still pictures on XL 1 at DVinfo.net

December 5th, 2001, 05:24 AM

In what resolution does XL1 record its still images when you use it in photo mode??
And how do you get it into the computer with a higher resolution than pal or ntsc??

Rob Lohman · December 5th, 2001, 05:27 AM

As I understand it, the XL1 records pictures at 640x480...
It is not intended for high resolution photography... Get
yourself another (canon) camera then :)

Don Palomaki · December 5th, 2001, 06:02 AM

The XL1 photo mode just repeats the same frame for about 6 seconds, with sound. It will have normal DV video resolution; nominally a 720x480 pixel image.

Joe Redifer · December 6th, 2001, 02:53 AM

The XL1 photo mode baffles me. Why is it there? If you shoot in frame mode, you can just extract a single frame of your choice from the file that you send from your camera to the computer over firewire. That's what I always do, but if you really want good pictures you'll get a separate digital camera.

Nathan Gifford · December 6th, 2001, 05:49 AM

This argument comes up every once in a while (or is awhile?). With NTSC (or PAL) there is a loss of resolution merely because of the format. The format is for imaging motion with sound.

A digital still cam is not so encumbered. It can produce as many lines as it wants since it is not NTSC.

Nathan Gifford

Don Palomaki · December 6th, 2001, 04:13 PM

Why photo mode? Handy for cut-a-ways, you get 6 seconds of still without having to spend time rendering! I use it often for that purpose. For the vacation shooter you can get 6 seconds of the historical marker wihtout shake while you do voice over, and so on.

Adrian Douglas · December 6th, 2001, 11:45 PM

It also makes it much easier for cataloging shots. I use it at the start of every shot as a form of "clapper" Using Photo Search on the IR Remote you can search for the shot you want, with out filling your HDD with usless shots.

This is especially useful for me as when shooting surfing and snowboarding the subject or rider does not always stay on their board so I might have 5 takes of the same jump before getting the on I want and don't always have time to review back to the begining of the shot.

Don Williamson · January 23rd, 2002, 09:34 PM

Here's something I've tried with my XL1 to get larger, higher resolution stills. You could shoot in interlaced mode if it is a still subject. Though I've done it in frame movie mode. What you do is shoot several stills of your subject, but you pan around to include different parts of the picture. Then, in your editor (I use FCP) you make still frames from the different clips. Import them into Photoshop and paste them together to make one big picture. You may need to make a few adjustments so each still (which should have some overlap) seamlessly lines up with the others. The results can be astonishing! You can make still pictures of any size, depending only on the amount of ram in your computer. Of course, you could get a similar effect if you used a multi megapixel digital camera, but they can cost several thousand dollars. Since digital tape is so inexpensive (compared to film), you can do all kinds of creative experiments that would be prohibitively expensive with film. The XL1 and 1S work well for this, since the basic image they produce is a good one. You can then enhance the stills with Genuine Fractals, sharpening and uprezzing them. Amazing.

Bill Ravens · January 24th, 2002, 08:20 AM

I've done what you are describing. It works great. See attached site:
http://www.geocities.com/ravens202/pano1.jpg

Steve Nunez · January 24th, 2002, 09:52 AM

is it worth buying a Canon Speedlite flash (sorta pricey) -does the image quality increase because of the burst of additional light given off by the flash- or is the money better spent buying a consumer grade digital camera?

Opinions?????

John Locke · January 24th, 2002, 12:43 PM

Great idea, Adrian! Hadn't thought of of using "photos" at the beginning of a shot for quick searching.

I'll definitely be doing that from here on out.

Thanks!

Takeshi Fukushima · January 26th, 2002, 06:19 AM

afterburnerDV,
I've often try to shoot, and like pushing the return button on aBroadcast camera, I have a bad habit of pushing the photo button. It pissed the heck out of me when I needed to shot fast.
But using it as a index search!! Wolla! I'll be using the photo button more once again.

Don, I also like the panaorama photo Idea. nice. I will give it a try.
Takeshi

Michael Dontigney · January 26th, 2002, 09:46 PM

I use the speedlite 380EX with my XL1. It comes in handy when doing weddings. What I do is I take stills along with the photographer to use in the video. I have a small (small file size, maybe I'll update it with a larger one for us dsl/cable users with better quality) example on my site in the wedding section on the left "Ending Credits" shows some stills in the ending credits.
It's allso good for index search as others have posted.

I like the speedlite flash. It appears to increase the quality. Especially the bounce lighting the back. It's probably just better light than normal thus looks better.

December 5th, 2001, 05:24 AM	#1
Pablo Diaz Posts: n/a	still pictures on XL 1 In what resolution does XL1 record its still images when you use it in photo mode?? And how do you get it into the computer with a higher resolution than pal or ntsc??

December 5th, 2001, 05:27 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	As I understand it, the XL1 records pictures at 640x480... It is not intended for high resolution photography... Get yourself another (canon) camera then :) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 6th, 2001, 05:49 AM	#5
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Its because its NTSC or PAL. This argument comes up every once in a while (or is awhile?). With NTSC (or PAL) there is a loss of resolution merely because of the format. The format is for imaging motion with sound. A digital still cam is not so encumbered. It can produce as many lines as it wants since it is not NTSC. Nathan Gifford

December 6th, 2001, 11:45 PM	#7
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	It also makes it much easier for cataloging shots. I use it at the start of every shot as a form of "clapper" Using Photo Search on the IR Remote you can search for the shot you want, with out filling your HDD with usless shots. This is especially useful for me as when shooting surfing and snowboarding the subject or rider does not always stay on their board so I might have 5 takes of the same jump before getting the on I want and don't always have time to review back to the begining of the shot. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

January 23rd, 2002, 09:34 PM	#8
Don Williamson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 42	Here's something I've tried with my XL1 to get larger, higher resolution stills. You could shoot in interlaced mode if it is a still subject. Though I've done it in frame movie mode. What you do is shoot several stills of your subject, but you pan around to include different parts of the picture. Then, in your editor (I use FCP) you make still frames from the different clips. Import them into Photoshop and paste them together to make one big picture. You may need to make a few adjustments so each still (which should have some overlap) seamlessly lines up with the others. The results can be astonishing! You can make still pictures of any size, depending only on the amount of ram in your computer. Of course, you could get a similar effect if you used a multi megapixel digital camera, but they can cost several thousand dollars. Since digital tape is so inexpensive (compared to film), you can do all kinds of creative experiments that would be prohibitively expensive with film. The XL1 and 1S work well for this, since the basic image they produce is a good one. You can then enhance the stills with Genuine Fractals, sharpening and uprezzing them. Amazing. __________________ Don Williamson

December 5th, 2001, 06:02 AM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The XL1 photo mode just repeats the same frame for about 6 seconds, with sound. It will have normal DV video resolution; nominally a 720x480 pixel image.

December 6th, 2001, 02:53 AM	#4
Joe Redifer Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 290	The XL1 photo mode baffles me. Why is it there? If you shoot in frame mode, you can just extract a single frame of your choice from the file that you send from your camera to the computer over firewire. That's what I always do, but if you really want good pictures you'll get a separate digital camera.

December 6th, 2001, 04:13 PM	#6
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	Why photo mode? Handy for cut-a-ways, you get 6 seconds of still without having to spend time rendering! I use it often for that purpose. For the vacation shooter you can get 6 seconds of the historical marker wihtout shake while you do voice over, and so on.

January 24th, 2002, 08:20 AM	#9
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	I've done what you are describing. It works great. See attached site: http://www.geocities.com/ravens202/pano1.jpg

January 24th, 2002, 09:52 AM	#10
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	Flash- worth it- or pass? is it worth buying a Canon Speedlite flash (sorta pricey) -does the image quality increase because of the burst of additional light given off by the flash- or is the money better spent buying a consumer grade digital camera? Opinions????? __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

January 24th, 2002, 12:43 PM	#11
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	"Clapper" Function Great idea, Adrian! Hadn't thought of of using "photos" at the beginning of a shot for quick searching. I'll definitely be doing that from here on out. Thanks! __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 26th, 2002, 06:19 AM	#12
Takeshi Fukushima Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 86	Hmm interesting. afterburnerDV, I've often try to shoot, and like pushing the return button on aBroadcast camera, I have a bad habit of pushing the photo button. It pissed the heck out of me when I needed to shot fast. But using it as a index search!! Wolla! I'll be using the photo button more once again. Don, I also like the panaorama photo Idea. nice. I will give it a try. Takeshi

January 26th, 2002, 09:46 PM	#13
Michael Dontigney Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 103	I use the speedlite 380EX with my XL1. It comes in handy when doing weddings. What I do is I take stills along with the photographer to use in the video. I have a small (small file size, maybe I'll update it with a larger one for us dsl/cable users with better quality) example on my site in the wedding section on the left "Ending Credits" shows some stills in the ending credits. It's allso good for index search as others have posted. I like the speedlite flash. It appears to increase the quality. Especially the bounce lighting the back. It's probably just better light than normal thus looks better.