Keeping highlights in check??? at DVinfo.net

Steve Nunez · November 9th, 2003, 07:44 PM

What are you DV guys using to keep highlights in check? In bright light my DVC80 is blowing out highlights- even with the internal ND filters switched on......what do you guys use and what sorta success?

Thanks

Glenn Chan · November 9th, 2003, 10:31 PM

Does that camera have zebras? (a lower end model has it so I figure the DVC80 should) It should help you set exposure.

If you're shooting outside you can use a polarizer to bring the brightness of the sky down (in relation to everything else).

What kind of situations are you shooting in?

Don Berube · November 10th, 2003, 01:57 AM

I typically under-expose about one stop, sometimes more if necessary. I don't use zebra stripes, I just look at the image and make sure that I have a good ratio. If there are any white areas in the frame, it is usually a "red flag" that you are over-exposing. Unlike film, if the bright areas in your frame turn white, the color detail for that area is lost forever. You cannot get it back. Simply expose for the highlights and everything else will fall into place.

- don

Jeff Donald · November 10th, 2003, 05:44 AM

Glenn is correct on adding a polarizer, it will knock about 1 1/2 stops off. I sometimes use addition ND filtration added to the front of the lens. Depending on the power of the ND filter you can reduce exposure an additional 1 to 3 stops.

November 9th, 2003, 07:44 PM	#1
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	Keeping highlights in check??? What are you DV guys using to keep highlights in check? In bright light my DVC80 is blowing out highlights- even with the internal ND filters switched on......what do you guys use and what sorta success? Thanks __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

November 10th, 2003, 01:57 AM	#3
Don Berube Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Boston, MA (travel frequently) Posts: 837	I typically under-expose about one stop, sometimes more if necessary. I don't use zebra stripes, I just look at the image and make sure that I have a good ratio. If there are any white areas in the frame, it is usually a "red flag" that you are over-exposing. Unlike film, if the bright areas in your frame turn white, the color detail for that area is lost forever. You cannot get it back. Simply expose for the highlights and everything else will fall into place. - don __________________ DONALD BERUBE - noisybrain. Productions, LLC Director Of Photography/ Producer/ Consultant http://noisybrain.com/donbio.html CREATE and NETWORK with http://www.bosfcpug.org and also http://fcpugnetwork.org

November 10th, 2003, 05:44 AM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Glenn is correct on adding a polarizer, it will knock about 1 1/2 stops off. I sometimes use addition ND filtration added to the front of the lens. Depending on the power of the ND filter you can reduce exposure an additional 1 to 3 stops. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 9th, 2003, 10:31 PM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Does that camera have zebras? (a lower end model has it so I figure the DVC80 should) It should help you set exposure. If you're shooting outside you can use a polarizer to bring the brightness of the sky down (in relation to everything else). What kind of situations are you shooting in?