DV953 snowboard film- camera setup questions at DVinfo.net

John Gaspain · November 19th, 2003, 01:27 AM

Im gonna be doing some snowboarding flicks with a Panasonic DV953, ive heard that snow will look grey if shot in auto.

Some days will be really bright some will be overcast and snowing, how many stops should I go on my camera?

Should I use Zebra stripes?

thanks

Allan Rejoso · November 19th, 2003, 08:09 PM

Try using ND filter on bright sunny days.

Yow Cheong Hoe · November 19th, 2003, 10:08 PM

The snow will look gray because the camera tries to meter for average middle gray, hence 0% white will be metered to 18% gray. You can open the aperture more to expose the snow correctly to white.

If you have a gray card (18%), then you should put it on the snow, zoom in such that the card is fully on the screen and that's the correct metering.

Not only the DV953 has this problem, every 'auto' imaging device (video or still cam, digital or film) will give the same mis-read metering.

Adrian Douglas · November 19th, 2003, 11:03 PM

When shooting in the snow I always open up 1 1/2 -2 stops depending on the day to allow for the 'grey snow' problem. I always use a polarizer filter and if it's a really bright day the built in ND. Yes use your zebrasto help blowing out the snow as they work on the IRE level not the exposure.

Shoot a bit of test stuff first to fine tune your settings and try to use manual as much as possible. If you need to use shutter or aperture priority make sure to set the exposure compensation to allow for the misreading.

Rick Bravo · November 19th, 2003, 11:11 PM

Snow...what is snow?

RB

December 7th, 2003, 02:43 PM

you will probably find some good answers on the www.snowfilmer.com message board. its got a lot of pro filmers and a ton of really knowledgeable folks on it all the time.

Joe Carney · December 8th, 2003, 02:50 PM

>>Snow...what is snow?
<<
I recently moved here from Boca, and saw some this past weekend. It's water thats cold, sticky, yet still wet. Don't let those pretty pictures fool you...it DOES NOT feel good getting stuffed down you pants. Nothing at all like a snowcone. Don't ask me how I know that.:)
Did throw my first snowball in almost ten years, hehehe.

Yow Cheong Hoe · December 8th, 2003, 06:35 PM

The only snow I've ever seen was from a large tourist fridge (simulated winter snow) set up in Malaysia for the winter-experience. Chemically and physically real snow, just that it's not made by God but by men! It's interesting that the snow is soft yet hard, dry yet wet, very confusing.

Even on the highest peak, Mt Kinabalu, snow is very rare in Sout-east Asia.

Young Lee · December 8th, 2003, 09:01 PM

I miss four seasons in Korea.

Rick Tugman · December 8th, 2003, 10:16 PM

I thought the Four Seasons was a singing group... or was it a hotel chain. H'mmmmmm

Adrian Douglas · December 9th, 2003, 07:57 AM

Guys this is slipping a bit, please keep the meta discussion to a minimum.

Jerry,

I checked out Snowfilmer and it seems pretty dead. Most of the stuff was pretty good but there were a few dodgy ideas.

November 19th, 2003, 01:27 AM	#1
John Gaspain Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WA-USA Posts: 371	Snowboard film- camera ambient lighting setup questions Im gonna be doing some snowboarding flicks with a Panasonic DV953, ive heard that snow will look grey if shot in auto. Some days will be really bright some will be overcast and snowing, how many stops should I go on my camera? Should I use Zebra stripes? thanks __________________ The glory of the World passes by.

November 19th, 2003, 10:08 PM	#3
Yow Cheong Hoe Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Singapore, Passport: Malaysia Posts: 407	The snow will look gray because the camera tries to meter for average middle gray, hence 0% white will be metered to 18% gray. You can open the aperture more to expose the snow correctly to white. If you have a gray card (18%), then you should put it on the snow, zoom in such that the card is fully on the screen and that's the correct metering. Not only the DV953 has this problem, every 'auto' imaging device (video or still cam, digital or film) will give the same mis-read metering. __________________ Cam: Panasonic MX350EN, SOLD my MX8EN Mac: G3 400MHz PowerBook, 256 MB, OS 9 PC: Pentium 4 2800MHz, 512 MB, WindowsXP SW: iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Ulead Video Studio, various little utilities

November 19th, 2003, 11:03 PM	#4
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	When shooting in the snow I always open up 1 1/2 -2 stops depending on the day to allow for the 'grey snow' problem. I always use a polarizer filter and if it's a really bright day the built in ND. Yes use your zebrasto help blowing out the snow as they work on the IRE level not the exposure. Shoot a bit of test stuff first to fine tune your settings and try to use manual as much as possible. If you need to use shutter or aperture priority make sure to set the exposure compensation to allow for the misreading. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

November 19th, 2003, 11:11 PM	#5
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	Weather impaired. Snow...what is snow? RB __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

December 8th, 2003, 10:16 PM	#10
Rick Tugman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Parkland, Florida Posts: 105	I thought the Four Seasons was a singing group... or was it a hotel chain. H'mmmmmm __________________ Camera: Panasonic DV953 PC: Apple Aluminum G4 Powerbook - 15 inch Final Cut Pro 4 and other assorted goodies!

November 19th, 2003, 08:09 PM	#2
Allan Rejoso Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 569	Try using ND filter on bright sunny days.

December 7th, 2003, 02:43 PM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	you will probably find some good answers on the www.snowfilmer.com message board. its got a lot of pro filmers and a ton of really knowledgeable folks on it all the time.

December 8th, 2003, 02:50 PM	#7
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	>>Snow...what is snow? << I recently moved here from Boca, and saw some this past weekend. It's water thats cold, sticky, yet still wet. Don't let those pretty pictures fool you...it DOES NOT feel good getting stuffed down you pants. Nothing at all like a snowcone. Don't ask me how I know that.:) Did throw my first snowball in almost ten years, hehehe.

December 8th, 2003, 06:35 PM	#8
Yow Cheong Hoe Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Singapore, Passport: Malaysia Posts: 407	The only snow I've ever seen was from a large tourist fridge (simulated winter snow) set up in Malaysia for the winter-experience. Chemically and physically real snow, just that it's not made by God but by men! It's interesting that the snow is soft yet hard, dry yet wet, very confusing. Even on the highest peak, Mt Kinabalu, snow is very rare in Sout-east Asia.

December 8th, 2003, 09:01 PM	#9
Young Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 268	I miss four seasons in Korea.

December 9th, 2003, 07:57 AM	#11
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Guys this is slipping a bit, please keep the meta discussion to a minimum. Jerry, I checked out Snowfilmer and it seems pretty dead. Most of the stuff was pretty good but there were a few dodgy ideas. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors