XL2 Free Run Timecode Problem at DVinfo.net

Mark Griffin · April 13th, 2005, 08:24 AM

Hi,

Just wanted to know if anyone has tried running multiple cameras with free run timecode. I tried it with two cameras a few weeks back and set both cameras running via the remote to ensure they were exactly the same, both new cameras with new back up batteries etc but after about 3 hours one camera had either gained or lost 3 seconds. Tried reseting the next day but the same thing happened again. I have since talked to Canon Australia and they spoke to technicians in Japan who said they thought the problem may have been caused when the units were switched off once during the day - seems a bit of a wierd explanation and was wondering if anyone else had been using their cameras in this way??

Cheers

Mark

Chris Hurd · April 13th, 2005, 09:53 AM

Ehhh... this is very strange... there should be no reason for the cams to lose sync by three seconds over the course of one shooting day, even if they were powered down.

I would suggest checking and resetting FRTC each time you power back up, or perhaps even several times throughout the day.

A. J. deLange · April 16th, 2005, 08:07 PM

3 seconds in 3 hours does seem like a lot. I have seen more like 1 second per hour the couple of times I've checked it. Today, for example, I saw 1 frame drift in 6 minutes which is equivalent to 10 frames per minute or 1 second in 3 hours.

I have no idea what quality crystals are used in these cameras nor the extent of temperature stabilization which is applied but they likely aren't ovenized. High on my wishlist for the XL3 is the ability to accept/generate black burst and output timecode.

April 13th, 2005, 08:24 AM	#1
Mark Griffin Tourist Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 1	XL2 Free Run Timecode Problem Hi, Just wanted to know if anyone has tried running multiple cameras with free run timecode. I tried it with two cameras a few weeks back and set both cameras running via the remote to ensure they were exactly the same, both new cameras with new back up batteries etc but after about 3 hours one camera had either gained or lost 3 seconds. Tried reseting the next day but the same thing happened again. I have since talked to Canon Australia and they spoke to technicians in Japan who said they thought the problem may have been caused when the units were switched off once during the day - seems a bit of a wierd explanation and was wondering if anyone else had been using their cameras in this way?? Cheers Mark

April 13th, 2005, 09:53 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Ehhh... this is very strange... there should be no reason for the cams to lose sync by three seconds over the course of one shooting day, even if they were powered down. I would suggest checking and resetting FRTC each time you power back up, or perhaps even several times throughout the day. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 16th, 2005, 08:07 PM	#3
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	3 seconds in 3 hours does seem like a lot. I have seen more like 1 second per hour the couple of times I've checked it. Today, for example, I saw 1 frame drift in 6 minutes which is equivalent to 10 frames per minute or 1 second in 3 hours. I have no idea what quality crystals are used in these cameras nor the extent of temperature stabilization which is applied but they likely aren't ovenized. High on my wishlist for the XL3 is the ability to accept/generate black burst and output timecode.