Noise/Increased Gain issues with our XL-2 at DVinfo.net

Peter Vaughn · October 11th, 2006, 09:07 AM

I was wondering if any XL-2 user is experiencing the same kind of problems I'm having when I slowly zoom away from a subject, such as an indoor plant, a table, etc, & the noise around the image really picks up.
when I'm just static on a subject, such as a potted plant, the image looks really sharp. The minute I zoom away, noise picks up almost everywhere.
I'm using manual settings, & I have gone in & tweaked the colors, the blacks, the iris, etc. as well as skin control, & it still seems to be there.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jarrod Whaley · October 11th, 2006, 12:55 PM

It's hard to venture a guess without seeing any footage, but maybe when the aperture opens up due to the increasing focal length of the zoom, the increased level of exposure is making grain fro your gain setting more apparent? Are you not seeing this noise with a static wide framing of the same subject at the same exposure settings?

Ash Greyson · October 11th, 2006, 11:29 PM

Need to know all your settings, my guess is that you have auto gain on and the long lens is masking it more. The wider you are in most cases, the more shadows you introduce, video cameras like to artificially illuminate these areas which can cause a grainy look. There are many many ways to cover this, just depends on the look you need. Post a clip or your settings.

ash =o)

Richard Alvarez · October 12th, 2006, 08:19 AM

Check to see if your XL2 has the 'film grain' function. If it does, make sure it's off.

Otherwise, my guess is you have auto gain on.

Peter Vaughn · October 13th, 2006, 07:20 AM

Richard;

Where would I find the "film grain" function in the menu, if I had one?
Thanks;

Peter N. Vaughn

Tony Davies-Patrick · October 13th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Vaughn

Richard;

Where would I find the "film grain" function in the menu, if I had one?
Thanks;

Peter N. Vaughn

Look at the lefthand side of the XL2 body. Below the two Record/Search buttons is a third button with the title Bars/F.Grain. Click on the ON/Off button below this (forth button) and check in the viewfinder to make sure that it is switched off (if you have the earlier version XL2).

Wes Coughlin · October 13th, 2006, 08:52 AM

There isnt a "film grain" setup on the xl2. It is most likley auto gain in a dark room. I would put it into manual, and dial the arpeture first (iris), whitebalance, shutter (Probably want it around 1/60), ND filters, then dial in the gain last. If the place is dark and you have to use a lot of gain, I would go into the preset settings and turn on the noise reduction to medium or high.

Tony Davies-Patrick · October 13th, 2006, 09:06 AM

[QUOTE=Wes Coughlin]There isnt a "film grain" setup on the xl2. QUOTE]

There is a functional Film Grain on the first XL2 bodies. It just adds grain, so doesn't anhance the performance of the XL2 so was quickly dropped in later production of XL2 bodies.

Richard Alvarez · October 13th, 2006, 10:41 AM

Wes,

There IS a film grain button on my XL2. I was an early buyer. And it does add 'gain like' noise. It looks like *!#@! But it might have been turned on accidentally.

I should have explained it was discontinued in later models.

Tony Davies-Patrick · October 13th, 2006, 03:41 PM

I also have an XL2 body with the F/Grain button.

Wes Coughlin · October 13th, 2006, 04:30 PM

My bad. Sorry for my ignorance.

October 11th, 2006, 09:07 AM	#1
Peter Vaughn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Milford Michigan Posts: 38	Noise/Increased Gain issues with our XL-2 I was wondering if any XL-2 user is experiencing the same kind of problems I'm having when I slowly zoom away from a subject, such as an indoor plant, a table, etc, & the noise around the image really picks up. when I'm just static on a subject, such as a potted plant, the image looks really sharp. The minute I zoom away, noise picks up almost everywhere. I'm using manual settings, & I have gone in & tweaked the colors, the blacks, the iris, etc. as well as skin control, & it still seems to be there. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

October 11th, 2006, 12:55 PM	#2
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	It's hard to venture a guess without seeing any footage, but maybe when the aperture opens up due to the increasing focal length of the zoom, the increased level of exposure is making grain fro your gain setting more apparent? Are you not seeing this noise with a static wide framing of the same subject at the same exposure settings? __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

October 13th, 2006, 07:20 AM	#5
Peter Vaughn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Milford Michigan Posts: 38	Where would I find the "film grain" in the menu? Richard; Where would I find the "film grain" function in the menu, if I had one? Thanks; Peter N. Vaughn

October 13th, 2006, 08:52 AM	#7
Wes Coughlin Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 206	There isnt a "film grain" setup on the xl2. It is most likley auto gain in a dark room. I would put it into manual, and dial the arpeture first (iris), whitebalance, shutter (Probably want it around 1/60), ND filters, then dial in the gain last. If the place is dark and you have to use a lot of gain, I would go into the preset settings and turn on the noise reduction to medium or high. __________________ http://wildlookout.com

October 13th, 2006, 09:06 AM	#8
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	[QUOTE=Wes Coughlin]There isnt a "film grain" setup on the xl2. QUOTE] There is a functional Film Grain on the first XL2 bodies. It just adds grain, so doesn't anhance the performance of the XL2 so was quickly dropped in later production of XL2 bodies. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

October 11th, 2006, 11:29 PM	#3
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Need to know all your settings, my guess is that you have auto gain on and the long lens is masking it more. The wider you are in most cases, the more shadows you introduce, video cameras like to artificially illuminate these areas which can cause a grainy look. There are many many ways to cover this, just depends on the look you need. Post a clip or your settings. ash =o)

October 12th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Check to see if your XL2 has the 'film grain' function. If it does, make sure it's off. Otherwise, my guess is you have auto gain on.

October 13th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#9
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Wes, There IS a film grain button on my XL2. I was an early buyer. And it does add 'gain like' noise. It looks like *!#@! But it might have been turned on accidentally. I should have explained it was discontinued in later models.

October 13th, 2006, 03:41 PM	#10
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	I also have an XL2 body with the F/Grain button. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

October 13th, 2006, 04:30 PM	#11
Wes Coughlin Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 206	My bad. Sorry for my ignorance. __________________ http://wildlookout.com