PXW X160 Strange Colors at DVinfo.net

Gerald Webb · December 23rd, 2016, 09:55 PM

Hey all,
last couple of concerts Ive noticed a bit of this happening- see pics.
The GH4, GH2 and the Canon Camcorders dont display the colorised blown highlights.
Its very dark, all cams are seeing more than the human eye, hence how noisy it is. But the X160 is the only one with the strange behaviour.
Have recently set it back to defaults after a bit too much playing around with the picture profiles.
All cams are auto iris with limited isos.
Any thoughts appreciated.

John Mitchell · January 5th, 2017, 04:49 PM

I've seen this before from all my cameras. Not the brown highlights so much as the splotchy unnatural looking blues. My theory is it's a combination of LED coloured spots without enough white light. I've even seen it on my old 3 chip CCD cameras. Whether or not a camera exhibits that probably depends on angle of the light, exposure and also how efficient the codec is. I note the GH4 which is locked off on the wide shows the same splotchiness on the blues.. (so same angle of incidence with the light) so the blue channel is getting overpowered while the other two channels are underexposed - I'm not sure why three chip cameras seem to be more susceptible to that then the single chip bayer sensors. For 99% of my work, three chip cameras give a better colour rendition. Winding back to a flatter profile definitely helps and the worst case is a deliberate hi con, saturated look.

I'm not sure why lighting guys at kid's dance concerts want to present things in the dark - it isn't exactly high art or a rock concert.

Gerald Webb · January 5th, 2017, 05:10 PM

Thanks John,
Explains a lot.
Both the theatres this happened at, the lighting guys mentioned they had new LED lighting which wasnt there last year. I thought it was only an issue with flicker.....
I guess just shoot flatter to try to maintain those colored highlights and then reel them in later in post.

Yes I hear you about the darkness. Every person in theatre is only there to see their kid perform, kind of a strange plan to put them in the dark lol.
It gets worse though, did this one just before Christmas and was just shaking my head in disbelief, see pic.
Its already been Neat video'd and brightened lol.

Pete Cofrancesco · January 6th, 2017, 08:22 PM

In recent months a number of people (including me) have posted issues with LED theatrical lighting some cameras handle it better than others. It very difficult filming modern dance it's common to have dance sets in almost complete darkness. Sometimes you just have to let it be what it is.

Gerald Webb · January 10th, 2017, 02:11 AM

Agree Pete, if its black, it should stay black. Is hard when there is meant to be someone there they can see though :)

Raymond Toms · June 4th, 2018, 05:48 AM

I have had this with my XPW X180 a lot. It does not happen with my NX3 or even my X1000. Why should my most expensive camera be the worst in concerts (great otherwise)?

Can't even get it out in post, as the source is over saturated in blue. Anyone found a solution since the last reply?

Just finished another edit with a band. Variable LED lights, close to the bass player, forced me to cut away from him every time the LED changed to Blue.

Sad to hear that it happens with other cameras.

December 23rd, 2016, 09:55 PM	#1
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	PXW X160 Strange Colors Hey all, last couple of concerts Ive noticed a bit of this happening- see pics. The GH4, GH2 and the Canon Camcorders dont display the colorised blown highlights. Its very dark, all cams are seeing more than the human eye, hence how noisy it is. But the X160 is the only one with the strange behaviour. Have recently set it back to defaults after a bit too much playing around with the picture profiles. All cams are auto iris with limited isos. Any thoughts appreciated. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

January 5th, 2017, 04:49 PM	#2
John Mitchell Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 873	Re: PXW X160 Strange Colors I've seen this before from all my cameras. Not the brown highlights so much as the splotchy unnatural looking blues. My theory is it's a combination of LED coloured spots without enough white light. I've even seen it on my old 3 chip CCD cameras. Whether or not a camera exhibits that probably depends on angle of the light, exposure and also how efficient the codec is. I note the GH4 which is locked off on the wide shows the same splotchiness on the blues.. (so same angle of incidence with the light) so the blue channel is getting overpowered while the other two channels are underexposed - I'm not sure why three chip cameras seem to be more susceptible to that then the single chip bayer sensors. For 99% of my work, three chip cameras give a better colour rendition. Winding back to a flatter profile definitely helps and the worst case is a deliberate hi con, saturated look. I'm not sure why lighting guys at kid's dance concerts want to present things in the dark - it isn't exactly high art or a rock concert.

January 5th, 2017, 05:10 PM	#3
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	Re: PXW X160 Strange Colors Thanks John, Explains a lot. Both the theatres this happened at, the lighting guys mentioned they had new LED lighting which wasnt there last year. I thought it was only an issue with flicker..... I guess just shoot flatter to try to maintain those colored highlights and then reel them in later in post. Yes I hear you about the darkness. Every person in theatre is only there to see their kid perform, kind of a strange plan to put them in the dark lol. It gets worse though, did this one just before Christmas and was just shaking my head in disbelief, see pic. Its already been Neat video'd and brightened lol. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

January 6th, 2017, 08:22 PM	#4
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2,996	Re: PXW X160 Strange Colors In recent months a number of people (including me) have posted issues with LED theatrical lighting some cameras handle it better than others. It very difficult filming modern dance it's common to have dance sets in almost complete darkness. Sometimes you just have to let it be what it is.

January 10th, 2017, 02:11 AM	#5
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	Re: PXW X160 Strange Colors Agree Pete, if its black, it should stay black. Is hard when there is meant to be someone there they can see though :) __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

June 4th, 2018, 05:48 AM	#6
Raymond Toms Tourist Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: bega nsw Australia Posts: 1	Re: PXW X160 Strange Colors I have had this with my XPW X180 a lot. It does not happen with my NX3 or even my X1000. Why should my most expensive camera be the worst in concerts (great otherwise)? Can't even get it out in post, as the source is over saturated in blue. Anyone found a solution since the last reply? Just finished another edit with a band. Variable LED lights, close to the bass player, forced me to cut away from him every time the LED changed to Blue. Sad to hear that it happens with other cameras.