XDCAM EX1 on the road blog

Justin Carlson · December 21st, 2007, 08:28 AM

Phil, did you have any problems setting up you EX1 with the Brevis? I have no problems focusing in on the Ground Glass on my Z1U to the (Brevis+Spacer+Achromat), but when I set my EX1 up to the same setup, I can't focus in close enough. Did you have a problem with close focus?

Phil Bloom · December 21st, 2007, 08:35 AM

Yeah you need a fair old spacer between the achromat and the brevis. Or get a flip

Justin Carlson · December 21st, 2007, 09:14 PM

Great, thx.
I'm really enjoying the video you created "kew whole". I've watched it a couple times on my AppleTV. It has a great feel to it!

Sean Seah · December 21st, 2007, 10:35 PM

Hi Phil, just to sum up the entire workflow.
Shoot in 1920x1080-25P>Capture into FCP with Clip browser> CC with MB Looks>Export as QT for web?

I'm looking to move to FCP so I like to understand more. Thks!

Phil Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 01:54 AM

Justin, I get my Brevis flip in Monday. I will let you know if it works well with the ex1.

Sean, I shoot 1080p 25p or 720 25p for overcrank. Import into the Mac. Edit, grade with MB Looks. Export as a quicktime movie file using current settings then convert to h264 mp4 using quicktime pro. If you export .mp4 direct from the timeline it needs to re render all the colour correction which is slow.

John McCully · December 22nd, 2007, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

I shoot 1080p 25p

Phil, your experience with this camera has been so helpful; I thank you for your contribution. And on that basis I'm sorely simply tempted to blindly follow your excellent example regarding choosing 25p, especially as in the here and now I'm in PAL land. But that's not entirely my nature; I have a question: how did you decide?

I presume you tried 30p, and 24p, and 60i and so on. How did you settle for 25p may I ask? I’m wrestling with this decision even as my EX1 is on its way and I embark on a difficult-to-repeat project. Was that decision based on specific customer needs or broad future-proofing, or what?

Many thanks for being so patient...and extremely helpful.

Cheers

John

Phil Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 02:38 AM

hi john

I always shoot at the same frame rate as UK broadcasts which is 25 frames a second. So I always shoot 25p for the film look or if I really have to 50i for interlace, but I really don't like interlace! I never shoot 24p as I don't need to output to film at all, well not yet!

Simon Duncan · December 22nd, 2007, 02:54 AM

Hi Phil,

Just a question regarding your use of 1080 25p.

While I luv progressive and even more so luv 1080 at 25p how do you deal with motion when shooting at this resolution. EG Say one has a setup whereby there's alot of movement in the shot (such as a soccer match) what's your advice and setup. Does one need to shoot at 720 50p to maintain a clean shot?

Simon

Phil Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 02:56 AM

Hi Simon

I wouldn't recommend using 25p on Sport. Use 1080p 50i or 720p 50p

Bill Ravens · December 22nd, 2007, 08:20 AM

Phil...

I've seen a lot of luma noise in my images from a JVC HD110 after color correcting. This isn't low light grain, but noise that gets introduced in post processing from gain changes or color shifts. My understanding is that this is a shortcoming of the long GOP mpeg compression in 4:2:0 color space.

Have you experienced this with the EX1? I'm interested in the EX1, but, not if it has the same level of noise I experience with CC HD110 footage.

Phil Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 08:22 AM

Hi Bill

As far as my experience goes I haven't experienced an increase in noise with CC. I do shoot everything -3db if I can. It isn't a completely noise free picture, if you look hard enough it is there. But it is minimal compared to all the other cameras I have used.

Philip

John Hewat · December 22nd, 2007, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

Hi Bill

As far as my experience goes I haven't experienced an increase in noise with CC. I do shoot everything -3db if I can. It isn't a completely noise free picture, if you look hard enough it is there. But it is minimal compared to all the other cameras I have used.

Philip

Hi Philip,

This may have been asked in this thread already but I haven't spotted it.

You do all your colour grading in post production, which is what I've been trying to do. And my question then is what settings do you pay most attention to in camera during the shoot? Are there particular picture profile preferences that you have? Or do you just sort of shoot neutral and save it all for post?

Phil Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 08:32 AM

Hi John

I do have some settings in Picture Profile but only subtle ones, I will make a list and post them. When editing myself I prefer to leave it pretty neutral. If it is for something that won't be graded I have heavier settings.

Rob Collins · December 22nd, 2007, 01:50 PM

I would love to have some picture profile suggestions Phil. Just got the camera yesterday. I'm used to the Cine preset on the DVX100, but I also just got Magic Bullet Looks and plan to use that and shoot neutral most of the time. Occasionally though I'll need a quick turnaround and would love to be able to achieve that look out of the camera. Thanks!

Craig Seeman · December 22nd, 2007, 02:51 PM

Maybe we should start a separate thread on Picture Profiles. I could use some ideas with that too but it might make it hard to follow if it's all lumped into this thread.

December 21st, 2007, 08:28 AM	#181
Justin Carlson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 173	Phil, did you have any problems setting up you EX1 with the Brevis? I have no problems focusing in on the Ground Glass on my Z1U to the (Brevis+Spacer+Achromat), but when I set my EX1 up to the same setup, I can't focus in close enough. Did you have a problem with close focus? __________________ Justin http://www.carlsonmedia.ca

December 21st, 2007, 08:35 AM	#182
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Yeah you need a fair old spacer between the achromat and the brevis. Or get a flip __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 21st, 2007, 09:14 PM	#183
Justin Carlson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 173	Great, thx. I'm really enjoying the video you created "kew whole". I've watched it a couple times on my AppleTV. It has a great feel to it! __________________ Justin http://www.carlsonmedia.ca

December 22nd, 2007, 01:54 AM	#185
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Justin, I get my Brevis flip in Monday. I will let you know if it works well with the ex1. Sean, I shoot 1080p 25p or 720 25p for overcrank. Import into the Mac. Edit, grade with MB Looks. Export as a quicktime movie file using current settings then convert to h264 mp4 using quicktime pro. If you export .mp4 direct from the timeline it needs to re render all the colour correction which is slow. __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 22nd, 2007, 02:38 AM	#187
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	hi john I always shoot at the same frame rate as UK broadcasts which is 25 frames a second. So I always shoot 25p for the film look or if I really have to 50i for interlace, but I really don't like interlace! I never shoot 24p as I don't need to output to film at all, well not yet! __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 21st, 2007, 10:35 PM	#184
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Hi Phil, just to sum up the entire workflow. Shoot in 1920x1080-25P>Capture into FCP with Clip browser> CC with MB Looks>Export as QT for web? I'm looking to move to FCP so I like to understand more. Thks!

December 22nd, 2007, 02:54 AM	#188
Simon Duncan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Angers, France Posts: 181	Hi Phil, Just a question regarding your use of 1080 25p. While I luv progressive and even more so luv 1080 at 25p how do you deal with motion when shooting at this resolution. EG Say one has a setup whereby there's alot of movement in the shot (such as a soccer match) what's your advice and setup. Does one need to shoot at 720 50p to maintain a clean shot? Simon

December 22nd, 2007, 02:56 AM	#189
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Hi Simon I wouldn't recommend using 25p on Sport. Use 1080p 50i or 720p 50p __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 22nd, 2007, 08:20 AM	#190
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Phil... I've seen a lot of luma noise in my images from a JVC HD110 after color correcting. This isn't low light grain, but noise that gets introduced in post processing from gain changes or color shifts. My understanding is that this is a shortcoming of the long GOP mpeg compression in 4:2:0 color space. Have you experienced this with the EX1? I'm interested in the EX1, but, not if it has the same level of noise I experience with CC HD110 footage.

December 22nd, 2007, 08:22 AM	#191
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Hi Bill As far as my experience goes I haven't experienced an increase in noise with CC. I do shoot everything -3db if I can. It isn't a completely noise free picture, if you look hard enough it is there. But it is minimal compared to all the other cameras I have used. Philip __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 22nd, 2007, 08:32 AM	#193
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Hi John I do have some settings in Picture Profile but only subtle ones, I will make a list and post them. When editing myself I prefer to leave it pretty neutral. If it is for something that won't be graded I have heavier settings. __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

December 22nd, 2007, 01:50 PM	#194
Rob Collins Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 229	I would love to have some picture profile suggestions Phil. Just got the camera yesterday. I'm used to the Cine preset on the DVX100, but I also just got Magic Bullet Looks and plan to use that and shoot neutral most of the time. Occasionally though I'll need a quick turnaround and would love to be able to achieve that look out of the camera. Thanks!

December 22nd, 2007, 02:51 PM	#195
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Maybe we should start a separate thread on Picture Profiles. I could use some ideas with that too but it might make it hard to follow if it's all lumped into this thread.