Mac
12-01-2004, 10:09 AM
I have been shooting with the XL2 for over a week and a half, over 25 tapes. I am increasingly more impressed with using the camera - As stated previously, I shoot handheld the majority of the time (I do still hate the iris switch). The image is excellent and consistant. 0 dropouts, no head clogging - an annoying problem with the DVX and Panasonic tapes.
I have posted previously on how my XL2 is set up, although I do tweak it occasionally, using all three of the Custom Presets to full advantage.
I have been a vocal DVX advocate (not here, but with associates). In fact I recently completed a complex documentary with it (shot letterbox) that will be distributed via APT to PBS affiliates in the Spring. The 24p cine-look image is fantastic in 4x3. I still have my DVX 100A that I currently use with the anamorph for wide shots and inserts. But the quality difference (remember, I'm using the anamorph now) is considerable. The XL2 is a big winner in the 16x9 arena.
I have not had the oportunity to shoot with the Sony, so I can't comment on that camera. I do like it that the pro version will shoot HDV, DVCAM or MiniDV in NTSC and PAL. But it's still a Handycam style, and in my opinion, there's nothing handy about it.
I don't shoot landscapes or wildlife. I work with people, usually without lighting, in real life situations. The image with the XL2 is more than acceptable (in fact I regularly use a SoftFX 1/2 or a ProMist 1/2 or 1/4) and the aliasing issue is not objectionable in moving footage. Freeze frames in test situations do little to demonstrate actual usable footage - they are a good point of reference, though.
Actually, I see the aliasing more in the DVX footage because of the nature of that material (tends to be wide shots of rooms where diagonal lines are more likely to appear).
All in all, I will wait until someone makes a hand-holdable HDV camera before being lured into that format. The image from the XL2 on a 42" plasma screen is terrific. And I can edit it now.
I have posted previously on how my XL2 is set up, although I do tweak it occasionally, using all three of the Custom Presets to full advantage.
I have been a vocal DVX advocate (not here, but with associates). In fact I recently completed a complex documentary with it (shot letterbox) that will be distributed via APT to PBS affiliates in the Spring. The 24p cine-look image is fantastic in 4x3. I still have my DVX 100A that I currently use with the anamorph for wide shots and inserts. But the quality difference (remember, I'm using the anamorph now) is considerable. The XL2 is a big winner in the 16x9 arena.
I have not had the oportunity to shoot with the Sony, so I can't comment on that camera. I do like it that the pro version will shoot HDV, DVCAM or MiniDV in NTSC and PAL. But it's still a Handycam style, and in my opinion, there's nothing handy about it.
I don't shoot landscapes or wildlife. I work with people, usually without lighting, in real life situations. The image with the XL2 is more than acceptable (in fact I regularly use a SoftFX 1/2 or a ProMist 1/2 or 1/4) and the aliasing issue is not objectionable in moving footage. Freeze frames in test situations do little to demonstrate actual usable footage - they are a good point of reference, though.
Actually, I see the aliasing more in the DVX footage because of the nature of that material (tends to be wide shots of rooms where diagonal lines are more likely to appear).
All in all, I will wait until someone makes a hand-holdable HDV camera before being lured into that format. The image from the XL2 on a 42" plasma screen is terrific. And I can edit it now.