Xl1s On manual exposure occasionally flickers at DVinfo.net

C.J. Cookson · November 17th, 2003, 03:16 PM

Has anyone experienced an exposure problem with the XL1s? I find it a great camera, but on manual, with no camera movement and constant unchanging lighting, the exposure seems to occasionally go down, then back up again. It's not a fantastic change and only lasts a second, but it's enough to cause the shot to be completely ruined. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Jeff Donald · November 17th, 2003, 04:37 PM

Do you have image stabilization on or off when it happens?

Nathan Gifford · November 17th, 2003, 05:06 PM

Dittos on the OIS needing to be off. Make sure you are in M manual mode as some of the other modes may make adjustments to shutter and iris.

C.J. Cookson · November 18th, 2003, 01:15 AM

The stabilisation is left off and the camera is in M mode. It happens most noticeably in moderate light, where the f is at 1.6, but the camera never moves and the lighting never changes. I do actually recall reading a post a year ago regarding this problem, but unfortunately can't remember the exact details and can't find it when searching.

Jeff Donald · November 18th, 2003, 01:24 AM

If you aren't zooming or focusing and it is a static shot then your camera has a problem. The problem is trouble shooting an intermittent problem like that. The service technician has to pretty much be watching the camera when it happens.

I would talk to Canon and see what they advise on getting your camera serviced. They may have encountered this problem before and advise you to send it in.

C.J. Cookson · November 18th, 2003, 12:49 PM

I contacted Canon about three months ago, and in two 'phone conversations they said it must be something I'm doing wrong as the camera doesn't exhibit any faults like that! I have it captured on film, so I'll probably do them a couple of clips and they can take it from there. Trouble is, every time I send a Canon camera to Canon with a fault, they always say it's perfect, regardless of the evidence I give them! Oh, well....

Gareth Trezise · November 18th, 2003, 04:32 PM

CJ,

Are you experiencing these problems when using a particular type of adapter or started having these problems after using one?

Gareth

Nathan Gifford · November 18th, 2003, 04:39 PM

Yes/no on zooming. You can have that kind of a problem when zooming with the iris wide open.

C.J. Cookson · November 18th, 2003, 05:08 PM

Actually, your suggestions are greatly appreciated...

The camera is placed on a tripod and the autostabilisation is off. There is no zooming or camera movement - it just points forward.
The shot is set inside in fixed lighting conditions, just perhaps a guy at a desk talking on the 'phone - then occasionally for no apparent reason the light flickers down and up for a second.

JUST A THOUGHT... I've just checked the camera and my understanding of Manual mode is that you have total creative freedom of exposure, et al. However, the exposure bar in the viewfinder will go up and down when the guy moves slightly (this would suggest the exposure is still on auto?)

So, as an experiment, I set it to AV and locked the exposure - and hey presto, the exposure bar goes up and down with slight movement! Am I doing something wrong, or is AV mode with exposure locked supposed to actually lock the exposure (allowing fine adjustment by hand)????

Jeff Donald · November 18th, 2003, 09:50 PM

AV mode is not manual. It's Aperture Value (what the rest of the camera world calls Aperture Priority). M is manual. In AV you set the aperture or lens opening and the camera actively adjusts the shutter speed (brightening and darkening the picture in the process) as the scene changes.

C.J. Cookson · November 19th, 2003, 01:04 AM

(AV mode is not manual. It's Aperture Value (what the rest of the camera world calls Aperture Priority). M is manual. In AV you set the aperture or lens opening and the camera actively adjusts the shutter speed (brightening and darkening the picture in the process) as the scene changes)

Okay, I think I understand that my experiment with AV was less than useful... however, as my problem was when I was in Manual, isn't the shutter speed and aperture both supposed to be controlled manually when in manual? Aren't they both supposed to be fixed in Manual?

I'm sorry to ask what is probably a stupid question, but the instruction book is less than helpful and I'm trying to look for a way of stopping sudden dips in darkness for no apparent reason by locking exposure and shutter speed... I really would like to avoid sending it to Canon if I can.

Jeff Donald · November 19th, 2003, 07:43 AM

Yes, if the camera is in Manual both aperture and shutter speed are locked. Exceptions are zooming the lens while in manual. The lens is a variable aperture lens and when zoomed will change the aperture in some circumstances i.e. aperture wide open at F1.6 etc. IS may also cause slight exposure fluctuations.

How are you powering your camera during your experiments, batteries or house current?

C.J. Cookson · November 19th, 2003, 03:40 PM

That's a very good point! I used mainly batteries, but it was only really noticeable when it was on house mains via the Canon power adapter/charger. Can electrical surges cause dips in exposure when plugged into the mains?

Jeff Donald · November 19th, 2003, 04:41 PM

It could be the power supply having problems. Living in the US I can't really comment on 240v systems, but I've seen odd occurrence on 120v. Try duplicating your problems with battery power and all M settings.

Andrew Clark · November 20th, 2003, 04:38 PM

C.J., have you made sure that you put your GAIN mode switch to "0"? If you leave it on the "A" setting, it will adjust for any light changes....even in "MANUAL" mode.

November 17th, 2003, 03:16 PM	#1
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	Xl1s On manual exposure occasionally flickers Has anyone experienced an exposure problem with the XL1s? I find it a great camera, but on manual, with no camera movement and constant unchanging lighting, the exposure seems to occasionally go down, then back up again. It's not a fantastic change and only lasts a second, but it's enough to cause the shot to be completely ruined. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

November 17th, 2003, 04:37 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Do you have image stabilization on or off when it happens? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 17th, 2003, 05:06 PM	#3
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Dittos on the OIS needing to be off. Make sure you are in M manual mode as some of the other modes may make adjustments to shutter and iris. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

November 18th, 2003, 01:24 AM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	If you aren't zooming or focusing and it is a static shot then your camera has a problem. The problem is trouble shooting an intermittent problem like that. The service technician has to pretty much be watching the camera when it happens. I would talk to Canon and see what they advise on getting your camera serviced. They may have encountered this problem before and advise you to send it in. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 18th, 2003, 12:49 PM	#6
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	Thanks for the suggestion I contacted Canon about three months ago, and in two 'phone conversations they said it must be something I'm doing wrong as the camera doesn't exhibit any faults like that! I have it captured on film, so I'll probably do them a couple of clips and they can take it from there. Trouble is, every time I send a Canon camera to Canon with a fault, they always say it's perfect, regardless of the evidence I give them! Oh, well....

November 18th, 2003, 01:15 AM	#4
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	The stabilisation is left off and the camera is in M mode. It happens most noticeably in moderate light, where the f is at 1.6, but the camera never moves and the lighting never changes. I do actually recall reading a post a year ago regarding this problem, but unfortunately can't remember the exact details and can't find it when searching.

November 18th, 2003, 04:32 PM	#7
Gareth Trezise Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 83	CJ, Are you experiencing these problems when using a particular type of adapter or started having these problems after using one? Gareth

November 18th, 2003, 04:39 PM	#8
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Yes/no on zooming. You can have that kind of a problem when zooming with the iris wide open. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

November 18th, 2003, 05:08 PM	#9
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	No to zooming Actually, your suggestions are greatly appreciated... The camera is placed on a tripod and the autostabilisation is off. There is no zooming or camera movement - it just points forward. The shot is set inside in fixed lighting conditions, just perhaps a guy at a desk talking on the 'phone - then occasionally for no apparent reason the light flickers down and up for a second. JUST A THOUGHT... I've just checked the camera and my understanding of Manual mode is that you have total creative freedom of exposure, et al. However, the exposure bar in the viewfinder will go up and down when the guy moves slightly (this would suggest the exposure is still on auto?) So, as an experiment, I set it to AV and locked the exposure - and hey presto, the exposure bar goes up and down with slight movement! Am I doing something wrong, or is AV mode with exposure locked supposed to actually lock the exposure (allowing fine adjustment by hand)????

November 18th, 2003, 09:50 PM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	AV mode is not manual. It's Aperture Value (what the rest of the camera world calls Aperture Priority). M is manual. In AV you set the aperture or lens opening and the camera actively adjusts the shutter speed (brightening and darkening the picture in the process) as the scene changes. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 19th, 2003, 01:04 AM	#11
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	Ahhh... (AV mode is not manual. It's Aperture Value (what the rest of the camera world calls Aperture Priority). M is manual. In AV you set the aperture or lens opening and the camera actively adjusts the shutter speed (brightening and darkening the picture in the process) as the scene changes) Okay, I think I understand that my experiment with AV was less than useful... however, as my problem was when I was in Manual, isn't the shutter speed and aperture both supposed to be controlled manually when in manual? Aren't they both supposed to be fixed in Manual? I'm sorry to ask what is probably a stupid question, but the instruction book is less than helpful and I'm trying to look for a way of stopping sudden dips in darkness for no apparent reason by locking exposure and shutter speed... I really would like to avoid sending it to Canon if I can.

November 19th, 2003, 07:43 AM	#12
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, if the camera is in Manual both aperture and shutter speed are locked. Exceptions are zooming the lens while in manual. The lens is a variable aperture lens and when zoomed will change the aperture in some circumstances i.e. aperture wide open at F1.6 etc. IS may also cause slight exposure fluctuations. How are you powering your camera during your experiments, batteries or house current? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 19th, 2003, 03:40 PM	#13
C.J. Cookson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 22	Good question! That's a very good point! I used mainly batteries, but it was only really noticeable when it was on house mains via the Canon power adapter/charger. Can electrical surges cause dips in exposure when plugged into the mains?

November 19th, 2003, 04:41 PM	#14
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	It could be the power supply having problems. Living in the US I can't really comment on 240v systems, but I've seen odd occurrence on 120v. Try duplicating your problems with battery power and all M settings. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 20th, 2003, 04:38 PM	#15
Andrew Clark Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 477	C.J., have you made sure that you put your GAIN mode switch to "0"? If you leave it on the "A" setting, it will adjust for any light changes....even in "MANUAL" mode.