XA35 Operation
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Tips for Shooting Video with the XA35
Zoom.
Zoom shots can be used for good effect, such as ranging telephoto to wide
to highlight critter camouflage. Smooth, steady zoom is generally best for such
shots, and is achieved by setting your camera zoom slider to do so. In the camera
menu are settings to control the zoom rate: Variable and Speeds 1 through 3.
Variable will, as the name suggests, zoom slow to fast depending on how far you
move the zoom slider, and is difficult to control for that smooth, steady zoom.
Speed 2 or 3 is recommended, and provides a constant zoom rate regardless of the
zoom slider position.
Manual Focus.
The XA35 housing allows direct access to the Assignable Buttons
on the camera. Assign button 1 is preset to toggle between auto and manual focus.
Manual focus is a useful function underwater, and can prevent the camera from
‘hunting’ or ‘seeking’ to find focus.
A common technique is allowing the camera to auto focus on your subject (or on
something about the same distance from you as your subject), then switch to
manual focus. This ‘freezes’ the focus at that distance – no hunting or seeking.
The GP32 wide angle port further provides a large depth of field (DOF), so most
everything in front of your camera will be in focus, too.
Note however, that the auto focus capability of the Canon cameras is remarkably
good. If your subject has detail and contrast, the camera will accurately track focus.
You may find auto focus in such situations can be of benefit to your video.
Image Stabilization.
The Canon XA35 cameras have built-in image stabilization
functions. These are useful above water for steady, even shots.
Underwater, however, the Canon cameras should have image stabilization turned
off to avoid vignetting. With the GP32A port in particular, you may see momentary
black corners with sharp movement of the camera. To avoid this, set the Image
Stabilization mode on the cameras to ‘OFF’.
