Top Ten Things I need to know about XD Cam

[Rad]

So I just found out I'm getting my hands on an XD cam for a demo monday. I've seen and held the camera before, But I want to take it out quick.

What's the top ten things I need to know?

Rad

[FTOJRLST]

1 -If you like to use Free Run TC check the compatability with whatever NLE you be using.(as a matter of fact check all compatability issues with the NLE. GV NewsEdit works great, still real time, but is fine with free run. Premier and Final Cut hate Freerun.)

2- Your choice of battery is important due to the load the camera draws. The Anton Battery Bracket has had a few issues with the connection.

3- Get the right lens. There are menu options that allow a lot of tweaking with a compatible lens.

4- Don't go cheap on accessories. :)

5- Get good Shotguns.

6- The sony Wireless is great but the Lav on the bodypack is fragile below the mic capsule and gets frayed quickly if not ultra careful about stress on it. It's not fixable by your engineers like the older sony lavs and its $400 to replace. (I'm on my 4th!!!)

7- You can have your engineers buy the components and build the 5xlr audio pigtale splitter for the audio passthrough for live shots and feeding out of the camera.

8- You can firewire footage in and out of the camera with ease as long as your settings are right.

10- We've broken one LCD screen.

and one more...

11- You'll get error codes everynow and then that will usually clear easily but sometimes boards have to be reset.

Otherwise It's a rock solid camera and the discs are indestructable. We're still using and re-using the same discs we started with 2 years ago.

I wouldn't use any other camera in the world. I love it!

[Baltimore Shooter]

FTOJRLST,
Why does FCP hate Free Run?

Where has the XD had issues w/ the A/B connection?

You would think the engineers would learn about the mic capsule. Do you think a Lectro M150 wired for the Sony body pack would last longer?

I'd love to see a picture of the '5xlr audio pigtale splitter'.

When you say the boards have to be reset, do you mean they have to be firmly into the camera's motherboard or do you mean something else, like reseting a computer or something?

Just curious.

Warren

[FTOJRLST]

FTOJRLST,
Why does FCP hate Free Run?


I'm not sure why it's like that it just is (personal experience on both). Both of those companies should update their software to work with it. Premier and FCP treat the XD like tape, rewinding to and fro to get to the spot on the disc, whereas GV jumps to a given timecode instantly.



Where has the XD had issues w/ the A/B connection?


The adapter for the A/B plate has a seemingly bad connection after a lot of use it just works apart causing it to go dead. Never happened to mine though, but to several others in our group.



You would think the engineers would learn about the mic capsule. Do you think a Lectro M150 wired for the Sony body pack would last longer?



Unlike the ECM-50 series the sony lav that attaches to this model bodypack is an ECM-88. It is not repairable because Sony has sunk the whole innerworkings of the capsule in a hard glob of silicone.

However if anyone wants to try to repair a broken one, I have one that is broken that could be a guinea.



I'd love to see a picture of the '5xlr audio pigtale splitter'.



I have the pic somewhere....or I'll get a new one up soon. It's cheaper to buy the componenents and build it than to buy what sony sells.



When you say the boards have to be reset, do you mean they have to be firmly into the camera's motherboard or do you mean something else, like reseting a computer or something?

Just curious.

Warren

Yes just firming them into the motherboard just like with ole SP.

[Tazam77]

The audio is very sensitive. Turning the pot a little turns it up a lot. It is easy to come back with over modulated Nats.

It's really nice to check the WB on the LCD.

Shoot in shots. Don't keep rolling. It makes it easier when editing clips in the playback deck.

Turbo gain is nice in a quick no light situation.

Watch the lenses you use. Had mine fall off a few times in my hand. Loosened up on its own and needs to be watched.

All in all. . Sweet camera!

[2000lux]

The audio is very sensitive. Turning the pot a little turns it up a lot. It is easy to come back with over modulated Nats.

Just a guess but... I end up working with a lot of different cameras and I've learned the hard way to check everything before I start shooting.

When I have that problem it usually means the audio input is set too high in the camera or the wireless. Try going in to the camera menu and looking for the audio input levels. If they're set for -40, try bringing them down to -50 or -60 and see if that gives you more range in the audio.

[SandRat]

The Anton Bauer battery plate issue has been worked out. The new cameras have beefed up pins.

[Max Girth]

I'm not sure why it's like that it just is (personal experience on both). Both of those companies should update their software to work with it. Premier and FCP treat the XD like tape, rewinding to and fro to get to the spot on the disc, whereas GV jumps to a given timecode instantly.

This is an issue if you digitize traditional-style, treating the XDCAM deck like any other deck.

If you bring your footage in as files, FCP is just fine with free run.

In other words, TC breaks on an XDCAM disc, if it's being brought in like a tape throws FCP for a loop just like any other tape format would.

But files are files, knowhudimsayin?

[Canonman]

Watch the lenses you use. Had mine fall off a few times in my hand. Loosened up on its own and needs to be watched.

I don't know about the SD versions of the camera much, but on the HD camera, there is a rubber piece that is on a post above the lens. You are supposed to move it to the lower post after attaching the lens to keep the lock ring from rotating. It makes it a bit more difficult to do a quick lens change, but it will prevent the lens mount from loosening up.

Just a thought,

cm

[SimonW]

This rubber attachment is on the SD cameras as well. But I always make sure to periodically check the tightness of the lens to make sure nothing has loosened over time. If I was in an ENG environment, or changing lenses more often I would be checking all the time regardless of the camera.

[FTOJRLST]

FTOJRLST,
I'd love to see a picture of the '5xlr audio pigtale splitter'.


Here's that pic I promised....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/351205072_8406282314.jpg

[skeyworth]

Anton/Bauer Goldmount for the XD-HD cameras -

The pins on the Sony connection block have been beefed up, but also make sure you use one of the spacers attached to the lower left of the QR-DSR Goldmount with the screw and washer that is in a little plastic bag. This will reduce the "wiggle" of the Goldmount that is a by-product of the Sony Wedge Mount. (There is a little "wiggle" when useing a Sony Battery also which used to result in a arcing between the pins of the Sony connector block and the Sony battery/Goldmount connector block.

Scott Keyworth
Anton/Bauer

[Canonman]

Good info, Scott. I have that spacer and screw in place on my adapter. Also, I wanted to note that I actually got sold the wrong adapter and am using the one for the DSR series. It works fine, except I have the extra thumb screws on top with nothing to screw into.

cm

[skeyworth]

Canonman, If you have the Golldmount with the thumbs screws you have the QR-SDH, which is for SX, Digi-Beta, HDCAM, and XD-SD.
It should not be a problem except you have the screws sticking up.

The QR-DSR is for the DSR- DV Cams and the XD-HD (this is becasue Sony did not put the two screws holes in the XD-HD - go figure. Alot of cameramen ask why...)

Scott Keyworth
Anton/Bauer

[Canonman]

It should not be a problem except you have the screws sticking up.

No problem with the screws, they actually help hold down the wiring harness of the UL-Dimmer. They could also be spares for the wireless receiver side plate if I'm not mistaken.

cm

[Mr. Boomstick]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/223385102_41cee072cf_m.jpg

I've been using this camera for the last four months. Everything is way better. Plus you can manually change everything at will. You can white balance and then if you want it warmer, you can quickly change it. There are so many different settings to play with that you never have the time to use them all.

[ISDV]

Is that a Porta Brace shoulder case on your camera, or is it another brand? Do you like it?

[SandRat]

Is that a Porta Brace shoulder case on your camera, or is it another brand? Do you like it?

I have a Porta Brace on mine and it was a little annoying at first, but once every strap and loop was tightened, stretched, tightened again (with some tugging and yanking) everything fit the way it should.

Some of the outputs (composite video, gen lock, etc.) are under an akward flap and there's a little strap between the LCD and the thumbnail access panel that can be a pain at first, but the more you use it, the less you even notice it. I've had mine about five months and I don't even think about it.