XL1s, VX2k, etc. camera question
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for some reason.. Anyways, I'm getting rid of my trv900 and am looking to
get a camera with primarily better sound but also a more film like picture
as well (my goal is to submit a film to a few festivals).. Since I'm a
student price is a factor but quality is the number one concern... I just
hated how "buzzy" and overly crisp audio on the TRV900 was and would run out
and buy a vx2k but heard that it has similar audio issues.. Also, the xl1
(original not XL1S) - can the focusing problem be fixed? I'd love to get one
used but am worried about that.. Thanks!
David McCall
"news-server.nyc.rr.com" <as...@s.com> wrote in message news:4Vqj8.38329$in3.11...@typhoon.nyc.rr.com...
that a mic on a camera is going to provide questionable
sound quality. It's OK for simple documentation, maybe
even for background sound to accompany "B" roll material.
Beyond that you need to boom it, put lavs on the talent, or
use a handheld mic, depending on the nature of the shoot.
The "bad" sound quality is not likely to improve dramatically
with a new camera. The TRV900 is not really considered to
have bad sound, as compared to other consumer cameras.
David
>
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mod) and sometimes a shure lav hooked up to either a beachtek or a samson
mixer - they sound great hooked up to my minidisc player but like crude
going thru my trv900
"David McCall" <da...@nii.net> wrote in message
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I'm having hissy/ crappy sound using the trv900 with a sennheiser boom (a
rather good one) and a shure lav hooked up to the beachtek xlr adapter (or a
samson mixer).. I don't want to remedy the situation by trying to ground
this or patch this cable with that kinda glue - I just want to get a new
camera with a better on camera amp
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MikeM
Some of the findings might apply to your situation....
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Neuman - Ruether
>Let me clarify my problem:
>I'm having hissy/ crappy sound using the trv900 with a sennheiser boom (a
>rather good one) and a shure lav hooked up to the beachtek xlr adapter (or a
>samson mixer).. I don't want to remedy the situation by trying to ground
>this or patch this cable with that kinda glue - I just want to get a new
>camera with a better on camera amp
If you are not properly using the TRV900's audio, and as a
result are having problems, replacing the camera with
another is unlikely to solve your problems. Audio circuits
for microphone amplification are high-gain devices, and
unless proper filtering, shielding, grounding, connecting,
level-matching, and level-setting are done, you are likely
to have the problems described, with any audio gear...
David Ruether
rp...@cornell.edu
http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
Hey, check out www.visitithaca.com too...!
Neuman - Ruether
????????
Assuming you are not overloading the TRV900 input,
"plastering" the AGC with too hot an input signal
(or clipping the audio with too high a manual-level
setting), and have properly connected and grounded
the mics and wiring (including avoiding "ground
loops"), you should have sound without the problems
you mention - and the sound should be similar in
quality to what the other two choices mentioned
can offer... As for picture, the VX2000/PD150 is
both smoother in terms of relative freedom from
motion-effects, and is lower in contrast than either
of the other two (reducing the "hard" look), and
the VX2000 records a good picture (with less noise
and better brilliance) in lower light levels than
the other two...
X
back focus problems. I believe I read there was indeed a software fix
for the problem... so any used XL1 you buy shouldn't have the problem
and if it does I'm pretty sure it can be fixed.
As for the sound you should get better on-camera mic sound with an
XL1, but if you are using a boom etc. then what has been posted before
is correct. There will be problems on ANY camera if you don't have the
mic grounded correctly and if your levels are too high.
On Tue, 12 Mar 2002 20:22:52 GMT, rp...@cornell.edu (Neuman - Ruether)
wrote:
Dan
I shot a lot of footage with a TRV900 and an Audio Technica At-815b
shotgun mike and my sound quality was fine.
If you're only planning on using the on-camera mic (and don't mind
taking a hit in the 'picture' department) the XL1 has a good on-camera
mic. It's one of the few nice things I can say about that model.
Great sound.
:)
-Dan
Gary PoIIard
news:thvs8u06ueq6ros9i...@4ax.com...
> I've used two older XL1 cameras... one made in 1998 and neither had
> back focus problems. I believe I read there was indeed a software fix
> for the problem... so any used XL1 you buy shouldn't have the problem
> and if it does I'm pretty sure it can be fixed.
Not necessarily. Many of us have XL1s with the focus problem that cannot be
fixed. Supposedly it could be fixed by changing digital addresses in the
lens, bvut it seems that some lenses are not made to a sufficient tolerance
for that to work. Not only that, I have seen - at the Canon workshop - later
models of the XL1, what the techs called "3rd generation", that had the same
problem. Mine has been back to Canon several times. Their techs have given
up. And others writing here in the past have had the same experience.
Gary
>
Hughy
has a problem, it will undoubtedly have been in for many "repairs" by
now.
Our experience, with two XL1's, was an intractable backfocus problem,
with very poor focus performance in every respect.
Some event videographers seem to have got lucky and don't experience
such problems with their cameras.
Despite the timewasting "features" exchanges recently, the only real
issues with the XL1 is whether it will hold focus when you go wide. ie.
after getting critical focus fully zoomed in. A lesser point, but one
that may give you problems in event video situations - the lens will
change focus all by itself - on manual focus - under some conditions.
To explain - I have a Canon printed leaflet (came with our 2nd PAL XL1)
that explains that the 16x lens will change focus "if it is left
switched on" for any extended period. They explain that it is due to an
internal temperature rise inside the lens. I can vouch for this. After
a hot spell outdoors, if you go into an indoor venue with
airconditioning, you will have a period of around 15 - 30 minutes where
the lens focus changes by itself every few minutes (camera on manual
focus). Uncommanded focus shifts. Can be disastrous (we normally put
our remaining XL1 away once indoors, swapping to our VX2K with 0.7x wide
permanently fitted). The only way to manage XL1 temperature related
focus shifts is to - wait for it - go to autofocus!!! This is **never**
a good thing to do with an XL1, particularly in low light, but in this
particular temperature change situation we have found it is the only
answer ... We continue to live with, and use, our remaining XL1 and have
developed techniques that minimise the impact of these things.
As mentioned in several previous posts - my wife and I shoot together,
with Sony and Canon side by side. Each camera has it's own niche in the
scheme of things.
Lastly, unless you are intending to take extraordinary steps, you are
unlikely to fool judges in film festivals that you have shot on film.
Yes, you can make your work look more film like, but why bother? If you
spend the extra effort on lighting, sound etc. instead of getting a
pseudo film look, the judges will almost certainly be much more
impressed!
Regards to all,
Hughy
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Gary PoIIard
"buzzy" bit - your audio problem may be one that you can get with a
Sennheisser in combination with ANY camera or audio recorder in certain
conditions. I've experienced it too. The other recommendations may still be
necessary. And as for the sound being overly crisp, that's a common
complaint about any digital recording. The 900 isn't worse in this respect
than most other DV cams out there.
Gary
--
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Ted Langdell
factory service center to get the "blipping focus" problem fixed. That's a
problem where the lens 'blips" out of focus for an instant while zooming.
While there, they also replaced the entire head drum assembly and other tape
deck parts.
It seems to be working OK... but time will be the true indicator.
This is the second time the camera's been in the shop since I got it last
April. The first time was to fix a problem where the camera would try to
turn on... but would just light the power LED's and then shut off five
seconds later.
That's the second XL1 camera that I've used that had to have service for
that. Canon replaced the main circuit board in each case.
As far as finding and keeping focus with this or any other camera, a
high-rez black and white viewfinder with peaking is/would be a big help.
Ted.