Playing with the Canon XC10

Even though this camera is hated by most, Canon did a great job with the codec. 4K at 305/mbs 4:2:2.
 
Even though this camera is hated by most, Canon did a great job with the codec. 4K at 305/mbs 4:2:2.

Its a killer codec for sure.
But is only hated by weirdos. No real film maker would hate a camera just because they themselves didn't need it.
Like it is for me with the A7rii/sii. I see 0 reasons to ever buy one. But I don't hate it, nor bash the people that like it. We are different, simple as that.
 
Even though this camera is hated by most, Canon did a great job with the codec. 4K at 305/mbs 4:2:2.

+1 it's a fab codec grades like butter. Now I know why Canon chose to go Cfast 2.0 after having shot with the XC10 for a good few weeks now. This is a professional codec, unlike the 8bit 420 100mbps I get from my RX10 2, which is still nice, but nowhere near as nice as the XC10 codec. Will have some footage soon.
 
+1 it's a fab codec grades like butter. Now I know why Canon chose to go Cfast 2.0 after having shot with the XC10 for a good few weeks now. This is a professional codec, unlike the 8bit 420 100mbps I get from my RX10 2, which is still nice, but nowhere near as nice as the XC10 codec. Will have some footage soon.

If you think the RX10 has a bad codec check out DJI's new X5 Pro drone camera for over $2000. 4K at 60/mbs 4:2:0...
 
+1 it's a fab codec grades like butter. Now I know why Canon chose to go Cfast 2.0 after having shot with the XC10 for a good few weeks now...
Rumors have the incoming 1D X MKII with CFast slots as well (given its price, it should, shouldn't it?)
 
If you think the RX10 has a bad codec check out DJI's new X5 Pro drone camera for over $2000. 4K at 60/mbs 4:2:0...

I wouldn't go so far to call XAVC-S 4K at 100Mbps albeit at 8bit and 420 a bad codec per se, but it's really thin and prone to banding and other artefacts. And yes, the X5 Pro codec seems really thin indeed at just 60Mbps. At 8bit 420 in 4K, it should be at least 150 Mbps or better yet 200 mbps for better post.
 
Its a killer codec for sure.
But is only hated by weirdos. No real film maker would hate a camera just because they themselves didn't need it.
Like it is for me with the A7rii/sii. I see 0 reasons to ever buy one. But I don't hate it, nor bash the people that like it. We are different, simple as that.

Hey mate, which Canon LOG to 709 LUT do you use as a primary LUT to de-log your XC10 footage? The C300 one, or any other? I can't seem to find a dedicated Canon XC10 LOG to REC 709 lut out there, I am sure one probably exists. I found the C300 to legal709 from AbelCine to work alright, but was wondering what you use. Thanks
 
Hey mate, which Canon LOG to 709 LUT do you use as a primary LUT to de-log your XC10 footage? The C300 one, or any other? I can't seem to find a dedicated Canon XC10 LOG to REC 709 lut out there, I am sure one probably exists. I found the C300 to legal709 from AbelCine to work alright, but was wondering what you use. Thanks

I dont really use any. But when Ive tried in Premiere I used the LUT for the 1DC and kiked it.
 
Today on NFS they had an article about using a 35mm adapter on an XC10. I don't see the point for me personally since I also have a FF D750 but I still had a look around in case they where super cheap. Could be a fun experiment.

I quickly found one that also included a couple of vintage lenses, something Im very good at finding, buying, using and selling. So I went for a look.
Just seeing the word "Flektogon" on one of the lenses was enough to know that the deal was good.

The lenses included where:
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.4
Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f3.5
Voigtlander Color-Ultron 50mm f1.8
Super-Takumar 55mm f1.8
Jupiter 85mm f2
Chinon 28mm f2.8


I paid $100 and looking at recently sold on ebay its worth a minimum of $600



Here are two dark, ungraded, iso4000 grabs with dust on the lenses. It is just a quick proof of concept. I will have a proper test coming soon.


 
Thought i'd up load some samples from the XC10. I've had it for about a month now and have been taking it with me on walks to get used to using the camera. I have to say it's very easy to shoot. I'm still learning how to grade the canon log, I don't have much experience with resolve but I like the flexibility of the files. I had a NX1 for a while and while looking side by side the nx1 is sharper, the canon has much richer colors.
 
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The prices on these have come down so much (I bought one for $1100) that I finally decided to buy one for gimbal work and as a b-cam to my C100. Interesting camera. I did some tests:


I'm seeing that temporal noise reduction ghosting in Wide DR and Canon Log (visible in my autofocus test), which makes this camera one that I wouldn't bring along on a paid shoot. Someone over on EOSHD is suggesting that shooting in EOS Standard applies the least amount of noise reduction, and that it takes care of the ghosting problem. I'll have to try that out.
 
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