Bad Low Light Experiences at DVinfo.net

Cameron Frittz · January 29th, 2009, 12:22 AM

I own a JVC GY-HD200UB. I have had awful low light experienced with this camera. Even in broad daylight with all my windows open and my light on in the room i cant get a very good low light shot. All my ND's are off and im using paelos color .scn. Im still getting some bad low light. Any advice? Maybe I just have a stupid error. My aperture is also completely Open! I have the Stock Lense x16 Fujion.

-Cameron

Adam Letch · January 29th, 2009, 01:21 AM

earth shattering low light, but first check you haven't inadvertantly turned your shutter on, and it's set to a high speed, that knocks a fare bit of light off your results. You didn't mention what you were shooting in. HDV/DV Progressive/Interlaced. There's a small difference in sensitivity between hdv and dv, and also 25p vs 50i for example.

Cameron Frittz · January 29th, 2009, 02:21 AM

Ah yes. Im shooting at the default Shutter. 1/48. Im shooting HD 720p & SD at 24p.

Brian Standing · January 29th, 2009, 11:59 AM

Define "bad." Some pics, maybe?

Cameron Frittz · January 29th, 2009, 06:59 PM

I dont have any pics. Bc anything i would post you would just say. Get more light. But what im saying is i just feel like i should be able to get a better lit room with the light im using. But maybe not....

William Hohauser · January 29th, 2009, 07:08 PM

Remember that low end HD cameras are about 1 1/2 to two stops less sensitive than similar SD cameras. It also depends on the lens you have. Three chip cameras are less sensitive than 1 chip. I have the same issue between my standard def Sony PD170 and the JVC HD100. My apartment is just workable with available light on my PD170. The HD100 is dark except next to the windows and near table lamps.

In fact the Sony HD1000, a one chip HD camera, is less sensitive than the PD170.

Shaun Roemich · January 29th, 2009, 08:55 PM

And my experience is that the HD200 is about a stop to a stop and a half brighter in SD versus HD at the same shutter speed. The sensitivity in HD reminds me of my days with Betacam 537 and 507 front ends 10-ish years ago.

Cameron Frittz · January 29th, 2009, 09:13 PM

Well good to know that its just not me. So go SD and if you go HD over light the hell out of it?

Brian Standing · January 30th, 2009, 08:25 AM

There is a "low-light" preset file in the post at the top of this forum. I've gotten pretty decent results using that setting. Also, if you're not doing much panning or camera movement, you can also experiment with setting the shutter to 1/24, which will gain you a stop. There's always the "gain" settings, too, but obviously, you get more noise.

But, yes even with all that, my HD100 is far less sensitive than my old PD150. Just the way it goes with HDV. Newer HD cameras may be a bit better, but I think they still fall short of what was possible with standard-definition chips.

The reason I asked about a picture, was just to see if it looks like what my camera does under similar lighting, or if there's actually a problem with your camera.

William Hohauser · January 30th, 2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Frittz

Well good to know that its just not me. So go SD and if you go HD over light the hell out of it?

Well, you could put it that way. I wouldn't call it overlighting. If you ever have a chance, check out the set of a major film when they are shooting a night scene. There's a lot of lighting being used.

Shaun Roemich · January 30th, 2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Hohauser

Well, you could put it that way. I wouldn't call it overlighting. If you ever have a chance, check out the set of a major film when they are shooting a night scene. There's a lot of lighting being used.

Indeed. Perrone Ford started a thread elsewhere on lighting to reduce noise in blacks on 1/3" chip cameras that talks about exactly that.

January 29th, 2009, 12:22 AM	#1
Cameron Frittz Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 45	Bad Low Light Experiences I own a JVC GY-HD200UB. I have had awful low light experienced with this camera. Even in broad daylight with all my windows open and my light on in the room i cant get a very good low light shot. All my ND's are off and im using paelos color .scn. Im still getting some bad low light. Any advice? Maybe I just have a stupid error. My aperture is also completely Open! I have the Stock Lense x16 Fujion. -Cameron

January 29th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#2
Adam Letch Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 414	it won't be earth shattering low light, but first check you haven't inadvertantly turned your shutter on, and it's set to a high speed, that knocks a fare bit of light off your results. You didn't mention what you were shooting in. HDV/DV Progressive/Interlaced. There's a small difference in sensitivity between hdv and dv, and also 25p vs 50i for example.

January 29th, 2009, 11:59 AM	#4
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	Define "bad." Some pics, maybe? __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!

January 29th, 2009, 07:08 PM	#6
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Remember that low end HD cameras are about 1 1/2 to two stops less sensitive than similar SD cameras. It also depends on the lens you have. Three chip cameras are less sensitive than 1 chip. I have the same issue between my standard def Sony PD170 and the JVC HD100. My apartment is just workable with available light on my PD170. The HD100 is dark except next to the windows and near table lamps. In fact the Sony HD1000, a one chip HD camera, is less sensitive than the PD170. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

January 29th, 2009, 08:55 PM	#7
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	And my experience is that the HD200 is about a stop to a stop and a half brighter in SD versus HD at the same shutter speed. The sensitivity in HD reminds me of my days with Betacam 537 and 507 front ends 10-ish years ago. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

January 29th, 2009, 02:21 AM	#3
Cameron Frittz Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 45	Ah yes. Im shooting at the default Shutter. 1/48. Im shooting HD 720p & SD at 24p.

January 29th, 2009, 06:59 PM	#5
Cameron Frittz Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 45	I dont have any pics. Bc anything i would post you would just say. Get more light. But what im saying is i just feel like i should be able to get a better lit room with the light im using. But maybe not....

January 29th, 2009, 09:13 PM	#8
Cameron Frittz Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 45	Well good to know that its just not me. So go SD and if you go HD over light the hell out of it?

January 30th, 2009, 08:25 AM	#9
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	There is a "low-light" preset file in the post at the top of this forum. I've gotten pretty decent results using that setting. Also, if you're not doing much panning or camera movement, you can also experiment with setting the shutter to 1/24, which will gain you a stop. There's always the "gain" settings, too, but obviously, you get more noise. But, yes even with all that, my HD100 is far less sensitive than my old PD150. Just the way it goes with HDV. Newer HD cameras may be a bit better, but I think they still fall short of what was possible with standard-definition chips. The reason I asked about a picture, was just to see if it looks like what my camera does under similar lighting, or if there's actually a problem with your camera. __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!