PAL Cameras under 60Hz Flourescent Lighting in the USA at DVinfo.net

Tim Otholt · October 31st, 2002, 11:56 PM

Hi all,

All this "hype" (is that the appropriate word) of the PAL version of the DVX100 has me a bit excited... 25p + extra resolution sounds great.

But I've also heard horror stories about filming under 60Hz flourescent lights using PAL equipment. I live in the USA and would like to know what do you do to reduce it?

I've heard of something called a Ballast, but I suspect it is not something you can hook up to the flourescent lights in your house / office.

So is it practical to use a PAL camcorder in the USA with so much flourescent lighting?

Tim

P.S. I'm using this to make inexpensive movies, not weddings or videos of my kids.

Adrian van der Park · November 1st, 2002, 02:13 AM

all flouroscents lights have a ballast. It's what drives the particles in it to make light. ;)

the better ones get rid of that 60Hz flicker. And a good one isn't that much more than a low-grade ballast. Only makes a real difference if you're thinking of buying in the tens or hundreds.

Tim Otholt · November 1st, 2002, 08:16 AM

(Note: I have no lighting experience other than turning on my light switch on and off in my house. =P)

So...

I'm looking at the flourescent bulb in my house, hanging from my ceiling. Inside the bulb is a ballast?

Does this mean I can get rid of the 60Hz <-> 50Hz PAL camera flicker by replacing my flourescent bulb in the ceiling?

Tim

Jeff Donald · November 1st, 2002, 03:05 PM

No, the ballast is part of the fixture. You would have rewire each fixture witha new ballast.

Jeff

Marcus van Bavel · November 1st, 2002, 11:38 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by TimOtholt : Hi all,

But I've also heard horror stories about filming under 60Hz flourescent lights using PAL equipment. I live in the USA and would like to know what do you do to reduce it?

So is it practical to use a PAL camcorder in the USA with so much flourescent lighting?

-->>>

Tim, if you set the shutter speed to 1/60th sec the flicker
is eliminated. Sony PAL cameras have this option and I
assume the PAL DVX100 will as well.

For more info see http://www.dvfilm.com/book.htm

Frank Granovski · November 2nd, 2002, 01:23 AM

Having a PAL cam, I've noticed flickering under the cheap fluorescent lighting, but non under tungsten. If you want to do serious shooting, I suggest getting the right kind of lighting equipment. It's not expensive if you know where to look. Bryan Beasleigh would be the member to give you some good lighting advice.

Nick Kerpchar · November 2nd, 2002, 07:15 AM

Tim,
Just to close the loop on the question of the ballast in a fluorescent light fixture. It is the transformer and is usually a heavy rectangular black box that is mounted in the center of the fixture (although I have seen them mounted on the side of built-in commercial types of fixtures).

The ballast is usually the thing that you smell when a fluorescent fixture is about to burn-out; "Does anyone smell something like electrical wire burning?" Most times it's the ballast.

Nick

Tim Otholt · November 2nd, 2002, 11:05 AM

Thanks all, Nick included, for filling in all the information. Mucho appreciated all!

Tim

P.S. I will probably get the NTSC version due to price, college student and all.

October 31st, 2002, 11:56 PM	#1
Tim Otholt New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 12	PAL Cameras under 60Hz Flourescent Lighting in the USA Hi all, All this "hype" (is that the appropriate word) of the PAL version of the DVX100 has me a bit excited... 25p + extra resolution sounds great. But I've also heard horror stories about filming under 60Hz flourescent lights using PAL equipment. I live in the USA and would like to know what do you do to reduce it? I've heard of something called a Ballast, but I suspect it is not something you can hook up to the flourescent lights in your house / office. So is it practical to use a PAL camcorder in the USA with so much flourescent lighting? Tim P.S. I'm using this to make inexpensive movies, not weddings or videos of my kids.

November 1st, 2002, 02:13 AM	#2
Adrian van der Park Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 87	all flouroscents lights have a ballast. It's what drives the particles in it to make light. ;) the better ones get rid of that 60Hz flicker. And a good one isn't that much more than a low-grade ballast. Only makes a real difference if you're thinking of buying in the tens or hundreds. __________________ Adrian van der Park VFX modeler London, England

November 1st, 2002, 08:16 AM	#3
Tim Otholt New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 12	Err... ok... I'm a bit confused (Note: I have no lighting experience other than turning on my light switch on and off in my house. =P) So... I'm looking at the flourescent bulb in my house, hanging from my ceiling. Inside the bulb is a ballast? Does this mean I can get rid of the 60Hz <-> 50Hz PAL camera flicker by replacing my flourescent bulb in the ceiling? Tim

November 1st, 2002, 11:38 PM	#5
Marcus van Bavel Contributor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Austin TX Posts: 176	Re: PAL Cameras under 60Hz Flourescent Lighting in the USA <<<-- Originally posted by TimOtholt : Hi all, But I've also heard horror stories about filming under 60Hz flourescent lights using PAL equipment. I live in the USA and would like to know what do you do to reduce it? So is it practical to use a PAL camcorder in the USA with so much flourescent lighting? -->>> Tim, if you set the shutter speed to 1/60th sec the flicker is eliminated. Sony PAL cameras have this option and I assume the PAL DVX100 will as well. For more info see http://www.dvfilm.com/book.htm

November 2nd, 2002, 11:05 AM	#8
Tim Otholt New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 12	Thanks Thanks all, Nick included, for filling in all the information. Mucho appreciated all! Tim P.S. I will probably get the NTSC version due to price, college student and all.

November 1st, 2002, 03:05 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	No, the ballast is part of the fixture. You would have rewire each fixture witha new ballast. Jeff

November 2nd, 2002, 01:23 AM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Having a PAL cam, I've noticed flickering under the cheap fluorescent lighting, but non under tungsten. If you want to do serious shooting, I suggest getting the right kind of lighting equipment. It's not expensive if you know where to look. Bryan Beasleigh would be the member to give you some good lighting advice.

November 2nd, 2002, 07:15 AM	#7
Nick Kerpchar Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 211	Tim, Just to close the loop on the question of the ballast in a fluorescent light fixture. It is the transformer and is usually a heavy rectangular black box that is mounted in the center of the fixture (although I have seen them mounted on the side of built-in commercial types of fixtures). The ballast is usually the thing that you smell when a fluorescent fixture is about to burn-out; "Does anyone smell something like electrical wire burning?" Most times it's the ballast. Nick

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