks everyone. This is only my second post. I'm honored to actually have some information to share that might be useful.

I just bought an XL2 this week from B&H. It does not have the film grain feature. The supposed extra button is still there and it is still used for color bars. You have to press the select button to "activate" the color bars and the second button toggles them on and off.

In other words, Canon added nothing, they just subtracted the option for film grain. Turning on color bars is just a 2 button process.

Sorry to deflate anybody's hopes.

-Vence Vida
Creative Juices Video

Richard Alvarez · February 13th, 2005, 08:05 AM

Damn Vence, you just burst my hope for a "Make this film sell" button...

Charlie Wilkinson · February 20th, 2005, 02:02 AM

On my XL2 (purchased 2 weeks ago) the first button displays "film grain" or "color bars" in the EVF. Turning on film grain appears to make the EVF image a little brighter, but no other obvious effect. I haven't bothered to try it and view the results on a larger screen. I've been wondering if I got a pre or post film grain XL2.

How did they disable film grain? Is the option removed completely, or does it still "pretend to work?"

Personally I think Canon's approach to this is a bit sloppy considering the price of this beastie. They should either add another "useful" feature (1 KHz tone?), or remove a button and streamline the color bars option.

-cw-

Vence Vida · February 20th, 2005, 06:49 PM

My XL2 has no film grain indication of any kind - not on the button panel or in the viewfinder. It sounds like you got an older version, even though you just bought it.

-Vence Vida

Charlie Wilkinson · February 22nd, 2005, 11:17 PM

Oh boy! I can hardly wait to go shoot some fake film with fake grain!! But what would really complete the experience for me would be fake hairs caught in the fake projector! 8-D

-cw-

February 7th, 2005, 03:35 PM	#1
Joan Daniel New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 14	No film grain? OK BUT !! Hi Guys, I'm quite pleased about the idea of taking out the Film Grain feature, but I got the camera before that intelligent decision and now I'm stuck with a good for nothing button. Do I have any reason to be upset ? And if Canon adds a really cool feature in new XL2's what about us, any compensation? Anyone knows if using the Developers Software Kit that Canon offers for free, could add a feature to this now EXTRA button? what do you think guys?

February 7th, 2005, 03:49 PM	#2
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Hi Joan, Welcome to DVinfo.net! The links below are pretty much what's known, or even speculated, about the Film Grain button so far. http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxl2/articles/article12.php http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ght=Film+grain We're looking forward to the first post from someone who has a "post-film Grain era" camera, but be assured that either way, you're not missing out on anything. Not sure, but I don't think the SDK is available yet? Cheers, __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

February 7th, 2005, 04:43 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	As far as I know, the entire SDK affair is dead in the water. Sorry, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 7th, 2005, 06:15 PM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Nope, Richard, it isn't, it's just my own position. They haven't said a peep about it since the announcement last July... which is coming up on... seven months ago now? I should have clarified my remark as an opinion; sorry about that. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 7th, 2005, 07:35 PM	#6
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I hear that the function of the button will now be either a self-destruct mode, or a magic film look mode, but you won't know which until you try it. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 7th, 2005, 04:52 PM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Chris, Is that a company position, and if so... why?

February 7th, 2005, 08:45 PM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Hah! This is my own fault, for ever having speculated that they could do something with that button. Of course, they ain't doing anything with that button... it's just a two-step process to activate color bars, as always. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 8th, 2005, 08:49 AM	#8
Joan Daniel New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 14	Thanks for your feedback Really fascinating is receive a reply in the next hour. Pretty awesome!. Well, at least I’m not alone in this one and is good to perceive that our XL2(owners) community is growing. All of us are in the same boat in this technical issue... Ufff! I feel better now. Thanks from Montreal, Joan Daniel

February 9th, 2005, 08:56 AM	#9
Eugene Weaver Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Millersburg, Ohio Posts: 35	yeah, my camera has the film grain feature which IMO is fairly worthless. I just hope that the new ones without the feature make this "older" one dated.

February 9th, 2005, 09:35 AM	#10
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	My XL2 has the Film Grain button, which in its present form is not too useful for me. I'm hoping the SDK idea is not totally dead, and enterprising individuals will come out with new functions for this button. Top of my wishlist right now is the "Lord-Of-The-Rings" button which will make anything I shoot look marvelous, have an epic storyline and give the feel of an enormous budget. Shouldn't be too hard. Richard

February 13th, 2005, 12:08 AM	#11
Vence Vida Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 218	Hi guys, I have been reading this site for a long time. Found a lot of useful info for my GL2s. Thanks everyone. This is only my second post. I'm honored to actually have some information to share that might be useful. I just bought an XL2 this week from B&H. It does not have the film grain feature. The supposed extra button is still there and it is still used for color bars. You have to press the select button to "activate" the color bars and the second button toggles them on and off. In other words, Canon added nothing, they just subtracted the option for film grain. Turning on color bars is just a 2 button process. Sorry to deflate anybody's hopes. -Vence Vida Creative Juices Video

February 13th, 2005, 08:05 AM	#12
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Damn Vence, you just burst my hope for a "Make this film sell" button...

February 20th, 2005, 02:02 AM	#13
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	So is the option actually gone? On my XL2 (purchased 2 weeks ago) the first button displays "film grain" or "color bars" in the EVF. Turning on film grain appears to make the EVF image a little brighter, but no other obvious effect. I haven't bothered to try it and view the results on a larger screen. I've been wondering if I got a pre or post film grain XL2. How did they disable film grain? Is the option removed completely, or does it still "pretend to work?" Personally I think Canon's approach to this is a bit sloppy considering the price of this beastie. They should either add another "useful" feature (1 KHz tone?), or remove a button and streamline the color bars option. -cw- __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be

February 20th, 2005, 06:49 PM	#14
Vence Vida Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 218	My XL2 has no film grain indication of any kind - not on the button panel or in the viewfinder. It sounds like you got an older version, even though you just bought it. -Vence Vida __________________ Sony PMW-EX1R, Canon XL H1, XHG1, Panasonic GH2, Mac Pro 3.2 Quad running FCPS 3, FCPX, & Adobe Creative Cloud CC www.creativejuicesvideo.com

February 22nd, 2005, 11:17 PM	#15
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	Oh boy! I can hardly wait to go shoot some fake film with fake grain!! But what would really complete the experience for me would be fake hairs caught in the fake projector! 8-D -cw- __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be