Callibrate an HVX and an XL2

[writetobillok]

I have a shoot where we are using two cameras. The two we have available are an HVX and a XL2.

We already shot some footage at the same frame rate but when we load it into the FCP the HVX footage looks terrible, a lot of noise and what seems to be color bleed (and some poor focus, but I know where that came from) meanwhile the XL2 footage looks great. What gives?

Since they are set at relatively the same F stops, and color temperatures, shouldn't the images be a little more comprable? I just don't understand where all the image noise came from.

If you can't tell, I shot with the HVX and am bummed at the image quality when we are reviewing our footage.

[PhantomVideo]

Are you sure that its the HVX footage and not the XL2 footage? i recently did
a rock gig all live big screen switching and i have to say that Canon Color pretty much doesnt line up with any other camera but itself, like we had:

2x HVX
1x Z1p
1x PDX10
1x Xl2

the Xl2 WAS AWFUL skin tones were rubbish and the Red bleed to hell, sony and panasonic presets work pretty well together, but stay away from mixing
with the canon the xl1 was nice once apon a time

cheers
Ash

[TimurCivan]

if you set up the xl2 to be "colorful" and then boosted the hvx to "match". that could be a problem. the hvx can and will completely saturate the colorchannels with information, especiallly in CINEMATRIX. then it will be noise city. try shooting in cineV gamma, norm matrix, and -2 chroma level. that should be a very pretty picture. or if youre daring -7 chroma with cinematrix on to get the super technicolor saturation toned down but still providing the balanced color matrix of RBG signals.

[Spartacus]

As for intercutting the footage from HVX and XL, well, Canon calibrates for the TV folks, prefering a clean and more neutral picture, Pana wins the price in the "Most cinematic out-of-the-box settings" category.
So, if you haven´t tweaked the settings, you will have to do some serious post processing to match them.
Maybe try one of the extremer MagicBullet presets...?
As for the HVX noise, do a search, it has been discussed A LOT and the problem can be minimized.
EDIT: What timur said and watch your exposure of course...
If you really have to use both cameras, try to match their looks BEFORE shooting, actually if I recall there are some user created presets for matching the XL2 with the DVX, which should be close enough to the HVXs.
Maybe check DVinfo for further info.
For tweaking the HVX, get Barrys book.

[Spartacus]

Are you sure that its the HVX footage and not the XL2 footage? i recently did
a rock gig all live big screen switching and i have to say that Canon Color pretty much doesnt line up with any other camera but itself, like we had:

2x HVX
1x Z1p
1x PDX10
1x Xl2

the Xl2 WAS AWFUL skin tones were rubbish and the Red bleed to hell, sony and panasonic presets work pretty well together, but stay away from mixing
with the canon the xl1 was nice once apon a time

cheers
Ash
Did you use the XL2 or XL1? now?
I´ve been an XL2 user/owner before and there is absolutely nothing wrong with its image quality.
Bleeding reds most likely comes from the DV compression...

[TimurCivan]

the xl2 isnt the issue. its a beautiful camera.

but from personal experience ive known the hvx's DV performance to be quite stellar. it should look great!

[PhantomVideo]

i could be wrong id love some suggestins cause I have always found xl1/2
to be to rich on reds really bad under stage lighting, and to have this terrible
focus problem when on full manuel the camera will just pull of push out of focus,
and i found this on all three xl1, xl1s and the xl2

[PhantomVideo]

Did you use the XL2 or XL1? now?
I´ve been an XL2 user/owner before and there is absolutely nothing wrong with its image quality.
Bleeding reds most likely comes from the DV compression...

No DV compress, live SD composite from all camera to a Pany MX50,

[Spartacus]

No DV compress, live SD composite from all camera to a Pany MX50,
Strange.
Never had problems with the XL2 besides DV compression of course.

[ProfessorU]

If you wanted to post two small files, I could try to match them in After Effects and send you the settings. I've saved a few projects that way. Plus we'd get a better idea of what you're up against.