Please post a screen grab using this Preset at DVinfo.net

Javier Urena · April 8th, 2006, 08:17 PM

Hello everyone,

I do not own an XL2 but I've rented one for use on a short film I wrote and directed. I also have experience with and love the Panasonic DVX100 (we chose the XL2 for it's low light capability.)

I'm trying to decide on which camera to use for the next project and need a little help. I'd like to see a screen grab taken with the following preset, which I believe to be the most contrasty settings. I want to keep the post-production tweaking to a minimum and want a very contrasty look. I know I can achieve this with a DVX100, but I'd like to see if the XL2 can too. I'm hoping to be convinced to go with the XL2.

Here's the preset:

Gamma = Normal
Knee = High
Black = Press
NR = Off
VDetail = Thin
Color Matrix = Cine
Color Gain = 6
Color Phase = 0
Red = 0
Green = 0
Blue = 0
SetupLevel = 0
Sharpness = -3
Coring = 6
MasterPed = -6

Please set gain at -3.

I think lowering the set-up level might give more contrast, but it would also require much more light, so I've kept it at 0. If you get better results with the set up level lowered, please post your findings.

Thank you.

Matthew Nayman · April 9th, 2006, 05:42 AM

No offence, but the DVX has far superior low-light abilities. It might get grainy, but at least an image registers! The XL2's achilies heel is it's low-light performance. Kinda sad actually.

Mathieu Ghekiere · April 9th, 2006, 08:20 AM

If I would make a movie with one of the two, I would want the cleanest signal, and that's from the XL2.
But others have different opinions...

Matthew Nayman · April 9th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Not Badmouthing XL2! I love mine. Just saying it's lowlight is a bit rough...

Jeff McElroy · April 9th, 2006, 06:38 PM

The XL2 is an awesome low light performer... I am not sure exactly where you coming from here, Matthew. Could you go into a bit more depth?

:)

Andrew Khalil · April 9th, 2006, 08:05 PM

I have to agree - the XL2's lowlight capability is great but I use both on a regular basis and I'd say in terms of low light capability, they're both very similar.

Javier Urena · April 9th, 2006, 10:36 PM

To clear up, I shot with gain at 12db. on a dvx100 with gain setting of 12db the high noise makes the footage practically useless. However, the noise reduction on the XL2 did a great job, and even having it set at HIGH, there was no ghosting in our project.

Now, can we please get back to the subject of this thread?

Matthew Nayman · April 10th, 2006, 01:27 PM

Sorry to thread Jack, Just saying I have used an XL2 and DVX side by side at 12db in low-light conditions, at 24p, and the XL2 is a cleaner signal, but still darker. In some conditions when noise isn't an issue, but an image registering at all, I perfer the DVX. However, I love my XL2 and if I really wanted low light, I would go for a PD 170 (0 LUX!)

Anyhoo, back to subject. Any particular reason you don't give it a try yourself? Do you own an XL2? What lighting conditions do you want the shot under?

Javier Urena · April 10th, 2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Nayman

Sorry to thread Jack, Just saying I have used an XL2 and DVX side by side at 12db in low-light conditions, at 24p, and the XL2 is a cleaner signal, but still darker. In some conditions when noise isn't an issue, but an image registering at all, I perfer the DVX. However, I love my XL2 and if I really wanted low light, I would go for a PD 170 (0 LUX!)

Anyhoo, back to subject. Any particular reason you don't give it a try yourself? Do you own an XL2? What lighting conditions do you want the shot under?

Thank you. I wrote in the original post that I do not own an XL2. That is why I'm asking for help here.

I don't care what kind of lighting conditions are used. I think everyone can see where the contrast comes from the camera and not the light source, especially if 2 images are posted: 1 with settings at default and 1 with the contrasty preset.

Anyone care to help?

Matthew Nayman · April 11th, 2006, 07:26 AM

Sorry, Missed that
I'll try and get around to it tonite.

Matt

Brian J. Harris · April 12th, 2006, 09:19 PM

Hello Javier,

Here's a link to a QuickTime .mov shot with the preset information you listed in the first post. Sorry, it was very cloudy this afternoon, so the lighting is not great. The compression is motion.jpg. I just reread your post about a comparison with the default settings. Unfortunately, I did not shoot any other footage with the default settings.

http://files.filefront.com/javier_cu.../fileinfo.html

You have to go through a few pages to get to the actual download. This is the first time I've used this hosting site, so I hope it works.

Javier Urena · April 12th, 2006, 11:23 PM

Brian,
Thank you very much. That footage looks great. I especially like the highlights in the blurred background.

What do you think of it?

Brian J. Harris · April 13th, 2006, 01:49 PM

Javier,

Thanks, I had hoped we would have had less clouds yesterday, but oh well.

If you can wait another day or two, I will post a couple of more clips for you to see.

Javier Urena · April 13th, 2006, 08:31 PM

Thank you Brian. Since the flat lighting makes it hard to see the contrast, I would love to see some other footage if you have the chance.

I really appreciate your help.

Dale Guthormsen · April 13th, 2006, 10:49 PM

javier,

I went to brians site and down loaded the clip. I like the Look and I will load that in my xl2 tomarrow and shoot some footage up here in the north where nothing is green yet!!
I do not have a way of posting it but I will get back to you about it!!!

April 8th, 2006, 08:17 PM	#1
Javier Urena Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67	Please post a screen grab using this Preset Hello everyone, I do not own an XL2 but I've rented one for use on a short film I wrote and directed. I also have experience with and love the Panasonic DVX100 (we chose the XL2 for it's low light capability.) I'm trying to decide on which camera to use for the next project and need a little help. I'd like to see a screen grab taken with the following preset, which I believe to be the most contrasty settings. I want to keep the post-production tweaking to a minimum and want a very contrasty look. I know I can achieve this with a DVX100, but I'd like to see if the XL2 can too. I'm hoping to be convinced to go with the XL2. Here's the preset: Gamma = Normal Knee = High Black = Press NR = Off VDetail = Thin Color Matrix = Cine Color Gain = 6 Color Phase = 0 Red = 0 Green = 0 Blue = 0 SetupLevel = 0 Sharpness = -3 Coring = 6 MasterPed = -6 Please set gain at -3. I think lowering the set-up level might give more contrast, but it would also require much more light, so I've kept it at 0. If you get better results with the set up level lowered, please post your findings. Thank you.

April 9th, 2006, 08:20 AM	#3
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	If I would make a movie with one of the two, I would want the cleanest signal, and that's from the XL2. But others have different opinions... __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

April 12th, 2006, 09:19 PM	#11
Brian J. Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenbrier, TN Posts: 89	Hello Javier, Here's a link to a QuickTime .mov shot with the preset information you listed in the first post. Sorry, it was very cloudy this afternoon, so the lighting is not great. The compression is motion.jpg. I just reread your post about a comparison with the default settings. Unfortunately, I did not shoot any other footage with the default settings. http://files.filefront.com/javier_cu.../fileinfo.html You have to go through a few pages to get to the actual download. This is the first time I've used this hosting site, so I hope it works. __________________ Thanks, Brian www.naturefootage.com

April 13th, 2006, 01:49 PM	#13
Brian J. Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenbrier, TN Posts: 89	Javier, Thanks, I had hoped we would have had less clouds yesterday, but oh well. If you can wait another day or two, I will post a couple of more clips for you to see. __________________ Thanks, Brian www.naturefootage.com

April 13th, 2006, 10:49 PM	#15
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	preset javier, I went to brians site and down loaded the clip. I like the Look and I will load that in my xl2 tomarrow and shoot some footage up here in the north where nothing is green yet!! I do not have a way of posting it but I will get back to you about it!!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

April 9th, 2006, 05:42 AM	#2
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	No offence, but the DVX has far superior low-light abilities. It might get grainy, but at least an image registers! The XL2's achilies heel is it's low-light performance. Kinda sad actually.

April 9th, 2006, 04:40 PM	#4
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Not Badmouthing XL2! I love mine. Just saying it's lowlight is a bit rough...

April 9th, 2006, 06:38 PM	#5
Jeff McElroy Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 91	The XL2 is an awesome low light performer... I am not sure exactly where you coming from here, Matthew. Could you go into a bit more depth? :)

April 9th, 2006, 08:05 PM	#6
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	I have to agree - the XL2's lowlight capability is great but I use both on a regular basis and I'd say in terms of low light capability, they're both very similar.

April 9th, 2006, 10:36 PM	#7
Javier Urena Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67	To clear up, I shot with gain at 12db. on a dvx100 with gain setting of 12db the high noise makes the footage practically useless. However, the noise reduction on the XL2 did a great job, and even having it set at HIGH, there was no ghosting in our project. Now, can we please get back to the subject of this thread?

April 10th, 2006, 01:27 PM	#8
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Sorry to thread Jack, Just saying I have used an XL2 and DVX side by side at 12db in low-light conditions, at 24p, and the XL2 is a cleaner signal, but still darker. In some conditions when noise isn't an issue, but an image registering at all, I perfer the DVX. However, I love my XL2 and if I really wanted low light, I would go for a PD 170 (0 LUX!) Anyhoo, back to subject. Any particular reason you don't give it a try yourself? Do you own an XL2? What lighting conditions do you want the shot under?

April 11th, 2006, 07:26 AM	#10
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Sorry, Missed that I'll try and get around to it tonite. Matt

April 12th, 2006, 11:23 PM	#12
Javier Urena Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67	Brian, Thank you very much. That footage looks great. I especially like the highlights in the blurred background. What do you think of it?

April 13th, 2006, 08:31 PM	#14
Javier Urena Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67	Thank you Brian. Since the flat lighting makes it hard to see the contrast, I would love to see some other footage if you have the chance. I really appreciate your help.