Sony DSR-11 vs. Canon XL2... and the winner is...? at DVinfo.net

Brian Wittman · May 10th, 2005, 07:29 PM

When viewing and capturing Sony Premium miniDV tape shot with Canon XL2 camera - looks terrific. When using Sony DSR-11 deck to view and capture I get pixelation "pixie dust" through the footage. When using
another tape (Panasonic) everything seems OK. A friend of mine suggested it was the tape's emulsion (wet vs. dry) and that a roll through the heads should clear it up. It hasn't. Any ideas? HELP!!!

Also, moving forward should I just use the Panasonic tape in both cam and deck. Does this XL-2 need to be "sterilized" from the Sony tape contamination?

Thank you for your rapid reply.

Glenn Chan · May 10th, 2005, 10:43 PM

Did you shoot in LP mode?

2- If you have a cleaning tape, try running that through your DSr-11 and then pop in the tape. Read the instructions! Cleaning tapes, from what I hear, are like sandpaper and they will wear down the deck's heads. So don't leave it in there from more than what the instructions say.

Jay Gladwell · May 15th, 2005, 05:09 PM

What was the frame rate setting when you shot the video in question? If it was 24p, the DSR-11 will not be compatible.

Too, how long have you been using the Sony tape in the XL2? How many tapes? How many hours of tape would you estimate have gone through the camera?

Jay

David Lach · May 16th, 2005, 10:50 PM

Jay, the 24p factor is irrelevant here. The XL2 adds a 3:2 or 2:3:3:2 pull down in-camera to comply with the 60i DV format. The tape reads as standard 60i DV with the full 30fps, you only go back to 24p during editing with a NLE that supports this option. Any deck should be able to read 24p footage shot on either the XL2 or the DVX100.

Joshua B. Backer · June 2nd, 2005, 12:43 PM

Brian,

A few years ago I had a problem with my XL1. I could record and play tapes back using the XL1, but could not play the tapes back on any other camera or deck without getting severe artifacts - as if the heads were dirty. I knew this was not the case so I sent the camera for servicing where Canon re-aligned the recording heads. When I got the camera back everything seemed to work properly. It was not till much later I realized that in correcting the visual problem the audio was now being recorded at 48.009 kHz (and other slightly irregular rates) instead of 48.000. Not the end of the world but FCP requires an audio render when working with standard sequence settings.

-Josh

May 10th, 2005, 07:29 PM	#1
Brian Wittman Tourist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Hartford, CT Posts: 1	Sony DSR-11 vs. Canon XL2... and the winner is...? When viewing and capturing Sony Premium miniDV tape shot with Canon XL2 camera - looks terrific. When using Sony DSR-11 deck to view and capture I get pixelation "pixie dust" through the footage. When using another tape (Panasonic) everything seems OK. A friend of mine suggested it was the tape's emulsion (wet vs. dry) and that a roll through the heads should clear it up. It hasn't. Any ideas? HELP!!! Also, moving forward should I just use the Panasonic tape in both cam and deck. Does this XL-2 need to be "sterilized" from the Sony tape contamination? Thank you for your rapid reply.

June 2nd, 2005, 12:43 PM	#5
Joshua B. Backer Tourist Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	XL1 Heads Not Alligned Brian, A few years ago I had a problem with my XL1. I could record and play tapes back using the XL1, but could not play the tapes back on any other camera or deck without getting severe artifacts - as if the heads were dirty. I knew this was not the case so I sent the camera for servicing where Canon re-aligned the recording heads. When I got the camera back everything seemed to work properly. It was not till much later I realized that in correcting the visual problem the audio was now being recorded at 48.009 kHz (and other slightly irregular rates) instead of 48.000. Not the end of the world but FCP requires an audio render when working with standard sequence settings. -Josh

May 10th, 2005, 10:43 PM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Did you shoot in LP mode? 2- If you have a cleaning tape, try running that through your DSr-11 and then pop in the tape. Read the instructions! Cleaning tapes, from what I hear, are like sandpaper and they will wear down the deck's heads. So don't leave it in there from more than what the instructions say.

May 15th, 2005, 05:09 PM	#3
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	What was the frame rate setting when you shot the video in question? If it was 24p, the DSR-11 will not be compatible. Too, how long have you been using the Sony tape in the XL2? How many tapes? How many hours of tape would you estimate have gone through the camera? Jay

May 16th, 2005, 10:50 PM	#4
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	Jay, the 24p factor is irrelevant here. The XL2 adds a 3:2 or 2:3:3:2 pull down in-camera to comply with the 60i DV format. The tape reads as standard 60i DV with the full 30fps, you only go back to 24p during editing with a NLE that supports this option. Any deck should be able to read 24p footage shot on either the XL2 or the DVX100.