Canon XL1s help(expirienced users)

[Strikerx]

I have a problem with my cam, and its regarding the lighting. Is there a way to have no grainy picture? Ive been trying to film under the auto mode, with movie frame mode. The problem is that the picture is a little grainy. Ive been trying to mess with the Gain db, but all the modes are grainy, execpt for maybe the 0 and +6 options, but they are too dark. I just want to have a normal picture. I mean, I expect to have clear picture considering this is a $4000+ camera...

Now, I figure that maybe there is something I need to fix on there to get a clear picture, but I cant figure it out. Can someone please help?

I would appreaciate it.

 

[MarkG]

Gain is an electronic boost of the camera signal, so it's always going to be at least a little grainy if it's anything above zero. Sounds like your problem is that you simply don't have enough light to shoot with no gain.

Personally I've found that +6db is about the most you can go to and still get a clear picture on the XL1 or my TRV900. Some more modern cameras can get to +12 or so without looking too bad.

One thing you should probably check is that you have the shutter speed on 1/60 second (for America and other NTSC countries) or 1/50 second (for PAL countries). If you've accidentally put it on a fast shutter speed then you'll need a lot more light or the camera will compensate by increasing the gain.

 

[Strikerx]

Yeah, perhaps I should check up on the shutter speed. The +6db is the one with the least grainy picture as far as I know. My only probem is that the picture is a little dark, but I can probably mess with the brightness a bit. Ill be shooting a few day shots, but the majority will take place at night.

Anyway, thank you for the advice.

 

[Cindy]

We have added this camera to the Tech Focus and Product Reviews section of studentfilmmakersforums.com. If you want to write a review or post a comment, you can do so here: http://www.studentfilmmakersforums.com/news/article_287.shtml

 

[Filmosity]

Ok, this is gonna be an explanation and a half, so i hope you're ready.

Well, first off, the 'grain' you're talking about is called digital noise, or just "noise" when you're talking about video. Film grain is different than video noise, though they look similar.

Now, on to your problem. These digital video cameras are great in low light, but you have to expect some digital noise, especially once you start using the digital gain.

Think of it this way: On many digital still cameras, you'll see the description "3x optical, 10x digital." What that means is that you'll get three times the magnification using actual physical portions of the lens. Once you go past that, the camera will automatically switch over to the digital part and magnify the image digitally in the camera.

To translate this to your problem, your Xl1 uses two basic ways to get light through the lens to the imaging sensor chips (the CCDs). First, it uses the iris, then it uses 'gain.' The iris is a physical piece of metal or plastic, very similar to the iris in your eye. you can open and shut the iris to let more or less light in, all according to the f/stop. f/stops are the numbers you see on the side of the lens (i.e., 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, etc.), and these numbers correspond to the opening of the iris, and thus, the amount of light that gets let in. Once you reach the maximum aperture (opening) of the lens, the camera can take over and "boost the gain," meaning it will take the image and brighten it by a certain decibel level. That's what the dB level is.

So, in order to avoid all that noise and still get a properly exposed image, you need....drumroll please....LIGHTS!!!!

That's right. That's why on movie sets you'll always see big ass lights everywhere. You need to actually light the subject in order to see it. Go figure. There's a whole section on lighting here at studentfilmmakers, and there are many, many books available on the subject. However, why not just go to a local hardware stpre, get a couple extension cords, some $30 work lights, some small spot lamps, and light away? You'll have a masterpiece in no time.

Chris

 

[MarkG]

Yeah, my early super-8 films were lit with 500W security lights that cost about $10 .

Pretty hard to control with no barn doors to block out the light, but they did the job at the time.

 

[jonboatjones]

xl1s image quality issues too

xl1s image quality issues too

I dont have an answer, but will say that I too am battling with the same problem. grainyness in the darker areas of the picture huh? Lack of clarity. If its any help, when you digitize your footage, run the saturation down a bit, it will help to remove some of that stuff, I have found. Bad thing is, you will lose some of the color. BUT, you can play with the custom presets on the cam, and kinda make up for it. Sounds wrong, boost color gains, only to take them back out during capture, or in post, but it seems to help a little. other than that, I dont yet understand completely this prob. I do use lights, shoot outdoors, use ND filter, Dont use ND, whatever. My gl2 always shoots better. I posted another topic on this. take a look... oh yea, don't use the gain unless you have too, it will
surely add that grainyness, light well. (but it still is questionable)

jb