How much noise is acceptable?
 

O db is ideal, but just how noisy is the A1 at -3db and -6db? The A1 is not a great low light camera compared to sony's z1 or pd series cameras.
Z-1 looks very clean at -3db and -6db.
There are times when I just have to kick up the gain a little, but I haven't thoroughly tested/viewed the A1 gain scenario yet.

thanks,
chris

When I shoot weddings with it in HD, I wouldnt go over 3db of gain. When I downconvert to DV, I will take it up to 6 or 9 depending on my needs. Needless to say, when it gets dark, I use the Z1.

You can go up to 9dB, when you convert later to DV?
That would be good.
Can you post some screenshot with this setting?
thx

+9 db is the max I would ever go. At +12 db it also starts to blur a lot.

With Canon GL-2 i go up to 6db.
12 is too noisy for me.

Gain adjust
 

Sorry for little off topic.... where do you go on the A1u to adjust the gain?
If adjusting gain by the exposure manual - or + how do you know what dB you are at without play back what you just shot indicate in camera data.


Thanks

Someone can confirm that Sony HC1/A1 is better in lowlight than the old D8 models, like DCR-TRV-120E, etc. (this model has 1/4" ccd chip instead of today D8 1/6).

So i hope that hc1 lowlight performance is between D8 and GL2.
If yes, i buy one :)

Exposure lever full right = +18 db gain.

Every stop to the left reduces gain by 3. So six stops left equals to 0 gain. After that the camera starts to close the iris.

Thanks Mikko.