Gain difference between XL1 and XL1S

[Chris Hurd]

Thanks Mark,

Glad to hear this story has a happy ending. Your findings jive with my own, that the XL1S at +6db is like the XL1 at +12db.

As far as Canon USA sending you the older XL1 for side by side testing, well if that isn't an impressive testament to their commitment to customer service, I don't know what is. Thanks again,

[Rob Lohman]

Mark,

You didn't take any side by side videos/stills did you?
It would be great to see some DV or TIFF files somewhere
from both cameras shooting the same with the 6db
difference....

Thanks very much for the info!

[Mark Chiocchi]

Rob


Here are a few pic's of the XL1s +12db and the XL1 +12db.

And there is a shot of the XL1s in +6db with the XL1 in +12db showing the the XL1s is just as bright in the +6db as the XL1 in the +12db. They are tiff files about 1.2mb each.

http://www.fast-mhz.com/XL1/img/XL1+12.tif
http://www.fast-mhz.com/XL1/img/XL1s+12.tif
http://www.fast-mhz.com/XL1/img/XL1s+XL1.tif
http://www.fast-mhz.com/XL1/img/XL1+12db.tif
http://www.fast-mhz.com/XL1/img/XL1s+6db.tif

[Rob Lohman]

RockFord,

Thanks very much! This is very helpfull! Nice uncompressed
TIFFs.... joy... There is an amazing difference between the
two camera's... wow... Thanks ever so much!

[Mark Chiocchi]

NP anytime
Mark

[Mark Chiocchi]

To All,

After doing my test I came up with this that the XL1s

+6db is really +12db
+12db is really +18db
+18db is really +30db
+30db is really +60db

That’s if you go buy the amount of lower light the XL1s is better than the old XL1. Plus you have the slower shutter speeds that make the XL1s BIG BIG Improvement over the old XL1.

When will you shoot using the lower light setting?

Maybe if you’re shooting for COPS the TV show :)

All in all this is a GREAT Cam. Plus what I like about the XL1/XL1s is the shots really look like they looked when you shot then.

Most cams don't show that, but the Canon's XL1/XL1s show that 100%.

Mark

[Don Palomaki]

Not sure I understand the intent of the table, are you saying that +6 on the XL1s is equal to +12 on the XL1?
and wouldn't:
+18 -> +24, and
+30 -> +36
given that dB are additive?

I'd just like to add to this conversation that I'm not terribly happy with the noise level of the XL1s either, although I havn't had the opportunity to try it next to the XL1, I'm thinking thats kind of irrelivant.
Just looking at the footage I've taken so far in different circumstances, such as outside in a bright situation, inside with incandescent lighting, inside quite dimly lit; Outside when it's bright, and the cam is on Auto mode, the colours are quite washed out, as if it's over exposed all the time, So thats easily enough remedied with the AE trimming knob, but what is most concerning is the colour noise.
It almost looks like theres a constant, almost stationary noise pattern in the picture, almost banding in some places. It's not the completely random noise I'd expect to see in a CCD, I'm quessing its the filtering circuitry after the CCD block that's doing it.
Has anyone else noticed this? Maybe I just have to send mine in for testing and calibration.....

Paul

[Alex Dolgin]

You are right that the AE negative trim is needed often. It tends to over expose... I use zebra a lot, and often have to trim the AE down. Also, when it overexposes, it brings the noise up, with gain. I doubt sending it in will do anything for you, as most of these functions are built in in the microprocessors code, and not adjustable.
Alex

[Don Palomaki]

With the XL1 Canon recommended using the -3 dB gain setting for best image noise performance. I presume that would apply to the XL1s as well.

[Mark Chiocchi]

dpalomaki,

-3 or 0db. That's if you have a lot of light. I shoot weddings and in the reception +6db it the best I can do with out bringing in some horse power lights. Out side I uses -3 and 0db.