Don Greening
Forum Replies Created
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Can you be more specific as what your ‘digital hits’ look like? can you perhaps post a frame grab?
The finished (and rendered) output should be your only determining factor in the quality of the picture. The problem could be anything from something FCP7 is doing, something Quicktime is doing all the way to your computer being in dire need of some system maintenance and file cleaning.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
The very early EX1s had back focus issue differences between the ND clear setting and the two ND filter settings. This was fixed with a subsequent firmware update.
If you think there’s a focus difference between ND clear and the activated ND filters then you should do the flange back adjustment located in your camera’s maintenance menu. The EX1 lenses are par-focal so you should be able to have a good focus throughout the entire zoom range. Do the flange back routine twice, the first time using ND clear, the second time using one of the ND settings. Note any difference in focus quality. If there is a difference then send your camera in for service.
Stopping down the iris (a higher F stop number) instead of using the ND filters is definitely the wrong way to go because of deffraction limiting. The more you close the iris the softer the image becomes, especially noticeable with a big zoom in. The maximum F stop on the EX1 lenses (in front of 1/2″ imagers) is apparently F8. The smaller the imagers the less latitude there is to keep deffraction limiting at a minimum.
If you need to refresh your memory on how to do the flange back adjustment search this forum using keywords such as ‘flange back adjustment’ or back focus adjustment. And whatever you do DON’T use the one for the EX1R camera. That’s a completely different set of instructions on how to implement the procedure.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Ian, some sort of miracle just happened. I tried again with yet another one of my email addresses, this time with my company one. The returning email from Sony showed up faster than you can say: “Okay, so where’s my serial number this time?”
Thanks again for your response. There’ll be a little extra something in your stocking this xmas and it won’t be a lump of coal.
Cheers,
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Thanks for the response, Ian. I ended up trying with 2 different email addys of mine but no joy on either. Can you point me to a page that has your web dept’s email addy? I did try connecting to a link on the page you provided but was taken to a page asks one to fill out a rather lengthy form before a question can be submitted:
https://www.custcenter.com/app/ask
Seems like a bunch of hoops to jump through that aren’t really necessary just to get a free serial #.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
I applied for one of the free serial numbers but I never received an email containing the number. No email of any kind, actually. That was about 3 days ago.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
The Flange Back adjustment procedure described on my site is for an EX1R only, which is quite a different animal than a straight EX1 which is what the O.P. asked for.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Yes, there is a way to adjust the back focus (called flange back adjustment) on an EX1. You need to get a proper test chart first though. Then you need to mount the chart on a wall and your camera on a tripod. Then you need good lighting.
Then turn on your camera, press and hold the Menu and the SEL/SET buttons at the same time and then press the CANCEL button. In the viewfinder the Maintenance menu will appear. Scroll down to “FB Adjust” and hit enter. The letters “FB” stand for “Flange Back” which is the official terminology for adjusting back focus. Make sure your camera is in full auto focus mode. Zoom in to the test chart so that it fills the screen and then hit “Execute” in the menu. The rest is all automatic and takes about 15 seconds.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
[Michael Slowe] “”You pays yer money and takes your choice”.”
Here in North America it’s “You pays yer money you takes yer chances.”
I also agree with your sage advice, Michael. I have never had an issue with Sony SxS Pro Memory cards.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
The following may not be any faster but it will definitely take fewer steps. If you have FCP7 you can export right from the timeline using the Quicktime Conversion command. In the Export Settings window choose the MP4 wrapper that contains an H.264 .mov file. Choose your quality and size settings along with your audio compression choice (usually will be AAF@192) and hit Export. Go for coffee.
I’m sure Premiere and Avid MC/Symphony can do the same thing.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
VLC Player doesn’t use a lot of storage space at 77 Mbytes. The nice thing about this is that if you need to give a client XDCAM EX media on something like a memory stick you can also include a copy of the program to be sure your client has a convenient way of viewing the shots. Obviously the version of VLC Player you include will be dependent upon the platform the client has, or you can always include both versions to be sure.
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com