Best Camera settings for HVX200 and P&S at DVinfo.net

Steve Cahill · November 10th, 2006, 04:04 PM

Can any one reccommed best camera settings as far as detail settings and gamma setting with the HVX200 and the min35, to achieve best overall sharpness?

Dennis Hingsberg · December 8th, 2006, 09:29 AM

Looks like it's been a while and no one has responded. When I use my mini35 I avoid any gamma settings in camera and am of the thinking that it should be done in post not in camera. This allows you to maintain the maximum flexibility for further image processing later, incase and if it's needed.

Grading a film in my opinion is an art. Anyone can shoot video but giving it a unique look by the color grading process and even the color palette used throughout a film can make all the difference in your final project in the end.

If you try doing this in camera effectively you are trying a shortcut and robbing yourself from options later. Of course this is just my opinion.

For sharpness on the other hand - most cameras have detail settings. You can try lowering it a few notches and look for results on a good LCD screen (not CRT because it will not show well). Since the HVX is HD I think you will have enough sharpness on your hands that you won't need to worry all that much.

A good trick I've used from time to time with SD footage is a post filter called Unsharp mask (in vegas). It will take your soft and fuzzy digital footage and give it a makeover. Muddy greys wash right out and you're left behind with a crisper and cleaner image.

Are you using a series 400 mini35?

Steve Cahill · December 9th, 2006, 02:09 PM

Dennis- thanks for your reply... Mini35-400 is what I use. I have increased the detail settings. It is a real challange to keep focus with this. Need to run more test. Using the Mini is like shooting with my 8x10 view camera years ago, every shot had to be adjusted just so, it turns into a art- science of getting the "right stuff"

I also use XDCAM HD F350, which as a one man band is more manageable than the mini as far a s focus goes and the management of the P2 cards.

Dennis Hingsberg · December 9th, 2006, 03:46 PM

Yes, keeping focus seems to be a whole other can of worms with 35mm lens adapters. You need a really, really good focus puller to keep images looking razor sharp during moving shots, or moving subjects.

Most people shoot wide open with the lens to get as much light and image onto their CCD, but the more open you shoot the narrower the range of focus becomes. If you could shoot at f5.6 most of the time you'd still achieve good depth of field and focusing would be easier. But to shoot f5.6 you need a lot of light for your scene.

This is why I'm eager to see a full rez version of Nick Hiltgen's recent feature film 'The Signal'. He used the H1 and series 400 I believe and the small trailer on their site looks great, but too low resolution to really see what the H1 and mini35 can do!

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=80460

Dan McCain · January 8th, 2007, 01:32 PM

Has anyone measured the ASA of the HVX200 with Mini35 so I can calibrate my light meter?

DAN

Dennis Hingsberg · January 8th, 2007, 11:33 PM

Although I don't know for sure, I've read in the HVX200 forum the effective ASA of the HVX200 alone is about 400.

If the mini35 eats 2 stops of light it would bring you down to about 100 ASA overall.

From my experience it is quite difficult to light interiors for 100 ASA without cranking the gain on the camera or pumping a lot of light into the scene.

XiaoSu Han · April 28th, 2007, 02:50 AM

we are using a mini35 400 series and a hvx200 with high speed primes...

we have quite a focus issue since the picture isnt really sharp at all quite a lot of times.
i havent really seen a really crisp picture yet, we are using a 1080 monitor though and everything should be set just fine...

we have a focus issue on the borders of the pictures as well, it looks like if we had a focus vignetting problem...
anyone had any experience likle that already?

thanks for any input

ps: do you guys use that macro lens with the hvx200??

Oleg Kalyan · April 28th, 2007, 01:37 PM

Could you post some frame grabs of your footage,
thanks in advance, curious how it look through HVX200.

XiaoSu Han · May 20th, 2007, 10:20 AM

quite a late response, but here it is!

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...646#post682646

November 10th, 2006, 04:04 PM	#1
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	Best Camera settings for HVX200 and P&S Can any one reccommed best camera settings as far as detail settings and gamma setting with the HVX200 and the min35, to achieve best overall sharpness? __________________ Regards Steve

December 8th, 2006, 09:29 AM	#2
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	Looks like it's been a while and no one has responded. When I use my mini35 I avoid any gamma settings in camera and am of the thinking that it should be done in post not in camera. This allows you to maintain the maximum flexibility for further image processing later, incase and if it's needed. Grading a film in my opinion is an art. Anyone can shoot video but giving it a unique look by the color grading process and even the color palette used throughout a film can make all the difference in your final project in the end. If you try doing this in camera effectively you are trying a shortcut and robbing yourself from options later. Of course this is just my opinion. For sharpness on the other hand - most cameras have detail settings. You can try lowering it a few notches and look for results on a good LCD screen (not CRT because it will not show well). Since the HVX is HD I think you will have enough sharpness on your hands that you won't need to worry all that much. A good trick I've used from time to time with SD footage is a post filter called Unsharp mask (in vegas). It will take your soft and fuzzy digital footage and give it a makeover. Muddy greys wash right out and you're left behind with a crisper and cleaner image. Are you using a series 400 mini35? __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55

December 9th, 2006, 02:09 PM	#3
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	Dennis- thanks for your reply... Mini35-400 is what I use. I have increased the detail settings. It is a real challange to keep focus with this. Need to run more test. Using the Mini is like shooting with my 8x10 view camera years ago, every shot had to be adjusted just so, it turns into a art- science of getting the "right stuff" I also use XDCAM HD F350, which as a one man band is more manageable than the mini as far a s focus goes and the management of the P2 cards. __________________ Regards Steve

December 9th, 2006, 03:46 PM	#4
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	Yes, keeping focus seems to be a whole other can of worms with 35mm lens adapters. You need a really, really good focus puller to keep images looking razor sharp during moving shots, or moving subjects. Most people shoot wide open with the lens to get as much light and image onto their CCD, but the more open you shoot the narrower the range of focus becomes. If you could shoot at f5.6 most of the time you'd still achieve good depth of field and focusing would be easier. But to shoot f5.6 you need a lot of light for your scene. This is why I'm eager to see a full rez version of Nick Hiltgen's recent feature film 'The Signal'. He used the H1 and series 400 I believe and the small trailer on their site looks great, but too low resolution to really see what the H1 and mini35 can do! http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=80460 __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55

January 8th, 2007, 01:32 PM	#5
Dan McCain Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 65	ASA Rating of HVX200 with Mini35 Has anyone measured the ASA of the HVX200 with Mini35 so I can calibrate my light meter? DAN __________________ Dan McCain Owner/Operator Mini35 Package Atlanta, GA www.danmccainproductions.com

January 8th, 2007, 11:33 PM	#6
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	Although I don't know for sure, I've read in the HVX200 forum the effective ASA of the HVX200 alone is about 400. If the mini35 eats 2 stops of light it would bring you down to about 100 ASA overall. From my experience it is quite difficult to light interiors for 100 ASA without cranking the gain on the camera or pumping a lot of light into the scene. __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55

April 28th, 2007, 02:50 AM	#7
XiaoSu Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna Posts: 26	we are using a mini35 400 series and a hvx200 with high speed primes... we have quite a focus issue since the picture isnt really sharp at all quite a lot of times. i havent really seen a really crisp picture yet, we are using a 1080 monitor though and everything should be set just fine... we have a focus issue on the borders of the pictures as well, it looks like if we had a focus vignetting problem... anyone had any experience likle that already? thanks for any input ps: do you guys use that macro lens with the hvx200??

April 28th, 2007, 01:37 PM	#8
Oleg Kalyan Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MOSCOW Posts: 860	Could you post some frame grabs of your footage, thanks in advance, curious how it look through HVX200.

May 20th, 2007, 10:20 AM	#9
XiaoSu Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna Posts: 26	quite a late response, but here it is! http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...646#post682646