Content area
Full Text
Some objects have an appeal that is out-of-- proportion to all the other objects in the same category and become instant classics. The Ford Thunderbird and the Eames recliner are two such objects. The passage of time has not diminished our fascination. It's pointless to wonder why, because our desire comes from a combination of things-design, performance, appropriateness. In light of the unabated interest in the Canon XL1, another instant classic, I'm embarking on another series of articles about accessories for this camera [see "Field-Testing Accessories for a MiniDV Superstar," 9/99, 10/99, 12/99].
Light is required to record video images. If you want good pictures, light the scene. The smaller the format, the more attention must be paid to lighting. That's difficult to do if you must shoot at night. Avoidance is the best solution. The alternative is to shoot day-for-night or restrict your locations to places with high levels of ambient lighting.
MiniDV camcorders do a passable job under low-light conditions. The Canon XLI falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. Even with electronic gain on, the camera requires several foot candles of ambience. Once the levels fall below two foot candles, you're out of luck unless you employ specialized equipment designed to peer into the darkness: night vision systems.
Night Vision System
Night vision was originally designed for military applications. The first generation of night vision equipment required separate batteries, special couplers, and lens-relay systems to mate the heart of the system-an image-intensifier tube-to cameras. The first-generation tubes weren't very sensitive. Second-generation tubes have been in use for 20 years. The third-generation was introduced in the past five years and is significantly more sensitive. Generation II and III equipment is available for the Canon XLI and other cameras with interchangeable lenses. We tested night-vision systems manufactured by Electrophysics Corporation and Optex (distributed in the U.S. and Canada by ZGC).
Now Does vIiI Wow Work?
The heart of any night-vision system is an image-intensifier tube that greatly multiplies...