Sony XDCAM HD -- various topics

Mitchell Skurnik · February 23rd, 2008, 12:27 AM

Has anyone here gone to the training that Sony provides (like $2,000 USD) for the XDCAM or any other sony product. Would you recommend this?

Eelco Romeijn · February 27th, 2008, 04:14 PM

Hello HD shooters,

Does anyone have experience with using the skindetail settings on Sony camcorders? I never took the time to do some thorough testing and never met anyone who used it.

Recently we started shooting progressive and it seems that the image looks a little softer than interlaced. That got me thinking on maybe compensating with detail settings.

What is your opinion?

Max Bettelle · March 2nd, 2008, 06:15 AM

If i use the standard gamma setting with auto-exposure, i can see the zebra 70% on the white skin and the picture is correctly exposed. If then i apply, for example, the cinegamma 2, the picture get darker and the zebra disappear from the skin. The autoexposure does not compensate it: should i manually open the iris til i get again the 70% zebra on the skin to get the correct picture?

Jon Essex · March 7th, 2008, 01:23 PM

Hi all,

This may well be a dumb question but I keep reading about Firmware updates for the F350 and I wondered if anyone knows of any firmware updates for the F355 yet?

Cheers

Jon Essex
DSR570 - PDW F355 - FCP Studio 2

Phil Bloom · March 7th, 2008, 02:34 PM

the F350 firmware brought in many features that the F355 has. Am sure there will be something in the near future.

Victoria Toss · March 9th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Hello,

I'm looking for some technical details and descriptions for the XDCAM system (regarded as a carrier for storing the data, but the cameras themself as well) for an extensive university paper I have to prepare. There are not so many materials on the internet that I've found.

Any help, guys?

Paul Gale · March 10th, 2008, 02:30 AM

Exactly what kind of info do you need?

Have you looked at the Sony Biz web site? A number of links that may be useful:

http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowC...37;20PRO%20HUB

http://www.sony.co.uk/res/attachment...7924780833.pdf

http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowP...DCAMCamcorders

Also look at the links at the top of this forum - lots of info there:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=62598

Paul.

Dan Brazda · March 13th, 2008, 04:21 PM

Saw some concert footage recently of 2 350's intercut with HVX-200. Interesting. HVX made decent pictures but couldn't handle the saturated highlights AT ALL while the 350's had no problem with them. Not a very scientific comparison I realize (no info yet on exposure and other settings between the cameras- BJ, if you're lurking out there be sure to chime in) but it made me want to see the EX-1 in the same situation replacing the 200 and see what the results would be.

Greg Boston · March 13th, 2008, 04:54 PM

I would chalk most of that up to the 1/3 vs. 1/2 sensor. More dynamic range for the F350 (and for the price difference, there darn well better be).

The EX-1 will also exhibit a wider dynamic range than the HVX200 based on sensor size alone. It's just the nature of the beast.

-gb-

Jon Essex · March 15th, 2008, 04:55 AM

I seem to be having a signal drop out every now and again when playing from the camera via firewire. It looses the signal for a second and then finds it again. PDW-F355 and a DSR11 DVCAM.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Jon Essex
DSR570, PDW F355, FCP

Greg Boston · March 15th, 2008, 09:43 AM

Jon, there are a couple things that I can think of. First, and most obvious thing that came to mind was to try a different cable.

Can you attach camera directly to a computer via FW and see how the capture process goes?

As in all troubleshooting, it's a process of elimination via substitution when substitute items are available.

With the F-355 being fairly new, it may have a bug in the firmware so it's important that you let Sony know if you can't resolve the issue by other means.

BTW, does the deck have a setting for DF/NDF? It might be irrelevant in this case, but making sure both sides match settings is generally a good practice.

-gb-

Paul Gale · March 18th, 2008, 08:44 AM

I have an old JVC rear focus/servo zoom controller that I use with my 570. The focus controller works fine on the F350 but the zoom controller has an incompatible pin arrangement.

I can get a converter cable but it's quite expensive at around £200 ish.

So I was just wondering what other kit people use for remote zoom/focus for conference work etc?

I'm aware of the Manfrotto 524CFi zoom controller which is meant to be quite good and also quite cheap at around £200 (certainly cheaper than the Fuji controller kit at around $3,700!!!)

Any ideas/recommendations?

Paul.

Tim Allison · March 18th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Anyone know the link to download an instruction manual?

Jon Essex · March 19th, 2008, 05:08 PM

I'm unsure of how to transfer logging data from one computer to another? The client wants to view the proxies on his Mac laptop and then pass that data on to the edit suite for ingesting etc.
Please could someone talk me through the process which I'm guessing is very simple!

Many thanks,

Jon Essex
Lighting Cameraman / Editor
DSR570 PDW-F355 FCP

Thierry Humeau · March 19th, 2008, 09:14 PM

Are they any F350 owners in the SF area? Please, reply to thumeau@telecamfilms.com

Thanks.

Thierry.

February 23rd, 2008, 12:27 AM	#151
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	Training Has anyone here gone to the training that Sony provides (like $2,000 USD) for the XDCAM or any other sony product. Would you recommend this?

February 27th, 2008, 04:14 PM	#152
Eelco Romeijn Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Rotterdam (Netherlands) Posts: 60	skindetail Hello HD shooters, Does anyone have experience with using the skindetail settings on Sony camcorders? I never took the time to do some thorough testing and never met anyone who used it. Recently we started shooting progressive and it seems that the image looks a little softer than interlaced. That got me thinking on maybe compensating with detail settings. What is your opinion? __________________ XDcamHD F330, 2" VF, Fujinon 13x3,3. 550D, MagicLantern, CS5.5 www.picturethis.tv

March 2nd, 2008, 06:15 AM	#153
Max Bettelle New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Venice ITALY Posts: 22	gamma and exposure If i use the standard gamma setting with auto-exposure, i can see the zebra 70% on the white skin and the picture is correctly exposed. If then i apply, for example, the cinegamma 2, the picture get darker and the zebra disappear from the skin. The autoexposure does not compensate it: should i manually open the iris til i get again the 70% zebra on the skin to get the correct picture?

March 7th, 2008, 01:23 PM	#154
Jon Essex New Boot Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Worcester, Worcestershire Posts: 12	Firmware for F355 Hi all, This may well be a dumb question but I keep reading about Firmware updates for the F350 and I wondered if anyone knows of any firmware updates for the F355 yet? Cheers Jon Essex DSR570 - PDW F355 - FCP Studio 2

March 7th, 2008, 02:34 PM	#155
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	the F350 firmware brought in many features that the F355 has. Am sure there will be something in the near future. __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

March 9th, 2008, 08:43 PM	#156
Victoria Toss Tourist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: France Posts: 1	Need some details on XDCAM system for university paper Hello, I'm looking for some technical details and descriptions for the XDCAM system (regarded as a carrier for storing the data, but the cameras themself as well) for an extensive university paper I have to prepare. There are not so many materials on the internet that I've found. Any help, guys?

March 10th, 2008, 02:30 AM	#157
Paul Gale Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 425	Exactly what kind of info do you need? Have you looked at the Sony Biz web site? A number of links that may be useful: http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowC...37;20PRO%20HUB http://www.sony.co.uk/res/attachment...7924780833.pdf http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowP...DCAMCamcorders Also look at the links at the top of this forum - lots of info there: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=62598 Paul.

March 13th, 2008, 04:21 PM	#158
Dan Brazda Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 165	350 & Hvx200 Saw some concert footage recently of 2 350's intercut with HVX-200. Interesting. HVX made decent pictures but couldn't handle the saturated highlights AT ALL while the 350's had no problem with them. Not a very scientific comparison I realize (no info yet on exposure and other settings between the cameras- BJ, if you're lurking out there be sure to chime in) but it made me want to see the EX-1 in the same situation replacing the 200 and see what the results would be.

March 13th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#159
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	I would chalk most of that up to the 1/3 vs. 1/2 sensor. More dynamic range for the F350 (and for the price difference, there darn well better be). The EX-1 will also exhibit a wider dynamic range than the HVX200 based on sensor size alone. It's just the nature of the beast. -gb-

March 15th, 2008, 04:55 AM	#160
Jon Essex New Boot Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Worcester, Worcestershire Posts: 12	Signal Drop Out via Firewire I seem to be having a signal drop out every now and again when playing from the camera via firewire. It looses the signal for a second and then finds it again. PDW-F355 and a DSR11 DVCAM. Any ideas? Cheers Jon Essex DSR570, PDW F355, FCP

March 15th, 2008, 09:43 AM	#161
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Jon, there are a couple things that I can think of. First, and most obvious thing that came to mind was to try a different cable. Can you attach camera directly to a computer via FW and see how the capture process goes? As in all troubleshooting, it's a process of elimination via substitution when substitute items are available. With the F-355 being fairly new, it may have a bug in the firmware so it's important that you let Sony know if you can't resolve the issue by other means. BTW, does the deck have a setting for DF/NDF? It might be irrelevant in this case, but making sure both sides match settings is generally a good practice. -gb-

March 18th, 2008, 08:44 AM	#162
Paul Gale Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 425	Rear focus/zoom controls for Fuji lenses? I have an old JVC rear focus/servo zoom controller that I use with my 570. The focus controller works fine on the F350 but the zoom controller has an incompatible pin arrangement. I can get a converter cable but it's quite expensive at around £200 ish. So I was just wondering what other kit people use for remote zoom/focus for conference work etc? I'm aware of the Manfrotto 524CFi zoom controller which is meant to be quite good and also quite cheap at around £200 (certainly cheaper than the Fuji controller kit at around $3,700!!!) Any ideas/recommendations? Paul.

March 18th, 2008, 02:32 PM	#163
Tim Allison Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Starkville, MS Posts: 96	Need User Guide for PDZ-1 Browzing Software Anyone know the link to download an instruction manual?

March 19th, 2008, 05:08 PM	#164
Jon Essex New Boot Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Worcester, Worcestershire Posts: 12	Logging Footage I'm unsure of how to transfer logging data from one computer to another? The client wants to view the proxies on his Mac laptop and then pass that data on to the edit suite for ingesting etc. Please could someone talk me through the process which I'm guessing is very simple! Many thanks, Jon Essex Lighting Cameraman / Editor DSR570 PDW-F355 FCP

March 19th, 2008, 09:14 PM	#165
Thierry Humeau Telecam Films Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 723	F350 owners in SF? Are they any F350 owners in the SF area? Please, reply to thumeau@telecamfilms.com Thanks. Thierry. __________________ Thierry Humeau, DoP Télécam Films www.telecamfilms.com Last edited by Thierry Humeau; March 20th, 2008 at 06:35 AM.