XL2 Footage

[John Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Steve Witt

John,
I just might check out this movie "Baraka". Is this a movie that would be at a video rental place or something? I don't think I've heard of it before. But I will take your advice and check it out. I like the fact that you are using the movie theatre and the TV screen as your classroom. It must be working. The dolly plans are also inspiring.

It's not really a "movie" it's more like a documentary without narration. Don't expect a movie like "Fast and the Furious". Baraka is a rainy sunday afternoon event. You can read a little about it at spiritofbaraka.com

j.

[Michele Lombardo]

Hi John, another question...!!

can you explain me how you encoded your video? which wmv codec you used? which settings?

thanks so much!!!

[Christopher Mangold]

I really enjoyed your footage. I am curious however, you mentioned that on occasion during filming with your dolly there was some spots that you could see some slight shakeyness. I am wondering how bad the actual shakeyness was and why the XL2's image stabilization didn't automatically correct it.

[Michael Padilla]

Another option if you want to get shots like these without a dolly you could do what I do and go with a Steadicam system. Of course this will take some cash and training (esspecially to get the really slow shots) but once you do its unreal.. free to move anywhere! I highly recommend the aviator from www.Varizoom.com that's what we have (check their customer comments - thats us in the photos)

If you have any questions on the rig let me know

[Steven Salmon]

Christopher, I guess John did not have the camera stabilization switched on as in some instances it can cause a very minor decline in image quality. I have not seen too much written about the XL2 camera stabilization and how it affects picture quality, I am just guessing from some other camera systems out there!

Thanks Michael for the link to Varizoom. Certainly something I am considering.

Many thanks

Steven

[Bill Edmunds]

Terrific stuff! What wide angle lens were you using? Century Optics or...?

[Eric Brown]

Originally Posted by Steven Salmon

Christopher, I guess John did not have the camera stabilization switched on as in some instances it can cause a very minor decline in image quality. I have not seen too much written about the XL2 camera stabilization and how it affects picture quality, I am just guessing from some other camera systems out there!

Thanks Michael for the link to Varizoom. Certainly something I am considering.

Many thanks

Steven

The XL2 uses OIS (Optical Image Stabilzation). Unlike electronic image stabilization, there is no degredation in image quality.

[John Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Michele Lombardo

Hi John, another question...!!

can you explain me how you encoded your video? which wmv codec you used? which settings?

thanks so much!!!

* As far as the settings for the .wmv file, again, using Vegas 5.

-- Video rendering quality "Best"
-- Mode "CBR"
-- Format "Windows Media Video 9"
-- Image size "Keep Original Size"
-- Frame rate "29.970"
-- Video smoothness "90"
-- Bit rate "1 Mbps Video"

Originally Posted by Christopher Mangold

I really enjoyed your footage. I am curious however, you mentioned that on occasion during filming with your dolly there was some spots that you could see some slight shakeyness. I am wondering how bad the actual shakeyness was and why the XL2's image stabilization didn't automatically correct it.

The actual shakeyness wasnt horrible. But it was enough that I had to redo dolly shots over and over until i felt like I got a shot that had a minimal amount of "shaking" ...as far as the OIS, I dont know if it helped minimize the shakeyness or what. It was hard for me to study the footage in the field. In the field i would feel that I got a smooth shot, but i wouldnt notice the shakeyness until i started editing.

Originally Posted by Bill Edmunds

Terrific stuff! What wide angle lens were you using? Century Optics or...?

Century Optics .6 WA


j.

[Phil Rogerson]

Hey John, thanks for sharing the dolly details... so simple and obviously effective.

What tripod & head combo do you use?