low light solution at DVinfo.net

Adam Lawrence · June 1st, 2003, 02:38 PM

I hear, time and time again, on how the XL1 is on the bottom of the spectrum as far as shooting in low light.

Which camera or cameras(s) would somone recommend to shoot
in the lowest of light.

so far i hear the PD-150 is ideal.

any input??

Thanks in advance

Alex Knappenberger · June 1st, 2003, 02:46 PM

No way. The XL1s is a pretty good camera in low light, just about as good as the VX2000/PD150, if not just as good...

Anyway, yeah the VX2000/PD150 is for sure the camera to get for "low light", but you still need a light source no matter what.

Don Bloom · June 1st, 2003, 03:26 PM

What are you considering "low light"-go to mfg. web sites read the info as to what the XL1s and PD150 can do according to the manufacturers specs and go from there.

Adam Lawrence · June 1st, 2003, 03:30 PM

im shooting in a low light banquet hall....

last time i shot in the same situation, the footage came out grainy and warm... thus the gain being at 12 DB, in order to capture anything but black. Additional light is not an option....I suppose post would have to save the day once more.

I have acces to just about any pro-sumer DV cam for this shoot...
(well besides the DVX100 of course) so i am just exploring my options. I hear the sonys tend to shoot a bit cooler in color as well.

Alex Knappenberger · June 1st, 2003, 03:47 PM

Maybe it was "warm" because you didn't white balance correctly.

I don't think the VX2000/PD150 is going to do much of a better job then the XL1. I've seen that camera perform well in "low light" a couple times. It must be very dark in there, or something.

Adam Lawrence · June 1st, 2003, 04:26 PM

the white balance was fine..the camera tends to shoot warmer in some situations...does compliment the low light atmosphere much. I agree.. theres probably not much of a difference between cameras. Just thought there was some signifigance in some of the sony models..

John Steele · June 2nd, 2003, 06:24 AM

Adam,

I've used both cams and the sony Vx2000/PD-150 are definately better than the XL1 in low light.

John.

Andrew Petrie · June 2nd, 2003, 07:17 AM

I'd definately like to hear more experiences with the XL1/S in low light. Suggestions helping improve the picture quality would be faaaaantastic.

Frank Granovski · June 2nd, 2003, 01:33 PM

Yes, in "lower light," the XL1 shows nice warm but detailed colors. In areas with dark spots (corners, etc), it would be a good idea to use a onboard video light, so where you point your cam, that's where the light will be pointing. Honestly, a good light will help quite a bit. By the way, the XL1/(S) is very, very good with lower light compared with other cams. I have lots of XL1 footage. Personally, I like the XL1 footage/colors more than that from a VX2000/150/250---more realistic and pleasant, though the Sonys are sharper (but colder).

Bryan Beasleigh · June 2nd, 2003, 02:01 PM

"more realistic and pleasant, though the Sonys are
sharper (but colder)."

Out of the box yes and some like the Sony for that reason. Just fiddle with the custom preset, you can dial any flavor you want. You can soften and warm an image as much as you like.

Frank Granovski · June 2nd, 2003, 02:07 PM

Nothing personal, Bryan. I actually like the VX2000 better because it's smaller and easier to hold than a XL1. It's just I've seen indoor, low light footage from both cams, and I prefer the XL1 footage. Yes, tweaking can produce magic sometimes. :)

PS: for outdoor low light footage, I prefer VX2000 footage (rolleyes.gif).

Bryan Beasleigh · June 2nd, 2003, 02:09 PM

Magic???? It's called adjusting the camera to suite your taste. (eek.gif)

Frank Granovski · June 2nd, 2003, 02:10 PM

It's magic to me!

Rick Spilman · June 2nd, 2003, 04:05 PM

One of my pet peeves is the comment that Sony cams have "cooler" footage than Canon or whomever. If you use the Sony presets it may be cooler. Sony has a cooler and flatter preset than I like so the first thing I did with both my Sony prosumer cams was to boost the color to my taste using the custom preset feature.

Last night I finally got around to watching "The King is Alive". It is a Dogme 4 film shot with PD150s. Wow, the colors in that film are just fantastic. The shots of the desert are rich and powerfully vivid. The scenes lit only by kerosene or firelight are wonderful. Levering made magic with these little cameras.

OK, enough of my ranting. Bottom line anyone who gets footage from a PD150 that is "cooler" than he or she likes just isn't using the capabilities of the camera.

Adam Lawrence · June 2nd, 2003, 04:15 PM

yeah thats what i hear... never used any of the sony pro-sumer cams. But from time and time again people say it handles low light better and has (blue-ish) preset footage as opposed to the XL1.

I think im going to stick to the XL1 for this shoot...see iff i can gather any available light at the time and take great advatage of it. I think ill shoot 6 DB and make lighten it up in post. Should work out for the best.

June 1st, 2003, 02:38 PM	#1
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	low light solution I hear, time and time again, on how the XL1 is on the bottom of the spectrum as far as shooting in low light. Which camera or cameras(s) would somone recommend to shoot in the lowest of light. so far i hear the PD-150 is ideal. any input?? Thanks in advance __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

June 1st, 2003, 03:30 PM	#4
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	im shooting in a low light banquet hall.... last time i shot in the same situation, the footage came out grainy and warm... thus the gain being at 12 DB, in order to capture anything but black. Additional light is not an option....I suppose post would have to save the day once more. I have acces to just about any pro-sumer DV cam for this shoot... (well besides the DVX100 of course) so i am just exploring my options. I hear the sonys tend to shoot a bit cooler in color as well. __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

June 1st, 2003, 04:26 PM	#6
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	the white balance was fine..the camera tends to shoot warmer in some situations...does compliment the low light atmosphere much. I agree.. theres probably not much of a difference between cameras. Just thought there was some signifigance in some of the sony models.. __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

June 2nd, 2003, 07:17 AM	#8
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	I'd definately like to hear more experiences with the XL1/S in low light. Suggestions helping improve the picture quality would be faaaaantastic. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

June 2nd, 2003, 04:15 PM	#15
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	yeah thats what i hear... never used any of the sony pro-sumer cams. But from time and time again people say it handles low light better and has (blue-ish) preset footage as opposed to the XL1. I think im going to stick to the XL1 for this shoot...see iff i can gather any available light at the time and take great advatage of it. I think ill shoot 6 DB and make lighten it up in post. Should work out for the best. __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

June 1st, 2003, 02:46 PM	#2
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	No way. The XL1s is a pretty good camera in low light, just about as good as the VX2000/PD150, if not just as good... Anyway, yeah the VX2000/PD150 is for sure the camera to get for "low light", but you still need a light source no matter what.

June 1st, 2003, 03:26 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	What are you considering "low light"-go to mfg. web sites read the info as to what the XL1s and PD150 can do according to the manufacturers specs and go from there.

June 1st, 2003, 03:47 PM	#5
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Maybe it was "warm" because you didn't white balance correctly. I don't think the VX2000/PD150 is going to do much of a better job then the XL1. I've seen that camera perform well in "low light" a couple times. It must be very dark in there, or something.

June 2nd, 2003, 06:24 AM	#7
John Steele Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 216	Adam, I've used both cams and the sony Vx2000/PD-150 are definately better than the XL1 in low light. John.

June 2nd, 2003, 01:33 PM	#9
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Yes, in "lower light," the XL1 shows nice warm but detailed colors. In areas with dark spots (corners, etc), it would be a good idea to use a onboard video light, so where you point your cam, that's where the light will be pointing. Honestly, a good light will help quite a bit. By the way, the XL1/(S) is very, very good with lower light compared with other cams. I have lots of XL1 footage. Personally, I like the XL1 footage/colors more than that from a VX2000/150/250---more realistic and pleasant, though the Sonys are sharper (but colder).

June 2nd, 2003, 02:01 PM	#10
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	"more realistic and pleasant, though the Sonys are sharper (but colder)." Out of the box yes and some like the Sony for that reason. Just fiddle with the custom preset, you can dial any flavor you want. You can soften and warm an image as much as you like.

June 2nd, 2003, 02:07 PM	#11
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Nothing personal, Bryan. I actually like the VX2000 better because it's smaller and easier to hold than a XL1. It's just I've seen indoor, low light footage from both cams, and I prefer the XL1 footage. Yes, tweaking can produce magic sometimes. :) PS: for outdoor low light footage, I prefer VX2000 footage (rolleyes.gif).

June 2nd, 2003, 02:09 PM	#12
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Magic???? It's called adjusting the camera to suite your taste. (eek.gif)

June 2nd, 2003, 02:10 PM	#13
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	It's magic to me!

June 2nd, 2003, 04:05 PM	#14
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	One of my pet peeves is the comment that Sony cams have "cooler" footage than Canon or whomever. If you use the Sony presets it may be cooler. Sony has a cooler and flatter preset than I like so the first thing I did with both my Sony prosumer cams was to boost the color to my taste using the custom preset feature. Last night I finally got around to watching "The King is Alive". It is a Dogme 4 film shot with PD150s. Wow, the colors in that film are just fantastic. The shots of the desert are rich and powerfully vivid. The scenes lit only by kerosene or firelight are wonderful. Levering made magic with these little cameras. OK, enough of my ranting. Bottom line anyone who gets footage from a PD150 that is "cooler" than he or she likes just isn't using the capabilities of the camera.