Steven Khong
March 11th, 2003, 10:12 PM
Hi, all!
I've been playing with the GAIN digital effect on my MX300. I've discovered some things that Panasonic didn't tell us:
1) The GAIN mode of MX300 uses 1/12 shutter speed!
2) DV tape info of recordings done in GAIN mode NEVER shows that the shutter goes below 1/50 shutter speed.
Here's how I tested:
I put a Sony Digi8 in Slow Shutter mode side by side with my MX300, recorded the same scene (shot at night, of cars passing my condo).
The Digi8 has a few Slow Shutter selections: Slow Shutter 1 = 1/25, Slow Shutter 2 = 1/12, Slow Shutter 3 = 1/8. I got the shutter speeds from the Tape Info on playback of the recording.
By watching through the viewfinder / LCD of both cams, as well as comparing the footage, I've discovered that:
The MX300 on GAIN mode matches the Digi8 on Slow Shutter 2 = 1/12 shutter speed!
WOOO HOOO! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
OK, but what does it mean?
1) In low light, we have the option of 1/12 shutter speed = more light enters the camera = brighter scene.
2) We're no longer restricted to 1/50 when shooting DV. 1/25 was available for shooting to SD/MM Card.
3) In GAIN mode, the max we can boost the light is 6dB.
4) We have to use MANUAL FOCUS as the autofocus is disabled in GAIN mode :( :( :( :(
5) With such a low shutter speed, we have to put our cam on a tripod... unless.... (see next)
6) We can have those crazy jittery slow motion blur effects for our videos!
Can someone with a MX300 / MX350 / MX500 whatever, do the test with another cam that can MANUALLY set their shutter speed to 1/12. And confirm this discovery. Thanks in advance!
I've been playing with the GAIN digital effect on my MX300. I've discovered some things that Panasonic didn't tell us:
1) The GAIN mode of MX300 uses 1/12 shutter speed!
2) DV tape info of recordings done in GAIN mode NEVER shows that the shutter goes below 1/50 shutter speed.
Here's how I tested:
I put a Sony Digi8 in Slow Shutter mode side by side with my MX300, recorded the same scene (shot at night, of cars passing my condo).
The Digi8 has a few Slow Shutter selections: Slow Shutter 1 = 1/25, Slow Shutter 2 = 1/12, Slow Shutter 3 = 1/8. I got the shutter speeds from the Tape Info on playback of the recording.
By watching through the viewfinder / LCD of both cams, as well as comparing the footage, I've discovered that:
The MX300 on GAIN mode matches the Digi8 on Slow Shutter 2 = 1/12 shutter speed!
WOOO HOOO! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
OK, but what does it mean?
1) In low light, we have the option of 1/12 shutter speed = more light enters the camera = brighter scene.
2) We're no longer restricted to 1/50 when shooting DV. 1/25 was available for shooting to SD/MM Card.
3) In GAIN mode, the max we can boost the light is 6dB.
4) We have to use MANUAL FOCUS as the autofocus is disabled in GAIN mode :( :( :( :(
5) With such a low shutter speed, we have to put our cam on a tripod... unless.... (see next)
6) We can have those crazy jittery slow motion blur effects for our videos!
Can someone with a MX300 / MX350 / MX500 whatever, do the test with another cam that can MANUALLY set their shutter speed to 1/12. And confirm this discovery. Thanks in advance!