XDCAM EX…. so noisy!

[Don Greening]

[Navarro Parker] “I should be able to turn on a factory fresh EX1, push the record button and get noise free footage, right?”

Correct, as long as you haven’t pushed the magic button (full auto) and the EX is dialing in picture gain all by itself.

[Navarro Parker] “There’s not any special setting ‘reduce noise’ function that isn’t active by default, right? “

Again, you are correct. There is no “reduce noise” button or similar menu item. When my replacement EX showed up a week or so ago I took it out of the box, changed from 1080i to 1080p, set my manual knee point to 80% IN PP1, manual gain to -3 and got noise free footage first time out. I’m using the first version of the Sony Transfer Tool, FCP v.6.0.2 on a MacPro tower running OS 10.4.11.

– Don

[Rene Hazekamp]

Well, I did some minor tests and after examining the shots (3), I see your point. Not that I get this horrible results as you got. – maybe that’s because of a different background color, light, etc-
But I have to admit that most shots (even older one’s I was perfectly happy with) are a tad noisy.
-what does it say about my professionalism ?

The ex + the ex codec might not be the best couple to use when you want to key your shots and maybe only usable after a lot of tweaking. Good for me I only make documentaries (and family films)

-but I have say your shots looked extra extra bad, i don’t know why

Rene Hazekamp

portfolio https://www.renehazekamp.com

[Navarro Parker]

Thank you! You’re the first person who’s acknowledged you are seeing some noise. I’m not crazy! 🙂

[Navarro Parker]

set my manual knee point to 80% IN PP1

I haven’t been doing this. I will try it out!

[Bengt-goran Bengtsson]

I am longing to buy an EX1 but now…? I looked to some footage I shot at a Sony dealer. There is also noise. Compared to HDV Fx1: Almost no noise! Please post some frames with original .mp4 or .mxf file! Please shoot a second outside with sunshine and shadow in same picture! I am using Edius on a PC.

[Tom David]

This might sound like a stupid suggestion at this point, but have you checked that your not shooting with the FULL AUTO button on (left side of camera)? If you are shooting at f8, and the camera thinks that this is underexposed, it will crank the gain automatically to compensate which might suggest your high gain in picture.

I haven’t had grain issues yet with this camera, so keep fighting the good fight!

Cheers,
Tom

Camera Operator – Editor – Motion Graphics
(https://www.tomdavid.com.au)

[Anders Holm]

Did you solve this issue? Because i seem to be having the same problem. If you solved it, how?

Really hope you can help me out – because this really suck.

Anders

[Bengt-goran Bengtsson]

Hello Anders
I did see that you asked if this problem is solved in this old thread. I think Tom Davids comment on full auto is right. I did buy the EX1 myself now in March and it gives tremendous nice pictures if you use it right. And with very low noise. But in low light with lots of gain you need to reduce the sharpness. With standard settings and +18dB gain, the EX1 is mush worse than FX1/Z1. But in normal light… Its very nice.
/BG Bengtsson