using gain on the XL2 at DVinfo.net

Tim Commeijne · March 21st, 2005, 04:02 PM

Hi everyone.

I was wondering what gain level you guys use on the XL2.
Gain is a great way to get more light, but it's not good voor your image.

I made myself not use more than 6db.
0db for outside, 3db inside, and 6 db for verry low light conditions.

Charlie Wilkinson · March 21st, 2005, 04:47 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Tim Commeijne : Hi everyone.

I was wondering what gain level you guys use on the XL2.
Gain is a great way to get more light, but it's not good voor your image.

I made myself not use more than 6db.
0db for outside, 3db inside, and 6 db for verry low light conditions. -->>>

Certainly too much gain will give you some graininess. ("No gain, no grain." New motto?) Your numbers look like a good place to start, but there's nothing like experimenting with various gain (and noise reduction) settings to see first hand what you can achieve, and tolerate.

I have observed that under certain conditions, even +18db will give very respectable results. And if there's an appreciable difference in noise between 0 and +6, my tired eyes aren't seeing it.

BTW, outdoors you might even want to drop below 0db (-6db?), as well as kicking in the ND filter. The camera will usually let you know if you need the ND filter. ...though that may depend on what kind of DoF you're looking for.

In low light, you might also want to try dropping your shutter to 1/30th if there's not much motion going on, or if you can get away with calling the extra blur "artistic license." :-) Actually, if you set your frame rate to 30p, I believe 1/30th is actually the preferred shutter speed. (Please correct me if I'm wrong...)

-cw-

Mark Sasahara · March 21st, 2005, 04:54 PM

I try and keep the gain at 0, or -3 in all conditions. But I'm doing mostly things where I can light and alter the environment.

If it's dark, I'll drop the shutter one or two stops, any more and the motion can become too blurry after that. If that's not enough and the light is really bad and I can't light it, I'll go to +6.

I try not to add gain to the picture, but there are times when you have no choice.

Pete Bauer · March 21st, 2005, 05:04 PM

I think this thread has about the most technical discussion of XL2 video gain so far, thanks to A J deLange:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...3&highlight=12

Cheers,

Charlie Wilkinson · March 21st, 2005, 09:26 PM

Wow, thanks for that! Everything I ever wanted to know about gain and the XL-2!

-cw-

March 21st, 2005, 04:02 PM	#1
Tim Commeijne Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Europe, Belgium, Oostende Posts: 44	using gain on the XL2 Hi everyone. I was wondering what gain level you guys use on the XL2. Gain is a great way to get more light, but it's not good voor your image. I made myself not use more than 6db. 0db for outside, 3db inside, and 6 db for verry low light conditions.

March 21st, 2005, 04:47 PM	#2
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	Re: using gain on the XL2 <<<-- Originally posted by Tim Commeijne : Hi everyone. I was wondering what gain level you guys use on the XL2. Gain is a great way to get more light, but it's not good voor your image. I made myself not use more than 6db. 0db for outside, 3db inside, and 6 db for verry low light conditions. -->>> Certainly too much gain will give you some graininess. ("No gain, no grain." New motto?) Your numbers look like a good place to start, but there's nothing like experimenting with various gain (and noise reduction) settings to see first hand what you can achieve, and tolerate. I have observed that under certain conditions, even +18db will give very respectable results. And if there's an appreciable difference in noise between 0 and +6, my tired eyes aren't seeing it. BTW, outdoors you might even want to drop below 0db (-6db?), as well as kicking in the ND filter. The camera will usually let you know if you need the ND filter. ...though that may depend on what kind of DoF you're looking for. In low light, you might also want to try dropping your shutter to 1/30th if there's not much motion going on, or if you can get away with calling the extra blur "artistic license." :-) Actually, if you set your frame rate to 30p, I believe 1/30th is actually the preferred shutter speed. (Please correct me if I'm wrong...) -cw- __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be

March 21st, 2005, 04:54 PM	#3
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	I try and keep the gain at 0, or -3 in all conditions. But I'm doing mostly things where I can light and alter the environment. If it's dark, I'll drop the shutter one or two stops, any more and the motion can become too blurry after that. If that's not enough and the light is really bad and I can't light it, I'll go to +6. I try not to add gain to the picture, but there are times when you have no choice. __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

March 21st, 2005, 05:04 PM	#4
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	I think this thread has about the most technical discussion of XL2 video gain so far, thanks to A J deLange: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...3&highlight=12 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!

March 21st, 2005, 09:26 PM	#5
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	Wow, thanks for that! Everything I ever wanted to know about gain and the XL-2! -cw- __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be