ND filter makes footage too dark at DVinfo.net

Nick Hope · September 21st, 2004, 02:24 AM

I've been trying to follow my VX2K's advice and switching the neutral density setting to 1 or 2 when it prompts me in bright conditions, but the resulting footage comes out too dark for my liking.

What do you all do? If you're running on auto exposure do you follow the ND advice, and if so do you find that the footage is underexposed?

Rob Lohman · September 21st, 2004, 02:30 AM

If you want good footage you should stay away from auto
anything. If the camera tells you it is too bright it doesn't matter.
What matters is how it looks to YOU.

With my XL1S I frequently use the ND filter. If you don't change
anything else it may be too dark indeed. You will need to open
up the iris to allow more light in or change the shutter speed
(which you normally don't want to do when you've chosen a
setting that works for you).

Now keep in mind that you usually only use an ND filter when
you want your iris open as much as possible or when you are
closing the lens down too much. There are various methods of
cutting incoming light. An ND filter is one of them.

Ricky Serret · September 21st, 2004, 03:51 AM

i personally don't follow ND advice at all. do like Rob said. do it to your liking.

Mike Rehmus · September 21st, 2004, 09:43 AM

OTOH, I've never had poorly exposed video by following the on-screen guide in either auto or manual modes.

Tom Hardwick · September 22nd, 2004, 08:57 AM

Nick - I wonder if you're doing things the right way? The Sony is calling for the ND filters whenever the brightness of the scene means the aperture reaches f9.5, regardless whether the camera's on manual or auto. If you leave it in auto exposure and ND! flashes up, switching in the ND should make it 'flick' a bit, but after that the exposure will look exactly the same - only the sharpness will be improved. Same with the ND2 setting.

It's very important to use the ND filters on these cameras. If you don't they will happily film at f16, f22 and f32 (yes!) and the results will look horrible. I know - I've tested it.

tom.

September 21st, 2004, 02:24 AM	#1
Nick Hope Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 189	ND filter makes footage too dark I've been trying to follow my VX2K's advice and switching the neutral density setting to 1 or 2 when it prompts me in bright conditions, but the resulting footage comes out too dark for my liking. What do you all do? If you're running on auto exposure do you follow the ND advice, and if so do you find that the footage is underexposed?

September 21st, 2004, 02:30 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If you want good footage you should stay away from auto anything. If the camera tells you it is too bright it doesn't matter. What matters is how it looks to YOU. With my XL1S I frequently use the ND filter. If you don't change anything else it may be too dark indeed. You will need to open up the iris to allow more light in or change the shutter speed (which you normally don't want to do when you've chosen a setting that works for you). Now keep in mind that you usually only use an ND filter when you want your iris open as much as possible or when you are closing the lens down too much. There are various methods of cutting incoming light. An ND filter is one of them. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 21st, 2004, 09:43 AM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	OTOH, I've never had poorly exposed video by following the on-screen guide in either auto or manual modes. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 21st, 2004, 03:51 AM	#3
Ricky Serret Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 30	i personally don't follow ND advice at all. do like Rob said. do it to your liking.

September 22nd, 2004, 08:57 AM	#5
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Nick - I wonder if you're doing things the right way? The Sony is calling for the ND filters whenever the brightness of the scene means the aperture reaches f9.5, regardless whether the camera's on manual or auto. If you leave it in auto exposure and ND! flashes up, switching in the ND should make it 'flick' a bit, but after that the exposure will look exactly the same - only the sharpness will be improved. Same with the ND2 setting. It's very important to use the ND filters on these cameras. If you don't they will happily film at f16, f22 and f32 (yes!) and the results will look horrible. I know - I've tested it. tom.