Do you use "Nightshot" or similar? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Wedding / Event Videography Techniques
Shooting non-repeatable events: weddings, recitals, plays, performances...

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 1st, 2007, 08:42 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 180
Do you use "Nightshot" or similar?

I am about to shoot my first wedding this weekend. I have an A1U which has the Nightshot feature. I am sure other makes & models have a similar feature. My question is, do any of you use it during very dark portions of the evening like the bride/father dance etc? I have been playing around with the camera, and found that using nightshot in B&W gives nice results, but would that be acceptable?

I have a Sony HVL-20DW2 20 watt light with a diffuser as well. Should I use this instead?

PS: until I am comfortable actually charging for my services, this wedding will be a freebie for a friend, which is a good chance to test out the camera, mics, light, glidecam etc.
__________________
HVR-A1u,WCS-999,HVL-20DW2 w/diff,2xAudio-Technica Freeway 600,Flycam 3000,Vegas 7E
Jason Donaldson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 1st, 2007, 09:39 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States
Posts: 807
No nightshot. It looks amatuerish. Use your video light with the diffuser instead, you will get much better video.
Edward Carlson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 06:48 AM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 176
I have actually had to use the nightshot feature because a bride didn't want any kind of extra lighting at the reception. I told her in advance that if it was too dark i would have to film it all in Black and White and there would be no way to reverse it once I had done so.

All in all it actually turned out pretty decent in my opinion. While filming i set the camera to nightshot & turned on the B&W digital effect so it was less effects in post. It is hard to get a good focus while using it and does incorporate a good deal of grain but at least they have the shot. The entire 15 minute reception video is done this way and she loved it....

....it's definitely not my first choice but it can be a great backup in you have to
Zach Stewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 08:01 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Toronto Ontario Canada!
Posts: 353
I use the nightshot feature sometimes with My Sony A1 when the lighting is just much too dark even for my Canon A1.

After a Sepia/Sepia Red filter the footage looks fantastic.
__________________
dreaming hobbyist + storyteller
www.michaelywong.com
Michael Y Wong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 11:00 AM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Mariposa, CA
Posts: 200
I tried it once for some footage with my Sony A1 with no lights. With a little PP I could get usable clips from it, but the IR light really messed with peoples eyes - their pupils turned white. Because of this alone, I scrapped all the footage and never tried again.
Patrick Pike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 12:36 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Toronto Ontario Canada!
Posts: 353
I would avoid using it in situations of pitch darkness but in Dim light where the A1 can no longer produce a picture that remotely resembles HDV, I turn it on and then play with a few filters. The results look 'cool' to me!!!
__________________
dreaming hobbyist + storyteller
www.michaelywong.com
Michael Y Wong is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 03:53 PM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 176
Yeah...the eye thing is a definite problem sometimes, but I noticed if they don't look directly at the camera its not so bad.
Zach Stewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2007, 06:04 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Posts: 180
I haven't tried my light in a dark situation yet, but I have tried the nightshot and did notice the pupil thing too...
__________________
HVR-A1u,WCS-999,HVL-20DW2 w/diff,2xAudio-Technica Freeway 600,Flycam 3000,Vegas 7E
Jason Donaldson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 3rd, 2007, 01:08 PM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Fort Worth Texas
Posts: 247
If they wont allow a light to be used during the reception, I wont shoot it. I have turned dow many jobs because of that. I wont sit there at the desk working twice as long to make crummy dark footage look good.

And no, never used nightshot, I dont even have that option on my camera anyway.
Jim Fields is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Wedding / Event Videography Techniques

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:12 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network