TX1 happenings
It's been a bit quiet on the TX1 front this week - I wonder how many more people have taken the plunge and bought one off eBay before they are released? If you have, be sure to let us know your first impressions.
Also if you have any contributions to the FAQ or have seen other examples of video kicking about on the interwebs, do let me know via the comments section.
I am off to New York for the long weekend (UK) and will be packing the TX1 to take some hi-def video of the big city. I am only going to be taking my 16-35mm wide angle lens on the DSLR so I am going to be relying on the 10x zoom of the TX1 for all the long shots. We'll see how that goes.
I have a post in prep at the moment regarding encoding TX1 videos from M-JPEG to other more 'slender' formats like Windows Media and H.264. I will post the results soon, and hope to recommend some good settings to get the best picture quality vs. file size.
Finally, if you're liking this blog, and you're inclined to do so, be sure to mention it in your travels on forums etc - the more people we get contributing, the better it will be.
23 comments:
Matt,
What tools are you using for the encoding?
I have only processed raw AVI to DVD and not to DivX or WMV. So far tried Nerovision, Convert'X'to DVD and WinAVI to DVD.
Impressive results so far, im favouring WinAVI at the moment, Nero appears to introduce juddering on panning...
Rgds,
Cy
Hi Cy,
For the moment, I am using Quicktime on Mac to compress to H.264. The results are pretty encouraging.
Matt
There are probably several of us that know zilch about processing video clips. I have a simple way of doing it,....I download to a Panasonic 200GB hard drive DVD recorder and then make DVDs with that. I've combined several formats on the same DVD (or rather the Pany has),mixed clips from a Canon DVD camcorder, a Sanyo C5 hybrid mpeg4, and a Canon A710. I'll be hoping for some insight into how to record the HD clips to DVDs for watching now and still save the HD clips for the day when I have an HD TV and all the support DVD players etc. I'm sure one of you on this blog will be willing to spoon feed me.
Just found your blog and I'm liking what I see! Considering buying a TX1 soon! :-)
I have a TX1 am exprerimenting as well... thanks for your blog. One thing I am working on is how to store movie files when traveling w/o a laptop. I am looking for a small, high capacity portable storage device to download movie files to. Here's the best I've found thus far (with speed, battery life, and small size as the most important criteria)
http://www.hypershop.com/shop/
That Hyperdrive certainly looks good, with impressive transfer rates. One of our other readers Henry is having good results with the iPod and the iPod camera connector, being able to transfer 2GB twice in quick succession. Transfer times are a lot slower than the Hyperdrive though.
I took the plunge and purchased one of ebay, but there's something I'm concerned about. The manual claims the the component cables are the kind that have the three colored plugs, but the component plug that was in my box had a plug that looked to me like a dvi plug, although I'm not sure because I don't have that option on my tv. Also, I cannot seem to get anything to appear on my tv when I plug it in. It says in the manual do disable stitch assist, but I can't seem to figure out what that is?
Mine only came with the composite cable not component. You plug one end in the camera and the other in your video in socket on the tv. Dont worry about the stitching thing. Only issue is this will play low def not hi def. You need the component cable for hi def. Its a real shame canon didnt include a dock and hdmi cable. Matt
Mine came with composite as well, but when I plug it into the TV, nothing comes up. The manual I have doesn't really state what to do with the camera to watch it on TV, what do you do?
I actually got it working, I just had to try a different tv. I think I also found out what I need for my component cable to fit into my tv.
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B1%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%83%80%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%83%88-D%E7%AB%AF%E5%AD%90%E3%83%93%E3%83%87%E3%82%AA%E3%82%B1%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB-D%E7%AB%AF%E5%AD%90%EF%BC%8D%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8D%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E7%AB%AF%E5%AD%90-1-0m-VD-D3RM-01/dp/B000KJ9SDG/ref=pd_sbs_e_4/250-9918733-9899447
I'm not sure if this one is compatible with the one that came with my Canon, does anyone know?
Purple/colour streaking.
Guys, have any of you encountred severe colour streaking in bright daylight conditions, not unlike the indorr streaking I'm used to with bright lights. My TX1 seems very prone to this streaking, plus if you shoot into the sun(inadvertently ie very bright day) the whole scen becomes purple. It's as if it needs a neutral density filter or polariser. I just wonder if Canon have tried a fix which is what delayed the original shipment and that alot of the cams from ebay will have this problem whilst others will not.
Yep I have encountered this purple streaking too, esp in sunny conditions or where a bright light source is in frame or slightly oblique to the lens.
I agree, some kind of filter may be needed. There is a thread on the inside of the lens so perhaps Canon will eventually put something out which could help with this.
arrrggghhh, I don't think that cable is the one that works with the TX1. In the manual it refers to CTC-100.
See here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=459788&is=REG
Damn. I was in that store on the weekend and didn't even think about picking one up!
Matt & Anonymous: I've also noticed an impressive amount of streaking--vertical, the entire height of the image--when any comparatively/contrasted very bright light source is in a shot.
This isn't unique to the TX1; it's a dynamic on other Canon cameras. It's mentioned on page 116 of the manual and chalked up to being "a normal occurrence in devices containing CCDs.
The streak doesn't show up in pictures, but it does appear in video recordings. Personally, I can live with it; what the TX1 accomplishes is impressive, and I'm happy to cut it slack on tough lighting contrasts.
Yes, just need to be aware of its limitations, you can buy a tripod mount filter holder from cokin for about £10, and pop-in nd/polariser filters, it's looks light but a bit large for the tx1, also there's a magnetic type that fits onto the end of the lense ring, there isn't one on the tx1 of any size so was maybe thinking of buying a bit of rubber pipe just to fit over the end of the lense barrel, very light and trying that, it needs a filter, nd imo. but as you say it does everything else so well!
Related comments. I purchased on line (not ebay) and the box and contents showed that it had been handled by others alot. Received the wrong componet cable/missing manuals but canon is shipping me the correct items free!! How does one tell if it is a Jappense model and does this matter? Also can't read SD 150x 4g Q card directly (camera Ok) in any computers/shows not formated/then can't complete format. Suggestions/experience?
what does everyone think of this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/0-5X-Wide-Angle-Lens-For-CANON-POWERSHOT-TX1-NEW_W0QQitemZ180115721999QQihZ008QQcategoryZ64325QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i'm not sure if it puts the whole link, but it's a wide angle adapter that supposedly snaps onto the front of the tx1. is this at all possible, or is this a scam?
I have ordered this WA adapter. I doubt if it fits normally, as the range is 27mm-37mm, but I am willing to do a little adapting.
The wide angle adapter does not fit the TX1, even though it is advertised for that purpose.
I really hope that canon eventually launch some useful accessories for our tx1 such as wide angle lens and uv filters in sometime near future.
CANON PLEASE~~~
I have used both Canon TX1 and Sanyo HD2. As a consumer, you won't get good quality from either camera. You have to be intimately involved in the quirks of the autofocus, shutter speed, f-stop, iso, ND filter to get anywhere with these cameras.
Based on problems with the color and wide angle attachments, I would have stuck with the Sanyo.
Canon TX-1
-------------
convenient mounting
cheapest HD cam with zoom
best stabilization
no macroblocking in fast motion
mosquito artifacts
heavy 9oz
blurry lens
no manual shutter for video
lousy color in bright light because of lack of ND filter
exposure lock for video doesn't work
no support for wide angle, filter attachments
Sanyo HD2
-------------
sharp lens
better color in bright light because of ND filter
long recording time
light 8oz
smarter autofocus
supports wide angle, filter attachments
30% more expensive
macroblocking artifacts in fast motion
inconvenient mounting
lens cap falls off
no exposure lock
lousy stabilization
Any info on direct USB connect using Linux? I've been able to read the SD cards in Linux using my HP printer slot, in case that is helpful to anyone. Thanks again for all of the great info, especially about SDHC cards!!! It saved me from buying a C4 card instead of a Kingston C6.
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