Need some help please!

[billylampley]

fairhopechurch.com/messages/

If you look at the videos, We have had a terrible problem with focus. We have tried EVERYTHING! I'm using an XL1 and needing some advice on how to get the quailty a little bit better. Also, does anybody know how to remove the text off of the screen (battery, record, etc) so I can run the s-video out as a separate feed? Thanks!

[zactommo]

It seems your link doesn't work, but to answer your questions.

To remove the text from the screen, find the settings in your menu called "TV Screen" and I think it needs to be off (there are only two settings, so you can't go wrong)

As for focus, first things first. Turn Auto Focus OFF!! When it comes to shooting, zoom in as close as you can on your subject (a person I assume) then turn your focus ring until the image looks sharp, then zoom out and frame your shot. If you find that your not sure what "in focus" is then you can do what I said above, but use the push AF. What this does is put the shot you have in focus using auto focus, then turns off once you let the button go, so the focus setting stay.

Hope that helps =)

[Pastor Ryan]

how long have you had this camera?

Because I have a similar issue with an XL1 and I have tried everything...

Truth be told the problem is in two places for us...lens and the camera unit...

how do I know this you ask?

I took the lens of the XL1 and put it on my XL2...it was blurry...

But the XL2 lens on the XL1 body...and it was blurry...

in both instances it was a different blurry than when it was all xl1 components...but blurry nonetheless.

Need to possible send it to Canon after you exhaust all efforts.

[zactommo]

Are we talking XL1s, or Xl1's here. I havent had much experience with the XL1, but I have with the Xl1s, and it has no such focus problems.

The only complaint I have with the XL series lens is they don't provide enough focus range to do close-ups when zoomed out. Have found that problematic when using it for an onstage camera at concerts etc...

[kbob]

I've seen that in relatively low light situations when one of our members would bring his xl1 in for some of our special events. More specifically, it would happen on low light scenes with motion, as it seemed to hunt a bit trying to keep up with the action.

If that's what is happening to you, the best solution is actually more light-which seems to solve a lot of quality issues with church video in the first place, lol!

[AlexH237]

Unfortunately, the XL1 has no way to turn off TV screen from the camera, the only way to do it is by pressing "TV screen" on the remote. With the focus, the lens that the XL1 comes with is a bit soft (especially on the edges) and the XL1's CCD isn't full resolution and upscales the image. It still looks pretty good though if you can keep it at critical focus.

[tedanderson]

Take the camera outside on a sunny day to see if your focus issues improve. One thing to keep in mind is that if the iris is opened to compensate for low light, you will have a difficult time keeping the camera focused. The principle is similar to looking through a pinhole. If you are near sighted, looking through a pinhole brings everything into focus without the use of glasses. A tighter iris increases the ability to remain in focus.

[mcbob]

Dittos on what Ted sed.

I can't see the video, but if it's anything like most churches, bets are that you're shooting in low light from far off, meaning you're "wide open" at max telephoto - and thus have the narrowest depth-of-focus possible. Any movement forward or back from your point of focus means fuzz city, and a maddening eternal hunt to correct it as the service proceeds.

Solutions, then, concentrate upon closing the f-stop (by increasing light or in-camera gain) and/or using a wider lens/zoom (by getting closer to the subject).


Incidentally, once you learn how this principle works, you can use it to your advantage in more controlled shoots like interviews, testimonials, etc., to give that nice "blurred background" separation effect.

[cyburdine]

I'm betting low light lack of depth of field, but it could also be backfocus. I don't remember off hand but do XL1's have backfocus? or perhaps the lens is not seated correctly (just trying to think of all things that might cause this)

[Paris MkVI]

There's no back-focus or flange-focus adjustment on the XL1.

Because of the design of the the original lens, you can't follow the usual ritual of zoom in - focus - zoom out - frame up. Once you zoom back out the focus will shift and you have to retouch it once you have your framing composed.

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by Paris MkVI

There's no back-focus or flange-focus adjustment on the XL1.

Because of the design of the the original lens, you can't follow the usual ritual of zoom in - focus - zoom out - frame up. Once you zoom back out the focus will shift and you have to retouch it once you have your framing composed.

Gee, that almost sounds like a camcorder rather than a television camera.
(oh wait)

I don't understand why people keep trying to use a home-movie camcorder in place of a real television camera.