Tips on shooting low light at DVinfo.net

Robert Bec · January 1st, 2009, 02:37 PM

Happy New Year

I was playing around with the canon A1s first time user of any canon product and would like to know what settings are people using for low light conditions . I will be shooting in 50i and i would prefer to leave it on the M setting or is there a better setting what about A , AV TV etc

firstly AGC when it is on i pick up alot of grain so i figure turn it off.

Second gain control what are the 3 settings you would have it set at i had 0 +6 +12 what do you think

Are there any other presets within the camera that need to be turned on or off for better performance

regards

Rob

Michael Hutson · January 1st, 2009, 03:30 PM

Try this link....it has other posts for you to go to.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-...ngs-xh-a1.html

Randy Panado · January 5th, 2009, 01:20 PM

Hi Robert,

Congrats on getting your new camera :). The link posted above is full with info and probably all you need to answer all your questions, but I figure I'd just toss a few things at you.

AGC, you're right, turn that off.

My gain settings are as follows, -3, +3, +6. I try to never got above +6 as the gain is too much with my A1. You could try +9 as I believe the A1s gives more options in that respect.

I'm in the US so I shoot 60i but if ever I encounter a situation where +6 doesn't help, I'll drop my shutter speed from 1/60 to 1/30 (mostly during dancing at weddings receptions) to compensate. If that doesn't work, I'll break out the light.

Playing with presets really is the key to getting the most of out this camera without alot of post processing work. I just developed a preset that works great in lower lighting and has great skin tones. I'll make a thread about it later :).

Pavel Sedlak · January 5th, 2009, 02:48 PM

try this

1. for +6dB:

GAM N, KNE L, BLK M, PED -1, SET -1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV L, COR +7, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN +23, CPH -1, ALL REST 0.

2. for +12dB gain

A/ GAM 1, KNE L, BLK M, PED -2, SET -1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV 0, COR +9, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN 4, CPH -1, ALL REST 0

B/ NEED COLOR CORRECTION IN POST - GAM 2, KNE L, BLK M, PED -1, SET 1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV 0, COR 2, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN -4, CPH 0, ALL REST 0

I like them .-) .

Tom Hardwick · January 5th, 2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Bec

canon A1s first time user of any canon product and would like to know what settings are people using for low light conditions Rob

First thing to say to get the best in low light is don't obstruct the lens. Remove any filters, converter lenses and so on. Then stay at the wide-angle end of the zoom. If you're filming at wide angle you might need two 100w lamps on, say. At telephoto you'd need 8 100w lamps on to give the same exposure.

tom.

January 1st, 2009, 02:37 PM	#1
Robert Bec Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 358	Tips on shooting low light Happy New Year I was playing around with the canon A1s first time user of any canon product and would like to know what settings are people using for low light conditions . I will be shooting in 50i and i would prefer to leave it on the M setting or is there a better setting what about A , AV TV etc firstly AGC when it is on i pick up alot of grain so i figure turn it off. Second gain control what are the 3 settings you would have it set at i had 0 +6 +12 what do you think Are there any other presets within the camera that need to be turned on or off for better performance regards Rob

January 5th, 2009, 02:48 PM	#4
Pavel Sedlak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Prague Czech Republic Posts: 263	re try this 1. for +6dB: GAM N, KNE L, BLK M, PED -1, SET -1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV L, COR +7, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN +23, CPH -1, ALL REST 0. 2. for +12dB gain A/ GAM 1, KNE L, BLK M, PED -2, SET -1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV 0, COR +9, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN 4, CPH -1, ALL REST 0 B/ NEED COLOR CORRECTION IN POST - GAM 2, KNE L, BLK M, PED -1, SET 1, SHP 0, HDF M, DHV 0, COR 2, NR1 AND NR2 0, CMX1, CGN -4, CPH 0, ALL REST 0 I like them .-) .

January 1st, 2009, 03:30 PM	#2
Michael Hutson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 249	Try this link....it has other posts for you to go to. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-...ngs-xh-a1.html

January 5th, 2009, 01:20 PM	#3
Randy Panado Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 643	Hi Robert, Congrats on getting your new camera :). The link posted above is full with info and probably all you need to answer all your questions, but I figure I'd just toss a few things at you. AGC, you're right, turn that off. My gain settings are as follows, -3, +3, +6. I try to never got above +6 as the gain is too much with my A1. You could try +9 as I believe the A1s gives more options in that respect. I'm in the US so I shoot 60i but if ever I encounter a situation where +6 doesn't help, I'll drop my shutter speed from 1/60 to 1/30 (mostly during dancing at weddings receptions) to compensate. If that doesn't work, I'll break out the light. Playing with presets really is the key to getting the most of out this camera without alot of post processing work. I just developed a preset that works great in lower lighting and has great skin tones. I'll make a thread about it later :).